Make Black History Everyday: Devonte Wong-Wai

This is Devonte Wong-Wai (Wong-Why). He is literally one of my oldest friends! I've known him almost 15 years and I'm super happy to feature him! Devonte gives back to the community in more ways than one! Devonte is the host and creator of ChiinoTv, a talk show introducing the world to the underground movers and shakers in music and art. And if he's not simply making us all laugh on social media, he's making every summer "the best summer ever" as a camp counselor of a non-profit organization. That's a lot of Black History to cover! Lets get started!

How did ChiinoTv begin ? Why not a website or blog? Has videography always been an interest of yours?

CHiiNOTV began so randomly. One day I just said I wanted to do something on video; have interviews, record videos where I give my input on what's going on in the world, that kinda thing. Obviously I ended up with just doing interviews (for now). I didn't really want a website for the simple fact I really didn't want anything but videos. I thought about a blog. Actually, a blog may be coming soon. Stay tuned. Videography is not really what interests me. It's the whole interview, and sitting down and getting to know the person that interests me.

What was/is the mission for ChiinoTv? Has it been fulfilled?

The mission for CHIINOTV is for anyone who is upcoming, (may it be a music artist, comedian, actor, public figure, etc,) to have an interview or a behind the talent kind of thing for their portfolio. It slowly but surely is being fulfilled. I have gotten a nice response to all of the interviews I've conducted to the point where people are constantly asking, "When is the next one? Who are you going to interview next?" With that I have to add, my show is my hobby. It's something I picked up as an activity to do on my down time. At this point in my life, it's not a career path but you never know. And SHOUTOUTS to everyone who's ever watched an interview and to everyone who's waiting to be interviewed, it's coming.

You highlight many underground movers and shakers in music. What does music mean to you?

Music is literally how I got by most of the tough times in my life. I loss my brother in 2004. He loved music just as much as I. That year alone I may have listened to more music than most listen to in a life time. No joke. Nine times out of 10, no matter where I am, I have headphones in listening to music. My managers and professors hate me. I'm a huge fan of underground music. I like mainstream, but it's like sometimes you get tired of it. I hear it on the radio. I hear it at the club. I hear it everywhere. Underground music is dope. Underground artists get my upmost respect because they give their all into this music life. The culture really grabs my attention on a day to day basis. I love it.

A lot of people don't know the meticulous work that is required of you when you're the face and part of the team behind your brand. What was your biggest obstacle?

First and foremost, they DONT. My biggest obstacle was getting people to pay it any mind. I'm a pretty popular guy (not to toot my own horn) but I always think "How do I get them to watch these interviews?" I pretty much took my outgoing personality, and just promoted it and thankfully people have tuned in. This is not easy at all. Right now I'm working solo. I haven't filmed or released an interview since my last one which featured the late Jeffrey Gamblero. It's not easy to follow up from that interview. But I have to give a huge shoutout to Bryan Garvey aka Caine. He really was behind the project for all interviews and visuals. He was my co producer. It was literally just us. He's a great guy and great at what he does. I'm in the process of transitioning to radio, but saying that, I've said too much. Stay tuned people!

I saw on Instagram that you're connected with Radio Personality Angela Yee. How did that happen?

It's weird actually. Im probably the biggest fan of the Breakfast Club radio show on Power 105.1. I'm a huge fan of Charlamagne tha God and Angela Yee. They are two of my inspirations for what I do. I would always tweet Yee and she always replied. We've had multiple convos before we actually became friends so to say. Then she followed me on Twitter and DM'd me inviting me to an event she was hosting. I went, and enjoyed myself although I knew no one. We exchanged numbers and the rest is history. Networking is the Key to success in this industry. People think that hard work alone is going to get them far. No. You have to get out there and connect with other people. This is why a lot of talented people just don't make it.

Aside from ChiinoTv, you also work with Camp Tommy of the Fresh Air Fund. So you're a talk show host/philanthropist! Tell us about that.

Well, I recently parted ways with the organization. No bad blood. New management and they wanted to start fresh. The Fresh Air Fund is a non profit organization that hosts inner city youth ages 9-15 every summer. The main part of the organization is the sleep away camp portion. There are 5. I worked at Camp Tommy, the greatest. At some point I feel like everyone should give back to their community and this is the way I chose. I went to Camp Tommy as a kid and had the best time. I worked four summers and I know I achieved my goal. All I wanted was for these kids to know what a fun summer vacation was, even if it was only one time.

Have you ever had to choose between ChiinoTv and Camp Tommy?

Not really. Camp was work and my show is a hobby so you see how that plays out. Time management is super important though. If you're a busy person, you have to - and I cannot stress it enough - balance your time. You'll drain yourself at a young age. My biggest technique in time management is to set reachable deadlines. Always pick a time when you want to finish your task, that way you know how to maneuver.

When you're not doing ChiinoTv or Camp Tommy, what do you do?

I'm honestly a regular guy. People base my life off my Instagram for some reason. On Instagram I'm always out, socializing, and having a good time. My usual jokes and photoshopped pictures are there just to get people laughing. Shoutouts to Nicki Minaj for liking my picture! If I were to post EVERYTHING I do on Instagram people might get tired of me. I'm a college student. I'll graduate sometime this year. Not sure if end of this semester or December. I work very hard. My parents appreciate that but then sometimes they worry I'll tire myself out. I'm good yall! One thing people don't know is, I read a lot. And I mean a lot. For the year alone I've read about 11 books. If I'm home and I don't have anything to do, I'll watch the Investigation Discovery channel all day. Or if I'm lucky, I'll catch a Law & Order SVU marathon. It's gotta be SVU!

What does "Make Black History Everyday" mean to you?

First let me say, I hate when people complain black history gets the shortest month and ONE month at that. That's what's written on paper. If I host an event or something in May, that's Black History. If I change a part of the world, that's Black History, no matter when I do it. People forget to realize women didn't have rights at a time. Women of all races. They get one month and they don't complain, they embrace it and continue to make history no matter the month. That's what Black History Everyday means to me. We anticipate things to come for the next day or week, month and year. We don't know what's going to happen. Something as small as me doing CHiiNOTV or working at the Fresh Air Fund is me making Black History everyday. My father always told me "History is in anything you do. You'll make a peanut butter & jelly sandwich today and tomorrow it won't come out the same. That's because yesterday's sandwich is now apart of history".

Any last words?

I'm just here so I won't get fined. Lol. Honestly if you've gotten to this point I want to be the first to say never stop chasing your dreams, whatever they may be. They're YOUR dreams. Do what makes you happy, put God first and let life do what it does. Evelyn, thanks for having me and keep it real.