Taylor Cassidy is an African American TikToker and educator, best known for her series "Fast Black History".
Early life and education
Cassidy, who is from St. Louis, Missouri, grew up learning about Black history from her parents. In elementary school, she became dissatisfied with the fact that the only Black history in her school textbook was about slavery. She graduated high school in 2021, and then took a gap year before entering college.
As of 2023, Cassidy is a film student at New York University.
Career
Cassidy began making TikTok videos in November 2019. She created her series "Fast Black History" in February 2020, for Black History Month. Profiled figures included Maya Angelou, Shirley Chisholm, and Fannie Lou Hamer. Later videos discussed Black Wall Street, the Black Fives, Mum Bet, and Zelda Wynn Valdés.
Cassidy also created content to raise awareness of racial injustice, and a series called "Black Girl Magic Minute," which uplifts contemporary Black creators.
In 2021 Cassidy signed with WME and became a host of TikTok Radio on SiriusXM. She also works with Nickelodeon as a Nick News correspondent.
As of February 2023 Cassidy had 2.2 million followers on TikTok.
In March 2023 Cassidy was invite to the United Nations General Assembly as part of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Cassidy and keynote speaker Djamila Ribeiro also visited the Ark of Return, a memorial to victims of slavery.
Recognition
Cassidy was recognized as one of TikTok's top 10 Voices of Change: Most Impactful Voices for 2020. That same year, she was given a special creator honor at the Streamy Awards by Liza Koshy. In 2021 she was included as one of Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21.
External links
Official TikTok
Racism: TikTok influencer Taylor Cassidy with Prof. Djamila Ribeiro | Black History - United Nations YouTube video