• News

by Mitti Hicks

August 9, 2024

10 Years After Michael Brown’s Death, This Organization Is Working To End Police Violence

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It’s been ten years since the tragic killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. Michael Brown was 18 years old and had just graduated high school several days before he was killed. The Midwestern town of Ferguson — a suburb just 10 miles northwest of St. Louis was in the national spotlight with harrowing images of people protesting in the streets and buildings being set on fire, all while Brown’s body lay lifeless in the middle of the street.

His death came two years after Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed on Feb. 26, 2012, in his neighborhood by a self-proclaimed neighborhood watcher. Martin’s death sparked one of the largest social movements in U.S. history: #BlackLivesMatter. That social movement spilled into Ferguson following the death of Brown as people protested in the streets, calling for justice and systematic police reform.

Brown’s death — and others — sparked conversations and organizations like Campaign Zero to launch as an initiative to end police violence.

While leadership says there is still work to be done to achieve justice and accountability, the organization’s members have made some strides in implementing fundamental changes across various cities in the United States. 

Campaign Zero Successes To End Police Violence

8 Can’t-Wait

This campaign has successfully passed use-of-force legislation in 24 states, including Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, and Virginia, and major cities, including Minneapolis and Kansas City, Kansas, to reduce police violence. According to Campaign Zero, this is the single largest change to the power of the police in U.S. history. 

In addition, organizers have created the first-ever database of use-of-force policies through 8 Can’t-Wait and continue to be at the forefront of reviewing, grading, and influencing policy and legislative change. Hundreds of city policies are publicly available at 8CantWait.org, alongside state laws impacting use-of-force.

End All No Knocks

Leaders working on the End All No Knocks campaign have worked to ban dangerous police raids and institute stronger restrictions on law enforcement searches. So far, six states and two cities (Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Virginia, as well as Minneapolis, and Birmingham, Alabama) have adopted more restrictive no-knock raid laws.

Mapping Police Violence

Campaign Zero developed and launched the most comprehensive accounting of people killed by police in the United States and made the database a resource for advocates, policymakers, media, academics, and the public. 

Police Union Contracts

Campaign Zero has created the first-ever database of police union contracts. The organization has analyzed more than 4,000 contracts, and leaders continue to be at the forefront of reviewing, grading, and influencing the discourse on police union contracts.

RELATED CONTENT: SXSW Documentary Shocks with Different Account of Michael Brown Case

by Kandiss Edwards

August 9, 2024

One Music Fest Is Celebrating 15 Years Of Black Cultural Excellence

One Music Fest is back in Atlanta celebrating 15 years of joy.

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One Music Fest is celebrating its 15th year of bringing urban culture and joy to Atlanta. The festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26–27.

The festival has evolved from its meager beginnings in King’s Plow parking lot, now hosting 100,000 plus attendees at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with One Music Fest Founder J. Carter to discuss 15 years of Black cultural excellence.

Carter’s passion for One Music Fest is palpable. His vision led him to financial loss for many years, yet he was undeterred. The visionary founder credits his wife with encouraging him to take the glass half-full approach and see the venture as a long-term investment.

He recalls, “It was my wife who said, ‘You can look at it as one of two ways: losing money or investing money.”

This advice and his belief in the marketability of Black culture paid off—the Harlem native invested in his dream, Atlanta, and hip-hop culture. Peep what Carter had to say about his 15-year journey and 2024 OMF.

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Congratulations on reaching the 15-year mark with One Music Fest. How are you feeling about it?

Excited. It doesn’t feel like 15 years. I’m super, super excited to release the lineup. One Music Fest hit a record 100,000-plus attendees at Piedmont Park last year.

Do you think you’ve reached a plateau, or do you think there’s more to climb as far as numbers are concerned?

I definitely think there are higher numbers, too, to achieve. But, we don’t solely base achievement on attendance. From day one, it’s been about how do we impact culture. How do we present Black culture in a different light to build a safe playground for us to celebrate each other, celebrate our music, celebrate our food, and celebrate our differences? Our motto and battle cry was and still is unity through music.

Are you concerned that more attendees will compromise the authenticity of the space? Or will more attendees aid in OMF’s evolution?

So, we can never be stagnant. I do believe we always need to evolve. A key thing we do is try to keep young energy around us. We like to incorporate how Gen Z or Gen Alpha moves into our growth and evolution. We want to thrive, right? Everybody deserves joy, right? So, what does your joy look like? I think we do a very good job of reaching back.

There’s a younger generation that’s progressive enough and gets it. My job is to be able to tap into and reach them. Ten years ago, we celebrated Nas’s 20th anniversary of Illmatic. Kendrick Lamar was a little bigger at that time, and yet he said Nas should headline. So, I do believe that there’s the younger generation that has a level of respect and understanding, and nostalgic stuff is cool to them. Young cats are buying vinyl now. 

You’ve said that your first five years were unsuccessful. How did you get sponsors and investors to hop on board for a” failing venture?”

On the outside looking in, we weren’t failing. We were growing financially on the books. We were experiencing 80% to 100% growth. Attendance and sponsors were increasing as well.

The budgets we were given, however . . . there comes a point where you have to stop and say, you know what, I know my value. We stopped undercutting ourselves and said, ‘Nah, brands, this is how y’all gotta show up if you want to talk to the culture.’

What can we look forward to for OMF’s 15th year?

Women are just carrying the torch in politics, at the Olympics, especially Black women, when you look at what’s charting, women, even in hardcore hip-hop. So, as we were booking, there are a lot of incredible women on this lineup.

The 15th year is almost an ode to incredible women doing incredible work and music over the years. It’s a range of talent if you can even imagine, from a Cardi B to a Jill Scott, Glorilla to a Fantasia.

The city of Atlanta gets fed from this event. If you had to ballpark the amount of money they get from your event through tourism and commerce, what number would you imagine?

It could be around the $50 million mark. We bring in 5,000 people to work the event. When you think about vendors, food vendors, and tourism, 50% of our audience is not from the greater Atlanta area.

You’ve said OMF will never leave Atlanta. Are you standing on business about that statement?

1000%.

I don’t think One Music Fest could have happened in any other city. This is Atlanta. We’re standing on the shoulders of giants, bridge builders, and bricklayers who have done the work. I don’t know many places like Atlanta that give you the opportunity to be, to exist, to thrive. Where you can dream and go for that dream safely. Everything you need is about 2-3 calls away in Atlanta.

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One Music Fest’s tickets are in high demand. According to Carter, VIP sells out within the first two weeks of the event. So, if you are that person who likes plush seating and “white glove” treatment, grab those tickets ASAP.

Tickets are on sale at the official website.

RELATED CONTENT: Exclusive: J. Carter, Creator Of ONE Musicfest, Takes His Talents To Dallas For TwoGether Land

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2024

New York City Subway’s Air Quality Is Toxic For Commuters

The air is worse for Black workers as they face PM2.5 exposure levels at 35% higher than white workers

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A recent study has revealed that the air that New York City subway commuters inhale is at levels that are toxic for New Yorkers, specifically Blacks and Latinos.

According to Bloomberg, a report published by PLOS One (a publication that publishes research in areas across science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities) signified high levels of the dangerous fine-particle air pollution known as PM2.5. The report found that it is “exceptionally high” on subway platforms and train cars, based on a new study on New York City’s air quality.

According to the New York State Department of Health, PM2.5 is particle pollution from fine particulates. “Breathing in unhealthy levels of PM_2.5 can increase the risk of health problems like heart disease, asthma, and low birth weight. Unhealthy levels can also reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy.”

The study concluded that the average concentrations of PM2.5 on subway platforms and train cars were 10 and 7 times higher than the 24-hour guideline set by the World Health Organization.

“The particulate concentration was quite high, a lot higher than one would want to imagine,” said Masoud Ghandehari, a professor in NYU Tandon’s Civil and Urban Engineering Department, who was in charge of the research team.

The research was specific to data on home-to-work commute patterns for 3.1 million workers across four boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx). Commuters with longer travel time in the subway were more exposed to PM2.5.

Researchers discovered that rubbing metal wheels and brakes on the subway rails releases metal particles, which, in turn, appear in particular concentrations when the trains roll into a station.

“We noticed that when a train arrives at the station, the concentration in the air shoots up, and about 15-20 seconds after it leaves, the concentration slowly comes down,” said Ghandehari. “This implies that it is the stuff at the bottom of the tunnel that gets churned up and deteriorates the air.”

The study also unveils that minority and low-income communities have the highest exposure to PM2.5. Black workers face PM2.5 exposure levels at 35%, while Hispanic workers are at a level of 23% higher than Asian and white workers.

MTA Communications Director Tim Minton questioned the study and stated: “Every serious person knows transit is the antidote to climate change, the one reason NYC is the greenest city around, and an engine of equity for people of all communities who need an affordable, safe way to get to jobs, schools, and opportunities of every kind.”

• Entrepreneurship

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 9, 2024

If You’re Starting A Business Here’s Advice From Black Founders

There’s no better way to assure business success than by learning from other successful Black founders.

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As every entrepreneur can tell you, starting a business can be difficult, more so if you’re from a minority group in America. For Black founders, the challenges are numerous. Many Black Americans have reported obstacles with capital or funding. Many of them use their savings and investments, some turn to family and friends for a loan, and others tap into their 401(k) plans just to get the money. These challenges might even double if you’re a woman. 

But despite challenges, Black entrepreneurship lives on—and there are silver linings. Studies have found that more and more African Americans are quick to start their own businesses, often from the age of 18. 

More Black millennial founders have emerged through the years, particularly women. It should be noted, too, that the average female-led small business is typically at 27%, but 35% of Black small business founders are women.

And if you’re here today, you might be wondering how to start your own business despite the challenges and mistakes new founders might face. Our advice: take it from the experts. After all, there’s no better way to ensure your new business’s success than by learning from other successful Black founders.

Here are five pieces of business advice from Black startup founders.

Business tips from Black founders

Don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth —Chris Bennet, founder of Wonderschool

In an interview with Forbes magazine, Chris Bennet, founder of Wonderschool, has an important note about customers. When asked about how his school started getting its first customers, here’s what he says:

“Most of our first teacher customers came to us through referrals or by attending in-person events that we hosted—they loved everything about Wonderschool. Relationship building and trust are critical to our success.” 

Word of mouth is free marketing for your business, and people are more often than not willing to trust other people’s recommendations about a product or service. In fact, a Nielsen study found that up to 92% of people trust recommendations from their friends and family.

Interestingly, word of mouth transcends personal relationships, meaning it’s not only effective between people who already know each other—84% of consumers are also likely to trust reviews and testimonials given by complete strangers as if a friend had recommended them.

Initially, focus your efforts on providing top-notch service and nurturing your relationship with those first few customers. They are, after all, key to getting rave reviews and much-needed word of mouth.

You have to be willing to take risks —Zim Ugochukwu, founder of Travel Noire

When Zim Ugochukwu launched Travel Noire, a website dedicated to offering guides and services for who she calls “the unconventional Black traveler,” she says she faced a number of challenges as a young founder. Yet, despite all the hurdles she had to overcome, her popular travel guide was acquired as a subsidiary of the successful Black publication Blavity, a dream for most startup founders.

When asked what advice she had for other aspiring startup founders, she says this: “With no risk, there’s no reward, and you either get comfortable with uncertainty and not knowing where you’re going to end up, or you settle, and you live this life that you don’t want to live.”

Disappointments can be conquered —Sevetri Wilson, founder of Solid Ground Innovations and Resilia

In a 2018 interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Sevetri Wilson—the only woman in New Orleans to raise $2 million in startup capital—gives other entrepreneurs a piece of valuable advice:

“[You] have to know that disappointments are certain; disappointments are constant, but disappointments can be conquered. For Black people, I feel we experience a large deal of disappointments and they can deliver the type of blows that some find hard to recover from. Learning to deal with disappointments and having the ability to get back up after you ‘ve been knocked down over and over again is what it takes to be successful.”

In a New York Times bestselling book, Asian American author Angela Duckworth writes about grit or the powerful synergy of passion and perseverance. Wilson’s advice encapsulates grit—and luckily, according to Duckworth in her book, grit can be learned and improved.

Trust in the process —Jahkeen Washington & Thomas Boatswain, founders of JTW Fit

Founders Jahkeen Washington and Thomas Boatswain are on a mission to promote better health and fitness in Harlem, New York. Considering the average salary of a fitness trainer is about $59,000, both founders are strongly committed to their customers, providing personalized fitness programs for individuals and groups at a fraction of typical costs.

Their advice (that both entrepreneurs and their customers can learn from) is to trust the process. This is often easier said than done when in business, where you need to put in the work before you start seeing results. But as the young founders said, trust the process.

You have to put in the work —Kim Kimble, founder of Kim Kimble Salons & Kimble Haircare System

Celebrity hairstylist and Founder Kim Kimble, whose impressive range of clients include megastar Beyoncé, has this advice for fellow Black entrepreneurs:

“Faith without work is dead—you have to put in the work and take control for the success of your business.”

While it’s impossible to guarantee when your business breaks even its initial capital or when you can enjoy a steady stream of clients and customers, business owners must be the hardest working person in the room.

But this also requires putting in hours to rest and reflect on your next business moves. Burnout is a major problem affecting all kinds of persons, founder or not, Black or white—23% of respondents in a Gallup survey reported feeling burnt out ‘all the time’ while 44% reported feeling burnt out ‘sometimes.’

Part of taking control of your business means taking control of your life. So, work hard, but work smarter to grow your business.

RELATED CONTENT: What I Learned From Starting a Business From Scratch

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 9, 2024

It’s On! Kamala Harris And Donald Trump Finally Agree To Sept. 10 Presidential Debate

Get your popcorn ready!

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Presidential nominees Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have reached an agreement to debate for the first time on Sept. 10, ABC News reported. 

The announcement came a few days after Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he wouldn’t be appearing on ABC due to pending litigation. However, during a press conference from his Mar-A-Lago estate, he changed course. “I think it’s very important to have debates,” Trump said. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”

Harris appeared delighted by the news as she confirmed her participation while talking to reporters in the metro Detroit area.

“Well, I’m glad that he finally agreed to a debate on Sept. 10. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope he shows up,” she said. 

According to the Associated Press, the second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, said during a fundraiser in Paris that he “cannot wait” to see his wife debate Trump. Social media shared the same sentiments once the news was shared.

“This is going to be a must-see television,” @english_shamar said. 

Another used an popular meme of comedian Spice Adams superimposed with the Vice President’s face. “She finna destroy him,” @eddluxe wrote. 

In the past, Harris accused Trump of “running scared” of debating her. After the Trump campaign caught wind of Harris’ comments, Jason Miller, a senior advisor, said during an MSNBC interview, “Of course” the GOP candidate will debate the Democratic nominee. Still, they are just waiting on the party “to pick who their ultimate nominee is going to be. That needs to be formalized before we go and lock in all the debates.” 

While Trump went on record to propose two other debates—one on Fox News on Sept. 4 and another on ABC on Sept. 25—Harris hasn’t confirmed her participation, though she did say during a Michigan campaign stop she would be “happy to have that conversation.”

ABC correspondents David Muir and Linsey Davis have been set to moderate the Sept. 10 contest, which promises to be a key turning point in a tight race.

• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 9, 2024

Ida B. Wells Textbook Fund Provides Aid For HBCU Students

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The Ida B. Wells Textbook Fund, a communal resource to aid HBCU students as they continue their academic journeys, is on its way back for another year to address students’ needs as they matriculate through school.

When the fund started in 2016, the original allotment was to lessen the burden of rising textbook costs, as many students face barriers such as food and housing insecurity despite receiving financial aid to attend school. However, the need for reliable support has made this direct resource invaluable to students; one’s ability to complete their coursework should not be dependent on their financial status, especially at HBCUs that host extraordinary Black minds.

As young academics deal with health, family, and other issues while trying to obtain a degree, the fund promotes outreach and awareness to help uplift individuals and acknowledge their determination to better their lives. This commitment has resulted in raising more than $200,000.

For this upcoming semester, the goal is to raise $25,000 for 70 students’ textbook fees at Morgan State and Howard University.

Students complete a form and receive the funding on a first-come, first-served basis; the maximum allotment is $250. However, student needs often extend beyond standard textbooks, and the money can go toward items such as course software, wi-fi hotspots, and digital equipment.

The demand of this fund is “immense,” but with more support, more students can acquire the tools they need most for a successful school year. Funding from the community is essential to its existence, as each semester requires new money for aid.

Currently, the fund is less than $10,000 away from meeting its goal, but urges those who support Black education to contribute. Journalist, Stacey Patton hopes to advance the lives of Black students so that it can create generational progress: “By Investing in our young individuals today, we are investing in a brighter future for us all.”

Keep an eye out for the activation of the text book fund.

RELATED CONTENT: HBCU Scholarship Named After Late Atlanta Anchor Jovita Moore

• Entrepreneurship

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 9, 2024

Tips To Accelerate Business Growth

To increase sales, one of the savviest moves Black-owned small businesses can make is to develop a strategic marketing plan.

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To increase sales, one of the savviest moves Black-owned small businesses can make is to develop a strategic marketing plan. Small business owners who hone their marketing skills and take a multi-pronged approach to growth are much likelier to increase their customer acquisition rates than those with a spray-and-pray approach.

Understanding how to optimize your outreach efforts for success is crucial. Integrate the following nine small business marketing tips into your company’s growth plan, and you’ll be amazed how quickly you start to see results.

9 Marketing Tips for Black-Owned Small Businesses

• Use Google My Business to create custom offers for your target audience. Potential customers are already using Google to find companies just like yours; why not stack the odds of engagement in your favor?
• Conduct sales feedback calls with your existing customers. A quick phone call to current customers to ask for their feedback on interactions with your business shows you’re interested in continuing to earn your customers’ patronage and helps keep your company top-of-mind.
• Posting new videos on YouTube not only helps turbocharge the effectiveness of your video marketing efforts but can improve your search engine optimization (SEO), too. Make sure you’re uploading both seasonal and evergreen video content to maximize the potential of your video outreach.
• SlideShare is a powerful customer outreach tool many small business owners overlook. Adding slide presentations to SlideShare not only gives you more niche-specific pages for search engines to index, but it can help increase your social media marketing. Sharing individual slides from your SlideShare presentations can drive traffic to your brand while increasing your thought leadership reputation.
• E-book downloads are an excellent tool for small business owners wanting to double down on email marketing. Offering a free e-book in exchange for an email address helps build your subscriber list and showcase your small business’ expertise to prospective customers.
• Don’t overlook opportunities to market your small business at community events. Attend trade shows and conferences in your area wearing a jacket with your business’ URL on the back. Who knows how many visits you’ll have to your small business’ website simply because you advertised your URL to local conference attendees.
• LinkedIn blogging is a must-use tool for savvy small business owners. Post fresh content marketing posts on your business’ LinkedIn page on a daily/weekly basis to draw attention to your brand. Be sure to share your LinkedIn posts on social media with hashtags specific to your local area for maximum impact.
• Speaking of social media, promoting your brand and local community on social media networks like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook is an excellent way to boost brand awareness. Not only will you be connecting with community members, you will share insights about your small business.
• Digital marketing for small businesses is essential for company growth. Be sure you develop a detailed search engine optimization strategy to grow your company online. Use everything from blog posts on your company’s blog to guest posts on websites specific to your target customers. A detailed SEO strategy can drive traffic to your small business for years to come.

Small business marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you take a strategic approach to company growth. Incorporate these nine marketing tips for small business owners into your company’s growth strategy, and you’ll be amazed at the results.

RELATED CONTENT: Here’s What You Need To Know When Planning A Business Event

• Contributor Network

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 9, 2024

How Do Democrat And Republican Governments Perform In Stock Market?

Luckily, numbers don't lie and we've got the data to help you understand which political party fairs better in performance.

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During any Presidential election year there’s always discussion about which party is better for the economy, the stock market is an integral part of this discussion. Typically, the country is split dependent upon region, demographic, or political affiliation. Luckily, numbers don’t lie and we’ve got the data to help you understand which political party fairs better in performance.

There’s a phenomenal interactive tool that sums things up quite nicely. It shows the hypothetical growth of $1 invested in the S&P 500, Jan. 1925 – Jul. 2023. The tool begins with our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge (Republican), and brings us to our current President, Joe Biden (Democrat).

Throughout history, Democrat Presidents (15.2%) have produced better overall returns than Republican Presidents (9%.)The difference between these average returns appears largely due to economic and market factors outside any president’s control. You will notice an upward-trending nature of the stock market since the Great Depression. This is why financial advisors always say to think long-term when investing; it’s evident that it pays off.

However, you’ve got to be able to weather the downturns and not lose sight of the long-term focus. If short-term is your goal, there might be better places for your money than investing in the stock market because you might be unlucky. There’s always a chance you can lose what you put in.

That last point is what we all should focus our attention on. The stock market has consistently gone up since the Great Depression. Yes, there are downturns here and there, but overall, it has still been a great place to keep your money over time. If there’s one takeaway everyone needs to remember, it’s this: Your long-term investment strategy should not be influenced by short-term political changes.

Jasper Smith is the founder of The #BuildWealth Movement®. He’s worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years and holds a life insurance license, multiple securities licenses, and the Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC®) designation. 

RELATED CONTENT: Moderna Stock Takes Minimal Hit After New COVID Vaccine Topped Projected Estimates 

by Stacy Jackson

August 9, 2024

Pinky Cole Gifts Her Day Ones With A Slutty Vegan Location

The two women who ran the Slutty Vegan social media and food truck tours are now the first licensees and owners of a Jonesboro location.

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In celebration of Slutty Vegan’s 6th Anniversary, Founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes presented the two women who have been running her logistics and operations since the beginning as the first licensees of the restaurant, gifting them their own location in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Cole Hayes says Angel Barnwell and Miesha Hambrick helped build Slutty Vegan, the signature vegan burger joint established in 2018 in her two-bedroom apartment to offer healthier options to her Atlanta community. “Angel and Miesha put blood, sweat, and tears in my business,” Cole Hayes wrote in an Aug. 6 announcement on Instagram. “I am no longer the only entrepreneur at the table.” The new licensees strolled through the latest location, which features a spacious porch area where customers will enter. Inside is a ceiling covered in the signature Slutty Vegan graphics and yellow flooring throughout. It appears from the Instagram video customers at Barnwell and Hambrick’s location will be able to shop Slutty Vegan merchandise on the side as they await their orders.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pinky Cole Hayes (@pinkycole)

Barnwell, who is currently the assistant vice president for Slutty Vegan, started with the company on Oct. 3, 2018, as the social media intern. She worked her way up to a role as social media manager, which included handling customer service. “I spoke to every customer that we came into contact with,” Barnwell said in a Feb. 6 Black History Month spotlight video on the company’s TikTok channel. She leveled up in the company as Cole Hayes’ personal and executive assistant before being promoted to business manager. “It has been a rollercoaster ride,” she said, adding that the vegan restaurant now boasts over 13 locations and several food trucks. Becoming one of the first licensees is a major milestone, as Barnwell has witnessed the company grow into a dynamic business and household name over the years.

Hambrick is the operations manager for Slutty Vegan, and right when she wakes up, she’s checking emails, phone calls, and text messages. According to her LinkedIn, she started with the company in November 2018, the month after Cole Hayes opened the first restaurant location. In 2023, she appeared alongside the Slutty Vegan team as they graced BLACK ENTERPRISE’s digital cover during Black History Month. In 2021, she introduced herself as Slutty Vegan’s tour director. “I am responsible for Slutty Vegan being on the road,” she said at the time. Her role has included testing out the market in different areas, ensuring the locations’ functionalities are good, and overseeing the overall operational flow.

Cole Hayes is grateful to the two women for their sacrifices to her and her company, and the Jonesboro location is another step toward making their career dreams come to fruition.

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

August 9, 2024

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Actress Connie Chiume Dead At 72

The work of the award-winning actress impacted her South African community, family, fellow 'Black Panther' costars, and young artists.

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Black Panther actress Connie Chiume died unexpectedly Aug. 6 at Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, her family announced on Instagram. She was 72.

Chiume’s son, Nongelo Chiume told Newzroom Afrika that she had been in the hospital to undergo a medical procedure. Nongelo said she was recovering well, then “unfortunately…we then got the news of her passing.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Connie Chiume (@conniechiume)

The notable South African actress, entrepreneur and activist appeared in many films and television shows, including Black Is King, Housekeepers, Zone 14, and Soul City, which garnered her an Avanti Trophy in 2000 for Best Actress, according to IMDB.

Her role as “Mining Tribe Elder” in Marvel’s Black Panther and its 2022 sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, left a lasting impression on fans and fellow actors in Hollywood. Black Panther costar Lupita Nyong’o paid her respects on Instagram: “We have lost a library!” she captioned a photo of Chiume on the Black Panther carpet. Another fellow costar, Tobagonian-Rwandan actor Winston Duke, wrote on X, “Rest in peace my beautiful sister Connie Chiume. Thank you for your resilience and the always-inspired present work you have delivered in your long, illustrious career.”

Chiume was also an activist, founding the Connie Chiume Foundation in 2020 as part of her mission to invest in creative professionals by providing resource development, business education, and economic growth initiatives. She developed classes and workshops through her foundation to introduce the arts to rural and urban communities. Chiume’s activism also addressed several other matters like HIV and AIDS, gender-based violence, and voter education.

The South African Government honored Chiume on X: “Her outstanding work will always be remembered” and “South Africa will forever be grateful for your contribution, Mama.”

“We are proud to be her children,” Nongelo said. “I think she’s left us a beautiful legacy and the work that she’s done, not only…for her children or her family, but for the community and the country at large.”