Raven-Symoné has said a lot of ignorant and problematic things. Every ill-conceived statement she has made over the past few years has been met with backlash and commentary and even Mother Oprah’s wise words haven’t stopped her from doing the most.
But, when she became a champion for discriminatory practices in the hiring process by saying “I’m not about to hire you if your name is Watermelondrea,” she couldn’t have been prepared for the clapback she would face or the subsequent poignant statement from Watermelondrea herself aka Tré Melvin.
Tré Melvin is one of the youngest and most talented individuals who has used YouTube as a platform to share their talents. Since 2011, Melvin has used his skills as an actor and all around creator to make videos that introduce his over 3 million subscribers to the characters that live inside his world and even offer a glimpse into the mind of the man himself. Here’s 11 reasons why you should be following Melvin, if you aren’t already.
1. He’s unapologetically black as hell as both his videos and Twitter bio proves.
2. He’s unabashedly honest and upfront about who he is.
3. He stands alongside women and men in the fight for equality and has no problem with calling f***boys exactly what they are.
4. His collaborations with other YouTube creators not only highlights the work he puts in, but how strategic he is at bringing underrepresented and powerful voices to the forefront of media content.
You guys really aren’t prepare for what @TreMelvin and I are working on together video wise. LIKE NOT READY AT ALL! 😱
— HARTBEAT (@iHartbeat) March 24, 2016
5. He’s also an artist who has lent his musical abilities to the character Watermelondrea through songs, videos, and an album released last year. He’s also been seen on Snapchat recording some of his own personal music projects.
6. He spreads messages that encourage, uplift, educate, and inspire his supporters to levitate and #staywoke.
@TreMelvin the fact that you don’t have to educate ignorance but you do anyways is admirable. Thank you for being a voice.
— musictrash (@FashGrace) February 22, 2016
Some day i will be as unapologetic as @TreMelvin
— inspyr (@iinspyr) February 22, 2016
7. He is completely loyal to his following and has even instituted a college scholarship which he has awarded to his fans.
attention all of my high school senior and college student viewers! 🙂#premiere
Tré L. Melvin Scholarship: Phase 1http://t.co/EP5JwAXgEn— Tré Melvin (@TreMelvin) October 25, 2013
8. He writes and recites spoken word poetry that shed light on the struggles he experiences and encounters as a black man in America.
9. But, he’s also not afraid to make a fool of himself.
10. Also from an aesthetic standpoint, you can’t deny that the man is flawless.
— Tré Melvin (@TreMelvin) March 17, 2016
11. Not only is he funny but, he’s also just as petty as the rest of us.
bae: baby let’s role play
me: okay 😏
bae: *ties me to bed*
bae: now that u can’t move, i just think it’s funny how.. pic.twitter.com/xjCn85EFoM— Tré Melvin (@TreMelvin) March 30, 2016
12. He’s a business man and recently copped a brand deal with Russell Simmons new series on All Def Digital’s “Celsius Now!”
13. At the age of 23, with over 3 million YouTube subscribers and almost 280 million views, he is only getting started.
Tré Melvin is leading the way for the new age of media and entertainment elite who are finding ways to support themselves and do it in a way that aligns with their authentic self. He’s definitely the one to watch as young people continue to change the narrative and create stories that redefine what it means to be successful.
