Cree Myles

Cree Myles is an American influencer, writer and organizer, living in Milwaukee. She is the creator and manager of 'All Ways Black' on Instagram.

Early life

Born in Milwaukee, Myles's parents moved their family to Menomonee Falls when she was ten. There her mother was the first black female principal and her father was Wisconsin’s first black game warden.[1] Myles's grandmother was one of 16 children in rural Mississippi, and was a direct descendant of enslaved people. Myles received a dual bachelor's degree at Alverno College in Community Development and Global Studies.[2]

Music

Myles's father is a blues guitarist, and inspired an early love of music. After college Myles performed as a singer in and around the Riverwest area, getting her start performing at homeless shelters.[3] She also performed at local breweries and jazz clubs.[1]

Book Advocacy

Myles partnered with Penguin Random House to organize a read-a-thon called 'Black Like We Never Left' featuring works by Toni Morrison. Penguin Random House offered Myles a job curating an Instagram platform centered on Black books. The platform was named All Ways Black, based on a suggestion from her husband. It includes chats with Black authors, interactive read-a-thons, and awards galas for Black Bookstagrammers.[4] Penguin Random House reports that the platform has the highest average engagement rate of all their content groups.[5] Myles's video 'Introducing All Ways Black' won for Medium-Length Video at the 14th annual Shorty Awards.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "This Is Milwaukee interview". www.thisismilwaukee.us. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  2. ^ "Cree Myles Artist Profile". riverwestcurrents.org. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  3. ^ "Q & A With Cree Myles". www.milwaukeeindependent.com. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  4. ^ "How one book influencer championing Black authors is changing publishing". www.npr.org. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  5. ^ "Penguin Random House Launches New Platform to Spotlight Black Authors and Stories". penguinrandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  6. ^ "'Introducing All Ways Black' Wins for Medium-Length Video at the 14th annual Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.