Today we’d like to introduce you to Karlton Humes.
Hi Karlton, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well, It all started back in the 90s, 00s, and 2010s as a church kids who was grew up in church and was at every service we had! Preachers’ kids know exactly what I mean! I would literally sit in service not knowing that I was observing at the same time! I just thought MY church and the guest churches we visited did these particular things in church. Black people have the BEST church hands down.
Fast forward to 2011, my freshman year of college on the campus of University of Arkansas AT Pine Bluff. I was a FRESH 18, coming in as an Art Education major. I knew I wanted to teach art because I could draw, that was it! That same year social media became this BIG thing and then apps were starting to come in place. Of course, we had Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo, Tagged, etc., but there was a NEW app in town by the name of “VINE”. It was a big deal! Vine was this platform that allowed creators to upload/create videos within six seconds that looped!
I started “doing it for the vine” got my content out there with the help of friends on the yard reposting and liking. At the time I was doing “Ratchet Girls Be Like” and other random things I could think of! Soon, the numbers were rising and my name was starting to speak for itself. After a while, another app was introduced by the name of “Instagram”. Keep in mind the Instagram was only for pictures. No videos, stories, LIVE, nothing! I was on both at the time.
One day, Instagram decided to update and in that update was video. They gave us fifteen seconds—nine more seconds than Vine did! People began migrating and creating videos here. After so many years Vine came to an end and was deleted by its creator.
I kept doing the same videos and made them longer because of the time I had. My parents caught on to what I was doing, enjoyed them, but they didn’t like the fact the I was using bad language as often as I did. I remember my dad telling me “What you’re doing is fine, but kind of remove some of the cursing or find something else to be funny about!”
I sat there and thought what could I possibly do to be funny that no one is doing that I would break the internet? That’s when the church parodies started.
I would record videos daily! One day I came in from class, I sat on the bed and asked myself “What church stuff could I do?” And I remember seeing Karen Clark Sheard “Balm in Gilead” on VHS as kid and the nostalgia it had! So as a college student I took what I had as far as costumes, microphones, etc., to complete this video. I create the video, upload to Instagram, and BOOM it goes viral, and the rest is history.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? No, it has not been! This life isn’t for the weak! You must be strong minded and willing to take risk! People are going to say mean things to harm you, belittle you, and turn you down. Don’t let that determine your next move. KEEP GOING!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I do, is what I do! I’m a ONE-MAN band. I play about 6-15 characters. I produce, edit, and direct all of my content. I’m an actor, influencer, entrepreneur, and comedian! Everything is done on my iPhone. Yes, I know! You thought I had equipment? Nope.
Many know me my from church skits, but don’t box me in. That’s a dangerous thing to do!
I create content for the church people but also take real life world situations and combine them so everyone relates.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising that people may not know about me is, that I actually sing and draw! I’m not all wigs and costume! I have many talents.
When it comes to singing, I’m very terrified and shy. Once the mic is in my hands, that’s a different story. Just don’t put me on the spot.
Now, with drawing—there’s no shyness to it! I have art that I’ve created and illustrated that is located on the walls of my home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://backtobanks.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/notkarltonbanks?utm_medium=copy_link
