Maybe

I think you just need that one video to blow then it will snowball the quality is there

The other examples you posted have SEO type titles and are very to the point, you do meander a bit at the start and people might just be like nah. Instant gratification

Many parts of a whole

The algorithm isn't penalizing you because you're black your content probably just sucks.

@op I don’t think it’s because ur black but as an experiment, do a video where u don’t show ur face in the beginning at all. Ik other video essay channels don’t upload consistently but try to upload a little more often as well Otherwise, I honestly don’t know what the problem could be. Good luck in the future! I think ur channel has a lot of potential

As a video essay connoisseur, I can see that your videos hit a good amount of the right points for wide reaching video essays. There’s a few solutions to be made tho:

• the best video essays have an air of “objectivity” to them, in other words they don’t feel personal even if the creators’ personalities show
• the green screen as this thread has been stating
• you need a better camera and mic

Even with need for improvement you’re doing pretty good. Also remember that doing good on one platform is different from doing good on another platform, there’s different standards. And the standards for YouTube video essays are pretty damn high compared to snippets on tiktok

I’m sure you’re familiar OP, but study Lindsay Ellis for real. She does the cultural study/personality on display thing you do pretty well
m.youtube.com/c/LindsayEllisVids

One more thing: if you’re gonna show yourself for most of the vids you should also be in the thumbnails. you’re a pmf too so it would help tbh

You should upload your tik toks to YouTube with the shorts feature.. then you’ll get people to fw your main content perhaps

I think it’s your thumbnails tbh, people click on video expecting a video essay like this:

But then get your video:

A lot of the video essay channels have thumbnails like yours and your videos are in a different format than that audience is expecting. Nothing wrong with that, I like your videos. Just think that you’re attracting an audience who’s expecting that type of video format.

Try making the thumbnails of your videos more similar to your style/unique. That way you have more control over people’s expectations when they click on a video.

Bro keep making videos too, your style, format and perspective is needed in that space. Feel like the more videos you make the better you’ll get, and from there you’ll get a good following.

or many your content just isn’t good enough

you need to consistently drop engaging content like this

Can I send your YouTube

Ok I saw you your streerwear video last year ago

I just feel like animation is actually antithetical to academia

Make more fashion videos

Not even funny

You definitely have potential

The thing is also your contact is a very algorithm friendly

you just have to keep on keep on pumping them up until one of them blows up with the algorithm and it’s just uphill from there

You have 10 videos on ur channel and u blame u not blowing up on being black? Nigga

Post more like at least like 1 video every other week and make 1 of the videos a shorter type that's like slightly easier to make

Just so people like don't forget about you

I love your "Animation is for everyone" video and the new one. you got good taste in topics and edit style and can put together a long-ish video well without it dragging on. Reminds me of Nathan Zed who i love. Also your thumbnails are fire, Junji Ito one drew me in instantly.
Niggas itt who are just saying "upload more" kinda miss the point of the essay-style videos you're going for. But there are some lowkey flaws that jump out to me personally from a viewers persepective. 1. titles, they way too long, most of them aint even fit on the screen.
2. i like your more chill energy with freeflow rather than scripted style but for the intro its not as engaging imo
also id add that a lot of essay style channels blow up because their topic is all encompassing and attractive to viewers, whether its something everyone can relate to like album covers or something people want to learn more about like art movements or history so its gonna be hard when your vids are more niche and specific to movies (even though i love them types, see them more like passion rather than something to go viral)

@op start with your thumbnails first. I wouldn’t watch either if that’s the first s*** I saw.

@op u r making the right vids

ur deadass one title/thumbnail away from being in everyone's recommended. Try changing the title/thumbnail of ur old vids it actually can boost views.

basically I don't think there's a single thing you could do better w ur vids, s*** is basically perfect, all that's keeping u back is the yt algorithm game. And it sucks bc ur thumbnails are fkn cleannnnn but idk if they r clickbaity enough smh

idk if u have seen this but its a good watch w rlly good advice n info on the thumbnail/title game

p.s. I can help write s*** if u ever need it

YouTube is not an easy lane to break into. It's not because of your skin tone my guy just keep grinding

Upload some Fortnite content.