• Business

by Derek Major

September 6, 2023

Did You Know There Are More Than 3.6 Million Black-Owned Businesses In U.S.?

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The U.S. Census Bureau says there are more than 3.6 million Black-owned businesses in the U.S. today, a significant jump from pre-coronavirus levels.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Black-owned businesses have generated $217 billion in revenue and are supporting more than 3.56 million jobs across the U.S. In 2019, the number of Black-owned businesses across the U.S. was less than 200,000.

The significant jump in Black-owned businesses is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black workers were among the first laid off at the pandemic’s start, especially Black women. Many started businesses out of necessity to keep money coming in.

Additionally, through stimulus checks and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the government gave out trillions in funds that Black entrepreneurs used as seed money for startup costs for their businesses.

Another factor in the growth of Black-owned businesses was the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and the focus on social equity. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor led to a summer of national and worldwide protests. As a result, many large corporations and organizations started business accelerators and minority business programs to help Black entrepreneurs do everything, including obtaining seed money, creating a digital presence, and getting their products in retail stores across the country. Retail giants also began labeling Black-owned products so customers can find and support Black-owned businesses.

“After the BLM movement and the appearance of the Black Lives Matter hashtag on Kickstarter, African American entrepreneurs’ fundraising projects were nearly four times more successful than before,” said Yoon Koh, the lead author of a study on the Black Lives Matter movement and African American entrepreneurs’ crowdfunding success said. “We expected the BLM movement and the hashtag on Kickstarter would influence African American founders’ fundraising success, but we didn’t expect the degree to be nearly four times higher.”

Millions of Black entrepreneurs used the pandemic to put their financial success into their own hands. As a result, they have made waves in several businesses, including spirits, food, hair and beauty products, and much more.

Despite the good news, more Black-owned businesses are needed. According to Forbes, Black Americans make up 15% of U.S. citizens. However, Black-owned businesses make up less than 5% of all businesses in the U.S.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 6, 2023

‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!’: Beyoncé Sings Special Tribute To Tia Mowry’s Old Girl Group During ‘Renaissance’ Performance

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The stars came out to celebrate Beyoncé during the LA stop of her “Renaissance” tour. But Queen Bey found special ways to celebrate them back.

Tia Mowry was in attendance for night three of Beyoncé’s three-night stint at SoFi Stadium, which happened to fall on Bey’s 42nd birthday. A video making the rounds across social media shows Beyoncé spotting Tia in the large crowd and making a musical reference to Tia’s old girl group, Voices.

It was while singing her 2011 ballad “1+1,” the decorated Grammy-winning singer created an impromptu remix to add in lyrics to Tia’s early ’90s single, “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” Beyoncé could be seen smiling and waving at Tia and mouthing “I love you,” before breaking out in song.

“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, the boy makes me sing,” Beyoncé belted out.

https://twitter.com/kimkim579/status/1698978385031246098

“So during 1+1 Beyonce spotted Tia Mowry and sang a snippet of Yeah, Yeah from Tia and Tameras girl group!!!! Iconic !!,” a fan captioned their tweet.

Like Beyoncé who got her musical start singing and dancing in girl groups, Tia and Tamera Mowry were girl group members prior to finding fame on their hit sitcom, Sister, Sister.

The Twitches stars were in a girl group with members Monique Wilson, Arike Rice, and sisters LaPetra and LaToya McMoore. Tia and Tamera crossed paths with Beyoncé in 1998 when Destiny’s Child appeared on their younger brother Tahj Mowry’s hit Disney Channel sitcom, Smart Guy, in the episode “A Date with Destiny.”

Destiny’s Child made a special guest appearance, a signature of popular sitcoms in the 90s, and recorded a music video for their song “No, No, No” that featured Tahj.

Tia shared her history with Beyonce in an Instagram recap post highlighting her experience at the “Renaissance” live show.

“The first time I met @beyonce was during her Destiny’s Child days when she was on a production with my brother @tahj_mowry, and since then I have been lucky to cross paths with her throughout the years,” Tia wrote in her caption.

“From the beginning, Beyoncé’s undeniable talent is only rivaled by her incredible kindness and generosity.”

 

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RELATED CONTENT: DJ Khaled To Open For Beyoncé In Los Angeles Leg Of Renaissance World Tour

Deion Sanders has always done things his own way,, even now as a college football coach.

On the debut weekend of the Colorado Buffaloes football season, a marker was seen on some of the players’ uniforms. Instead of the typical “C” for the captain of the team, jerseys were spotted with an “L” or “D” insignia.

According to Sports Illustrated, Sanders does not appoint the traditional role of captain on his football team. Instead, he uses the letter “L” for leader and “D” for “dawg.”

His son and starting quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, as well as defensive lineman Shane Cokes had the “L” on their jerseys. Cornerback and wide receiver Travis Huntkicker and kicker Jace Feely wore the “D” patch on their uniform.

This is TOUGH 😤

(h/t @CurtisCSnyder) pic.twitter.com/9Ja2ofV1a4

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 3, 2023

While appearing on FS1’s Undisputed on Monday, Sept. 4, the Hall of Fame player told co-hosts Skip Bayless and Michael Irvin the reason for the labels. “I don’t believe in captains,” Sanders said.

Whatever coaching techniques Sanders is doing, so far it’s working.

Shedeur, who could follow in his father’s footsteps and make it to the NFL, continued his spectacular collegiate career in his debut game for Colorado, throwing for a school-record 510 yards in the Buffaloes’ 45-42 upset win over Texas Christian University on Saturday.

Hunter also had a breakout game with a team-high 11 receptions for 119 yards. On the defensive end, he caught a diving interception in the second half.

“Coach Prime” had high praise for Hunter’s game.

“He loves the game,” Sanders said. “He does not tire of loving the game and wanting to be in the game and studying the game and all the intricate details of the game. He and Shedeur can just look at each other and know what to do.”

Both players will have another chance to prove that theory Saturday when the Buffaloes play their first home game of the season against the University of Nebraska.

RELATED CONTENT: Deion Sanders Leads Colorado Buffaloes In Upset Win Against Texas Christian University

• News

by Atiya Jordan

September 6, 2023

The Katalyst Group Releases First-Ever Platform To Drive Multicultural Marketing, newsletter 1,

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The Katalyst Group is creating a first-ever experience that people won’t be able to stop talking about.

In pursuit of its mission, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based brand strategy and marketing firm has formally released its new inclusive marketing diagnostic tool, the Cultural Competency Monitor (CCM). The first-ever single platform assesses both brand team and agency readiness for multicultural marketing.

The Katalyst Group sees the biggest opportunity for market growth as the “multicultural market,” evidenced by the increase in buying power of multiracial and multiethnic consumers.

“Analytics show both that ethnic consumers represent 20-30% of new category growth across sectors and since 2020 over 70% expect a new level of authenticity from the brands they purchase,” according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Additionally, achieving fair share among diverse consumers represents sales increases of $100 to $500 million for each the largest advertisers without creating a new product,” the press release read.

Katalyst aims to enable more brands to resonate with consumers at the point of engagement. In August, it introduced the inaugural platform to the 2023 Cannes Lions’ Cannes Can: Diversity Collective Inkwell event at Martha’s Vineyard.

“The multicultural market is highly nuanced and requires a thoughtful, effective approach the brands can apply. We developed the CCM to measure the efforts being made by brands in inclusive marketing and to assist companies with the enhancements that develop propositions that authentically connect and resonate with multicultural consumer cohorts,” said Sean Rugless, Katalyst group president.

What is the Cultural Competency Monitor?

According to Procter & Gamble, growing markets is the most important kind of growth. The CCM platform is geared to provide “insight into the level of multicultural proficiency found with brand teams and their agency partners to connect with.”

Marginalizing is a habit that needs to be broken to realize that multicultural marketing is, in fact, mainstream marketing. While working to avoid this disingenuous habit, the CCM also helps to connect brands with diverse consumer cohorts.

This comes with recognizing that advertisers seeking to unlock brand growth from multicultural consumers have made “missteps that erode brand reputation, conceded share to competitors, and reduced profitability,” according to the release. With that, “inaccurate portrayals of communities of color have been linked to negative social consequences experienced for this segment.”  

How does this tool help to close the brand market share gaps among multicultural consumers?

The CCM is instrumental in fostering new narratives and eliminating bias in the portrayals of communities of color. Inclusive marketing is the key.

• Analyze brand development and creative development processes
• Co-create action plans between brand teams and agencies
• Integrating its measures into existing brand and agency performance reviews and metrics

RELATED CONTENT: Eunique Jones Gibson Is Using Culture Brands To Ignite Social Change In The Marketing Industry

21 Savage has joined Nicki Minaj and Snoop Dogg in the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” operator bundle pack.

The Atlanta rapper is now a playable character and Operator of the KorTac faction featured in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II” and “Call of Duty,” The “Tracer Pack: 21 Savage Operator Bundle” was released during the Season 5 Reloaded version of “Modern Warfare II” on Aug. 30, as noted by Fandom.

Skins within the new pack feature several references to 21’s songs and mixtapes, including The Tempus Razorback’s “Savage Mode,” BAS-P “Red Opps” blueprints, the “Skrrt Skrrt” UTV skin, and the “Mr. Right Now” Loading Screen.

21 Savage fans will also notice the Combat Knife “Slaughter King” blueprint serves as a nod to 21’s mixtape of the same name. When performing one of 21’s Finishing Move Quips, you’ll hear his playable character say, “It’s a fatality if you try to handle me,” a lyric from his song “Immortal.”

The “A lot” rapper’s operator bundle pack comes as part of “Call of Duty” and Activision’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Last month, the gaming franchise released operator bundles for Nicki Minaj and Snoop Dogg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyk2vBclvwY

Gamers can get their hands on the special edition bundle packs in the “Warzone 2” and “Modern Warfare 2” store during Season 5 Reloaded for 2,400 CoD Points each. Call of Duty took to Instagram last week to let fans know they could finally go “Savage Mode” with 21 Savage’s new bundle pack.

“Making his way into Call of Duty is the Slaughter King himself @21savage 💯,” they captioned the post.

 

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Nicki Minaj made history with her operator bundle pack debut as she became the first real female celebrity to be turned into a “Call of Duty” operator. She was not the first female celebrity to be added as a playable character as Pam Grier and Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson previously appeared as secret unlockable characters in “Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s Zombies” and Sarah Michelle Gellar appearance in “Call of Duty: Black Ops’ Zombies,” via Mashable.

RELATED CONTENT: Nicki Minaj Becomes First Self-Named Female Operator in ‘Call Of Duty’

A $75,000 grant is being issued to preserve a historic Black landmark in Detroit, The Detroit News reports.

The History of Equal Rights Grant, funded by the Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board, will go toward the preservation of the Detroit Association of Women’s Club, which was known as the Detroit Association of Colored Women’s Club when it was founded in 1921.

According to The Detroit News, the club merged eight clubs of Black women who joined forces to address the social and welfare issues of Detroit’s Black community. The club is “one of the oldest continuing Women’s clubs in Detroit,” Janese Chapman, director of the Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board, said. The headquarters was purchased in 1941 under the presidency of civil rights activist Rosa Slade Gragg.

 

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The group changed the building’s address, which was located between Ferry and Brush Streets, due to laws that prohibited Black residents in the area.

“At the time they were looking to acquire a clubhouse, Black people could not live on Ferry Street between the Woodward and John R,” Chapman said. “So…they had the address changed. There was originally an address on Ferry Street, and they changed the address and moved it around the corner to the address on (Brush Street) so they could buy the property.”

Funds from the National Parks Service grant will also go toward applying the building for the National Register of Historic Places.

“The grant itself is basically to bring (the National Parks Service) to align with the history of all America,” Chapman said. “The National Park Service, what they have been doing and what they strive to do, is to make sure that the history of America is being told particularly from the point of view of underrepresented folks (and) communities.”

According to Chapman, the grant marks the first time the city of Detroit has received a History of Equal Rights grant, a contribution funded by the federal Historic Preservation Fund.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Women-Owned Artist Collective Receives Intuit Mailchimp Awards $100K Unrestricted Grant

• Celebrity News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 6, 2023

Quavo To Enroll At UGA, Announces Lids Collab With News

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Quavo is headed back to school in style. Not only has the “Migos” rapper announced that he plans to earn his degree at the University of Georgia, but also released a limited edition collection with Lids x ’47 to celebrate the news.

The Hip Hop artist shared the news to his Instagram, showing pride for his home state with his new school’s football jersey to match. He captioning the picture “Been A Dog Before The BOY!”

 

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In promotion of his scholastic endeavor with celebratory merchandise to match, the 32-year-old spoke to VIBE about this new double venture.

“I’m from Athens, you know what I’m saying,” shared the entertainer on the collaboration. “I love UGA to the fullest. I just want everybody to rep this hat and put it on their head, because we ain’t capping about our rap. We coming hard this year and we going three-peat.”

Within the collection are two exclusive snapback hats, both showcasing the stylish drip the Athens native is known for, featuring the red and black colors that are part of the school’s theme. This is his third collaboration with the brand, with the official drop made available for purchase on Aug. 31. The “Hotel Lobby” artist was present to launched the collection at Fan Outfitters in Athens, with the hats going for $55 each.

While the latest products between Quavo and the apparel brand are seemingly sold out online, lucky visitors of Lids stores across the country could still grab the last of the collection. 

As for his education, Quavo plans to enroll next year to officially be a student on campus, but did not disclose to the news outlet what major he will pursue. However, he does hope to see his future classmates rocking the brand and supporting the collaboration,

“I want to see everybody at the University of Georgia have this hat. These hats are rare. This hat is a one-of-a-kind, and it’s done by me.”

RELATED CONTENT: Rapper Quavo Announces Limited Edition Hoodies and Celebrity Football Game in Honor of Takeoff

• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 6, 2023

Resolution Reached Between Minnesota Prison And Inmates Who Refused To Return To Their Cells In Heat Wave

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The Stillwater Correctional Facility in Minnesota says it peacefully resolved a situation concerning around 100 incarcerated people refusing to return to their cells.

ABC News reports that the inmates’ issues stemmed from excessive heat, lack of air conditioning, and limited access to showers and water during lockdowns over the past two months. A Department of Corrections spokesperson told ABC News that the situation was calm and peaceful throughout the day before adding that the prisoners expressed dissatisfaction because the guards had to limit their time out of their cells because they were understaffed. 

Bart Anderson, executive director of the union representing Stillwater’s correctional officers, told ABC News that what happened is “endemic and highlights the truth behind the operations of the MN Department of Corrections with chronic understaffing.”

Anderson also said the understaffed facility upsets incarcerated people because their program and recreation time are interrupted due to factors outside their control. 

Marvina Haynes, who works with an organization that assists incarcerated people, said that the prisoners’ actions were a reaction to the living conditions in the facility, which include a lack of access to clean water. Haynes, who works with Minnesota Wrongfully Convicted Judicial Reform and whose brother is an inmate at Stillwater, told ABC News.

“They didn’t have time to organize and plan,” Haynes said. “It was just … we’re not going back to that hot cell with no drinking water and not being able to shower.”

Haynes also expressed her hopes regarding a meeting with officials “to talk about the conditions that inmates are living in” and “solutions for the future.”

Kevin Reese, founder of the criminal justice organization Until We Are All Free, who was incarcerated there from 2006–2009, described the facility as a pizza oven during the summer months.

He told ABC News, “It is a 100-year-old building with no air conditioning, no central air. The walls actually sweat.”

RELATED CONTENT: Young Black Inmates Allegedly Suffering Inhumane Conditions, Scorching Heat At Louisiana Prison

• Entertainment

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 6, 2023

‘The Equalizer 3’ Scores Second-Highest Labor Day Weekend at Box Office

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The Denzel Washington-driven The Equalizer 3 earned the second-highest Labor Day opening at the box office, according to Variety, making $43.2 million over four days.

That number surpasses the 2007 Halloween remake’s $30 million but is far behind Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which raked in a whopping $94.6 million in 2021.

The Equalizer 3 brought in a three-day total of $34.5 million domestically. That is nearly the same as the three-day totals of the first two movies in the series. The original, which premiered in September 2014, took in $34 million; the 2018 sequel pulled in $36 million when it was released in July 2018.

Oddly enough, The Equalizer is the only series that Oscar winner Washington, a box office star for decades, has appeared in.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that due to the success of The Equalizer 3 and this summer’s crop of movies (including Barbie and Oppenheimer, which were released on the same day) the 2023 summer box office surpassed $4 billion. That’s the first time in the post-COVID 19 era that the industry accomplished such a feat.

It is predicted that the final 2023 summer numbers will be $4.087 billion, a 19 percent increase over the 2022, yet still 6 percent below the 2019 summer numbers.

“For the industry, after a three-year hiatus, to generate enough summer box office heat to again reach the $4B benchmark for the season is a remarkable achievement made even more interesting by the unexpected and often confounding path that led to this key milestone,” Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian said. “From Barbenheimer to Sound of Freedom and a host of other high-profile hits and somewhat inexplicable misses, the unpredictable nature of this all-important 18-week corridor was on full display. Equalizer 3 is taking us out on a high note.”

Now, Equalizer fans await to see if there will be yet another follow-up to Washington and director Antoine Fuqua settling scores and taking names.

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 6, 2023

Morehouse Grads Shape Their Black-Owned Marketing Agency Around HBCU Culture

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Desmond Attmore and Brian “Bwrightous” Wright are the founders of Six Degrees Marketing, an Atlanta-based agency that’s become a go-to for global talent and brands.

The college-buddies-turned-business-partners have found success in marketing through their genuine connection with HBCU culture as Morehouse graduates. Since launching their Black-owned creative agency a year before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Attore and Wright have brought notable campaigns to Atlanta that used to only take place in larger markets like Los Angeles and New York City.

Together, Attmore and Wright are creating not only jobs and internship opportunities but a new lane for young creatives in the ATL who once had to travel outside the city to gain the same high-level entertainment marketing experience they’re getting at Six Degrees.

It’s a foundation built off their HBCU experience and their ability to authentically engage and resonate with multicultural Gen Z and millennial audiences.

 

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“There are a lot of people within our direct HBCU community that we’ve grown up with who have also grown within their respective careers. So, because, we’ve been building these relationships since we’ve been kids at Morehouse, we are able to run plays supporting one another’s projects and overall careers,” Wright tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“These authentic relationships have translated into so many wins for Six Degrees and we couldn’t have done it without our HBCU network.”

In four years of operating, Six Degrees has won key accounts with HBO, Amazon, SoundCloud, Sprite, BET, Nike, NFL, Pandora, Uninterrupted, Instagram, Foot Locker in ways that have established the burgeoning brand as the next-generation marketing heavy hitter.

The duo started 2023 leading the “Origins” campaign for NFL Consumer Products that highlighted Latinx fashion designers with a capsule campaign for this year’s Super Bowl. Six Degrees also became the experiential agency behind LeBron James’ tequila, Lobos.

 

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They closed out 2022 producing HBCU Homecoming with Drake and Pandora where they surprised over 6,000 fans at the Forbes arena at Morehouse College with performances from 21 Savage, Lil Yachty, Rae Sremmurd, Trinidad James, and Rubi Rose.

With more major brands looking for organic ways to connect with the young Black community, Six Degrees has been able to thrive.

“Authentic storytelling is key to effectively reaching the Black community,” Attmore says.

“In a time where social justice issues have been heightened over the past few years, people of color and other underrepresented communities see right through poorly executed campaigns.”

It’s a style of work the duo created while in college working under Mike WILL Made It’s‘ “Ear Drummer” label. Attmore and Wright helped develop artists like Sremmurd and handled the label’s marketing and promotion, which started “a ripple effect” on building their strong network of celebrities, influencers, and former college friends in the entertainment industry.

 

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“We’ve grown up with our network of friends who are now decision-makers at major companies so are able to create opportunities among ourselves, which then results in other opportunities by word-of-mouth outside of our network when we execute really good work,” Wright explains.

“The key is creating a strong network of contacts throughout your career, especially when you start out. because, eventually, you will be able to make opportunities blossom as you navigate and grow throughout your journey.”

After massive growth in a few short years, Six Degrees is finally working to open its first official headquarters in the heart of Atlanta with a new office space of 4,500 square feet. The millennial founders are a testament to the power of community and building your network in the classroom.

RELATED CONTENT: Morehouse Grad Starts Initiative For Sustainability In Atlanta