Air date 11/14/2025

Guest: Jacquie Verbal, founder of BlackstackHost: Marlon Weems, The Journeyman

Opening

In this episode, Marlon welcomes Jacquie Verbal and frames the conversation around independent journalism, Black creators, and building durable media outside legacy institutions.

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What Is Blackstack?

* Blackstack began as a Substack publication and evolved into a print-first, creator-owned platform for Black writers.

* Jacquie curates and edits unpublished work by Black authors, helping them grow visibility and audience.

* The project now includes a print magazine, zines, and a growing subscriber base (~12,000).

Why Print Still Matters

* Jacquie argues that digital platforms are fragile—algorithms change, companies pivot, platforms disappear.

* Print creates permanence, ownership, and community connection.

* Zines are a bridge between digital writing and physical media, allowing writers to control their work and distribution.

Zines, Workshops, and Ownership

* Monthly zine workshops teach writers how to turn newsletters into physical artifacts.

* A new membership model allows creators to sell their zines, retaining ownership.

* Core philosophy: Black writers should not have to surrender control of their stories to publish.

Substack as a Growth Engine—and a Risk

* Both discuss how the Substack app dramatically expanded discoverability, especially for Black writers.

* Marlon breaks down Substack’s business model:

* Revenue tied to paid subscribers (10% platform cut).

* Rapid growth in paid subs → rising valuation.

* Recent funding rounds signal a likely future IPO.

* Upside: growth, tools, audience.

* Risk: dependency on a platform ultimately owned and controlled by powerful investors.

Valuation and Creator Power

* Marlon draws parallels between Blackstack and high-profile creator exits (podcasts, newsletters, media brands).

* Key point: Small, independent creator businesses have real enterprise value.

* The lesson isn’t envy—it’s strategy.

Media Gatekeeping & Double Standards

* Sharp critique of legacy media:

* Stories buried (Epstein/Trump).

* Ethical failures are excused when profitable.

* Questionable figures are elevated while serious Black work is ignored.

* Discussion of how Black journalists are held to higher standards while others are rehabilitated for clicks and book sales.

Memoir, Memory, and Why Documentation Matters

* Marlon reflects on his memoir and doubts about traditional publishing.

* Jacquie pushes back: documentation is resistance.

* Black history, Black institutions, and Black firsts must be recorded—especially when institutions won’t do it for us.

Closing Theme

The future isn’t asking for permission.It’s:

* Owning your work

* Building parallel institutions

* Creating value where none was “supposed” to exist

As Jacquie puts it, the goal is not just to be seen, but to leave receipts.