barbie, pink, fashion, ivy park, telfar, fashion, pink

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 1, 2023

These 10 Black Designers Understood The Black Barbie Assignment

It is truly a Barbie World we’re living in, with the brand taking over the media landscape globally as fans and casual engagers alike join in the pink craze. With the latest release of the now trailblazing film, Barbie is touching the hearts of all viewers, as well as their closets. The hit movie’s impact in the film industry is already clear, but its waves in fashion from all avenues is one to take note of as well.

With the unofficial rule to dress in pink to go see the summer blockbuster, Black designers, from ath-leisure wear to luxury goods, are joining in on the fun with their latest looks for the (real-life) dolls. BLACK ENTERPRISE has the details on Black-owned collections for the perfect dream closet, such as Yitty and Brandon Blackwood, as well as local boutiques and international houses. For those that want to think pink while also buying Black, these fun but fashionable brands have clothes and accessories to fit the mood for every kind of melanin Barbie.

1) Lilly’s Kloset For the Everywear Barbie

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Lilly’s Kloset is a Houston-owned boutique that recently unveiled a Barbie collection that hosts a wide-range of outfits for any occasion. From gardening to work-from-home, Lilly’s Kloset has the pink looks for it all.

2) BABES For the Essentials Barbie

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If you are a Barbie that keeps it simple with staple fits, then BABES is the place for you. Their newest additions of neon pink rompers and bodysuits will keep things minimalist while still shining bright.

3) Brandon Blackwood For Luxury Barbie

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For “Brandie” Blackwood, the luxury handbag and accessories brand has the Pink Selection complete with shoes and purses for any look. The designer also styled Ice Spice in a custom swimsuit for the “Barbie World” official music video.

4) Yitty For Athleisure Barbie

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As Yitty’s founder Lizzo sung “Pink” for the movie’s official soundtrack, her athleisure wear brand also joined in on the celebration through its Summer Doll House collection. From bralettes to leggings, their ultra-shaping undergarments will keep you in pink from the inside out.

5) IVY PARK For Renaissance Barbie

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In IVY PARK’s Paradise collection, Beyoncé released sequined shorts and mesh sets that you can wear to the movie premiere or a performance on her Renaissance Tour. Even President of Barbieland, Issa Rae, approves this message.

6) Curverra For Curvy Barbie

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“Welcome to Barbie World through the eyes of Curvesssss,” says their website. With Pink dresses that make for the perfect date night, this one is for the thick dolls that want to dress up!

7) Autumn Adeigbo For Afrocentric Barbie

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This Barbie’s a global citizen! This Nigerian brand is already fan-favorite amongst celebrities, and its summer collection featuring African-inspired prints with a touch of pink is the look we definitely need!

8) Nichole Lynel For Party Barbie

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Feathers, sequins and shimmer are what this doll loves most! To be the star of the show, Shop Nichole Lynel has all the pink extravagance one would need.

9) TIER For Cozy Barbie

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Sometimes the dolls like to keep things cute and casual, but still true to the brand. TIER has got the perfect pink essential sweatsuit for the job. It’s still a Pink World, no matter the vibe.

10) TELFAR For Jelly Barbie

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TELFAR is bringing jelly back to mainstream fashion. With its “Telly Jelly” collection, pink translucent slides and its signature shopping bags are the new summer moment.

by Stacy Jackson

August 1, 2023

Black Poll Workers Cleared Of Fraud Allegations After Rudy Giuliani Admits To Bald-Faced Lies

Donald Trump’s former attorney Rudy Giuliani conceded in a court filing on July 25, 2023, that he made untrue statements that defamed the character of a mother and daughter who worked at a Georgia polling site during the 2020 election, Love B Scott reported.

The defamation lawsuit was filed by poll workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.

According to the outlet, Giuliani conceded for legal reasons. The Washington Post reported Giuliani’s adviser Ted Goodman said, “Rudy Giuliani did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss.” Goodman continued, “This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. … This stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case.”

Black Enterprise previously reported Giuliani spread rumors that the two Black women plotted to defraud Trump out of winning the state of Georgia in the presidential election.

The “false information” aftermath resulted in the women receiving death threats. Moss said someone threatened her, saying that she would “be in jail with [her] mother” and that she should “‘be glad it’s 2020 and not 1920,'” Vox reported. The outlet noted that Moss said she went into hiding after receiving so many threats.

According to Vox, the false truths dented Freeman’s reputation, who used to refer to herself as “Lady Ruby.” The mother said, “There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere. Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you? The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American. Not to target one. But he targeted me, Lady Ruby, a small business owner, a mother, a proud American citizen, who stood up to help Fulton County run an election in the middle of the pandemic,” Vox reported.

The women testified before the House Jan. 6 Committee in January 2022, BE reported.

GloRilla ‘Grateful’ To Honor Legacy Of Hip-Hop With Sprite Partnership

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 1, 2023

GloRilla ‘Grateful’ To Honor Legacy Of Hip-Hop With Sprite Partnership

Since 1986, Sprite has fostered a time-honored tradition of partnering with hip-hop’s hottest artists in its commercials, and GloRilla has now been passed the mic. Celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, GloRilla will join fellow prominent rappers Nas, Rakim, and Latto in new content and merchandise to commemorate the partnership.

Their commercial, released earlier this summer, featured all four artists with a spin on Sugarhilll Gang’s hit song “Rapper’s Delight.” Through a new flavor, Lymonade Legacy, fans of both the lemon-lime soda and hip-hop will taste the best of both worlds with more perks from the collaboration. On the special edition cans featuring nods to hip-hop’s birthday, QR codes will be available to scan for access to all the exclusive merch, digital content, and experiences as they drop.

Not only is Sprite offering meet-and-greets to Drake’s tour or lifetime passes to Rolling Loud, and signed directorial slates from its latest partners, including GloRilla for her commercial debut with the brand.

BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with the “FNF” rapper about what being a part of this legacy means to her and how her authenticity is the key to her success.

On the announcement of being one of Sprite’s newest ambassadors in hip-hop, GloRilla is “grateful” for the opportunity to be involved in this part of rap history.

“I’m honored, and I’m grateful, said the newly 24-year-old. “This is a big deal to me, to be a part of this with all the hip-hop legends. To just being a part of history, you know what I’m saying?”

Where does she think female rap is headed currently? GloRilla believes they are already “dominating” the industry. Regarding a legacy for herself, the Memphis native gave fans her secret ingredient to success.

“Authenticity,” shared the musician.

“When people can know you can be yourself and still be successful.”

With a Sprite collaboration and preparing to embark on a tour with Lil Baby, GloRilla is focused on taking her career to new heights.

“I’m just staying in my own lane, making sure I’m still giving the people what they want, which is good music,” shared the Grammy nominee. “I can’t worry about what everyone else got going on. I’m just me, at the end of the day.”

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 1, 2023

Broadband Access Is A Civil Right And Ben Chavis Is An Advocate

Written by Ben Chavis

On the morning of November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges went to school and made history.

Flanked by a group of U.S. deputy marshals, the 6-year-old Bridges walked a gauntlet of angry shouts and insults from protestors to become the first Black child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.

Sixty-three years after Bridges made her brave walk, our nation’s schools are fully integrated, but racial equality in our educational system remains far from being attained. Black students, on average, have less experienced teachers, fewer opportunities to take honors classes, lower proportional enrollment in advanced classes, and less access to reliable internet than their white peers.

The American Civil Liberties Union noted that students who lack access to broadband internet are negatively affected since internet access at home is tied to completing homework and earning better grades, which a 2020 Deutsche Bank report that these digital deserts could mean that more than half of Black and Latino people could be underprepared for most jobs by 2045.

The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated these problems as remote learning required access to high-speed Internet – something that around 40% of Black households in the country lack. This problem gets even more dire when looking at the country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which suffer from smaller endowments compared to traditional higher learning institutions and many exist in so-called “broadband deserts” – or regions where high-speed internet access is unavailable at any price.

Since their inception, HBCUs have proven critical to molding this country’s Black leaders – from Hawkins, who attended Charlotte’s Johnson C. Smith University, to Vice President Kamala Harris, who graduated from Howard – and currently produce 20% of all Black college graduates, despite comprising only three percent of the country’s overall colleges and universities.

Given the importance HBCUs play in the Black community it is unacceptable that 82% of these schools are in “broadband deserts.”

There is, however, a solution: the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Established as part of the infrastructure bill President Biden signed into law in 2021, the program has allocated $42.5 billion to states to promote high-speed internet access through a variety of measures. In addition to improving broadband infrastructure, the funding — which is expected to be distributed in 2024 or 2025 — will be put toward making high-speed internet more affordable and easier to access where the infrastructure already exists.

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) informed states of their full BEAD allocations by last month, meaning that state lawmakers now have the rest of the year to meet the program’s requirements and put funding allocation plans on paper.

The infrastructure bill clearly states that the money from these grants must be used to “expand broadband in communities across the U.S., create more low-cost broadband service options, subsidize the cost of service for low-income households, and provide funding to address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.”

Yet there is concern that state leaders will submit plans to the federal government that neglect to promote digital inclusion and equity across all racial and economic demographics, and that the needs of our state’s HBCUs in rural areas will be ignored.

We are in a critical period where legislators must hear from their constituents most affected by the lack of broadband access across the state – whether that be HBCU students or any of the approximately 19 million Americans that lack access to reliable high-speed internet.

Along with providing access to high-speed internet, underserved communities must also be provided with the technical expertise to be able to spell out where the gaps exist and what a solution should look like. Without a detailed plan outlining how and where to use the funds – be it from the state or a BEAD grant – there is the very real risk that the money could be squandered on projects that do little to actually close the digital divide.

Bridges’ walk to integrate her school is a moment that marked a major step forward in the fight for racial equity and access to a quality education. Today, that fight is still occurring as minority and low-income communities strive to get access to the same technology and tools that their fellow Americans in wealthier and whiter schools and neighborhoods have.

Ensuring that BEAD funding goes to this who most need it, can ensure that the progress that Bridges started to make continues to advance.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is chairman of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and president/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Bre Nicole, Level Ten, beauty bar, lvl x, Sandy Springs Alpharetta

by Lauren Nutall

August 1, 2023

Meet Bre Nicole Of Level Ten Beauty Bar Who Wants To Make Luxury Accessible

Bre Nicole is the founder and lead esthetician of LEVEL TEN BEAUTY BAR. The Atlanta native has a vision and will stop at nothing to see her dreams come to fruition. Nicole left her career in Dekalb County School Systems to pursue her passion and launch a beauty company. While the work of an entrepreneur is never easy, she worked tirelessly as a bartender and bottle server to save money, hoping to get her business off the ground eventually. Not only did she manage to earn the money needed to get started, but her work in those roles also helped her name reach places she hadn’t yet stepped foot in, building a network of future clientele.

Nicole founded LEVEL TEN BEAUTY BAR in Sandy Springs, Georgia, in 2021. Though it is a fairly new company, she has already successfully managed to branch out at several other locations, including Smyrna, Buckhead, and as of this July, Fayetteville. She will be opening another location in Alpharetta within the next three months.

Nicole’s goal isn’t just to elevate the beauty industry through her company. She also wants to empower other businesswomen and help them break barriers, just as she did. Her hard work and dedication have helped her develop skills in unexpected areas. An expert at customer service and a charming personality allowed her to build the foundation of her business and made breaking into the beauty industry an easier feat. Now, she wants to use her company to prove that luxury does not have to break the bank and can actually be affordable. She also wants to show the true value of hard work.

Here’s How This Black Consulting Firm Is Helping Black Beauty Founders Claim Shelf Space

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 1, 2023

Viola Davis Refuses To Cross Picket Line ‘I Stand With Actors’

Viola Davis received a SAG-AFTRA waiver to continue filming her upcoming movie but has stepped back amid the ongoing actors’ strike.

Davis’ “G20” has been put on pause after the EGOT actress decided to stand in solidarity with her fellow thespians despite the greenlight the film has to continue production amid the massive strike.

“I love this movie, but I do not feel that it would be appropriate for this production to move forward during the strike,” Davis told Deadline.

“I appreciate that the producers on the project agree with this decision. JuVee Productions and I stand in solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA and the WGA.”

Davis is set to star and produce “G20,” an action film that follows a terrorist attack at the G20 Summit. American President Taylor Sutton (Davis) combines her statecraft and military experience to defend her family, her fellow leaders and the world.

The decorated award winner secured approval from the actors guild despite the film’s ties to Amazon Studios. Since the project is within the non-AMPTP-affiliated MRC and will only be distributed by Amazon, it was deemed acceptable to film despite the current strike against major streaming platforms.

“The Woman King” star follows Brad Pitt and Tobias Menzies who stepped back from the Formula One film “Apex” for Apple TV amid the strike.

“They’re not shooting with any SAG actors, so I’m stood down,” Menzies said.

The moves highlight the awkward situations many A-list actors are being met with as their projects receive greenlights to continue production amid the strike. While continuing to film could produce jobs for many of the actors and writers on strike, working during a strike could be seen as “scabbing” their fight with major streaming providers.

The actors guild has given out over 100 interim waivers for films to continue production amid the actors’ and writers’ strike. Many actors have been speaking out and revealing the low residual checks they receive for work that’s still available to stream on many platforms.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 1, 2023

Lisa Collins Joins Warner Bros. As The DEI Vice President For North America

Warner Bros. Discovery announced it had named Lisa Collins, group vice president, overseeing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) employee initiatives across North America.

Collins will report to Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Asif Sadiq.

In a written statement, Collins said, “I am thrilled to join the DEI team. Under Asif’s leadership, the DEI organization has become a shining example of WBD’s commitment to training, retaining, and promoting talented colleagues from across the company. I am committed to this impactful approach and advancing our DEI initiatives to ensure our employees feel a sense of belonging and enthusiasm to build their careers here.”

Collins recently served as head of People & Culture Partners for Production at WBD. In that role, she was responsible for the team that provided HR support to cast and crew members working on WBD productions worldwide. Before the position, she was employed at Netflix, where she served as the director of Production HR. At the streaming giant, she headed the global team that provided HR support to production cast and crews. Collins also held HR leadership positions at Warner Bros. Entertainment and NBCUniversal.

“With more than 60 years of combined experience, this new and expanded senior leadership team epitomizes the incredible talent we have at WBD, said Sadiq. “Their passion and dedication for our employees, brands, and content will further drive our success as we continue the important work of establishing WBD as an industry leader in the DEI space and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for our colleagues, our partners, and our industry.”

In Collins’ new role, she will create and implement internal DEI programs. Those programs will include: designing business unit-specific programs focused on recruitment, retention, progression, performance management, leadership development, and employee engagement; working with executives in the region to further embed DEI in all areas of WBD’s operations; and shepherding the growth of WBD’s Business Resource Groups.

Angel Gregorio, Owner Of The Spice Suite, Is Changing D.C.’s Market For Black Entrepreneurs

by Lauren Nutall

August 1, 2023

Angel Gregorio, Owner Of The Spice Suite, Is Changing D.C.’s Market For Black Entrepreneurs

Angel Gregorio, owner of Black + Forth, is making room for more Black entrepreneurs like herself in Washington, D.C. As Washington’s real estate prices soar, so does demand for newer, more inclusive businesses. However, with such exceedingly high costs, many Black business owners lose money while trying to make it in Chocolate City. Gregorio wants to change that.

Gregorio first made a name for herself in the D.C. area by selling spices. Owner of the Spice Suite, she sells several different blends and sauces, capturing flavors from all over. She was motivated to expand after she noticed just how much the cost of space was preventing budding entrepreneurs from making it big. Gregorio spoke to the Washington Post about it.

“I have friends who do hair and nails,” she said. “I noticed they had been paying exorbitant amounts of money to have spaces in D.C., so I decided to start a conversation about affordable commercial space in a city where we always talk about affordable housing.”

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In December 2021, she took a leap and purchased a lot in the Langdon Park neighborhood. The 7,500-square-foot space cost upwards of $3 million, including renovations. The funds came from Georgio’s earnings from her spice business and a generous government grant. Earlier this year, after two years of development, the once-empty lot was reinvented into a strip mall.

The strip mall, called Black + Forth, earned its name because all of the establishments inside are Black-owned and run. Georgio personally selected and invited entrepreneurs to have their own suites in the mall. Now, it contains a farmer’s market, nail salon, natural haircare salon, braiding studio, wax studio, and Georgio’s spice business.

Senna Minor, owner of the Braid Bar, shared how this arrangement has fostered a community. “I feel a sense of pride. I feel a sense of community and sisterhood. You know, we can tease each other, and we joke and recommend each other’s businesses. It’s wonderful,” she said.

Georgio was not always in the business for herself. She used to work as a school principal but, in 2015, left to pursue her own venture. Though she started by selling spices, Georgio’s space began to attract other female entrepreneurs. Soon, the Spice Suite began to feature regular pop-up shops so other women, nicknamed the Spice Girls, could also market their products. Georgio had created a sisterhood. Now, she’s doing more than ever.

Black + Forth has done a lot to improve the D.C. market. Aside from providing space and frequent pop-up shops, entrepreneurs can also take free business classes. “Community Business School is built on the premise that I believe we have enough genius in our communities to grow our community,” Gregorio said. “So I invite my friends who are Black experts in things like marketing, branding, and imagery. We try and offer everything you could think of.”

She plans to elevate Black + Forth even more by incorporating a rooftop bar and pop-up events for Black bartenders. While D.C.’s cost of living and establishing businesses remains as high as ever, Georgio’s efforts have made a substantial difference in the lives of many entrepreneurs and their clientele.

Frisco, Texas, police, body cam footage, body camera, stolen car, black family, apologize, apology

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 1, 2023

Texas Police Sorry For Holding Black Family At Gunpoint

Police in Frisco, Texas issued an apology on Friday, July 28 after drawing guns on a Black family they mistakenly thought were driving a stolen car.

Shocking bodycam footage shows the traumatic police encounter one Black family from Arkansas had on July 23rd while driving on the Dallas North Tollway. The family was leaving their hotel in a black Dodge Charger for a basketball game in Grapevine, Texas, KSAT reports.

That’s when one officer decided to run their tags due to a reported influx of burglaries and vehicle thefts involving Dodge Chargers, the Frisco police claim. When the officer mistakenly entered the license plate number out of Arizona, instead of Arkansas, she received an “incomplete.”

The officer assumed the vehicle was stolen and called for backup. Frisco police claim a sergeant arrived and realized the mistake, prompting the apology.

“We made a mistake. Our department will not hide from its mistakes. Instead, we will learn from them,” Frisco Police Chief David Shilson said in a statement.

“The officer involved quickly accepted responsibility for what happened, which speaks to integrity. I’ve spoken with the family. I empathize with them and completely understand why they’re upset.”

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But that’s not what the bodycam shows. Bodycam shows the responding officers with their guns drawn ordering the family out of the car.

“Everyone put their hands outside, do it now,” an officer yells. “Walk a little faster. The tollway is shut down,” the officer shouts at the female driver. “Keep walking backwards.”

Once the driver was out, one officer yelled at a teen in the backseat who turned out to be a 6th grader, WFAA reports.

“If you reach in that car, you may get shot so be careful. Do not reach in the car,” he shouted.

Towards the end of the 10-minute exchange, officers can be heard realizing their mistake. The family consisted of a mother, father, son, and nephew.

The father explained to the officers how he is their basketball coach and they were headed to a youth basketball tournament to play their first game at 9 AM.

“Listen but we’re just here for a basketball tournament,” he tells the officers.

“Man don’t do this to my sons bro,” he says through tears. “Y’all put a gun to my son for no reason.”

“So it looks like I made a mistake,” the officer who made the initial computer entry tells them.

“We’re so sorry it happened like this,” another officer says. “We’re human as well and we make mistakes.”

The female driver, identified as Demi Janale, has since posted a TikTok recounting the traumatic experience with Frisco police.

@demijanale_ Replying to @❤️JenniferSmith❤️ this is the last part to all that happened. #littlerockarkansas #trauma #friscotx #dallastx ♬ original sound – DemiJanale

“It’s just I can’t make sense of it. And why my son was treated that way. Why he was not treated as a child,” she said.

“It’s not OK. And I thank God that we were not physically injured but we have suffered a lot of mental and emotional trauma from this.”

“I’ve cried so much today I don’t know if I have any more tears to cry. Every time I see the video of my baby, I just can’t believe it. I feel like this is a very bad dream,” she added.

by Stacy Jackson

July 31, 2023

Black-Owned Juno Medical Clinic Opens In Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District

Juno Medical Clinic is officially open to the public.

The Black-owned, 3,800-square-foot office is home to a medical center seeking to expand healthcare to underserved populations nationwide. The celebration of the clinic’s opening marked 102 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre and more than 50 years since the urban renewal project in the city.

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According to The Black Wall Street Times, Dr. Jabaan Pasha has been elected to serve as the leader of the branch in Tulsa. He was appointed the medical director for the Tulsa clinic and vice president of Health Equity for the company. In an interview with the outlet, the Tulsa native spoke about his concerns for expanding access to healthcare, increasing life expectancy, and progressing health equity.

Pasha, who completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, has traveled across the U.S. to teach about health disparities disproportionately affecting Black Americans and ways to resolve health inequities. “We just try to bring convenience to healthcare, which doesn’t exist. And our most important value is excellence. So, if you bring convenience and excellence to healthcare, you’ve got a winning recipe, and we think we do,” Pasha said. Black Americans are more often diagnosed with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. In North Tulsa, Black residents have a 10-year life expectancy gap compared to white residents, according to the outlet.

In 2013, Pasha returned to Tulsa, continuing his career at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine. He taught students at St. John’s Hospital and treated patients.

“During that time there, I really got involved in health equity. And I really started to have a better understanding of why certain communities were less healthy than others,” Pasha said.

Pasha says convenience and excellence are the standard for Juno Medical Clinic and describes the clinic as a place for the modern, working family. Juno is an all-inclusive clinic that provides care for people regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Their services include primary care and treatment for women and pediatric patients. Same-day urgent care treatment is also offered.

The startup has locations in Harlem, Brooklyn, Atlanta, and Tulsa.