Through their business-minded block party, the members of the Alpha Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Inc. curated an event in Indianapolis to get members to patron local Black and minority-owned enterprises.
In the second annual “Black Businesses Block Party,” the sorority sisters utilized their platform to give a boost to the companies in the city run by entrepreneurs of color. The block party went all down Georgia Street, and featured over 100 vendors from a wide range of businesses, such as food, jewelry and clothing.
Attendees were encouraged to not only join in on the festivities, including a live DJ, but to purchase from locally-owned business. The notion of “buying Black” not only recirculates the Black dollar within the community, but could lead to the financial independence many of the owners present hope to gain.
“We are trying to promote and encourage minority businesses, and give them a platform,” chapter member Mayrena King told WRTV. “Most of these business owners do it as a side job but want it to be a full-time job so we’re trying to give them support.”
The all-women organization is not the only one focused on financial efforts. Fellow Divine 9 Sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. has opened a credit union for members to combat discriminatory lending and banking practices.
Black consumers are relatively overlooked, especially in regards to their spending habits in the market. However, Black households are estimated to hold over $300 billion in spending value, according to a report by McKinsey Quarterly. With this power, along with a growing preference to buy from their community, Black entrepreneurs have a space and avenue to thrive.
The Indianapolis members of Sigma Gamma Rho Inc. hope that the block party’s success and impact will influence other groups nationwide to keep this type of party (and patronage) going.
RELATED CONTENT: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Opens First-Of-Its-Kind For Members Only Credit Union
Twitter has gone through a multitude of changes within the past year given the tumultuous reign of CEO Elon Musk. As the recent shift from the blue bird that symbolized the brand to a stark “X” threatens to change the very makeup of the social media platform, what will happen to the community that is Black Twitter?
In pursuit of his vision of an “everything app,” Musk’s logo change took place after he hinted it at on his official account.
Not sure what subtle clues gave it way, but I like the letter X pic.twitter.com/nwB2tEfLr8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2023
However, as the social media website formerly known as Twitter rapidly changes, what about the communities that were fostered within it? Black Twitter has become a niche of its own, a subgroup of the real-life community where jokes, debates, and conversations spark exchanges that often lead to substantive impact outside the virtual hub.
To provide a space for Black Twitter users to congregate as its original hub sorts itself out, other companies have either been created or innovated to spark conversations.
Spill, created by former Twitter employees, describes itself as a “visual conversation at the speed of culture.” With its “fresh tea” everyday and viewing parties of the latest Black films, Spill is a for us, by us venture that seeks to be the go-to medium for expressing one’s thoughts. Spill is on the road to success, already taking the number-one spot for downloaded apps despite its start as invite-only.
Another option is a speciality throwback, Black Planet. The true definition of a social media network, building an online community that can integrate to real life connections is crucial to Black Planet’s mission. Its focus is on meeting new people in and beyond one’s community and to foster new relationships in business or love sourced through its online medium.
For someone who wants a streamlined network already connected to a profile, Instagram’s Threads just requires an extra download that automatically associates itself with the photo-sharing app. Essentially Instagram and Meta’s answer to compete with Twitter’s text-based format, do not have to post a picture to share information. They can quickly relay updates and thoughts to their followers on a whim.
With a variety of apps already in play to replace Black Twitter, members of the online community can rest easy knowing that although the home base may change, the culture will live on.
RELATED CONTENT: Twitter Reneged On Its Support Of Black Venture Capitalists Firms And Left Them Hanging
July 25, 2023
Leave it up to a star from Abbott Elementary to educate us on why many Hollywood actors are currently on strike.
Actor William Stanford Davis, best known for his portrayal of Mr. Johnson on Quinta Brunson’s award-winning comedy series, is the latest actor to share the small residual checks he receives despite his more than three decades as a member of SAG-AFTRA.
In a transparent Instagram post, the 71-year-old television star showed off two paychecks he received for just three and five cents as examples of why he and many other SAG members are striking.
“There ain’t nothing funny about a .03¢ residual check!” he captioned his post.
“What are we supposed to do with that? I stand strong with our union as we fight for what’s ours and for the success of the future generations.”
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“I’ve been a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild for 32 years, and for those 32 years, my wages haven’t increased at all,” Davis says in the video.
“I want to give you an example of what a residual check looks like. I showed this to my brother and he fell over laughing… it ain’t f**king funny.”
Placing the check close to the camera, Davis reveals the three cents he received for his work in an undisclosed show.
“That’s a residual check. I’m not going to say who produced it, because I can’t tell you who these cheap motherf***ers are,” he quipped. “But anyway, I’m standing in solidarity with the writers, and we’re going to be on strike until we get what we need to make a living.”
The Abbott series regular then held up a separate check totaling five cents to further drive home his point.
“You see that? Can you believe that? That’s [five] cents,” Davis continued. “The postage, the paper, everything costs more than that.”
“That’s what they think of us as actors. This is why we’re on strike for better wages, for better residuals [and] for a piece of the subscription and to not give in to AI.”
Davis follows This Is Us star Mandy Moore who shared a video message last week revealing the “very tiny amounts” she’s received for her work in the amount of “81 cents,” as noted by Deadline. Stars from other award-winning shows like Orange Is The New Black have revealed the day jobs they had to keep while appearing on the Netflix hit.
Actors have taken to the picket lines to join members of the Writers Guild who have been on strike since April. Actors and writers are striking against major streaming providers for reasons including increased pay and better residuals, which union members say have decreased significantly amid the rise of streaming services.
RELATED CONTENT: Gains in Diversity Among Hollywood Writers at Stake in Strike
July 25, 2023
Afrobeats recording artist Davido hopes to make some lives better after making a substantial donation through his self-named organization.
According to an entry on his Instagram account, the Nigerian songwriter is donating N237,000,000.00 (Nigerian Naira currency), equivalent to $300,845.43 U.S. dollars. The artist, whose real name is David Adeleke, is doing so through The David Adeleke Foundation (DAF).
The funds were given to 424 orphanages, totaling 13,818 children as benefactors in Nigeria. He stated that Mrs.Titi Adebayo, chair of the DAF Disbursement Committee, led the effort.
“I founded the DAF in 2022 with a strong desire and passion to continually assist others and create a proper framework for ongoing charitable works to benefit the good people of Nigeria. Through this foundation, we have raised millions of Naira and disbursed much-needed funds to hundreds of orphanages, significantly improving the lives of countless children.
“Seeing the impact and success of my previous donations, particularly in 2021 after my birthday, left a mark on my heart, and reading the numerous letters and messages from everyone who received this donation has reaffirmed my commitment to assist the less privileged in any capacity continually. It motivated me to establish the DAF to execute our mission effectively.”
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Premium Times Nigeria reported this isn’t the first time Davido has done this. In January 2021, he gave N250,000,000 ($317,347.50 USD) to 292 Nigerian orphanages.
He initially challenged friends before his birthday in November 2021 to each give him N1m. It started as a joke as Davido was given N200m within 78 hours. He stated that, initially, he planned on using the money to clear his new Rolls Royce from the Lagos port. But he decided to donate that money to orphanages across the country instead.
RELATED CONTENT: Laila Ail Gives Back to the Community With Her Feed America Partnership
July 25, 2023
A woman by the name of Carol (no last name provided) has come forward after she realized the storage locker she recently obtained held rare items owned by the rapper The Game. Carol told TMZ that she and her son paid $1,000 for the 10 x 20 Los Angeles unit earlier this month and had no idea what was inside.
The mother and son, who buy storage units as a hobby, paid another $1,400 to clean out the unit and remove the clutter that was inside. That’s when she realized who was the owner of the items they obtained.
Personalized art, awards, framed jerseys, untouched pairs of old Air Jordans, and photos helped Carol determine that the former G-Unit rapper was the rightful owner of the rare and high-end items.
It turns out a member of The Game’s team put the items in storage after he moved to a new home.
The team member went back to snag a few items before ending the renter’s contract and signing the rest off for auction. Now Carol is hoping to sell the personal items back to The Game since she doesn’t think he knows his belongings were sold off.
If the “Hate It or Love It” rapper is fine with her having his old belongings, Carol is ready to auction all the items off and walk away with more than a pretty penny.
The Game would be losing rare finds in the form of signed guitars and jerseys, photos from his old modeling campaigns, an award, and personalized fan-made art of the rapper, who has a net worth estimated at $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. If anyone should profit off his personal memorabilia, it should be him.
RELATED CONTENT: LeBron James’ Historic Game-Winning Ticket Is On The Auction Block, Expected To Sell For Over $5K
Joshua Dat is proving there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Opening a deli in New York City may not seem like a high-risk decision since grab-and-go storefronts are the bedrock of the busy city; however, Datz family-owned establishment is on pace to bring in more than $1.2 million in only its first year of business.
According to CNBC, 31-year-old Dat opened the doors to Datz Deli in December 2022, intending to make cultural remixes to deli favorites. “I wanted to be different,” he said. “I wanted to give people something new to try.”
Now, the Queens eatery welcomes visitors who are willing to wait hours in line to try its signature items like the Jamaican beef patty dubbed the “DatMacPatty,” stuffed with homemade macaroni and cheese, oxtails, beef curry, and jerk chicken. While most delis stick to simpler, more classic offerings, Datz Deli offers side dishes spanning from fried plantains to jalapeño poppers to fried Oreos drizzled with caramel.
And its popularity extends beyond Queens. The deli has amassed quite a following on social media—a major 50,000 on Instagram alone—with people planning their NYC travel around a visit to Datz.
What has brought the deli the most fame is that it’s truly a family affair. Dat and his parents, siblings, uncle, nephew, and a few close friends have all contributed to the $300,000-plus the deli managed to bring in between May and June, according to CNBC. With an initial investment of $70,000 to get Datz off the ground, Dat is feeling confident in the future of his deli but remains committed to the values that have already brought him great success. “We’ve always been hardworking people,” he says. “It’s all just such a humbling experience and such a blessing. I’m so grateful for everything happening.”
Operation HOPE is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting financial literacy among Black businesses. Focused on driving economic empowerment and improving growth, Operation HOPE has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals since being founded in 1992, including significantly reducing client debt, increasing client savings, and improving client credit scores.
The organization recently released its second quarter impact results following a 2020 initiative to support over 150,000 Black-owned businesses and increase equity in the business industry via a press release. The initiative, called One Million Black Businesses (1MBB), provides accessible technological tools and services to Black entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Since it was formed, 1MBB has successfully assisted over 300,000 businesses, even committing to loaning over $25 million to small businesses.
“The 1MBB Initiative is more than just about creating businesses. It is about breaking down barriers and empowering Black entrepreneurs to build generational wealth. Through this initiative, we are nurturing a culture of financial literacy, encouraging smart entrepreneurial financing, and driving long-term economic empowerment,” said John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation HOPE.
Operation HOPE’s annual report is full of impactful data points that demonstrate our unwavering commitment to serving the community. We are proud to report to date, we have serviced over 4.2 individuals across the country.
Read the full annual report:https://t.co/IRmlcc6vl9 pic.twitter.com/AOBPZU89c3
— Operation HOPE (@OperationHOPE) July 7, 2023
Operation HOPE has been at the forefront of change in recent years through its many efforts to help businesses evolve. In June, the organization launched a program called the 1865 Project, which aims to help low-income and middle-income families connect to the private sector and finish what Frederick Douglass started centuries ago with the Freedman’s Bank. “At that moment in history, America had the opportunity to make good on a promise of not just civil and civic participation for the formerly enslaved, but economic participation as well. That bold vision never came to fruition, a challenge we want to reissue to America,” Bryant said about the project. Through the 1865 Project, low-income households will be offered financial programs and resources.
RELATED CONTENT: Angel Reese Will Empower The Next Generation Of Women Through Her Financial Literacy Foundation
July 25, 2023
Each day during Black Business Month, Official Black Wall Street is looking forward to shining a light on several Black-owned businesses across four industries: apparel and accessories, beauty, food beverages, and health and wellness. They are inviting Black-owned businesses in to apply to be one of the highlighted vendors on the site before the July 28, 2023, deadline.
More specifically, elected businesses will “receive recognition and notoriety through promotional and press opportunities, free business consultation and perks from our sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co., a feature on the Black-Owned Challenge homepage, introduction to the OBWS community and more,” according to the OBWS blog.
Apply to be featured here.
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The annual celebration of recognizing and supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across the country is another 30 days of Black excellence.
Advancing Black Pathways is a JP Chase initiative committed to generating $30 billion by the end of 2025 toward Black economic success. This pledge, married with the mission of Official Black Wall Street, dubbed the largest Black-owned business discovery app, offers an opportunity for Black individuals, households, and entrepreneurs to share fully in economic growth.
National Black Business Month was created by pioneering Black men in 2004 to “advance the policies affecting 2.6 million African American businesses and develop greater economic freedom for Black communities,” per America250.
A century before, the “golden age” saw a wave of booming Black businesses forced to build roots separate from those of white people. Devastating forces like the Chicago Race Riots of 1919 and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, however, uprooted lives and wiped out generations of wealth. And yet Black resilience prevails with the rise of Black entrepreneurs.
“Black Business is the essence of Black communities, providing jobs, resources and hope for the future, yet they only receive 2% of our collective $1.3 Trillion buying power,” per the blog.
Share this post with Black businesses that would like to participate in a shining opportunity for exposure. And feel free to shop on OBWS.com.
July 24, 2023
The United States witnessed its 400th mass shooting in 2023 after deadly violence broke out in a park in Houston, ABC reports.
The incident was one of six acts of gun violence happening across the nation on July 22 and July 23. As the year comes to an end in just five months, data from the Gun Violence Archive shows that mass shootings are up 9%, jumping from 365 shootings in July 2022 to 647 in 2023.
Autumn Vallian, 21, was the victim as a birthday party was ending at Margaret Jenkins Park. Vallian and her mother, Ebony, were trying to leave the party when at least two people started an argument, pulled guns, and started shooting.
“I looked back and my baby was down on the ground. Gone,” Vallian said. “I lost my baby. She was in school, trying to get a job, trying to become something, and she’s gone now.”
Mass shootings have made July a particularly violent month, taking the lives of 81 people, with 65 shootings this month alone.
Gun violence at an illegal street racing event in Seattle marked the 401st shooting this year, leaving four people hospitalized with one in critical condition, according to police. About five people were shot during an event in Memphis, and another shooting took place in Wade, North Carolina, during a “physical disturbance” at a gas station.
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Dallas, and New York, as well as El Paso, Texas, Lansing, Michigan, and Shreveport, Louisiana, each had at least two mass shootings in July.
The Biden Administration has pushed several initiatives to put an end to massive acts of gun violence, including an executive order to expand background checks for gun purchases, according to Forbes. On the other side of the legislative aisle, GOP lawmakers have made the argument that mental health issues are the cause of the violence and are pushing for armed resource officers at public schools to stop mass shootings.
July 24, 2023
Tierra Allen, 29, has been detained and barred from leaving Dubai/United Arab Emirates after a man filed a legal case against her for “screaming in public.” But now it seems that she may have been the target of an elaborate scam carried out by rental companies preying on tourists.
According to Insider, Allen was the passenger in a rented vehicle driven by someone else, in Dubai, when they were involved in a minor accident. The car was towed back to the rental company with all of Allen’s belongings inside it. Upon arrival at the rental company, Allen, an influencer, was told she would have to pay thousands of dollars in order to get her possessions back. Understandably upset, Allen began to yell at the workers and was then apprehended for breaking a law in the UAE that criminalizes swearing, rudeness, and obscene gestures.
The law is not specifically defined and not usually enforced. But this summer, visiting Americans have been similarly detained.
“I just had three Americans in the past couple of months who said they were in pretty much the same situation,” said Radha Stirling, a U.K.-based human rights advocate who runs an organization called Detained in Dubai that provides legal assistance to foreigners in the UAE. “They ended up paying $20,000 that they didn’t owe to a rental car company just to get their passports back so they could go home.”
Allen’s mother, Tina Baxter, believes that once her daughter was recognized as a U.S. citizen she was preyed upon. Allen has only been charged and not convicted of anything, but she cannot leave the country until her case is heard. Her passport is being held by police.
As far as jail time is concerned, Sterling says Allen is at the mercy of law enforcement in the UAE. “If the police choose to prosecute, that can take in itself four months, six months, maybe even longer, just until she gets a court date,” Stirling explained. “In a worst-case scenario, if she was prosecuted and convicted, she could be looking at up to two years in prison.”
