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After Johnson, 52, struggled to find a jean that fit just right, the denim duchess took matters into her own hands, launching CJ by Cookie Johnson, a premium jean enterprise catering to real women with curvaceous figures, in 2009. The wife of basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson aligned herself with the best in the denim business: Michael Glasser, founder of 7 For All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity.  Since starting her line, Johnson has made it onto Oprah’s Favorite Things list for 2009 and is available in Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdale's department stores across the country.

All-Star Basketball Wives: 5 Women Who Score Big in Biz

While their husbands make bank shots on the court, these enterprising brides make business moves you can bank on

All-Star Weekend is in full swing. What other way to celebrate the occasion than with…

By Janel Martinez

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Ntozake Shange on Embracing YOUR Power

The Legacy Award honoree shares her journey to becoming a Woman of Power

Long before filmmaker Tyler Perry turned her most famous work For Colored Girls Who Have…

By Tomika Anderson

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WATCH: LisaRaye McCoy Opens Up about Love, Marriage and Money

The 'Single Ladies' star on lessons learned and how to move forward after a tough divorce

After what was a highly-publicized and drama filled divorce, actress and former First Lady of…

By Kenya N. Byrd

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Buyer’s Guide: Buick Reintroduces An American Car with European Flair

Off the market for a few years, the Regal returns with a few changes and more bang for your buck

Regal makes a strong comeback for 2011 (Source: GM)
2011 BUICK REGAL CXL

MSRP: $29,785 (Base Regal…

By Jeff Fortson

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WATCH: Diddy & Other Grammy Attendees Talk Branding

On hand for the Grammies, BlackEnterprise.com caught up with a few artists & producers about the business of music

Combs discusses branding before being honored by SESAC
Last week the entire music industry converged on…

By Anslem Samuel

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Most may view Nicki Minaj as just another rapper/singer/performer; but the multi-faceted entertainer is much more than that, she’s a bankable brand that’s only just begun to blossom. In a few short years, Nicki has influenced trends through her music and unmistakable fashion sense, and her involvement in cosmetics, television, hair and even the floral industry (Nicki has exclusive pink collection bouquets available on flowers.com for Valentine’s Day) has helped spike sales and visibility for a number of ancillary brands. Whether her detractors like it or not, Ms. Minaj is a one-woman marketing guru. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at some of the brands the young starlet has—directly or indirectly—helped bolster by association. —Andreas Hale (Images: Getty)

Nicki Minaj’s Branding Power Decoded

More than just an artist, the rap phenom has built a bankable brand in a few short years that businesses are buying into

Most may view <strong>Nicki Minaj</strong> as just another rapper/singer/performer; but the multi-faceted entertainer is much…

By Andreas Hale

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Hardison is a true Woman of Power (Source: Press)

Woman of Power Bethann Hardison Shares Her Golden Rule of Success

The fashion industry tour-de-force knows a thing or two about wielding power

Having paved the way for the Tyras and the Naomi Campbells of the fashion industry,…

By Tomika Anderson

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Mooz-Lum director Qasim Basir steps from behind the camera and into the spotlight (Press)  	A lot goes into making an independent movie. Beyond securing budgets (or the lack thereof), talent and equipment, it takes a lot of patience and perseverance to actually see a screenplay go from just words on a page to a finished reel. Still, the best most indie filmmakers can hope for are a few screenings on the film fest circuit and critical acclaim, but that wasn’t enough for writer/director Qasim “Q” Basir. 	Not only did Basir get to complete his first feature film, Mooz-Lum, but the 30-year-old Michigan native secured an all-star cast—including Nia Long, Danny Glover, Evan Ross, Roger Guenveur Smith and Dorian Missick—and a direct distribution deal with AMC Theatres for his independent picture. Promoted primarily through social media and word of mouth, Mooz-Lum, which took home Best Narrative Feature honors at last year’s Urbanworld Film Festival, garnered so much public support that Eventful reached out to Basir about distributing the film along with AMC, which is virtually unheard of for a non-mainstream project and a first-time feature director. 	“Eventful has worked with films that have been part of a studio and AMC has too,” Basir explains. “But there hasn’t been an independent film that’s had Eventful.com as a primary marketing partner and literally we open in the top 10 cities that demand the film.” 	Thanks to this groundbreaking distribution deal, Mooz-Lum, which tells the coming of age story of a young Muslim American man trying to find a balance between his faith and the secular world, opens today (February 11) in limited release. In the midst of drumming up moviegoer turnout for opening weekend, Basir sat down with BLACKENTERPRISE.COM to share tips for aspiring filmmakers looking to get their film on the silver screen. —Anslem Samuel

5 Keys to Success for Independent Filmmakers

Writer/director behind the critically acclaimed film Mooz-Lum tells you how to make movies by any means necessary

<em>Mooz-Lum director Qasim Basir steps from behind the camera and into the spotlight (Press)</em> <ul>…

By Anslem Samuel

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Host Marc Lamont Hill (center) with the esteemed State of the Union panelists

Photo Gallery: Our World’s 100th Episode

Reminisce with Black Enterprise as we go behind the scenes of the taping of Our World's landmark episode

<em>Host Marc Lamont Hill (center) with the esteemed State of the Union panelists</em>

<em>Rev. Al Sharpton…

By BlackEnterprise.com

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This Week on Our World: Join Us As We Celebrate Our Landmark 100th Show!

Join host Marc Lamont Hill for a review of the issues, people and topics covered in this monumental episode

Join host Marc Lamont Hill for a fascinating review of the issues, people and topics…

By BlackEnterprise.com

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