The George Washington University community kicked off its Black Heritage Celebration (BHC) with an engaging keynote discussion by internet personality and actor Demetrius Harmon, who brought depth and humor to the event on Saturday night.
Students gathered in the Betts Theatre to hear from Harmon, who first gained fame through his viral Vine skits and has built a massive following of millions across social media platforms over the years. His talk kept with this year’s BHC theme, “The Blackprint: It’s Been Us.”
While he continues to create hilarious skits to entertain his audience, Harmon has also used his platform to open up about his struggles with mental health, becoming a powerful advocate for others facing similar challenges. He encourages vulnerability and self-expression, using his story to normalize conversations around mental well-being.
Harmon is the founder of You Matter, a clothing brand dedicated to celebrating the inherent worth of every individual and embracing the complexity of the human experience.
Ryan Titus, a senior studying history and museum studies, and Clarke Gilmore, a senior studying psychological and brain sciences, introduced the event.
“Demetrius Harmon is a singular and vital voice in the mental health advocacy space,” said Gilmore. “Through his own experiences with depression and suicide, he’s channeled his struggles to create social change. By sharing his journey openly with his nearly 3 million followers, he brings much-needed visibility to mental health issues and uses his platform to uplift others.”
Kalah Neal, a junior double majoring in international affairs and political science, moderated the discussion. She asked Harmon how his background and personal experiences shaped his career.
Harmon explained that his parents both had entrepreneurial spirits, which inspired him to embrace creativity early on. He began posting content when social media was still in its early stages, not expecting it to turn into a career.
“I was just having fun, and it worked,” Harmon said. “It wasn’t planned. And really, it was more of a hobby at first.”
Neal asked what advice Harmon has for those in college who are considering pursuing a more non-traditional route to kickstart their careers and pursue their dreams.
Harmon shared an analogy about driving in the wrong direction. He explained that when you know you’re off course, the longer you delay changing direction, the longer it takes to get to your destination.
“In your heart, you know you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing,” Harmon said. “You just need to turn around. The longer you keep going in the wrong direction, the further you get from your purpose.”
Harmon acknowledged the fear that often comes with pursuing your dreams but reminded students not to let that fear hold them back from taking risks and finding their true calling.
Neal asked what advice Harmon had for students who juggle a lot of things and may struggle to prioritize their mental health amid all their responsibilities.
“You have to have real balance,” Harmon said. “You can’t do anything if you’re not okay. And you can’t guilt yourself for taking a break. If you don’t take a break, your body will make you. You can’t show up fully if you’re not taking care of yourself.”
Harmon advised finding something that helps you feel at peace to recharge. For him, it’s watching movies.
“I can turn my worries off when I’m watching movies,” Harmon said. “Take yourself out of your world for a second and just breathe. Finding what brings you peace is different for everyone, but you’ll know what that feels like for you.”
Harmon ended by emphasizing the importance of community, encouraging students to uplift one another and reminding them that they have the power to achieve whatever they set their minds to.
He said so many people count themselves out from pursuing their passions because they don’t even try or give up too soon and said there’s power in perseverance.
“You have to wake up and be grateful to get another day,” Harmon said. “I have a tattoo on my hand that says, ‘Try again.’ That might seem like defeat or like you lost, but it’s a blessing to be able to have an opportunity to do something over again. You never know where trying can take you.”
