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ONE37pm: DaGeecheeGamer is one of the best game streamer nicknames I've ever heard! How'd you come up with it?

DaGeecheeGamer: As most know now, ya girl is from North Charleston, SC, the home of the "Gullah Geechee" people. My family and I are the descendants of the enslaved Africans that were brought to the lower Atlantic coast. My great-grandmother Leizanna Hart (rest her soul) was the matriarch of the family and she was born on Dewey Hill in North Charleston in 1913. She raised a LOT of people in her area, including my mom, my sisters, and me, so the traditions and the culture are embedded in us.

From the way we talk and greet one another, the foods we eat like chewies and red rice, and things like "not splitting the pole" when we walk together, it's all culture. The Geechee culture is one I grew up closest to so I wanted to represent the folks as a creator and pay homage to my people in the process. It always feels so amazing when people come into my stream and they say "Geechee?? Are you from Charleston??" because they know! It's so exciting because they see me and recognize that I’m representing the people who don't get a lot of love, although we've contributed so much to American culture.

ONE37pm: I definitely peep you playing a lot of Apex Legends! So besides that game, what other games have you gotten the most enjoyment out of as a variety streamer thus far?

DaGeecheeGamer: Ah, Apex. Yes, I have a problem lol. But I would say the games I get the most enjoyment out of playing are definitely any choice-based games. I am a big book nerd and I've always loved the choose your own adventure books so to me it’s the same, just more interactive. Telltale's The Walking Dead series is one of my favorites that we’ve played together on stream. The characters are so easy to love (or hate) and the story plays out so beautifully. I’ve definitely shed a tear or two.

I also love learning what choices other gamers have made in the same situations playing these games, and maybe I even get a kick out of the community judging me for my terrible choices lol. I’ve never been big on horror games, but I kind of enjoy playing them on stream, just because I know how much I like to see other people react to horror and I know the people watching me are having a great time watching me do the same.

ONE37pm: What would you say are some of the hardships and benefits that come with being both a female and a Black streamer?

DaGeecheeGamer: The hardships that come with being a black woman in gaming really go without saying. Discoverability is damn near non-existent and the trolls come in droves. You get extra because not only are you dealing with misogynists, you get drama from the racists as well. I imagine the black women creators who are queer have it even harder. It's almost like a multiplier that gets added on when you don't fit the "cis-hetero white male" bill, so it definitely can be hard sometimes.

But I did grow up in North Charleston, SC, so I’m tough and at the end of the day, it's just the internet (for me, for now). A lot of times, people will try to downplay ANY and EVERY accomplishment you achieve because they feel like maybe being a black woman in this space affords you some kind of handicap, but they don't see the hate and the discrimination we deal with on a regular basis. They don't see the conversations that happen when someone approaches you to do business with 30 deliverables and they want to pay you pennies IF anything at all. They don't see the death and assault threats and they think when we call someone out to be held accountable for their behavior, we’re being dramatic for a look.

I will say the benefits that come with being a black woman streamer, though, for me have been the community for one. Nobody is going to ride for a black woman like another black woman and I see that every single day in the content creation space. I have met and worked with some of the most amazing people who have been so supportive and do a fantastic job of representing black women in gaming. I think it's because nobody can understand what we deal with as we do, so when we have a chance to make it easier or just show support in this space, that's exactly what we do.

Another benefit for me that comes along with being a black woman streamer, is knowing that there are people who are showing up to support me that feel SEEN. When I started recording my first YouTube videos, the only other black women I could find were JazzyGuns and AyChristene (who are amazing by the way!) so I’m glad to be able to add my presence to the lineup and hopefully continue to make a positive impact!

ONE37pm: What are some future aspirations you hope to attain at this point in your streaming career?

DaGeecheeGamer: I always say that one of my future aspirations is just to be able to become a household name in gaming and creation. I look at people like XMiraMira, AyChristene, JazzyGuns, Berleezy, and CoryxKenshin and I see the type of communities they've cultivated and what they've been able to accomplish with those communities and their support and I think it's just amazing. I remember when Cory had a charity stream to raise money for clean water in Mali and he CRUSHED his goal like, twice over, and that doesn't happen without a solid community. That is the type of thing I see for myself in the future, and "Geechee Gang" has already been proving themselves to be such a community with all of the love and support that they show constantly.

There are literally so many things I would never have accomplished without them and I’m ever grateful for them. I always said though, that streaming isn't the end game for me. I would love to branch out to other areas of entertainment as opportunities become available. I would like to be able to make music professionally, get into acting and maybe modeling, and DEFINITELY voice acting! I’m waiting for the day, but in the meantime, I’m just continuing on perfecting my crafts so I can be ready to show up when the calls come!

ONE37pm: What are some essential pieces of advice you think every up-and-coming POC and female streamer should know?

DaGeecheeGamer: My advice to any up-and-coming streamer that fits into a "marginalized" category is to BE YOURSELF! Stay authentic because when you try to fake the funk for a few views, it will get very hard to keep up with the look and in the end, you’ll find yourself stuck and unhappy.

I’m sorry to say, but the hate WILL come. Don't take it to heart and don’t let it dictate how you move and how you feel about yourself. You will always be enough. Don’t forget - know your worth, charge double, and make sure you add tax to that bih!!

Be sure to holler at DaGeecheeGamer on her TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, and YouTube. And tell her we sent you!