Realizing that he had only been exploring one facet of his career, Thomas involved himself with VH1’s Save the Music Foundation and his childhood church. But just when he expected music to remain the focus of his career, the Chicago native discovered the ice cream business.

This summer Thomas is set to release Sexscene Ice Cream, a frozen dessert brand for adult and mature audiences only. Breaking down the transition from making music to ice cream, the “so emotional” singer opens up to BlackEnterprise.com about the hardships of the entertainment business, his latest album, Conquer and path to life’s creamy pleasure.

You were introduced to the entertainment world in 2000 with your debut album, Emotional. How have you managed to stay relevant to your fans for more than a decade?

People have seen so little of me, it’s hard to get sick of me. I haven’t really worn the audience out. [And], I don’t take it so serious. Music is something that is very serious to me, but the act of doing it has to entail a lot of fun for me. I always promised myself that when I stop having fun that’s it. As long as I’m enjoying myself while I’m giving myself to people musically, then I’ll always feel I have a future in this—there [will always be] another level for me to take my musical passion to.

Not including your most recent album, Conquer, there was a four-year gap from your last album until now. What kept you away and what’s brought you back now?

Some things happen for no rhyme and no reason. There’re a lot of things that go into why someone isn’t here anymore. There are a lot of details and a lot of circumstance, and although I’ve been the victim of many circumstances, none of those circumstances were strong enough to keep me away from the fans. I think that once you decide amongst yourself as an artist that who you’re here for and why you’re here… you can pretty much fight through anything.

There was a point when I was literally recording a song a day, and then it got to a point [where] I was recording one song a week, and then it got to a point where I was recording one song a month. Now, I’m back to the pace of recording a new song every two days. It just kind of organically happened that way so I can sort of feel the music taking precedence.

Despite having dealt with “situations,” you seem to still have maintained a level head. What’s kept you grounded?

You have to see light at the end of the tunnel if you’re really built for this [industry] and you really want to keep doing it. And might I add, you definitely could stand having the grace of God on your side because at the end of the day it’s nothing more than God’s grace that continues to allow me to relate to people. Grace represents such a thin line between where you are and where you could have been. And a lot of people, not just artists, don’t recognize that.

Here’s one of the smartest concepts that was ever taught to me: E + R = O. Now the “E” stands for the event factor, life’s events that come at us on a daily basis; on an hourly basis; on a minute-to-minute basis. Life’s events that we cannot control are the “E” factor. The “R” factor stands for the response factor. That is the part of the equation that you can control. And the “R” factor determines the “O” factor. The “O” factor stands for the outcome factor. One thing that exceptional people have in common is the “R” factor… how they respond in control to what they cannot control; how resourceful they are when something has been taken away. It follows on any level of life.

Click here to continue reading…

While music is still a part of your repertoire, you’ve broken out into a new and unexpected field as an ice cream maker. How did you make that transition?

It’s called Sexscene Ice Cream—something that is definitely marketed towards adults and mature audiences. It’s just a multibillion-dollar industry that I wanted to tap into. Music has been able to create a lot of wonderful opportunities for me that I’ve been able to take advantage of, and it’s just a testament that if you stay faithful to what you love then it will draw your other dreams. One dream attracts the others.

How long has Sexscene Ice Cream been in the works?

About a year in actuality, but there’s a lot more business involved in the distribution of something like that. It was just as much about a learning experience as it was the passion, so I’m really thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to learn as much as I have during the development stages of this project. So right now I’m about to lean myself on public opinion.

Where are you looking to distribute the brand since it’s an adult product?

We have our own distributor and we’re going to start small, at 7-Elevens, and things of that nature. We’re going [to] put out small orders [then] get into some of the larger chains.

So from a business perspective, what else are you looking to get into over the next few years?

When you’re younger you just focus on one facet, and that’s really the only thing that you have your sites set on. When you become comfortable with that, you’re gift starts to make room for other things. I have been involved in everything from VH1’s Save the Music Foundation to getting heavily involved in the home church that I grew up in all the way to Sexscene Ice Cream. My focus now is really starting to gear towards music.

For fans of your music, what can they expect from your Conquer album?

It’s in stores right now and is one of the most interesting projects that I’ve ever been a part of because I think it’s the furthest that I’ve ever reached back into any of my influences, ever. I reach back to being a kid, watching MTV with the moon man. There are a lot of influences in this album that I’ve never tapped into before but I’ve always loved and have been very much a part of. The album is on Verve Universal Records, and the title Conquer is somewhat of a culmination of many things I’ve been through and been blessed enough to see the other side. Like you were just talking before about artists that don’t really manage to obtain longevity, a lot of them go through problems and go through obstacles and they really can’t see music on the other side.

Looking back on your career, do you feel you are where you imagined yourself being at this stage?

That’s a hard question for me to answer because I was so wild when I was younger that I didn’t really have a concept of where I wanted to be or would be. And I know that sounds funny, but my life up until the point where I turned 30 years old was, Let’s see if tomorrow comes… I’m going to close my eyes right now. Let’s see if they open in the morning.

Abiola Abrams, the founder of AbiolaTV.com/Abiola's Passionista Playbook

• Blog: AbiolaTV.com
• Niche: Relationships/Sex/Lifestyle
• Founder: Abiola Abrams
• Twitter: @AbiolaTV

Putting one title on Abiola Abrams is simply impossible. The proud Caribbean and Harlem-based owner of AbiolaTV.com does it all. What started off as an online hub for interview and opinion videos developed into a multi-platform mini-empire that includes books, TV appearances and product lines. What drives her? Passion. That mission statement is embodied in her site tagline: “Life is not a passive experience. It’s a passionate one.”

Abrams’ motivation is to encourage women to live their best lives everyday. Her “passion” has also lead her to publish two books (one of which, The Official Bombshell Handbook, hits stores soon), be a lifestyle expert on the CW’s Bill Cunningham talk show, pen regular advice columns for Yahoo Shine and contribute to the teen site Gurl.com. Despite having monthly traffic of 30,000, over one million YouTube hits and 14,000+ Twitter followers, Abrams is still humbled about her success. Now, as part of BlackEnterprise.com’s Black Blogger Month, she discusses the business of running a passion-focused site, the importance branding and what drives her passion everyday.

The difference between blogging and vlogging is…

Like magazines to TV. It depends on the approach that a blogger/vlogger takes. I do a mix of videos from those that are highly produced—shot with two cameras and edited—to those that are just me and a Web cam. A few years back I had a great conversation with Melvin Van Peebles. I asked his advice about knowing what needs to be said and in which medium. He said to let the work dictate the medium, so some things may be a book others a blog, Web series or film.

The secret to making good TV and keeping segments from getting stale is…

Realizing that, yes, blogging and vlogging are a business but I am at service to my readers and viewers. My blog is about passionate living. So it all comes back to that. My objective is to build passionate living as a brand the same way that Martha Stewart built home keeping as a brand. She took cooking, gardening and home design and combined them under the home keeping banner. I am doing the same with “passionate living,” combining love, sex, dating and relationship advice with food, parties, empowerment, self-love affirmations and inspiration.

People trust my brand because…

A few years ago folks were calling me the “Black Carrie Bradshaw,” which I rejected as being sort of ridiculous. I am a Caribbean chick living and loving in Harlem, sharing my successes and failures. If I can have a fabulous life and help my sisters at the same time, then all is well. I say all the time that my whole reason for being is to help others know that they can live a big, fat, fun, juicy life. Carrie doesn’t eat curry chicken and struggle with her weight and student loans and the media telling her that Black women are doomed every time she turns around!

My best branding method is…

A combination of transparency and living out loud. It was very scary at first because I talk about self-empowerment but I also talk about love and sexuality. Those things are scary to talk about when working in Black media. But I realize and learn every day that the more comfortable I get, the more doors open.

Click here to continue reading…

The biggest mistake I’ve ever made in business…

Was building my platform on other platforms first and then my own second. I think it should be the other way around. In 2008/09 I was blogging and posting videos for Black Planet at Interactive One and they were incredibly supportive. I built a base there of several hundred thousand “friends.” But when that platform fell out of favor, we lost our people. So I learned that it’s critical to build on a home base that you own even if you contribute to other places.

Also, viewers and readers need a call to action if you are looking to build a platform or monetize. That was another mistake that I made, not giving a call to action. It can be as simple as telling readers to subscribe or sharing a product that you think will benefit them—where you can receive a commission for providing that service. If your blog is a business you need to have a constant “call to action.”

I think the most important thing to consider before launching a blog is…

To focus [more] on finding your voice and revealing your brand than spending money. There are bloggers right now who have been tapped as brand spokespeople for fashion brands after building a blog on the free BlogSpot platform. My blog has been tremendous for me in many ways. It’s gotten me booked to give speeches and appear on TV. One might not view that as direct income from the blog, but you have to. I was a Teen Dating Coach on the MTV series MADE and that opportunity came as a direct result of my articles and video episodes at The Passionista Playbook. When you build a strong platform, then the people you are looking to build with often find you.

In 20 years I see myself…

Sitting on a multi platform empire. As a lifestyle brand, I see myself sharing and having ownership via all of the channels I currently work in and being able to sell my audience products that I endorse and create to improve their lives.

I’ve always wanted to do this because…

I went to an all-girls prep school in NYC where I was one of the few Black kids. To make matters worse, I grew up in an “outer borough.” One of my old classmates reminded me that when we were teens I told her that I wanted to write books like Maya Angelou, host TV like Oprah and make movies like Spike Lee. Although my voice is markedly different from those great people, and I would never put myself even close to their category, I feel like that’s what I’m doing in my own way. Different voice, different mediums, but the same objective that I started with.

I measure success by…

The ability to impact lives. It means so much to me that some of the most hard boiled folks get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to say, “Abiola, I may not have been listening that day but your words impacted me. You influenced my life in a positive way.” The other way that I measure success is as a businesswoman and entrepreneur. In the beginning I saw myself only as an artist: author, filmmaker, broadcaster. Now I see myself as a businessperson. My blog will be the base of the empire I plan to build going forward.

Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on toBlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.

Watch below as Abrams reveals the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of AbiolaTV’s success.

Video shot and edited by Brain Food Film. Shot on location at the 40/40 Club New York.

Catch reality star Lala Anthony on this weekend's edition of Our World with Black Enterprise

She’s one of reality TV’s most well-known faces, been called “the Queen of New York,” and is married to NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, but that doesn’t begin to fully cover the life of La La Vazquez Anthony. This weekend on an all-new Our World with Black Enterprise, host Marc Lamont Hill gets down to business with the Brooklyn-born, Howard educated star of VH1’s La La’s Full Court Life to talk life, love and what’s coming up this season on the show. (See preview below.)

Love it or loathe it, reality TV is America’s guiltiest pleasure. This week Our World goes On The Record with roundtable guests Bevy Smith, journalist Clay Caine and Associated Press editor Alicia Quarles to answer the burning question: How real is reality TV? Plus, meet international soccer star Qiana Martin, who is inspiring inner-city youth with the world’s most popular sport.

Our World with Black Enterprise airs this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on TV One and on local stations across the country. Check your local listings and visit www.blackenterprise.com/ourworld for additional time and station information.

Liquid Soul Media CEO Tirrell Whittley and CMO Nick Nelson

Before some of Hollywood’s hits make it to No. 1 at the box office they have to first go through boutique lifestyle marketing agency, Liquid Soul Media (LSM). Founded by CEO Tirrell Whittley and CMO Nick Nelson, the award-winning agency has mastered integrated multicultural marketing campaigns, resulting in approximately 13 No. 1 box office films and over 80 film and television properties, collectively generating over $1 billion in revenue.

The road to such success for LSM is one of transformation as the company began as an online radio destination, before morphing into providing new media services for clients and in 2005 changing course to focus on marketing films. With credits including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 and Part 2) and upcoming projects such as Dark Knight, the Jackie Robinson biopic, 42 and NBC’s fall line-up, LSM remains one of the most relevant gatekeepers to the multicultural audience. Whittley and Nelson spoke with BlackEnterprise.com about their marketing strategy, fighting to represent the value in markets of color, and why international marketing of African-American films may not be as relevant as you think.

LSM has a very strategic approach to marketing. Please walk us through those steps from A-Z.

Whittley: Internally, we do research to understand the psychographics and sociographics of consumers. It’s about understanding our audience through audience analysis, profiles and strategies. Then, we go into lifestyle segmentation and identify what is it about them to make them care about the product. From there we dig into the associations that audience may have and how they may accept the product and messaging. Finally is the affinity factor: why are they going to like this project? What is the unique selling point? Then it’s about making the conversion and action we want them to take, whether it’s a ticket sale or ratings.

You have the marketing strategy down to a science. However science is not always 100% accurate. So what surprises have you experienced as a result of your strategy that perhaps opened up an audience you may have never thought existed?

Whittley: Sometimes what we bring to the table are audiences that our clients don’t see. With Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, we talked about the father/daughter relationship. The studio recognized it but they think fathers and boys but we convinced them that if you overlook the father you’re not looking at the total family. So we developed a program, which led to a box office hit. We partnered with Ed Gordon’s foundation; Daddy’s Promise and involved 100 Black Men of America to create father/daughter film viewing experiences. That demonstrated that fathers mattered too and here is how you compel them to take part even on a princess film.

Do you feel a responsibility to prove that films with people of color as the leads can hit a general market and not just its niche target?

Nelson: Yes, it is very important. Think Like a Man was mostly Black and it hit wider. So you have to make a film feel bigger and wider. With the Black audience, the biggest piece is investing into that audience. We over index in television watching and going to the movies; we are hungry for content and people that look like us.

Isn’t there an assumption amongst studios that you don’t have to cater to the African American market and that we will automatically come running once we see a person of color in a trailer?

Whittley: It works both ways. We work on a host of general market films and tell the studios because there are no Black or Brown faces doesn’t mean that cross cultural message won’t resonate with diverse audience. With Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows we did their first Africa -American outreach because even in its final installment there was still a fan base they hadn’t spoken to.

Click here to continue reading…

LSM CEO Tirrell Whittley and CMO Nick Nelson

It sounds like it’s still a struggle to convince studios that markets of color are valuable.

Whittley: It’s a daily struggle because there are not a lot of network or film executives that look like us and are advocates. So we engage with the executives to provide inside information, studies and research that confirm the audience is hungry for this information. Even with the successful evidence of films like Think Like a Man, Red Tails, or The Help, they are still hesitant. They are used to the same formula of film and television and many of them are now challenged to step outside the norm. It makes them scared. So we have to provide a level of confidence that this audience wants this content and if you give a proper message you will get returns.

Speaking of The Help, some accused the film of playing into racial stereotypes. What is your strategy when dealing with such sensitive projects?

Nelson: Studios want to know what groups may take offense so that we can be proactive and not be so reactive. We also identify advocates. With The Help, we got advocates early on in the campaign that understood the film and knew that the story was part of history and it was not derogatory. Lastly, we identified people with a passion for the film who helped spread the word and influence others to get them excited. So that momentum overshadows the more controversial aspects of what you’re dealing with.

In a previous BlackEnterprise.com interview with Datari Turner, he noted that African American films don’t do well overseas because there are no systems in place to market them internationally. Do you agree with this view?

Whittley: I think there is a good point there but we focus on the domestic market and can’t state the validity of it. Many domestic films have proven they can generate revenue. When you’re doing films with a $100 million plus budget you absolutely need the international market to deliver a return on investment. Many urban films are below $50 or $20 million and you don’t need an international audience to still see revenue. I do think the next phase of urban films is to figure out the international landscape and how to move films throughout Europe, Africa and Asia because Black culture is very influential from Brazil to Japan.

The Avengers has had major success. Although your company didn’t work on the project what do you think they did right?

Whittley: They built the right scenario by getting out stories independently and pulling all the characters together. It allowed people to connect in multiple ways. By watching Samuel L. Jackson throughout all the films it gives a common thread to know something big was coming. They put together a fantastic roadmap.

Nelson: One thing that was noticeable was the amount of exposure it had in the general market and in targeted spaces in with African Americans and Latino. They were able to get into specific sectors.

What are some of the best ways that you suggest studios utilize social media?

Nelson: The biggest piece is social media. Whether it is Instagram, Facebook or Twitter it is their ability to put together intriguing digital promotions and game assets. In summer months we are not in front of the television, we are on mobile devices. So it is about integrating and coming up with creative ways and different promotions like text to win or trending topics. It is not 1 to 1 it is 1 to 10,000.

Interested in seeing A Streetcar Named Desire live on Broadway? Log on to BroadwayOffers.com or call 212 947-8844 and use the “ASFLY79″ discount code to get 35% off the regular ticket price. Offer valid on select performances and seat locations. Restrictions may apply.

Shot and edited by Chapter3.tv

Christian Law, founder of Fresher Than Chris (Image: Carl Chisolm)

Blog: Fresher Than Chris

Niche: Men’s Fashion/Style

Founder: Christian Law

Twitter: @FreshChrisLaw

On the runway of fashion blogging there is a plethora of coverage for the ladies, but few sites dedicated strictly to men’s style. Helping to fill that void is Chris Law, who runs Fresher Than Chris. From his base of operations in Brooklyn, NY, the 29 year-old offers fashion coverage and education for plus-sized men, those on a budget and those seeking a medium ground between jeggings-tight pants and overly-urban Timberlands. Thus far Law’s sartorial advice has won him recognition as a finalist for Best Style and Fashion Blog by the 2009 Black Weblog Awards and a feature in the February 2012 issue of Ebony magazine. Now, Law, who’s looking to add interactive elements to his site and launch a clothing line in 2013, shares his style, blogging and business insights as part of BlackEnterprise.com’s Black Blogger Month.

I started blogging because…

I love men’s fashion and wanted a platform to discuss menswear for all. I wanted to teach men how to dress better and present fashion and style to them in a way that didn’t make them feel uncomfortable.

My biggest influences are…

Tom Ford and June Ambrose. Although they are not bloggers, I respect their talent, their drive and their consistency. They’ve also perfected the art of using one lane to get them to many other lanes; be it Tom Ford, who started in design and that has expanded to writer and director. Those qualities help you to be a better blogger and are the reasons I’ve done well to date.  For blogging, while I respect and am a fan of a lot of blogs, my influence in terms of blogging is the general public.

Fresher Than Chris stands out because…

I’m not just taking pictures of myself in cool clothes in SoHo streets. I’m providing true education through fashion editorials, with designer spotlights and so forth.

The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…

Taking a job I wasn’t passionate about. It was styling an up-and-coming hip-hop group.

What I learned from that was…

I can’t fake the fresh. I didn’t believe in the project and thus my styling wasn’t the best. The financial payout wasn’t worth it. I do my best work for things I believe in. Align yourself with projects that you can be proud of, not projects that pay a certain amount.

I define “fresh” as…

A strong sense of style that catches your eye and is worth talking about in a good way.  Fresh is about putting your best foot forward and always presenting yourself in the best light.

I realized blogging was a business when…

I read in Black Enterprise that The YBF.com creator [Natasha Eubanks] was making at least $1 million a year.

Networking is important in the digital space because…

It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. Networking is important because business is all about relationships.

Click here to continue reading…

The biggest lesson I learned about branding in the digital space is…

Be the best you can be. You never know whose paying attention. I’m always tweeting little comments about fashion, about ways to dress better or why [something] didn’t work.  Someone from Ebony contacted me based on the response received on my timeline and wanted to know more about me. That led to the Ebony feature. Also, I’ve booked recent gigs and features on other blogs from people who weren’t following me, but were paying attention.

I measure success based off…

Recognition and the ability to do more work.

The secret to making a heavyset man fashionable is…

The secret is not approaching it differently from any other sized man. Size should be used as your guidelines, not a limitation.

The best way to stand out among a sea of men’s fashion blogs is to…

Find your voice and why readers will connect with you. Present that in the most authentic and creative way possible.

The best piece of business advice I ever got was…

“You clearly have the vision, now it’s time to do the work.” Tim Gunn gave me that advice during a chance meeting at fashion week my first year in New York City.

In business, you should you never be afraid to…

Ask for help.  While I don’t believe in handouts, I do believe in using your network. A lot of times the answer you are searching for is literally at the fingertips of a colleague or peer. I’ve never been afraid to ask for help.  Whether it’s an intern I need to hire, whether it’s a PR company who has a client I really want, or if it’s other bloggers, I have no problem asking for help.

My advice for anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps is…

Be genuine and be who you are. No one likes a phony, no matter how well dressed they are. Be focused. Don’t let what you’ve heard deter you from what you want. I don’t fit any of the stereotypes a man in fashion is supposed to be; yet I’m here, building a career in the industry I’ve always wanted.

Also, build a team. No one can reach their dreams without one. Even if it’s some friends, get a team that can help you make it.  You can’t be good at everything and that’s why you need some other people to help.

If I weren’t blogging, today I…

Wouldn’t be relevant. So I’d be doing my best to get there.

Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.

Lovette "Luvvie" Ajayi, founder of Awesomely Luvvie

• Blog: Awesomely Luvvie
• Niche: Pop Culture/Lifestyle
• Founder: Lovette Ajayi
• Twitter: @Luvvieig

Lovette “Luvvie” Ajayi would rather make fun of life than complain about it. It’s this mantra that’s found the 27-year-old dishing 50,000 unique visitors a month with a heaping of laugh-your-butt-off pop culture commentary on her blog, Awesomely Luvvie. And whether it’s roasting a celebrity or roasting herself, Luvvie’s mission of extinguishing day-to-day stress with humor never wavers.

Live for six years, the Chicago native’s blog has gone from pastime to fulltime, gifting her with opportunities far beyond her browser’s wildest dreams. Most notably at this year’s 84^th Academy Awards, where along with Afrobella, Luvvie was selected as one of two brown bloggers to receive first-time red carpet and backstage coverage access, an honor solely based on her click appeal. Yet, recognition was knocking even before the Oscars came calling.

In 2009, Awesomely Luvvie won Best Humor Blog at the Black Weblog Awards and has never been bumped out the ballot since. But don’t think the e-queen is stuck on snark appeal. In addition to saluting the side-eye flag, Luvvie is also the founder of Red Pump, a nonprofit organization devoted to kindling HIV/AIDS awareness amongst women of all generations. Now, as part of BlackEnterprise.com’s Black Blogger Month, Luvvie shares how her blog got so awesome.

I started blogging because of…

Huny Young’s blog, which was my introduction to the blogosphere. Her blog was just about her life and so interesting to read. In 2003, when I was in college, I started blogging on Xanga to basically chronicle my random adventures as an undergrad. But 2006 is when I started my current site, AwesomelyLuvvie.com. The switch happened when I graduated from college. I wanted to start fresh because I felt like I outgrew Xanga. I began to write about more than my life and had things to say about the world around me.

My biggest influence as a humor writer is…

Angela Nissel. Her book The Broke Diaries really showed me that I can do this and do it well. I have so much respect for her.

My biggest influences as a blogger are…

Fresh of Crunktastical because she’s one of the few other Black humor bloggers and she’s so hilarious with it. Folks try to duplicate her style but they can’t match it. And I love Angel Laws of Concrete Loop because she’s my age and has really shown that blogging can take you far when you stay true to yourself.

It’s important for me to maintain an honest voice in my writing because…

For me, it’s everything. I love that people who know me read my blog and say, “I can hear you saying that.” I can’t put out content that doesn’t feel genuine to me and I can’t duplicate anyone else’s writing style. It won’t be “Awesomely Luvvie.” It’d be “Terribly Someone Else.”

Click here to continue reading…

Awesomely Luvvie stand out because…

It’s chock full of foolery and ratchetness in the voice of a superb side-eye artist! But really… I think what makes my blog stand out is that I write like I speak. My take on a lot of what’s going on in the world is really authentic to how I feel and my sharp tongue and love of side-eyes seems to appeal to folks. People tell me that I say what they want to but are afraid they can’t get away with. Plus, I still value the craft of writing well. I use spell-check, when I’m not making up my own terms and words, that is.

I realized blogging was a business when…

Companies and brands started reaching out to me on some, “We love your site and we’d like to partner with you” steeze. I was like, “Me? Really?” GAP reached out to me to become a brand ambassador and I love that store. And then I started monetizing by putting ads on my sidebar and a few coins dropped in my bank account every month. I was like, “Oh, snap!” [Laughs].

The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…

Probably me not monetizing [the site] sooner; I don’t think I had ads until 2009. I had a fulltime job then and wasn’t in a hurry to get more money. How foolish of me?

What I learned from that was…

One can never have too many streams of income.

The biggest lesson I learned about branding in the digital space is…

It’s important to know that your brand is really how you make people feel and in this digital space most of that comes from your words. How folks perceive you are based on your blogs and your tweets can make a huge difference in how far you go as a blogger. Laughter is part of my brand and it makes me happy to know folks see my eCrib as a space that can make them smile. In this world—and especially online—there’s a lot of hate that makes us all frown. The fact that folks know they can come to Awesomely Luvvie and get a cackle is my prize.

The Black blogosphere’s impact on social issues is powerful because…

The Black blogosphere often turns important issues from whispers to yells. We kick off conversation that grow until they are heard by the people who need to. In the Trayvon Martin case, a lot of us took to our blogs and Twitter accounts to talk about it. We RT’d the petition and used our platforms to make sure people know about it. And this is why I love us. We’re not just fluff. We can make an impact and we do.

In business you should you never be afraid to…

Pay it forward to someone else. The knowledge and lessons you’ve learned in business can make someone’s path a bit easier than yours is. Share your lessons… especially women. For girls to really run the world, we’ve got to start supporting each other more. Trailblazers leave a trail. They don’t erase it as they go along.

The advice I have for anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps is…

Do work you’re passionate about and have a blog that you’d like to read, even if you weren’t the person behind it. Be authentic and stay true to your voice.

The most awesome thing about me is…

I look like a cartoon for real [Laughs]! Folks meet me and go, “OMG! That avatar is you!” But besides that, I’m just a smiley writer who folks find hilarious. And my locs are luxurious. My blog is awesome because it’s entertaining, funny, snarky, and a well-written version of the person I am. It’s me in print.

Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.

BlackEnterprise.com talked to the candid McMillan about why she’s no longer phased by critics, why she doesn’t have beef with Mr. and Mrs. Smiths and the perils of book publishing technology.

BlackEnterprise.com: We think it’s awesome that you’ve chosen to co-host Anguilla’s first annual Black Lit Fest. Why do you believe the climate is right to bring together Black writers?

Terry McMillan: It’s always a good time to have a large presence of African-American writers, which I think it will help draw attention to the the desire and need for more [talent] as well as interest in our work. I strongly believe in up-and-coming authors. A lot of writers’ conference around the country [attract] the same writers that frequent them and they’re always White. They have an amazing tight-knit group and they meet at different conferences throughout the summer and have been doing it for years. Now it doesn’t mean that they try to avoid African-American writers; but it’s a club. You can count on one hand how many of us participate. So having these kind of festivals is an opportunity to discuss the state of publishing, our roles and where we fit into it all. Also to offer some kind of tips about writing, and how to approach their work, among other things.

BlackEnterprise.com: And what does the festival offer you?

McMillan: First, I like the written word. It’s not often [black writers] get together under the same roof, by the same sea. Also, I like hearing from and being around young writers because it’s inspiring and exciting. There is an exchange that can happen that I find can be very healthy. I know people might think I’m this best-selling author, but I like being able to paint a realistic picture for new writers. I take it very seriously because their voices and stories matter. I like knowing where young writers heads are and what’s important to them.

BlackEnterprise.com: One of the seminars you’re co-hosting is “Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Literacy.” Why are these essential?

McMillan: If you can’t read, you can’t write. It puts a lot of road blocks in your path. There are so many kids getting promoted from sixth to seventh grade and they don’t know the difference between a noun or verb. There is power and liberation in knowing how to read and express yourself orally or in written form. If you can’t do that there are very serious disadvantages and it’s obvious that all you can probably do is ask people, “Do you want fries with that?” It has a lot to with how you [perceive] yourself and what role you can play in this world. In this google age at least know where to look. If you can’t comprehend the most simplistic things it has a negative affect on your life. It’s one of the reasons why years ago literacy among our community was encouraged because if we couldn’t speak English, read or write we were socially disadvantaged.

BlackEnterprise.com: Knowledge is power! Well, you’re also offering tips on honing your craft. As an established writer, how long did it take before honing yours?

McMillan: I don’t know if I’ve arrived and got it all figured out. Right now, I’m employing a technique and device that require a certain amount of skill and it’s the only way I can tell the story. So I think you challenge yourself and continue to grow indifferent ways as a writer. Again, my interest is always to help a lot of young people take the craft seriously, get them to understand what is required and how to honor and respect their own voices so they don’t try to sound like me or Toni Morrison.

BlackEnterprise.com: While your committed to nurturing new talent, have you ever felt pigeonholed as a writer?

McMillan: No, because I write the stories I want to write. I don’t think about critics when I’m writing a story—that’s the last thing on my mind. I don’t write to please, I write to understand things that I find perplexing. More than anything else, because my work has been popular, [the critics] want to dismiss me and have called my work ‘pop fiction,’ which really used to get on my nerves; but now I really don’t care. Pop fiction is pretty formulaic and I don’t write by numbers. I know what my voice is and I know how to tell a story. It bothers them that my work has been popular, so they don’t want to take it seriously because I don’t sound like Virginia Wolf, Faulkner or Hemingway, who wrote in voices [suited] for the times in which they lived and for who they were. I write in my voice. I’m not trying to imitate a literary bag of ticks so you have to decipher what the hell I’m tailing about as if there’s more value in that.

BlackEnterprise.com: Your not just an author, you’re a brand. When you think about the future of your brand, what is your ultimate goal?

McMillan: I don’t really think about that. What I want to convey to these young people is that I did not know Waiting To Exhale would create such a storm, and then on top of that it would become a movie. I didn’t know any of that stuff was gonna happen. You can’t plan that. You can’t project your own success. Maybe had I received my MBA in Goldman Sachs well that’s a little different, but anything you do that you have to create is organic. I’m not trying to sound cute or anything but I think one of the reasons it did so well was because I wasn’t preoccupied with it doing well. It’s simply what I do–sit in front of the computer thinking about the people I’m writing about.  What I find disconcerting is when someone’s approach to writing is the hope that they can make a living. When I first started writing I didn’t know anyone, even very few White writers, making a living. Even when I wrote How Stella Got Her Groove Back I knew it would sell because they buy everything, but the entire book was written as an internal monologue—thoughts in her head—and I knew they couldn’t pull that one off as a movie. Think again. So again, I don’t think about that kind of thing as far as branding goes.

BlackEnterprise.com: Are there any young writers you’re mentoring?

McMillan: No, I get asked that a lot. It’s really hard to do because most of writing is about reading. Last week on American Idol, they were saying this is the best show ever. I stopped watching it like a year ago. It got on my nerves so all I do is The Voice—I turn my back while I’m at the stove and I can tell whose record I would buy. When it comes to talent, you either have it or you don’t. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become good at anything, especially in the arts you have to give it your all. Nowadays people are so impatient and everyone wants to get rich. It’s like, “Show me the trick, show me some short cuts. I want to have it just like you Ms. McMillan.” And that’s what I want young writers to know, that I much prefer to have longevity than fame. I’d rather have an impact than fame because fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

BlackEnterprise.com: You’ve always been honest and outspoken about a range of issues or topics from how Will and Jada Pinkett Smith raise their children to independent book imprints publishing trashy tell-alls. Do the perils of fame and stardom ever compromise your freedom of speech?

McMillan: My criticism was based more on my fear of [Willow and Jaden Smith] losing their innocence and childhood at such a tender age.  I respect both of their parents. I hope always to be outspoken but I have to be careful what I say so that it’s not misconstrued.

BlackEnterprise.com: Are there any genre of books that don’t tickle your fancy?

McMillian: Urban fiction, science fiction, horror and espionage books.

BlackEnterprise.com: What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to writing process?

McMillan: That it’s too bad you can’t get it perfect.

BlackEnterprise.com: Does writer’s block truly exist, and, if so, how do you combat it?

McMillan: Writer’s block is simply fear that you can’t live up to the story you want to tell. Most all of us experience this at some point. Also, when we are so engrossed in our own world that we find it difficult to slip into a fictional one. Sometimes, however, immersing yourself into the fictional world often makes the real one, with all of its problems, seem less burdensome or easier to deal with.

BlackEnterprise.com: How do you feel technology has helped or hurt book sales/promotions?

McMillan: People are spending more money on ebooks, but less on hardcover and paperback. I hope children still get to know what it feels like to turn a page, and, as an author, I can’t sign an ebook. Nor do I want to.

BlackEnterprise.com: What is the best/worst money advice you’ve ever received?

McMillan: The best: Pay your taxes and don’t spend it just because you can afford it. Invest it in something safe. No one has given me bad money advice to my knowledge. I don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t have any.

BlackEnterprise.com: Smartest/Dumbest investment you’ve ever made?

McMillan: Smartest: My education, a few stocks and mutual funds that are still doing well. Dumbest: Savings bonds and a savings account (back in the day!!!!)

BlackEnterprise.com: What do you hope your legacy will be?

McMillan: That I was an honest human being who tried to tell honest and compelling stories about Black people in such a way that was empowering and life-affirming.

For more information on Anguilla’s Black Lit Fest visit http://ivisitanguilla.com/anguillas-literary-festival-accommodations-packages/

Isolde Brielmaier

Born to Austrian and Ugandan parents in Seattle, Isolde Brielmaier always had a strong understanding of various cultures. First falling in love with dance and attending a public school where the arts were heavily integrated into the everyday curriculum, she got the artistic bug early. “I danced very seriously through my early 20s,” Brielmaier says, “and always tried to balance that with being a good student.” But while attending high school in Germany, the long-term performer decided she no longer had an interest in pursuing dance full-time. Instead, she chose to become a full-time student of history and sociology at New York’s Columbia University and spent her spare time at the Dance Theater of Harlem and Alvin Ailey’s dance studio. However, it was her courses in art history that would become a major component in her life and career.

Curating small exhibitions in the SoHo section of New York, Brielmaier was eventually asked to teach at Vassar University. What was supposed to be a one-time thing turned into a five-year career as a visiting professor. In the past, Brielmaier advised athletes and entertainers in purchasing contemporary art, but she now operates as the as the chief curator of SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). Today she also curates international art exhibitions in the SCAD community and beyond. BlackEnterprise.com sat down with the art guru who broke down the top five things to consider when looking to break into the world of art.

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Support What You Love: Black Culture
Understanding the importance of artistic expression in the Black community, Brielmaier describes the No. 1 way people of color to invest in and give back to the arts is by supporting the culture. “[SCAD] does a lot of outreach not only to our own students, but to the broader community living in classes that might not have full-blown art programs and access to the kind of work we have,” she says. “We have the Walter O. Evans [collection]; it’s one of the top African-American art collections in the country. I’ve come in on my weekends to take students through. You’re building little art enthusiasts in a way.”

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Don’t Just Buy, Give Back

Noting that museums are not the only place where art lives, Brielmaier explains the importance of understanding the impact of art institutions, and the to support both monetarily and physically—just as anyone would do with their alma mater. “Institutions are not getting the financial support that they were getting [before] the economy [was] really rough,” she says. “And by that, I mean support our cultural institutions. If you have the means and the time, join a board, and if not, go to an institution and inquire if they have a young contemporaries group or a young collectors group. It’s a great way to meet people; to build a community in the arts; and really get in on the backend and see behind-the-scenes. I think is key. It’s a great way to start moving into other realms of art if you’re interested in investing.”

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Get to Know Experts in the Art World

Driving home the relevance of getting involved with an institution or art group, Brielmaier reiterates the need to know an institution and the benefits offered when doing so. “When you’re just starting out, joining a museum or a young collectors group is one of the best ways to go: A) You get invited to all their events, including their exhibitions and all of their openings and B) You’re also in the mix with people of like mind where information starts getting exchanged,” she says. “You also get to go to events and exhibitions where artists attend. You can work with an art advisor or art consultant, and they can open up their Rolodex and take you to galleries and set up appointments and they will assist you with successfully purchasing the work. And they’ll buy the work for you with your money.”

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Only Buy What You Love

There’s a big difference between a piece that’s worth $400 and $40,000 besides the price, but that can be hard to determine for a novice. That’s why Brielmaier stresses the importance of being knowledgeable about what you’re buying and why. “If you spend a lot of time collecting, it’s really nice if you like the work,” she says. “That’s hard for [people] in business to wrap their head around because they want to know, ‘Well, what’s the return on the dollar here,’ and oftentimes if you’re talking about a blue chip artist like an Andy Warhol, you don’t know, especially with some of these younger contemporary artists.” Brielmaier suggests researching an artist from exhibition history to where he/she went to school before making a purchase. But ultimately, “Go with what you like. It has to have that appeal to you, particularly because it’s going on your wall.”

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Know a Bad Investment When You See One

Brielmaier notes that it would be hard for any one person to say one art purchase is worse than another because all purchases are not based on ROI (return on investment). “I don’t want to say what’s a bad investment,” she says, “but what I would not recommend is jumping blindly into something, particularly if you’re talking about purchasing a work that’s very valuable.” Hesitant to ever tell anybody what not to buy, Brielmaier continues, “If it’s $400, to some people that’s a lot of [money] but when you start getting into really high [numbers] ask around. Look at the work, don’t just look at that work by the artist but look at the range of work to see if there’s some kind of continuity. And think about buying from a reputable gallery or someone who’s reputable—it could be an individual—but someone who has a history and relationship and has a reputation. Cover as many bases as you can before you take the plunge.”

Wayne Bennett, founder of The Field Negro (Image: Shareif Ziyadat )

• Blog: The Field Negro
• Niche: Social/Political Issues
• Founder: Wayne Bennett
• Twitter: @fieldnegro

There’s something to be said about being so passionate about a subject that you get kicked off a blog for commenting too much. Wayne Bennett didn’t let that closed door stop him. Instead, he took his views and launched The Field Negro, a no-holds-barred space to duke it out over politics and race. A lawyer by day, the Philadelphia native has cemented himself as a voice to be heard, even if that means pissing some folks off. The disclaimer on his site is clear: “The views expressed on this site are the field’s and the field’s alone.” Bennett isn’t alone because his site receives 80,000 views a month. With that kind of traffic, Bennett could easily earn some serious cash but has decided, for now, not to have ads on his site. “Money is nice,” he says, “but being able to speak my mind is better.”

Since launching in 2006, The Field Negro has been awarded numerous times, winning several Black Weblog Awards—including Best Political News Blog in 2007 and again in 2009 [Judges Vote] and 2011. Bennett’s also been featured in the LA Times, New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer. Now, the opinionated scribe is recognized as part of BlackEnterprise.com’s Black Blogger Month for his work in the digital space.

I started blogging…

After getting booted from another African American website (I won’t put her on blast) for being too “outspoken” in the comments section. I vowed that I would start my own blog and look down on her on my way up. Also, I love to write and I am very opinionated.

The Field Negro is unique because…

I try to be honest with my readers no matter where it leads, and I like to think of my writing style as being somewhat unconventional. It’s actually an acquired taste. My comments section is also different from most Black blogs because I don’t censor anyone. I get a lot of heat for it because invariably the storm front people always find me because of my handle and my position with the Google search engine. They make the vilest and most ignorant comments you can imagine. Still, I think it’s important to put it out there so that folks can know what they are dealing with in our so-called “post-racial” country.

People trust my brand because…

They know that when I write, I write from the heart. I am not afraid to be honest with them and take unpopular positions.

The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…

Trusting others to do the work I should do myself.

What I learned from that was to…

Do as much by myself as possible; even if it means that I have to work harder

I realized blogging was a business when…

I met the young lady who started Bossip [Marve Frazier] and I learned how much she made in a year. And then there was Arianna Huffington selling her company to AOL for $315 million.

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It’s important for the Black blogosphere to use its voice to speak out on topics like Trayvon Martin because…

The mainstream media will not do it for us. They won’t focus on our issues because they don’t think that their audience cares about our issues and so it’s not profitable for them. We have the luxury of not having to worry about our bottom line and profit margins as much, and so we can put stories out there that others ignore. We don’t need traditional media platforms to reach people anymore, which is a beautiful thing.

The average American isn’t as active in politics as they should be because there are…

Too much distractions, and they are too comfortable. If their next meal depended on which political party is in power, like my home country of Jamaica, I guarantee you that they would be more engaged with the process. We need to get kids excited about politics at an early age—and African Americans in general—and make them realize that the only way that they can really change what is going on is to become involved with the political process. People will pay attention to you if you have power at the ballot box.

Herman Cain’s impact on the way mainstream America views African American men…

Wasn’t a good one. He played right into that stereotype of the Black male being this hyper sexed, skirt-chasing, Lothario. The whole thing was sad to watch. Mr. 999 didn’t do us any favors.

My advice for anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps is…

Stay at it and don’t get discouraged. It takes time to start gaining followers, and building a brand. Just write about what you love and write for yourself and they will come. Oh, and keep your posts short. That’s the best advice I ever got.

Next on the horizon for me is…

Hopefully a book deal and a radio gig on the side. Until then I just want to keep building the Field Negro brand.

Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.

Watch below as Bennett’s reveals the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of The Field Negro’s success.

Video shot and edited by Brain Food Film. Shot on location at the 40/40 Club New York.