Being the largest borough in the city, Brooklyn naturally attracts a lot of attention and has become a hub for cultural tastemakers, community gatherings, and folks looking to have a great time.
The Lay Out has been able to tap into that community, hosting events across the city that celebrate Black joy and pride. Their most recent event for Juneteenth attracted thousands of visitors to Fort Greene Park, celebrating the 159th anniversary of Freedom Day. The joy, pride, and sense of community were palpable, offering a space where attendees could freely express themselves without the need for code-switching or censors.
Birthed as a response to the social unrest of 2020, The Lay Out has continued its practice of celebrating Black culture and creating spaces where Black people feel safe, seen, and loved. In this exclusive interview, we explore the founder’s journey growing up in Nigeria, moving back to Houston, attending a PWI, and relocating to Brooklyn where everything begins to take root. Creating something during a global pandemic is not easy, but Emily has done it and continues to show up for her community.
This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.
The Knockturnal: How did your experiences growing up in Nigeria influence your understanding of community and identity, and how have these insights shaped your work with The Lay Out?
Emily Anadu: I was actually born in Houston, but then we lived in Lagos, Nigeria through sixth grade. Going to an international school in Nigeria for the majority of my formative years definitely shaped my identity and the way I think of community. While I had an awareness of race prior to living in the US, I grew up very focused on nationality and tribe. Race was not the top of mind. I then spent 6 years in Houston prior to undergrad in what I now know was extremely segregated.
By the time I went to Dartmouth College, I was one of 50 Black students in my undergraduate class of 1,000. I viewed the world through a racial lens, focusing on how to hold onto community as a minority in New Hampshire.I even won the Dean’s Prize, awarded to the senior who made the most significant impact on student life. That spirit has extended through my career in video games and sneakers and eventually to The Lay Out. I needed a sense of community at one of the hardest times in this nation’s history so I worked with friends to create it.
The Knockturnal: What were some of the initial challenges you faced in bringing The Lay Out to life, and what are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of?
Emily Anadu: Honestly, bringing The Lay Out to life wasn’t the hard part; keeping it sustainable has been the challenge. The first Juneteenth celebration in 2020 cost about $150 for a sign, some hand sanitizer, and masks. Hosting a free event for over 8,000 people is very expensive, with cleanup and security alone costing close to $20k. As The Lay Out grew, it couldn’t remain a part-time job for me. I created additional programming like The Wash Out and The Make Out, established partnerships, crafted 179 decks to tell our story and get brands behind us, and expanded our small Black-owned business initiative, BuyBLK. ByBLK.
In 2023 alone, we worked with over 180 Black-owned brands and had one weekend where over 100 brands vended at two markets at Brooklyn Navy Yard and Atlantic Terminal. Despite NYC’s Black population being about 22%, we only own about 3.5% of the businesses. Economic opportunity is critical to our community.
The Knockturnal: What strategies do you use to intentionally create safe spaces for Blackness, and how do you ensure these spaces remain welcoming and inclusive?
Emily Anadu: One of my strategies is partnering with brands and corporations that support The Lay Out’s “Joy Ecosystem” of Black expression, social impact, and cooperative economics. For example, we partnered with DIAGEO for our event with Crown Royal, ‘The Joy Hour,’ celebrating Black joy and emphasizing collaboration over competition. We had two Black-owned bars—one local and one from another part of Brooklyn—working together, and DJs playing without set times for a continuous flow of music. This approach ensures our events are about celebration and building community bonds.
By prioritizing authenticity and mutual support, we create welcoming and inclusive spaces. DIAGEO’s dedication to supporting underrepresented communities and advancing social initiatives made them the perfect partner for our Juneteenth celebrations.
The Knockturnal: This past Juneteenth, The Lay Out organized a major event in Fort Greene Park. How did the community respond to this celebration & what impact did it have on reinforcing collective joy?
Emily Anadu: It’s still humbling to see how positively the community responds to our celebrations, especially Juneteenth, our largest event. For the past three years, our celebration has coincided with Father’s Day, turning it into a true family reunion. People come together joyfully and meaningfully, reinforcing the collective joy and unity central to The Lay Out’s mission. The event highlights a pivotal moment in history when all Americans took a step toward freedom, fostering pride and belonging within the Black community. It’s a powerful reminder of our community’s strength and resilience and underscores the importance of creating spaces to celebrate our heritage and future.
The Knockturnal: Reflecting on Kendrick Lamar’s line, “They not like us,” how does The Lay Out emphasize unity and collective support within the Black community?
Emily Anadu: The Lay Out takes Kendrick Lamar’s line to heart, emphasizing that our strength lies in unity and collective support. We create spaces that foster connections and encourage collaboration over competition, building a community where everyone feels valued and supported. Our events celebrate Black culture and joy, bringing people together to share our rich heritage. Whether through the brands in our BuyBLK. ByBLK. markets or our DJ community, we are family, knowing that our collective success is rooted in unity.
The Knockturnal: How has the community responded to the creation of these intentional spaces, and can you share any specific stories or feedback of The Lay Out?
Emily Anadu: The community has responded incredibly positively to these intentional spaces. Two moments stand out to me. First, the simplicity of a woman twisting a man’s dreads amid thousands of people—she felt at home, and he found comfort in tending to his locks. Last Juneteenth, I helped a couple coordinate their engagement. It was a surprise for her, and I’ll never take for granted how meaningful it was that such an important moment in their lives is tied to an idea I brought to life with the community. These moments motivate me to keep creating spaces where Black people feel safe, valued, and joyful.
Photo: Courtesy of The Lay Out/Vonecia Carswell
The Knockturnal: What advice would you give to young people or aspiring activists who want to create change in their communities?
Emily Anadu: My advice to young people or aspiring activists is to stay true to your vision and values. It’s essential to understand the needs of your community and to create spaces and initiatives that genuinely address those needs but just as equally feed your soul. You cannot build for a community if you are not building for yourself and finding joy in each day. It is NOT easy and can often feel thankless and lonely. You have to know you have a greater purpose and reason to be able to sustain yourself.
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