Reclaiming Our Genius: The Fight for Black Women's Creative Ownership

Tonight, I decided to rewatch The Matrix for the millionth time. This film is a classic in its own right, filled with layers of meaning and timeless messages that continue to resonate with audiences. As I watched, I couldn’t help but reflect on something I learned a few years ago: that The Matrix was allegedly written by a Black woman, Sophia Stewart. At first, this claim didn’t seem far-fetched to me at all, especially after I read about how Stewart’s work was said to have been copied by the Wachowski brothers, who went on to create the blockbuster film. I even watched several of Stewart’s interviews, where she discussed not only her writing of The Matrix, but also her involvement in the creation of The Terminator movies. Her ability to weave herself into the story and speak so confidently about her creative process deeply intrigued me.

As I reflected more, I thought about how society has yet to fully acknowledge the brilliance of writers and creators who fall outside the "white constructs" of mainstream culture. It's one thing to ignore or marginalize their contributions, but it's another to steal their work, erase their contributions, and profit from their creativity without offering due credit. In the case of Sophia Stewart, the situation felt even more egregious, as her ideas and stories were “white-washed” and sold to the masses, while she was left to fight for recognition.

This isn't just about me, a Black woman, believing that Stewart’s story is true; it's about the audacity of a society that refuses to acknowledge the incredible talents of Black women. There’s this systemic belief that Black women aren’t capable of such high levels of creative genius, and that belief often manifests itself in the way our work is appropriated. When I read more about Stewart’s legal battles over her intellectual property, it made me think about the larger issue: how do we, as Black women, begin to protect our art and our gifts from being stolen? How do we ensure that we, not others, profit from the originality and brilliance of our own creations?

For me, it was never a question of whether Sophia Stewart wrote The Matrix. The sophistication and depth of the narrative—its exploration of themes like artificial intelligence, reality, and human freedom—required someone with a profound understanding of storytelling and philosophy, someone with a gift. That level of insight is not easily replicated. But the bigger question is: how do we make sure that women like Sophia Stewart are recognized for their work from the very beginning? Why wasn’t she compensated properly when her ideas were first selected? It’s a painful realization that the system is built to exploit Black women’s creativity while denying us the wealth, credit, and respect we deserve.

The truth is, we need to radically rethink the way we do business—especially in creative industries. No one should profit more from the origins of our art than we do. And yet, too often, Black women are pushed to the margins while their ideas are co-opted and monetized by others. It's a systematic issue that extends beyond entertainment and permeates every industry that benefits from Black culture and labor. Whether it’s music, fashion, literature, or film, society consistently profits from Black women’s contributions without compensating us fairly.

The solution lies in rethinking how we protect and position our creativity. We need new frameworks that allow Black women to keep ownership of their work and ensure that we reap the rewards of our ingenuity. For young Black girls who are destined to be the creators of tomorrow, we need to show them that they have the power to claim their space in the world and demand respect for their ideas. We must teach them how to safeguard their intellectual property, how to negotiate fair contracts, and how to build businesses that reflect the true value of their gifts.

The message is clear: we must prioritize the empowerment of Black women, particularly in business and creative industries. We must stop allowing others to profit from our labor without offering us our due. It's time to place a heavy price on our creativity and make sure that we, as creators, are the ones who benefit most. The system needs to change, and it starts with us. By centering our talents, protecting our ideas, and refusing to let anyone else profit off our work without fair compensation, we can begin to shift the narrative and ensure that the next generation of Black women creators is fully supported and recognized.