By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Amid rising censorship of school curricula nationwide, Black Education Station (BES) is ensuring young people have access to safe, culturally-relevant educational content. The streaming platform curates shows created by Black educators and experts that cover fundamental topics, like addition and subtraction; animals; colors; entrepreneurship; nutrition and African and Black history.
Through its programming, BES strives to create a space where Black children can take pride in their identities and realize their potential.
“Black Education Station is a streaming service dedicated to the education and the empowerment of young Black children ages 0 to 10,” said Hotep Benzo, CEO of BES. “Imagine if ‘PBS KIDS’ and Martin Luther King Jr. had a baby, that’s Black Education Station.”
Benzo, a former teacher, is somewhat new to the CEO seat at BES. He got the tap on the shoulder to take over the position a few months ago, but his connection to the platform stretches back years. Benzo was first brought on as an education consultant and later became one of BES’s core creators with his show, “Black Lion and Cubs,” an anime series that quickly became a staple on the platform. The show equips viewers with empowering lessons on confidence, self-esteem and cultural pride through the adventures of a father and his two “cubs.”
Benzo said he was initially hesitant to take over as CEO. He worried about stepping into a leadership role at a time when public media and equity, diversity and inclusion efforts are facing political attacks and funding cuts. But, he said after talking it over with his wife and a few colleagues, he knew he couldn’t let a temporary presidential administration stop him from seizing the opportunity.
Unlike most children’s media companies, BES is entirely Black-owned, Black-led and sustained by its community.
“Not only does Black Education Station vet and curate its own content, there are also no commercials,” said Benzo. “This is not a network that is corporately-funded. There are no investors. Decision-making is not swayed by corporations.”
The platform intentionally avoids relying on corporate dollars or government funding, protecting its content from censorship or outside influence.
“We can be clear that we’re not going to allow any administration or anyone in politics to play politics with our children,” Benzo continued.
That mission helped draw Candice Avery, director of community relations for BES, to the organization. As a mother and education consultant, she said the need for culturally-relevant and -affirming media for Black youth was clear to her.
“Representation and access to truth are critical to development. At a time when so many aspects of Black history and identity are being removed or rewritten, BES provides a vital space where Black youth can see themselves fully as intelligent, creative and capable beings,” said Avery. “The platform allows us to preserve our stories and amplify voices that might otherwise be silenced. More than that, it gives our children permission to dream without limitation and to take pride in their culture and heritage.”
Families interested in accessing the platform can subscribe directly at https://www.blackeducationstation.com/. BES is available on streaming devices, like Roku and Apple TV, and can also be downloaded from major app stores.
Avery said being a part of BES, and watching families embrace it, has been an honor. She’s excited to see how the platform will continue to shape the next generation of Black youth.
“I believe Black Education Station is more than entertainment— it’s empowerment through storytelling,” said Avery. “Every show, every character and every message is intentional. It’s about creating a legacy of learning that affirms who we are and who we’re becoming.”
