• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 9, 2024

Issa Rae Launches Branded Content Company To Teach Creators How To Get Better Brand Deals And Close Pay Gap

Issa Rae has a new entrepreneurial venture that aims to teach creators how to secure the bag in brand deals.

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Issa Rae has a new entrepreneurial venture that aims to teach creators how to secure the bag in brand deals.

The Hoorae Media founder recently launched her branded entertainment company, Ensemble, to help creators and brands build “deeper relationships” with major companies and corporations, Business Insider reports. The newest endeavor to Rae’s growing business portfolio already has a network of 50 content creators, including Mark Phillips, Drew Afualo, and Leo González, who are all on the right track to aligning themselves with reputable companies like Pepsi, Chili’s, and Popeyes.

“The brands I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with understand that quality matters, inclusion works, and curation is essential,” Rae said in a press release. “That’s why we’ve built Ensemble with an ambitious and growing group of executives, creators, brands, publishers, and platforms who will all work together to build a more equitable and sustainable creator economy.”

Joining Rae on the management side are a trio of advertising veterans: Co-founder and President Ian Schafer, Head of Revenue Matt Berger, and Head of Revenue Operations Keith Lee. Together, the group works to aid their creators with properly packaging themselves to attract big brand deals.

“The proposition is that we have deeper relationships with the partners,” Montrel McKay, the president of development and production at Rae’s studio, Hoorae, said.

“A lot of people are just selling media impressions and matching them with creators. We’re going to teach you how to sell media to these brands and do it in a way that allows you to service your audience.”

Ensemble also works with up-and-coming content creators who are building their audiences and preparing for high-profiting sponsorships.

“We just see it as an evolution of the next generation of talent discovery, and the path is not obvious,” Schafer said. “People used to look at digital as the minor leagues. It’s very much the major leagues, but the thesis is that the future talent is much more likely to be discovered by audiences and financed by brands.”

Equity and inclusion are central to Ensemble’s deals, as the company aims to close the pay gap between white creators and creators of color.

“We want to go after media budgets. We don’t want to go after small allocations that are for diversity buys. That’s why it’s important to work with Pepsi out of the gate,” McKay said. “[W]e want to show the world, we’re just trying to drive popular culture.”

The new venture adds to Rae’s growing business portfolio, including her studio, Hoorae Media, talent management firm, ColorCreative, marketing company, Fête, and audio platform Raedio.

• Health and Wellness

by Stacy Jackson

May 9, 2024

People Of Color Make Up Over Half The Population Breathing Unclean Air

Counties with severe air pollution, where all three measures of air quality have failed, 63% of nearly 44 million residents are of color.

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According to the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report, millions of individuals across the nation are exposed to unhealthy air quality, with communities of color disproportionately affected.

Despite decades-long efforts to curb air pollution, a staggering 131.2 million Americans, constituting 39% of the overall population, reside in areas plagued by unhealthy ozone or particulate matter levels. While people of color represent 41.6% of the country’s population, they account for a startling 52% of those residing in counties that have received at least one failing grade for air quality. In the counties with the most severe air pollution, where all three measures of air quality have failed, a shocking 63% of the nearly 44 million residents are people of color, in stark contrast to the 37% who are white.

“State of the Air” notes the surge in the number of individuals whose health is at risk, listing contributing factors, including extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, which have collectively fueled a steady increase in deadly particulate matter with pollution heavy in the western regions of the United States. While the organization’s report initially highlighted the successes of the Clean Air Act in mitigating emissions from transportation, power plants, and manufacturing sectors, recent findings have underscored the mounting evidence that the climate shift poses formidable challenges in safeguarding human health.

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that with beauty products disproportionately marketed to Black women, the placement of power fuel plants across the United States is devastating their health and the environment. Researchers found Black women were more likely to reside near power plants, and with emissions reducing air quality, they are at a higher risk of respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis.

Based on ozone and year-round particulate levels over an extended period, the “State of the Air” report listed several cities across California as being among the most polluted locales.

The American Lung Association urges individuals to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their families from the perils of air pollution by monitoring daily air quality forecasts, minimizing personal contributions to air pollution, leveraging tax incentives to reduce emissions from homes and vehicles, and advocating alongside local policymakers and civic organizations for cleaner air initiatives.

RELATED CONTENT: Mardi Gras Beads Cast a Plastic Shadow Causing Environmental Fallout

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 9, 2024

Divine 9 Members Express HBCUs’ Concerns to North Carolina Lawmakers

Divine 9 members in North Carolina expressed their concerns to lawmakers about educational resources for HBCUs.

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Members of fraternities and sororities in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) met with state lawmakers in North Carolina on Wednesday, May 7, to make a case for increased funding to key areas involving education, healthcare, and politics.

The North Carolina Black Alliance’s “Divine 9” fraternities and sororities expressed their concerns to state lawmakers about educational resources for HBCUs, WRAL reports. The Black Greek-lettered organization members’ agenda included election protection, healthcare access, and educational equity.

Gov. Roy Cooper sat for speeches that began at 9 a.m., including a keynote address from Rev. Dr. William Barber. The meeting was held at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh.

North Carolina is home to 12 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) including the oldest in the South, Raleigh’s Shaw University, founded in 1865, but only 11 are recognized as HBCUs by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Barber Scotia College (Not recognized as an HBCU by the US Department of Education)
• Bennett College
• Elizabeth City State University
• Fayetteville State University
• Hood Theological Seminary
• Johnson C Smith University
• Livingstone College
• North Carolina Central University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• Shaw University
• Saint Augustine’s University
• Winston-Salem State University

“This event is important … it’s a chance for all of our Black fraternities and sororities to come together that are based here in North Carolina, to really get a chance to see what we do, to talk about what’s going on with the issues that matter to us,” North Carolina House Democratic leader Robert Reives said.

He noted the focus the state government needs to put on additional resources for HBCUs in North Carolina.

“What’s on top of mind for me right now is education,” Reives added. “It is our great building block. That’s the one thing that evens out everything…we have to amplify the importance of making sure that everybody gets a good solid education.”

RELATED CONTENT: Alabama HBCUs Seek To Buy Birmingham-Southern College

• Education

by Stacy Jackson

May 9, 2024

Former Teacher Says America Isn’t Making A ‘Big Enough’ Deal About Its Current Literacy Crisis

A former teacher and assistant principal is sounding the alarm on what she describes as a literacy crisis in America, asserting that the gravity of the situation is not being adequately addressed.

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A former teacher and assistant principal is sounding the alarm on what she describes as a literacy crisis in America, asserting that the gravity of the situation is not being adequately addressed.

“Our children cannot read,” the educator stated in a viral TikTok video that has garnered over 3 million views. “Let alone writing a paragraph, let alone comprehension, they cannot read. They do not know how to sound words out.” The woman, who has taught middle and high school, lamented that children are not being taught essential reading skills. She addressed the practice of promoting students who are illiterate to the next grade level instead of providing them with the necessary support. “Our next changemakers, our next lawmakers, our next voters, cannot read,” she said.

While test scores for reading have remained stagnant for the past decade, the teacher noted a significant decline since the pandemic. Last year, the National Assessment of Education Progress, often referred to as “the nation’s report card,” revealed that not even half of fourth graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient level in reading. The rates are even more alarming for Black students, with only 17% performing proficiently in their fourth-grade year as of 2022.

In January, The Education Trust shed light on the deeply rooted systemic issue of denying educational access to Black individuals, a troubling legacy woven into the fabric of the nation’s history. Oppressive anti-literacy laws once barred enslaved and even free Black Americans from acquiring reading and writing skills despite many courageously defying these unjust regulations at immense personal peril. In the aftermath of slavery’s abolition in 1865, when Black communities established freedpeople’s schools, white Southerners responded with violence, attacking or razing more than 600 schoolhouses, perpetuating the cycle of marginalization and suppression.

“They been knew the babies couldn’t read and didn’t care,” the ex-teacher asserted, suggesting that acknowledgment of the crisis came after test scores plummeted post-pandemic. She also highlighted the reintroduction of balanced reading, also known as phonics, to the educational curriculum, which may have come as a surprise to some who may have been unaware of its previous absence.

The educator challenges parents to remove distractions like tablets and cellphones and instead invest time practicing fundamental reading skills such as letter recognition and sounds with their children. She further encourages parents to make reading with their children a priority. Furthermore, she urged parents and guardians who are privileged to have the ability to take time off work to attend PTSA meetings and stay informed on policies being passed. “They are banking on the fact that parents and families are not going to show up,” she said. “Particularly Black and brown children, they know families can’t or won’t show up.”

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 9, 2024

Black Tik Tok Teacher Ruffles Social Media’s Feathers With Video Of Students Unbraiding His Hair

A maleteacher ignited a debate after posting a video of his female students unbraiding his hair inside a classroom.

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A popular TikToker who uses the platform to vlog his teaching adventures is getting mixed reactions to his in-classroom hair session with his female students. According to the educator, who goes by JaQ Lee on TikTok, he decided to live stream a group of his students unbraiding his hair ahead of his scheduled hair appointment at a hair salon.

After live streaming the experience, Lee was well aware of the mixed responses. To keep the conversation going, Lee decided to share a sped-up version of the on his TikTok page where he asked his 650,000 followers to “comment your thoughts.”

@thilluminatin1 Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Teaching is a work of heart. Comment your thoughts #teacher #teachersoftiktok #teacherproblems #millenialsoftiktok #middleschool ♬ Chopin Nocturne No.2 Op.9-2(1391533) – 314P

While most of the responses on TikTok were positive, a more serious debate was sparked when the video was reposted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Black parents tap in! Would you be okay with your daughter unbraiding her teacher’s hair? Is this appropriate?” a user asked the Black Twitter community.

“I think a bond between an educator and their students can be a wonderful thing, however I believe boundaries are necessary and there are plenty of team building exercises or games that can establish this and doesn’t require touching beyond a high five or a half church hug,” she added.

Many weighed in, including a former teacher who believed the exchange wasn’t “that serious.” According to the former educator, Lee “clearly has build strong and trusting relationships with his students.”

“Every thing isn’t a red flag for something more sinister,” they added.

Another called out Lee for allowing students to do his hair in the classroom as if they were close friends or related. They also brought attention to the issue teachers would have if a student did another student’s hair in class.

“He’s not chilling with his little siblings/cousins he’s at work,” they said.

“Its bad enough he’s doing this on work time, but young girls can be impressionable and this is somewhat intimate, and way to personal. If a student started doing another students hair in class would that be okay?”

Hours after the video made its rounds across social media, one X user claimed that her younger sister was one of the students in the video and said she and others had to write statements to the school with the possibility of Lee facing termination.

“I’m watching this and didn’t even realize that’s my little sister in the background,” she wrote. “She said that he’s her favorite teacher but today they were all forced to write statements and he may get fired…”

After the hair video, Lee responded with a video explaining why he wouldn’t have an issue with his daughter taking braids out of her male teacher’s head. He also shared another where he allowed his student to paint his nails. Lee said it was his way of supporting the student’s dreams of becoming a nail technician.

RELATED CONTENT: Mother Speaks Out After Son’s Teacher Allegedly Encouraged A Recorded Beating From Another Student

• Business

by Jameelah Mullen

May 9, 2024

Audible Welcomes New Minority-Owned Companies Into Its Business Attraction Program

Black women business founders are encouraged to apply to the program.

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Audible recently added four new companies to its Newark, NJ-based Business Attraction Program. Launched in August 2023, the program is part of the company’s commitment to sustain business, attract foot traffic, and create jobs in the city.

The company wants to provide opportunities to business owners who are less likely to gain access to financial support and mentorship. With Black-owned companies receiving one percent of venture funding nationally, Audible encourages Black women business founders to apply for the program.

“Our Business Attraction Program is a scalable model to drive economic growth and can be adopted by other companies seeking to make a tangible impact in the cities they call home. Our startup support efforts are leading the way in the city’s revitalization by thoughtfully and equitably growing the tech ecosystem, elevating diverse founders, and supporting the local economy,” said Aisha Glover, global head of urban innovation at Audible, in a press release. 

The Amazon subsidiary will provide $250,000 in non-dilutive grants per company, which will go toward office space, relocation assistance, as well as stipends for employees to live and shop locally. Business owners will also receive mentorship from Audible experts. Additionally, Audible is facilitating leasing opportunities in  buildings around Newark’s Harriet Tubman Square, which include 33 Washington Street, 550 Broad Street, 494 Broad Street, 540 Broad Street, and 536 Broad Street. 

Equal Space, one of the program’s newest participants, is a 50,000-square-foot shared office and event space that provides flexible workspaces, including daily passes, dedicated desks, and other amenities.

“After over 10 years building momentum and a powerful entrepreneur community in Newark, we recognize the opportune moment we’re in and the need for entrepreneurs to have a nurturing place to flourish and connect with other like-minded, emerging business leaders,” Equal Space founder Citi Medina said. 

Other members of the program include tech-based companies pockstock, ABF Creative, Gymble, and Fitnescity.  Food and entertainment companies include BLVD Bistro, an offspring of the famous Harlem-based soul food restaurant, and Newark Culture Club, a cocktail bar and entertainment venue.

• News History

by Jameelah Mullen

May 9, 2024

Black Air Force Airman Killed By Florida Deputies Who Were At The Wrong Apartment, Attorney says

23-year old soldier was shot and killed Friday in an incident involving a sheriff’s deputy.

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Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex allegedly entered the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman. 

Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was stationed at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. He was alone in his off-base apartment when the incident occurred.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Fortson’s family. According to Crump, Fortson was on a Facetime call with an unidentified woman who witnessed the fatal shooting. According to the witness, Fortson heard a knock at the door, and when he asked who was there, he did not get a response. The witness told Crump that Fortson grew concerned when the knocks became more aggressive, and he could not see anyone through the peephole. He then retrieved his legally owned gun. As he was walking back into the living room, officers burst through the door and shot the soldier six times. According to Crump, the witness saw Fortson lying on the ground where he said, “I can’t breathe.” Fortson was then taken to a hospital, where he died. 

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. 

“I immediately placed the deputy on administrative leave and have asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct the investigation that is required in such incidents. The State Attorney’s Office will also conduct an independent review.” Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden said in a statement. 

Crump is requesting that the police release the body cam footage of the incident.

“We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family,” Crump told ABC News. “His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy.”

Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator. He had no prior criminal history.

• Sports

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 9, 2024

Sha’Carri Richardson Says “Nah” To Following Rules In New Commercial

Sprite is reimagining its iconic "Obey Your Thirst" campaign and Sha'Carri Richardson is breaking all the rules.

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Sha’Carri Richardson stayed true to her defiant persona in her debut Sprite commercial as part of their reimagined “Obey Your Thirst” campaign.

The world’s fastest woman is making history as Sprite’s first female partner and is one of two professional athletes helping the beverage company reignite its iconic “Obey Your Thirst” campaign 30 years after its inception. Richardson’s 30-second spot sees the American track and field star saying “Nah” to all the outside opinions and pressures being placed upon her.

“What Sha’Carri needs to do is obey the rules,” a sports commentator says on television.

“Nah,” Richardson says in response.

“Obey the image,” a photographer tells her during a photoshoot.

“Nah,” Richardson tells him.

While at the dinner table with her mother and grandmother, Richardson is told to “Obey your Big Mama,” by her grandmother, “and your mama,” her mom says.

“Nah,” Richardson says before laughing and telling the matriarchs she’s just joking.

Along with Richardson, Sprite released another “Obey Your Thirst” ad with Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who recreated a 1994 ad with a cameo from its original star, NBA legend Grant Hill.

Given Richardson and Edwards’ bona fide ways of expressing their self-assurance and unwavering originality, both athletes were perfectly aligned with representing Sprite’s message of authenticity to a new generation of sports fans.

“Anthony and Sha’Carri are true cultural creators who embody what it means to Obey Your Thirst and to follow your dreams with determination, making them the perfect partners to pay off the campaign mantra to always aspire to be your best and reach your full potential,” A.P. Chaney, Senior Creative Director, Sparkling Flavors said. “Both spots are really fun, with plenty of comedic value conveyed in the Sprite voice.”

Richardson has continued to rise to the occasion despite the criticism and adversity that’s come her way. Her dedicated drive for greatness and self-expression has proven marketable for major brands like Sprite and Nike as she seamlessly incorporates elements of hip-hop culture, sports, entertainment, and fashion.

“The ‘be true to you’ spirit of Obey Your Thirst resonated with consumers in 1994, and we’re confident it will resonate in 2024,” Brian Rogers, Senior Brand Director, Sprite said.

“Because now more than ever, younger generations are bombarded with messages from about who they should be and how they should behave. Sprite is the antidote to today’s intense cultural heat—expectations, pressures, opinions, advice and noise—as a brand that empowers fans to challenge the status quo and embody their authentic selves.”

by Jameelah Mullen

May 9, 2024

Google To Fund Guaranteed Income Program In San Francisco That Gives Families $1,000 A Month

The pilot program will help more than 200 families, many of which are lead by single women of color.

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Google is partnering with San Francisco area nonprofits to provide a financial boost for families who are facing homelessness. 

The It All Adds Up program will provide financial assistance to qualified families. Families must be nearing the end of rental subsidy programs provided by local nonprofit agencies to be eligible for the program.

Reportedly, 225 randomly selected participants will receive $1,000 monthly cash payments for a year, and an additional 225 families will receive $50. Participants can use the money however they choose. 

“We’re hoping that this will provide a softer landing for families who are exiting our subsidy programs and help them maintain financial stability,” Hamilton Families CEO Kyriell Noon told the San Francisco Chronicle.

About 30 families are currently enrolled in the program. More participants will be added each month until all 450 spaces are filled. More than 70% of the families currently enrolled in the programs are led by single mothers of color with children under the age of five.

Compass Family Services and Hamilton Families will operate the San Francisco-based pilot program, which will be funded by Google and J-Pal. 

According to the program’s website, the initiative is based on a five-year study of the impact of guaranteed basic income on a family.

“Over the next five years, with support from Google.org and J-PAL North America, and in partnership with New York University, this pilot is on a mission to prove that housing stability is more attainable when families who have recently experienced homelessness have just a little more room to breathe.”

NYU’s Housing Solutions Lab will study the program’s results to determine how effective the payments are in helping families remain in long-term housing. Researchers will also assess the impact on participants’ health and financial outcomes.

Google’s participation in this program is part of its $1 billion pledge to fight the housing crisis in the San Francisco area.

• News

by Daniel Johnson

May 9, 2024

Appeals Court To Review Ruling Allowing Fani Willis To Remain On Election Interference Case

The review places another delay on a criminal case involving the embattled former president, making it possible that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, will not have to stand trial until after November’s election.

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On May 8, a Georgia appeals court decided to review a ruling from a lower court that would allow Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney, to continue to prosecute former President Donald Trump on charges of election interference. The review places another delay on a criminal case involving the embattled former president, making it possible that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, will not have to stand trial until after November’s election. 

As the Associated Press reported, Trump’s lead attorney in the State of Georgia, Steve Sadow, informed them via email that Trump’s legal team looks forward to presenting their argument that Willis “should be disqualified for her misconduct in this unjustified, unwarranted political persecution.”

Whichever side loses the court battle is expected to appeal the decision, which will further delay the case. Judge Scott McAfee said in his order granting Willis the ability to stay on the case that he wants to continue addressing other pre-trial motions. McAfee wrote, “regardless of whether the petition is granted…and even if any subsequent appeal is expedited by the appellate court.”

The case was already sidelined once, as the relationship between Fani Willis and former Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade was explored in detail, while the more serious charges against Trump and the other defendants were ignored and placed on the back burner. Willis also faces more scrutiny from a GOP-led panel, which she indicated did not have the legal authority to subpoena her. As Fox 5 reported, Willis stated at a news conference, “First of all, I don’t think they even have the authority to subpoena me, but they need to learn the law. I will not appear to anything that is unlawful, and I have not broken the law,” Willis said. “I’ve said it amongst these leaders; I’m sorry folks get pissed off that everybody gets treated equally.”

As CNN reported, the delay in the election interference case is a strong signal that the efforts of the defense team to keep pushing the trial back is working. In that case, no trial date has officially been set, while in the case of Trump’s Florida trial over his alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a judge postponed that trial indefinitely.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has not issued a ruling regarding whether or not Trump is protected from his actions as president, using the broad claim of presidential immunity. While the justices appear to seem skeptical of that particular claim, no ruling in the case seems imminent. In that case, NBC News noted that a trial before the election is still possible, but it would need to get started quickly to beat that deadline.