Meet Christopher Anderson

We were lucky to catch up with Christopher Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resolve to overcome was given to me by my community and their efforts to teach me the history of diasporic Africans. In my part of Michigan, I was blessed to be a part of experiences that showed me that people who looked like me throughout history have been an essential part of progress and the success of America.

I remember spending Saturdays at local community centers learning about Black history and Africa beyond my normal in-school experience of George Washington Carver and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We spent time learning about why the slave trade occurred and how America has always profited off our existence of people of color without giving us just compensation. We also learned of the great local inventors that proved their worth, like Elijah J. McCoy and Thomas W. Stewart. I also was exposed to black art at these community centers, opening my creative mind to new possibilities.

I also can’t forget the African American History Museums and Societies that helped remind our community of what we are capable of. It was an affirmative experience that showed me that perseverance leads to success, when you push to be great.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I have spent my career educating people about technology and working in the media industry. I worked on a locally produced TV show called What’s UP Detroit?, a show dedicated to highlighting Detroit’s artistic, entertainment, and business scenes. In addition, I dedicated my time helping the Ann Arbor African American Festival get more media buzz. This multi-decade old festival at the heart of the old black commerce district in Ann Arbor brings the flavor of Ann Arbor’s forgotten history each June.

I’ve also had the pleasure of working with the University of Michigan’s in house athletic department production team, Michigan Sports Television. One of my favorite moments was getting run over by Tim Hardaway, Jr. after he went up for a lay up, but I got the shot and he was very gracious.

2025 has already had many struggles, but also moments of blessings for me. I have recently been elected to the board of the Academy Award qualifying Ann Arbor Film Festival, exhibiting March 25th to March 30th. I am also the Founding Director of the Ann Arbor Black Film Festival exhibiting on June 7th in collaboration with the Ann Arbor African American Festival. The Ann Arbor Black Film Festival has collected a third more films than the previous year and we are collaborating with more local filmmakers. This show has received great support from a community excited to see gifted people visit our town and share their work. We are honored to add a talented local actress that performed in the film No Sudden Move with Don Cheadle, as a judge for our show. The Film Industry and the Art of Film have always been a passion of mine and I’m pleased that I get to do this work. In college, I founded the filmmakers student organization and I encouraged my fellow students to collaborate and build connections that would benefit them as they moved on to their careers.

I have also been blessed with the opportunity to work with Detroit PBS, Black Tech Saturdays, and other organizations to expand knowledge and opportunities in tech to the kids of my community. Tech and Media are guiding the world, and people of color need to be a part of it. Teaching ha been another passion of mine. I have taught students from age 6 to age 96, and I always tell people you are never too old to learn, if you have a young mind.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Perseverance is Key
We all have something to offer the world and even though we may have similarities, we are all unique. No one truly shares your upbringing, DNA, personal knowledge and interests, and life perspective. That means you offer something unique for every community and/or endeavor you engage with. So keep going, share your vision and talents as a piece of the America pie that truly makes America great. We need you, and with consistency of cause, you will prevail. No one ever won who gave up before the last bell.

Work Smarter, Not Harder, but also Work Hard.
It’s still true, our people have to work twice as hard to get to half the distance of our white counterparts. With the elimination of Affirmative Action and DEI the playing field is even more unequal than it has been in decades. Be confident in knowing that today’s technology offers possibilities that many have not conceived of yet. There is still an infinite amount of ideas, things and techniques yet to be invented. Things that Generative AI will never understand until they are created. Be curious in your field, strive to find legitimately better ways to make good on the goals of your industry. Value your time and use it efficiently, this is where working smarter begins. Gamify your progress being mindful of sustainability and societal impact.

Remember the Multiverse
You are in the greatest Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book in history. The early thoughtful positive actions you make, will yield positive future benefit. The people you support and ally with will help you build and sustain the communities of tomorrow. Set your future-self up for success and make the best choices that help you and the people you care about. Every choice you make leads to the next, can you envision where you would be if you chose different?

My band director use to tell me, talk is cheap and the proof is in the pudding. Show your ability with your actions. Work smart to make your vision become reality, and consistently work hard at it too. Many of your choices can lead you to success, work with purpose and mindfulness to get you where you want to be and build the world you need to see.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Collaboration is power, and I am always looking to work with others to build amazing things. Please connect with me through a2bff.org the Ann Arbor Black Film Festival. You can also email me at a2blackfilmfest@gmail.com.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All images by Chris Anderson.

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