ATLANTA — Revolt World returned to Atlanta this past weekend, bringing together leading voices in Black entertainment, entrepreneurship, and culture.
The event, held from September 20 to 22 at Pullman Yards, marked a pivotal moment for Revolt Media, which became an employee-owned company in June 2024. According to organizers, this year's festival brought thousands.
“This year is special because this is the first year that the team is doing this... as an employee-owned company," said Detavio Samuels, CEO of Revolt Media, in an interview. "With the company switching to becoming employee-owned in June, that becomes a key milestone.”
Revolt World emphasized mental health, entrepreneurship, and education as part of its mission to fill gaps in areas that have historically underserved Black communities.
“We’re on our Black Panther energy,” Samuels said. “In the same way, the Panthers used to step in where society kind of faded and ignored Black people... Revolt is trying to step in and fill in those gaps.”
Link | Watch the full interview with Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels at the bottom of this article or on our YouTube channel.
Celebrating Black creators and talent
The event featured panels, workshops, and performances focused on empowering attendees while highlighting Black excellence. The lineup included leaders and innovators across the music, sports, politics and fashion industries.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Samuels said. “The talent lineup is phenomenal. You’re talking about the biggest tastemakers, changemakers, leaders, educators, investors, musicians from all walks of life.”
Revolt World also hosted live tapings of popular Revolt shows like “Drink Champs” and “Big Facts,” along with day parties and festival-style performances at night.
A focus on Black entrepreneurship
A key theme throughout the weekend was Black entrepreneurship, which Samuels sees as crucial for Black liberation. He referenced a McKinsey & Co. Inc. report stating that it could take Black Americans 300 years to achieve economic parity with white Americans.
“We see entrepreneurship as a key path for Black liberation,” Samuels said. “We fund entrepreneurs... without any exchange of equity.”
Samuels highlighted Revolt’s role in providing financial support to Black entrepreneurs through its pitch competition and ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of the community standing by these businesses.
“The only way our Black entrepreneurs will make it is if we, as a community, unite and stand by them,” he said.
A vision for global impact
Looking to the future, Samuels envisions Revolt growing into a global platform with a significant impact on Black storytelling and culture. He noted that Revolt's purpose is to shift how Black people are portrayed in media, to ensure that stories are told through a Black lens.
“In order to get them to treat us better, they have to see us better,” Samuels said. “We believe that we should be the people green-lighting the stories about our people, about our culture, that the world should see us through our lens and not their lens.”
Samuels also mentioned plans to expand Revolt World globally, with future events potentially being held in cities like Paris and London and across Africa and the Caribbean.
What’s next for Revolt World?
Samuels expressed his excitement for Revolt World's future and continued growth. This year’s event offered free tickets, a decision aimed at giving back to the culture.
“Tickets are free this year. We’re doing it as a service and a gift back to the culture,” Samuels said. “There’s no excuse not to be there.”