Black EnterprisePhotos » Black Enterprise http://www.blackenterprise.com Your #1 Resource for Black Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Small Businesses Sat, 26 May 2012 00:39:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 PHOTOS: Black Enterprise’s Best in Show Awards at CTIA Wireless 2012 http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/black-enterprise-best-in-show-awards-at-ctia-wireless-2012/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/black-enterprise-best-in-show-awards-at-ctia-wireless-2012/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 20:00:12 +0000 Marcia Wade Talbert http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=195543 At the 2012 International CTIA Wireless Conference in New Orleans, Black Enterprise presented its first-ever Best in Show Awards to nine device and software manufacturers, including companies like Samsung, Western Digital, and Novatel. The winners were picked with the help of the Black Enterprise Tech Advisory Board, which includes Mario Armstrong, Ramon Ray, K.T. Bradford, Sherry L. Smith, Jeffrey L. Wilson, and Terrance Gaines. Winners had to be an exhibitor at the show or nominated for a CTIA Emerging Technology award. Tell us in the comments below, and on our Facebook page, if you agree or disagree with our choices, and let us know who you think is the best in show among all of our choices. Congratulations to our winners! Smartest Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3 As smart phone manufacturers go, the men and women at Samsung must be geniuses because the Galaxy S series keeps getting better and better. The Galaxy S3 has so many great features it's hard to say where to start. There's the 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen display, and the multitask feature that lets you continue to watch a video while texting, but the S Beam has got to be the best feature in my book. It allows you to place two S3's back-to-back and you can transfer pictures, music, videos and more. Most Accessible Storage Device: Western Digital Portable Drives We chose Western Digital's next generation My Passport portable hard drives, which range from 500 GB to 2 TB, not only because of their cool and groovy new colors (they are now available in five colors: white, black, silver, blue, and red), but also because the new My Passport drives offer WD SmartWare automatic backup software and WD Security for password protection and hardware encryption. Not to mention the peace of mind you have in knowing your data is safe even if your drive falls into the wrong hands. Handiest Mobile Accessory: The J5 Create JUC600 Android mirroring cable In addition to file transfer and charging capabilities, the JUC600 lets you connect your mobile smartphone to your computer and control the phone from the computer. This means you can now send texts, as well as open apps like your calendar and contacts without having to use your tiny onscreen keypad. This display mirroring works on any phone with a MicroUSB 2.0 port. It's compatible with Android devices of version 1.6 and above, and with PC's loaded with Windows 7 and up. All the drivers are aboard the JUC600 itself, so there is no need to download any additional software. Just plug up your phone and get started. Most Inventive Tablet/Reader **Editor’s Choice** 10-inch NoitAvonne Loop Talbet The editor's pick for CTIA's Most Inventive Tablet/Reader is the 10-inch NoitAvonne's Loop Tablet. Impressed doesn't begin to describe what I felt about its multi-touch display and Loop Connectivity, which allows the tablet to connect and communicate with other devices on the fly. Loaded with the latest version of Honeycomb, this tablet--designed by a black-owned manufacturer--will give you most, if not all, the features found in more recognizable brands. Most Innovative Networking Device: Novatel Wireless MiFi 4620L My, my, my. Who would have guessed that Wi-Fi would have come so far? Apparently Novatel did. Verizon's MiFi 4620L is fast. We mean really fast. Now with 4G LTE and 3G mobile broadband speeds, it supports both GPS and Wi-Fi, enabling applications to access streaming GPS. But what puts this little ditty over the top is its interactive OLED display screen, which makes it easy to view battery life, signal strength and the number of connected devices, as well as read text messages from the carrier, view network details and access your password. Trendiest Consumer Lifestyle Product: QNX Car 2 Platform We're finally catching up with the Knight Rider. Aside from getting to sit in the QNX 911 Porche concept car while the QNX guys described its features and functionality, the highlights of the platform--from instant smartphone pairing and off-board navigation to handsfree calling with HD stereo--are innumerable. In fact, what does Audi, BMW, Hyundai, OnStar, and Toyota have in common? The award-winning QNX Car Platform is available in all of these cars. It can be found in the majority of cars with infotainment connectivity. The platform connects to a host of portable devices, and to the cloud to provide access to a wealth of Internet services. It allows you to customize the digital dashboard according to the driver's preferences. Most Dynamic Mobile App: PayAnywhere No cash, no problem. Whether you're a street vendor hawking your wares in the middle of the urban jungle or the only friend with cash after a lunch date and you need to split a check, the free PayAnywhere device and app will let you turn your smartphone into a cash register. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can link to a cash drawer and an AirPrint-enabled or Star thermal printer to transform PayAnywhere into a POS-lite interface. PayAnywhere adheres to the strictest standards of PCI compliance ensuring your customer’s data remains safe and secure. For the convenience, you'll only pay 2.69% per swiped transaction or 3.49% + $0.19 per keyed transaction. Most Accessible Storage/File Sharing App: Box.com Look out thumb drive manufacturers. Box.com is looking to put you out of business. And for good reason. Why would anyone carry around dozens of little thumb/flash drives when they can save, backup, and edit up to 5 GB or more of their data on Box.com? But let's face it, Box isn't the only digital storage vendor out there. So, why did they win our award? The ability to leave comments, assign tasks, and receive alerts after a document has been edited is impressive. Box.com is the tool of choice for those who want to "work well with others." The Most Inventive Real World Technology: Amber Alert GPS V3 connected by AT&T When connected to your child's clothing, or backpack, the Amber Alert GPS V3 reports an accurate location every five minutes to a secure, web-based tracking portal or the smartphone app. At less than two inches in size, the device comes with removable plates in a variety of colors and an SOS button so the child can alert parents if they have an emergency and need immediate help. It will also alert a parent when the car a child is in exceeds a predetermined speed.

 

]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/black-enterprise-best-in-show-awards-at-ctia-wireless-2012/feed/ 1 Decoded: 7 Celebrities Who Went From Fat to (Financially) Fit http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/decoded-7-celebrities-who-went-from-fat-to-financially-fit/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/decoded-7-celebrities-who-went-from-fat-to-financially-fit/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:12 +0000 Shydel James http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=196145 The entertainment world has become one big fit club. In an industry where image is everything—and a size 6 is considered overweight—celebs seem more inclined than ever to drop the calories and pick up the dumbbells in an attempt to achieve the body of their dreams. There’s also an ever-growing list of famous folks who are turning their battle of the bulge into big business, tapping into the $20 billion weight loss industry by signing lucrative deals to plug high profile diets and penning books that chronicle their journey to get in shape. But going from tubby to toned doesn’t always guarantee more success in Hollywood. Blackenterprise.com decodes the surprising affect dramatic weight loss has had on the careers of some of the biggest stars in the business. For better or for worse, these seven entertainers prove that in Hollywood, size really does matter. —Shydel James JENNIFER HUDSON In 2007, on the eve of her historic Oscar win for her work in the hit big screen musical, Dreamgirls, Hudson told The New York Times, “I would never want to be smaller than an 8, and even that’s too small.” Three years later, after giving birth to her first child, the American Idol-alum ate those words when she signed a seven-figure deal to become the spokesperson for Weight Watchers. Her dramatic 80-pound weight loss boosted her net worth to $18 million, gave her priceless visibility in numerous television ads, and landed the size 4 singer/actress a coveted spot on People’s 100 “Most Beautiful” list. JANET JACKSON Best known for her record-breaking music career and killer dance moves, the superstar entertainer, who’s worth an estimated $150 million, is also a self-proclaimed emotional eater, who’s endured a three-decade struggle with body image issues. In 2006, the 5’4” multiplatinum singer tipped the scales at 180 pounds and was reportedly ordered to lose 20 pounds by her record company or else they wouldn’t release her then-upcoming album. In 2011, Jackson turned her weight loss woes into publishing gold when she penned True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, a self-help book based on her personal experiences with weight loss, which topped the New York Times bestsellers list. The book, in addition to her decision to team up with the popular food delivery program, Nutrisystem, has kept the attention off her waning album sales and on her newly toned figure. STAR JONES In 2003, after having ballooned to a morbidly obese 307 pounds during her stint as co-host of The View, Jones quietly underwent gastric bypass surgery and over the next three years, lost a whopping 160 pounds. Instead of celebrating her physical transformation, fans turned on her for lying about how she’d lost the weight (she said she slimmed down by doing Pilates and portion control). With a new body and plunging approval ratings, the once outspoken fan favorite was fired from The View in 2006. And in 2008, her short-lived legal talk show was axed after just six months. It was only after she went on a tour of contrition, which included a high profile pit stop on Oprah to finally reveal how she’d lost the weight, did Jones see a renewed interest and resurgence in her career, which included a headline-making appearance on Celebrity Apprentice, and the bestselling fiction novel, Satan’s Sisters, which will be made into a television show. MO’NIQUE Long before she became an Oscar winner for her visceral performance in Precious, the Maryland native’s claim to fame was a raunchy standup act, in which she praised her pleasantly plump supporters and blasted “skinny bitches.” In fact, her outspoken, big-is-beautiful campaign spawned a full figure clothing line, a New York Times bestseller, Skinny Women are Evil, a lead role in the film Phat Girlz and a $13 million fortune. But these days, the funny girl, whose self-titled talk show was put on indefinite hiatus last July, is singing a different tune. Mo’Nique is currently using her free time to get it in at the gym—even tweeting motivational words with pictures and videos of her workouts as she fights to reach her 180-pound goal weight. BIG BOY Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander is one of the biggest names in radio. The popular multi-award winning Los Angeles-based disc jokey gained notoriety in the 90’s for playing up his 500-pound size in ads all over Los Angeles. In 2003, he underwent a gastric reduction surgery, and lost over 250-pounds. Now a former shell of himself (Alexander weighs in at about 195-pounds), he continues to add on to his $12 million net worth with his multi-year syndication deal with ABC radio, multiple film and television roles and a recent development deal with VH1. JORDIN SPARKS In the five years since she became the youngest American Idol winner in history at the age of 17, Sparks has conquered film (she stars opposite Whitney Houston in this summer’s Sparkle); music (she sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2008); stage (she starred on Broadway in In the Heights); and even launched a successful clothing line and fragrance. But in 2011, Sparks sent tongues wagging and dominated headlines when she tweeted a picture of herself in a two-piece, flaunting her slimmed down body. Thirty pounds lighter, the 22-year-old officially debuted her bikini body that same year on the cover of People magazine. Today, the slimmed down songbird’s net worth is estimated at $8.5 million. RAVEN-SYMONÉ Thanks to the sales of her five albums, contributions to The Cheetah Girls soundtracks and her long running family sitcom, That’s so Raven—for which she took home $35,000 an episode—the once-voluptuous Disney queen managed to build a $400 million merchandising empire. In 2011, Symoné returned to television 35 pounds thinner in the ABC sitcom, State of Georgia. The show was cancelled after one season due to poor ratings, but the multi-talented mogul bounced back quickly. Symoné is showing off her newly svelte figure eight nights a week on Broadway in the musical Sister Act. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/decoded-7-celebrities-who-went-from-fat-to-financially-fit/feed/ 3 RuPaul Decoded: The Man, the Myth, The New Queen of All Media http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/rupaul-decoded-new-queen-of-all-media/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/rupaul-decoded-new-queen-of-all-media/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:16 +0000 Sirita Wright http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=195737 "You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.” —RuPaul Born RuPaul Andre Charles, November 17, 1960, celebrity drag queen and entrepreneur RuPaul has worked with the likes of Diana Ross, Elton John, Spike Lee and countless other superstars. At 6’4”, she stands to be the most famous drag queen to walk the Earth. While others have certainly come before her, none have seemed to achieve the level of prosperity or success as RuPaul. With two television shows airing on LOGO—RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag U—and a rising social media empire, RuPaul is cashing in big time and just might be the next big media mogul. BlackEnterprise.com Decodes her rise to the top. Sashay! —Sirita Wright THE POWER OF SOUND & WORDS An international music star, RuPaul has released 10 albums over her career, including her most-talked about 1993 LP, Supermodel of the World, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart in 1994. RuPaul’s latest albums, Champion (2009) and Glamazon (2011), showed the “Kathie Lee” queen still has it, with both albums ranking in the top 20 of Billboard’s Top Electronic Albums chart—No. 12 (2010) and No. 11 (2011), respectively. And no less than two years after the release of her debut album, RuPaul published her autobiography, Lettin It All Hang Out: An Autobiography (1995), with Publishers Weekly saying, “Some of the most unforgettable women in the world... are men.” Continuing on her found talents as an author, she released her self-help book, Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Style (2010). CHANGING THE CHANNEL Aside from her multiple TV (All My Children, Sister, Sister and Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and movie appearances (Spike Lee’s Crooklyn , To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very Brady Sequel and The Truth About Jane), RuPaul hosted her own VH1 talk show, The RuPaul Show, from 1996 to 1998. Nearly a decade later, LOGO premiered RuPaul’s Drag Race, a reality series that follows 13 contestants around to find “the next superstar drag queen of America.” Now in its fourth season, the show’s rating rose 50% from season three, causing the latest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race to become the highest-rated premiere to air on LOGO in network history. That success led two spin-off shows, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, which follows the behind-the-scenes cat-fights and drama between queens while the judges mull over their fate; and RuPaul’s Drag U, where drag “professors” transform the style of the everyday woman and help her unleash her “inner diva.” DIVA DOLLARS In 1995, RuPaul became the first spokesmodel and only drag queen for MAC Cosmetics’ VIVA Glam collection. A year later, she endorsed Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur via national print advertisements. In addition to her individual accomplishments, the fabulous queen’s successful show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, has acquired partnerships with some of today’s leading companies. During and after the show, the winner and contestants receive cruises sponsored by AlandChuck.travel; a lifetime supply of NYX Cosmetics; headlining the LOGO tour sponsored by ABSOLUT® Vodka and $100,000, the largest cash prize since the show’s inception. And having her foot in design, Ru launched a shoe line, RuPaul Drag Race Footwear by Iron Fist, on March 15 to accompany her highly-rated reality series and offer women shoes in all sizes. ALL HAIL THE QUEEN RuPaul’s popularity extends far beyond the LGBT community. Recognized worldwide for her pioneering spirit and self-love philosophy, she has received two GLAAD Media Awards in addition to a NewNowNext Award for Most Addictive Reality Star. She was also nominated for an MTV Video Music Award in 1993 for Best Dance Video for her single, “Supermodel.” RuPaul’s Drag Race was also nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best New Reality Show. DIGITAL DIVA Deeply engaged in social media, RuPaul and her team use many avenues to reach beyond their general audience to keep them active and informed. With over 170,000 Twitter followers and over 570,000 fans on the Drag Race Facebook fan page, Ru interacts with her fans daily allowing them to participate in contests, watch episode previews and behind-the-scenes footage. And with Foursquare becoming as big as Twitter, RuPaul’s Drag Race and the go-to check in for social media have teamed up to create scavenger hunts and badges for Race fans to check in locations for their fans. With her hands all over the media world, Ru is also active in the app world, with the “Dragulator” app for the iPhone and Android where people can upload pictures of themselves and create a drag persona complete with name, hair, makeup and clothes. “You betta work!” ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/rupaul-decoded-new-queen-of-all-media/feed/ 0 Samuel L. Jackson Decoded: Hollywood’s Hardest Working Man http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/samuel-l-jackson-decoded/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/samuel-l-jackson-decoded/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 19:30:44 +0000 Shydel James http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=195152 Last year, The Guinness Book of World Records named Samuel L. Jackson the highest-grossing actor of all time. The 63-year-old Washington, D.C. native has starred in over 100 films that have a combined box office gross of almost $8 billion. That’s quite a feat for a man who nearly squandered his talent and life away due to a serious drug and alcohol addiction. Since starting out in the theater in the ’70s as a student at Morehouse College, Jackson has managed to build an estimated net worth of $150 million by appearing in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, like Captain America and Star Wars and low budget critical hits like Eve’s Bayou. The always earnest, off-the-cuff actor has made a fortune playing stern, authoritative characters. His latest role and box office score was as Nick Fury in The Avengers, which broke domestic box office records, pulling in $200.3 million opening weekend. With the May 18th release of his new neo-noir thriller The Samaritan sure to add more zeros to Jackson’s bank account, BlackEnterprise.com decodes the hardest working actor in Hollywood. —Shydel James ACTION JACKSON After 15 years doing Off Broadway productions and travelling tours, Jackson landed the part of crack addict Gator Purify in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever. The role earned him a Best Supporting Actor award from the Cannes Film Festival, and opened the floodgates to a record-breaking film career. Having built up his cachet in Hollywood with an Oscar nominated turn in the cult classic Pulp Fiction ($212 million), Jackson began working non-stop, averaging four movies a year since 1994, including fail-proof franchises such as Die Hard ($430 million), Jurassic Park ($914 million) and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (over $2 billion). His 2000 remake of Shaft netted Jackson a $10 million payday. That same year, he took home $7 million for his work in M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. In 2009, he signed a multi-million dollar deal with Marvel Studios to reprise the role of Nick Fury in nine movies. With The Avengers poised to cross the $1 billion mark and a sequel already in the works, Jackson is likely to achieve a career global box office tally of $10 billion. He also collects $300,000 in residuals every year from his films that air on television. KING OF THE STAGE In 2011, Jackson went back to his theatre roots by stepping into the shoes of Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. in a limited engagement of the hit Broadway play, The Mountaintop. The drama, which also starred Oscar nominee Angela Bassett, focuses on a string of fictional events that take place in a motel room the night before King was assassinated. Thanks to Jackson’s movie star drawing power and lauded performance (The New Yorker called his work “admirable, compelling”), the show played to sold out houses, extended its engagement by popular demand, and grossed over $10 million. In fact, with only 24 previews and 117 regular performances, the show managed to recoup its initial investment of $3.1 million, a rare accomplishment for a non-musical Broadway show. MUST BE THE VOICE Jackson has a successful side-career as a voice-over actor, playing an array of roles as varied as the ones he portrays on screen. In 2004, he lent his voice to The Incredibles, a big screen computer-animated film about a family of undercover superheroes that went on to gross $631 million and win two Academy Awards. He also graced the small screen in the recurring role of Gin Rummy in the comic strip turned animated series, The Boondocks, and voiced the antagonist in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is one of the best-selling PlayStation 2 video games of all time. Jackson recently tapped into the billion-dollar audiobook industry by signing on with “A-List Collection,” an Amazon-owned company that brings classic novels to life. He lent his rich baritone to a darkly humored version of A Rage in Harlem; provided the voice of God for the audiobook version of the Bible; and helped the mock bedtime story, Go The F**k to Sleep, become a viral sensation that debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/samuel-l-jackson-decoded/feed/ 25 6 Gadgets for the Tech Savvy Mom http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/6-gadgets-for-the-tech-savvy-mom/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/6-gadgets-for-the-tech-savvy-mom/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 20:00:21 +0000 BlackEnterprise.com http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=195024 Every year bottles of perfume, scarves, and restaurant dinner outings are the go-to picks for Mother's Day gifts. But have you noticed how your mom is texting a bit more, checking email and that she even has a Facebook page? Maybe she is ready for the next frontier. It is time to take a leap of faith and support in adding more tech gadgets to her life. Here are 6 gadgets that Moms will surely appreciate. –Yoli Ouiya NOOK Simple Touch, $79 For the Reading Mom: The NOOK touts having the longest battery life, offering 2 months worth of energy based on half an hour of daily use. The non-glare factor makes it easy to move from indoors to outdoors. The adjustable font and text size makes it simple for Mom to read whichever way is most comfortable for her. Ultra light is an understatement. The NOOK weighs in at less than 7.5 ounces. With access to over 2.5 million book titles and free newspapers, as well as the ability to borrow library e-books, she'll never run out of reading material. Canon PowerShot ELPH 310 HS, $259.99 For the Capture-the-Memories Mom: No more disposable cameras because the ones from the last family holiday are still undeveloped. This point-and-shoot camera is lightweight but packs a heavy punch. It fits comfortably in a jacket pocket or purse. From capturing up to 12-megapixels to shooting 108p HD home videos, Mom will love capturing the new family photos. SmartFlex Card Case for iPhone, $34.95 For the Minimalist Mom: She doesn't like carrying her life in her purse, but wants to make sure she has everything she needs. The SmartFlex Card Case for iPhone can carry up to 3 credit-card-sized cards or folded bills in the built-in slot on the back of the phone case, all while protecting the phone. The raised front bezel is important, protecting the screen from damage if or when it comes into contact with other surfaces. Asus Zenbook, around $1,499.99 For the Career Mom: There are three things that are important to the career mom: reliable technology, good baby sitters, and coffee (or tea). Take care of the first need with the ultra-lightweight and sleek Zenbook. Weighing in at less than 3 lbs for both the UX21 (11.6 in. screen) and UX31 (13.3 in. screen), don't let the aesthetically pleasing exterior fool you. With the 2nd generation Intel Core processors, 25% longer battery life, and capability for up to two weeks standby (using ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II technology), the Asus Zenbook Ultrabook makes efficiency look beautiful. LG TurboWash Front-Load Washer with Steam Technology, $1,399.99 For the Tidy-and-Timely Mom: With a 5.1 cu ft. mega capacity, this device can fit and clean a king-sized comforter and full set of king bedding in a single load. TurboWash technology shaves off 20 minutes of wash time per load. The TurboWash also includes steam technology, which aids in removing allergens, dirt, odors and wrinkles. This is the dream household washer that will save mom time, and money in energy usage. Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, $29 For the Fitness Mom: Mom, meet your new personal trainer, your iPod—thanks to a new partnership between Nike and Apple. By using a sensor that fits into the insole of the Nike+ shoes plus a receiver that plugs into your iPod nano, iPod touch (2nd generation or later), or iPhone 3GS (or later), it provides all the statistics of a day’s workout, which are recorded and synced online. Mom can track her progress, set goals, and even have virtual races with her running team. Go Mom! ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/6-gadgets-for-the-tech-savvy-mom/feed/ 2 The Avengers Decoded: The Makings of a Marvelous Movie Franchise http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/the-avengers-decoded-the-makings-of-a-marvelous-movie-franchise/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/the-avengers-decoded-the-makings-of-a-marvelous-movie-franchise/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000 Anslem Samuel http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=194782 This past weekend Disney and Marvel Studios joined forces to release The Avengers, an all-star fan boy film based off the popular comic book series. While critics expected the film to do well, at the end of film’s opening weekend it not only secured the No. 1 spot but also broke domestic box office records, pulling in $200.3 million over the course of three days. The Avengers’ ticket sales eclipsed the previous record-holder, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which opened with $169.2 million in summer 2011. The film’s success is not limited to US shores, as it opened internationally two weeks ago to the tune of $441.5 million across 52 global markets. As it stands at press time, The Avengers has grossed well over $642.8 million globally. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at the “marvelous” success of the prequel films that led up to this record-breaking showing. —Anslem Samuel Rocque THE HULK (2003) Despite being panned by critics and fans alike, director Ang Lee’s telling of comic book anti-hero The Hulk pulled in over $62 million it’s opening weekend in June 2003. Starring Eric Bana as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, the film went on to earn $132,177,234 domestically and an additional $113,183,246 internationally, bringing it’s worldwide box office tally over $245 million. THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008) With the original film considered a “flop” due to its bad reviews and muddled storyline, Marvel took five years of planning to reboot the franchise with a new star (Edward Norton) and director (Louis Leterrier). The end product saw slightly better results ($263 million worldwide) and reviews. IRON MAN (2008) The true tent pole of The Avengers franchise is the original Iron Man film, starring Robert Downey, Jr. as billionaire playboy Tony Starks/Iron Man. The film provided a resurgence of Downey’s career and fans’ hope for a superhero super-movie on the horizon. Also starring Terrence Howard, Iron Man made a whopping $318,412,101 domestically and an additional $266,762,121 internationally, bringing the film’s total haul to over $585 million. IRON MAN 2 (2010) Proving it was no fluke, Iron Man 2 opened with an impressive $128,122,480 its opening weekend in May 2010. When the dust settled, Downey and director Jon Favreau eclipsed their previous work, pulling in a worldwide box office draw of over $623 million. THOR (2011) While Iron man was living up to his name at the box office, The Avengers needed more than one star to be a success. Chris Hemsworth filled in nicely as the god of thunder Thor. The Kenneth Branagh-directed film opened strong with $65,723,338 its first weekend and went on to $181,030,624 domestically and an additional $268,295,994 in international ticket sales. The worldwide box office draw wound up at almost $450 million. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011) Rounding up the prequel films was director Joe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger. Starring Chris Evans as the WWII super soldier who gets suspended in time, the film grossed $176,654,505 domestically and an additional $191,953,858 internationally, bringing the worldwide box office number to over $368 million. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/the-avengers-decoded-the-makings-of-a-marvelous-movie-franchise/feed/ 1 10 Black NFL Rookies Who Cashed in Big on Draft Day http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/10-black-nfl-rookies-who-cashed-in-big-on-draft-day/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/10-black-nfl-rookies-who-cashed-in-big-on-draft-day/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 20:00:43 +0000 Mia N. Hall http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=194374 While most students just hope to earn well above minimum wage out of college, NFL rookies usually cash in paychecks close to that of mega millions lottery ticket winner. The NFL is a $7-9 billion business, and with big money comes big contracts. Although, because of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement effective in 2011, rookies are not getting much less than their predecessors, new players are still earning large salaries before they even step foot on the field. For example, Cam Newton, the No. 1 draft pick in 2011, received $22 million. Though his salary is elephantine compared to his peers, Newton and the 2011 No. 2 pick combined did not equal the amount of Sam Bradford, who was the highest paid rookie in NFL history, signing with the St. Louis Rams for $78 million in 2010. Though a few of these players did not live up to their full potential, many are proving their worth on the field. Here is a glimpse of 10 of the highest contracts given to NFL rookies of color in recent years. —Mia Hall NDAMUKONG SUH Suh was the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NFL draft. A Defensive Tackle from Nebraska, this 6’7” powerhouse was recruited by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a five-year contract worth $63.5 million. He was guaranteed $40 million and had $8 million in incentives. GERALD MCCOY In 2010, McCoy was chosen as the No. 3 pick by Tampa Bay, as well. A defensive tackle from Oklahoma University, he was promised $63.5 million for five years with $35 million guaranteed. Though he had torn bicep injuries in his first two seasons, McCoy’s coaches are looking forward to him coming back and dominating next season. AARON CURRY This offensive linebacker from Wake Forest was given a six-year contract worth $60 million with $34 million guaranteed by the Seattle Seahawks. The No. 4 draft pick in 2009, he was the highest chosen linebacker since Lavar Arrington was chosen in 2000. In 2009, the only other person to get a higher guaranteed amount was Matthew Stafford at $41.9 million. Curry is currently signed to the Oakland Raiders, who he’s been with since 2011. JASON SMITH Smith was also in the 2009 draft and at the No. 2 pick, was given a $61 million contract with $33 million guaranteed. A tackle for the St. Louis Rams, Smith, also known as “Smooth,” won All-American honors in 2008 while a student at Baylor University. TYSON JACKSON Currently a defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson was chosen third in the first round of the 2009 draft. Hailing from Louisiana State, close to his hometown of New Orleans, he acquired a five-year contract worth $57 million with $31 million guaranteed. Earlier this year, Jackson, who has 124 tackles and two sacks since entering the league, saw his base salary increase from $2+ million to $8+ million, according to a league source. He proved himself on the field and is reaping the benefits. DARREN MCFADDEN A former Arkansas Razorback and SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, McFadden was drafted to become a running back for the Oakland Raiders in 2008. He had a six-year contract worth $60 million, with $26 million guaranteed. The tenth of twelve children, McFadden has overcome a lot of controversy off the field, but, nonetheless, has continued to persevere. JAMARCUS RUSSELL Though he’s currently inactive, Russell received a large contract with the Oakland Raiders in 2007. Nailing a $61 million contract, with $32 million guaranteed, Russell was expected to bring the team victory but has been noted as one of the major disappointments in NFL history. He was released in 2009 because of low performance, including being the single qualifying quarterback with the least passing touchdowns or passing yards, in addition to significant weight gain. While his NFL career is in question there are rumors of Russell returning to the field as part of the Professional Indoor Football League with the Louisiana Swashbucklers. CALVIN JOHNSON A wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, Johnson reportedly signed a rookie contract worth $64 million, with $27.2 million fully guaranteed. Johnson, also known as “Megatron,” was chosen second in the 2007 draft from Georgia Tech. Not only did he win the most votes to be on the Madden 13 video game cover, he also recently signed an eight year deal with the Lions which is said to be valued at over $130 million, with $60 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL History. MARIO WILLIAMS Currently a defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, Williams originally had a six-year contract worth $54 million with the Houston Texans. Williams had $26.5 million guaranteed and $8.1 million in incentives. The No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, Williams played at North Carolina State and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection (2008, 2009). REGGIE BUSH Super Bowl champion, Heisman trophy winner, and formerly one of the most popular of the New Orleans Saints, Bush, who was the No. 2 in the 2006 draft, was given a six-year deal as a rookie. Coming from the University of Southern California, Bush was given a $52.5 million dollar agreement with $25.74 million in guaranteed money. Currently a running back for the Miami Dolphins under a two-year contract worth $10 million, Bush continues to have success and thrive in his football career. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/10-black-nfl-rookies-who-cashed-in-big-on-draft-day/feed/ 9 Decoded: The World Without Tiger Woods http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/decoded-the-world-without-tiger-woods/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/decoded-the-world-without-tiger-woods/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 15:53:36 +0000 Anslem Samuel http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=194304 Brazilian Ogilvy recently conceptualized a unique ad campaign for Forbes called The World Without… The print ads take a look at some of the world’s richest and most influential people and, well, images the world without them, resulting in some interesting (and sometimes humorous) domino effect stats. The public figures featured range from Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg to Donald Trump. Also included was golf pro Tiger Woods, who saw his brand tarnished by a series of sex scandals. Here’s a snap shot of The World Without… Tiger Woods. A World Without...Tiger Woods would mean $50 million less for the Tiger Woods Foundation Children A World Without...Tiger Woods would mean 18 less holes in one. A World Without...Tiger Woods would mean one less celebrity Buddhist in the world. A World Without... Tiger Woods would mean 27 less world records. A World Without... Tiger Woods would mean four less wax statues in museums. A World Without... Tiger Woods would mean 121 less women saying they slept with him. Click here to read more from The World Without... campaign. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/decoded-the-world-without-tiger-woods/feed/ 0 Black Blogger Month 2012 Launch at 40/40 Club Recap x Photos http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/black-blogger-month-2012-launch-at-4040-club-recap-photos/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/black-blogger-month-2012-launch-at-4040-club-recap-photos/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 18:40:49 +0000 Anslem Samuel http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=194164 Last night (May 1), BlackEnterprise.com had its first Tweet Up to celebrate Black Blogger Month 2012. Held at Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s 40/40 Club New York with an open-bar sponsored by Ciroc, the event attracted more than 165 loyal supporters, bloggers and tastemakers. Among special guests in attendance were media personality AJ Calloway, twin designers Coco and Breezy, and Black Blogger Month honorees past and present—Claire Sulmers of The Fashion Bomb, Christen Rochon of Divas & Dorks, Yoli Ouiya of Yoli’s Green Living, Patrice J. Williams of Looking Fly on a Dime, Abiola Abrams of AbiolaTV, Melinda “The Small Biz Lady” Emerson of Succeed As Your Own Boss, Christian Law of Fresher Than Chris, Wilson Morales of BlackFilm.com, and Slim Jackson, Mr. Spradley and Streetz of SingleBlackMale.org. The kick-off was a viral success with over 2.5 million impressions around the #BlackBloggerMonth hashtag leading up to the festivities. Continue reading up on BlackEnterprise.com’s 20 best Black bloggers throughout May at BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth. BlackEnterprise.com's Sasha King makes sure guests shared the #BlackBloggerMonth hashtag on Twitter to gain entrance to the event Tons of people came out to support BlackEnterprise.com's first Tweet Up at 40/40 Club New York One-half of the dynamic eyeglass design duo, Coco & Breezy, showed her support for Black Blogger Month 2012 Black Blogger Month honorees Christian Law of Fresher Than Chris (l) and Slim Jackson of SingleBlackMale.org (r) strike a pose with BlackEnterprise.com's Senior Producer and Black Blogger Month Editor Anslem Samuel Rocque Black Blogger Month 2012 honoree Yoli Ouiya of Yoli's Green Living is all smiles for the Tweet Up SingleBlackMale.org's Streetz and Mr. Spradley network with PR Circle's Chanelle Bogle BlackEnterprise.com's Associate Producer Janell P. Hazelwood shares a moment with Black Blogger Month 2012 honoree Christen Rochon of Divas & Dorks More than a few Twitter followers came out to 40/40 Club New York to kick off Black Blogger Month in a big way Black Blogger Month 2012 honoree Abiola Abrams of AbiolaTV shows off her spring colors and winning smile at 40/40 Club New York Black Blogger Month 2012 honoree Wilson Morales of BlackFilm.com poses with BlackEnterprise.com Senior Producer and Black Blogger Month Editor Anslem Samuel Rocque Social media networking transfers to the real world as bloggers, editors and tastemakers rub shoulders at 40/40 Club New York PR Circle's Erica Nailor and Chanelle Bogle show off an early copy of the May 2012 issue of Black Enterprise, which guests walked away with in their gift bags BlackEnterprise.com's digital divas team: Suncear Scretchen, Janell P. Hazelwood, Janel Martinez and Elayne Fluker are all smiles at the close of a great event Special thanks to Brain Food Films, Erica Nailor and Chanelle Bogle of PR Circle, Deven Robinson and Sasha King. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/black-blogger-month-2012-launch-at-4040-club-recap-photos/feed/ 2 New Money: The Five (NFL) Draft Commandments http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/new-money-the-five-nfl-draft-commandments/ http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/new-money-the-five-nfl-draft-commandments/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:37:42 +0000 Christian Law http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=193853 Notorious B.I.G. once rhymed, "There’s rules to this stuff. I wrote me a manual." Though it applied to a different type of game, Christopher Wallace was on to something. Now that the 2012 NFL Draft is over, many players will need a guide to keep them out of the gossip blogs, tabloids, and bankruptcy courts. We’ve seen so many athletes come into the NFL broke and leave in the same way. It’s a cycle we must stop. So, before these athletes get caught up, perhaps they should read The Five Draft Commandments. (What!) ---Christian Law Left, 2012 NFL First-round draft pick Fletcher Cox of the Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Hunter Martin/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images) 1. NEVER TRUST NOBODY (YOU JUST MET IN THE CLUB): “She said she loves me for me, not my money.” Don’t get fooled. Chances are, she’s a bigger fan than your Mom. She knows all your stats and has known for a while. As a new athlete, you are going to get the most play you’ve ever gotten (and I don’t mean on the field). Don’t wife a girl you just met at the draft party and certainly do not go into the bedroom without your helmet! Avoid the baby mama, child support drama that players like Terrell Owens and Antonio Cromartie have to face. Owens has major financial problems after being ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support for his kids, some by women he admitted to never having seriously dated. And Cromartie, at only 28, has fathered 10 kids with 8 different women and pays a reported $3,500 a month in child support. 2. NEVER GO FOR BROKE: It's not a good idea to spend a majority of your earnings on material things. Remember, you are always one play and/or injury away from ending your career. You can’t pay a mortgage with “He had potential.” The material things only get better with time so don’t waste all your money today to get what will be less than tomorrow. Map out your financial plan now and stick to it, so that when the checks stop coming in you won't be stuck between a rock and a hard place. You don't want to end up like former Oakland Raiders baller Frank Middleton, who after earning $21 million during his NFL career lost millions after costly mistakes he made early, or former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Warren Sapp, who owes more than $6.7 million to creditors for back child support and alimony. (His assets reportedly include 240 pairs of Jordan athletic shoes worth almost $6,500, a $2,250 watch and a lion skin rug worth $1,200.) 3. NEVER LET 'EM KNOW YOUR NEXT TWEET MOVE: Social media is great, however you are a public figure now. Everything you do will be seen. Your follower number count just went up and not because they really loved the link of your homeboy’s Soundcloud page. People are going to be watching your every tweet and your brand reputation can be affected greatly by what you expose (which in turn affects those big-buck endorsements). Keep some things private, including your pictures. The last thing your career needs is your private practice streamed across the timeline of thousands. (Just look at Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Dezmon Briscoe, whose messy relationship with reality star Royce Reed was broadcast for all to see--- sordid "cheating" pics and all --- via Twitter.) 4. NEVER GO IT ALONE: Mentorship is an important part of any new job. Regardless of how much you make, you need someone who is better at the job and who has done it longer to guide you. Partner up with a veteran in the league who can show you the ropes and whose mistakes you can learn from. Many veteran football players have gone on to success in business after the game is over, which is key for longevity and prosperity. Take a page from former New England Patriots player Jarvis Green, co-owner of commercial construction business First Millennium Construction, or former Dallas Cowboys baller Emmitt Smith, president & CEO of his own namesake company that includes construction, brand marketing and charities. 5. NEVER GET FLY ON YOUR SUPPLY: We get it. Your grandmother bought that shirt and tie in a box from Conway, and it’ll mean a lot to her for your to wear it. But, don’t. I know, you think you’re so fly you don’t need a stylist, but judging from the fashion displayed on Draft Day this weekend, a few words of advice: Don’t quit your day job. One of the biggest pitfalls of athletes is style, which can be a first impression make or break for your branded image, from the dad Jeans of Michael Jordan to the horrible colored, 80-button suits of Deion Sanders. JUST DON’T DO IT. Hire yourself a stylist and save us and yourself the embarrassment. ]]> http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/new-money-the-five-nfl-draft-commandments/feed/ 2