A comedian and mental health advocate kicked off Black History Month programming with a keynote address in the Dorothy Marvin Betts Theatre in the University Student Center this Saturday.
Demetrius Harmon, an actor, comedian and founder of the mental health-focused apparel brand You Matter, spoke to students and faculty about resilience, self-acceptance and the power of community. The event was hosted by GW’s Black Heritage Celebration to launch Black History Month celebrations, and brought together students and faculty to discuss Harmon’s mental health journey, his business and his aspirations.
Harmon said he launched his social media journey in middle school by selling clothes, like hoodies and t-shirts, on Tumblr before transitioning to creating comedic skits on Vine and YouTube, eventually turning his creative hobby into a monetized endeavor.
Harmon said he began posting personal and comedic videos on YouTube as a high school freshman and quickly found an audience. He said over time, his content evolved into a space for inspiration and connection, allowing like-minded individuals to connect in meaningful conversations about mental health, creativity and personal growth.
“I’ve been making content for so long that I kind of got the cheat code where I only got to make people laugh I don’t got to make a skit, I don’t gotta do a ‘pirhana thing,’” he said. “People just like seeing me show up, you know, so like, as long as I show up things tend to work out,” he said.
He said college students have the freedom and time to explore their interests. He said college is an “intermission” before the “real world” where people have time to explore our options.
“The time is always in your hands, you can’t lift nobody else but yourself,” he said.
He said true fulfillment comes from someone doing what makes them happy. He said while that might seem to be oversimplifying, people’s life decisions should ultimately benefit them. He told students to find success before straying in the wrong direction — warning that it’s easier to course-correct early than to make a drastic “U-turn” when it’s too late in life.
“You’ve got the thoughts in your head, like, ‘Am I really living the life I want to live?’ You’re the only person that can answer that, you know what I mean? So you’ve got to be happy with what you’re doing,” he said.
Harmon said true change happens when people look out for one another not just by offering support but by also fostering a space where vulnerability is accepted.
“That just let me know like, oh I don’t just have to make an impact but I can also create a community,” he said.
Harmon said one of his life goals is to start a boys and girls club, a community space for kids to play sports, instruments and learn software like Photoshop. He said more than anything, he wants the club to be a space where people feel free to be themselves and continue learning.
He said his parents’ “entrepreneur spirit” had an active role in fostering his curiosity, granting him access to resources and opportunities to try different things that others might not have had.
“I got in the position I got in because I was able to be curious, as well has having resources on me,” he said.
He said having the time and space to think, explore and try new things was crucial to his growth. He said it is important to hold onto a childlike sense of curiosity and wonder, urging people not to lose their spark of curiosity as they grow older.
By creating this community space, he hopes to encourage others to stay curious, embrace new opportunities and never stop learning, he said.
“I just want to create a space like that, you know what I mean? Where you come try out the piano, your parents didn’t invest money in this,” Harmon said. “This is just a space, it’s free, come and try stuff up.”