Gerri Major: The Original Influencer Before Instagram

In the age of Instagram aesthetics and TikTok trends, the term “influencer” conjures images of curated feeds, brand collaborations, and jet-set tours. But long before hashtags and highlight reels, Gerri Major was shaping public taste, elevating Black excellence, and building networks of influence through words, wit, and visibility. Born Geraldyn Dismond in 1894, Gerri Major made her mark not through selfies or sponsored posts but through stories that celebrated community, culture, and connection. In many ways, she pioneered what we now call influencer culture, decades before it had a name.

✨ The First social media — Black Society Columns

Before social media existed, Black newspapers and magazines were the central platforms for visibility. As the society editor for The New York Amsterdam News, and later as an editor at Ebony and Jet, Major documented Harlem’s most elegant events, elite gatherings, and cultural shifts. Her column, “Society World,” wasn’t just gossip, it was storytelling with purpose. She spotlighted weddings, galas, civic meetings, and new businesses, positioning achievement and sophistication as acts of resistance in a segregated America. If Instagram influencers use captions and photos to curate identity, Gerri Major used her column to curate dignity and aspiration. Each article was a post, every event a feed update, and every profile a feature in a living timeline of Black progress.

💼 The “Judge Tours” of Her Era

Today’s influencers go on brand trips and getaways where creators showcase lifestyles and promote products. In Gerri Major’s Day, those “tours” were society circuits and professional conventions: the NAACP meetings, the Harlem Renaissance soirées, and civic club gatherings. Gerri moved effortlessly through these spaces not as a guest, but as a judge of culture. Her presence lent credibility to events; her words shaped reputation. When she attended and wrote about a gala, it gained prestige. When she profiled a figure, they gained legitimacy. In a world where Black success was often ignored, her coverage validated excellence much like today’s influencers validate brands through exposure.

🧠 Influence with Intention

Unlike many modern influencers who chase clicks, Gerri Major used visibility as a form of empowerment. Her “brand” was built on:

• Representation: Showing the world that Black success and style were everywhere.

• Education: Encouraging civic engagement and professional growth.

• Connection: Weaving a national network of readers who saw themselves reflected in her work.

In an era when mainstream society excluded African Americans from its narratives, Major created a parallel world of influence one rooted in authenticity, community, and pride.

🔁 The Legacy of Authentic Influence

Today’s creators can learn from Gerri Major’s approach:

1. Curate with purpose: Every post or story should add meaning, not just noise.

2. Use visibility to uplift others: Influence grows when it benefits your community.

3. Document culture don’t just consume it: Be a storyteller, not just a participant.

Gerri Major didn’t need a ring light or an algorithm. Her influence came from the power of her platform, her network, and her voice. She built what we now call a personal brand through journalism that celebrated identity, beauty, and excellence on her own terms.