C.H. Robinson Appoints Industry Veteran David Bozeman As It’s CEO
by Atiya Jordan

June 9, 2023

C.H. Robinson Appoints Industry Veteran David Bozeman As It’s CEO

Chicago-born leader Dave Bozeman is planning his big move to the Twin Cities for the opportunity to lead the next chapter of the global logistics company C.H. Robinson.

The Star Tribune reported that Bozeman will lead the charge as the company’s next CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. After a comprehensive and thoughtful search process, his appointment will begin on June 26, 2023, to succeed interim CEO and board member Scott Anderson.

With $30 billion in freight under management and 20 million shipments annually, C.H. Robinson has previously ranked as the No. 1 large company in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 15th annual Best Places to Work list. It is devoted to solving logistics problems and continually giving back to the various communities contributing to the company’s achievement.

As he charters new territory, Bozeman is making it his business to bring the best out of C.H. Robinson while prioritizing customer service and efficiency. He is committed to being a sounding board and is honored to meet the team.

“I have long admired C.H. Robinson as an industry-leading asset-light logistics provider and for its customer focus. C.H. Robinson has superior global services and capabilities, and I couldn’t be more excited about working with the incredible Robinson team as we embark on this next chapter of growth and success together,” Bozeman wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing the big news.

According to The STAT Trade Times., Jodee Kozlak, chair of the Board of Directors of C.H. Robinson, said in a statement the company is thrilled to welcome Bozeman to the team.

“Dave is a seasoned executive who has a strong track record of reinventing complex operating models with industry-wide impact, proven expertise in global supply chain and logistics management through various economic cycles and extensive experience leading high-performing teams and cultures to drive results,” Kozlak continued in a news release, per STAT.

Bozeman brings a plethora of experience in the auto manufacturing and logistics industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing design from Bradley University and a master’s in engineering management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Throughout his 30-year career, the Chicago native has built and transformed global transportation businesses and teams while striving to drive long-term results. Most recently, the Michigan-based executive served as vice president of the Ford Customer Service Division and vice president of Enthusiast Vehicles for Ford Blue of Ford Motor Co., where he ensured smooth business operations for some of Ford’s most notable vehicle brands.

Before joining Ford, Bozeman departed Amazon as its VP of Transportation Services in 2022. He was one of two top Black Amazon executives who exited then.

by Stacy Jackson

June 9, 2023

Savannah James Adds To Her Business Profile And Invests In Lebron’s Lobos Tequila Brand

This NBA wife is investing in her husband’s tequila business, proving that she is still THAT GIRL.

Savannah James is always in the spotlight, thanks to her NBA All-Star husband, LeBron James, whose social activism is as impressive as his basketball skills. But she is an accomplished businesswoman on top of being a mother to their three children: LeBron Jr. (“Bronny”), Bryce, and Zhuri.

In a recent feature for The Cut, James detailed a few of her businesses pursuits, including Lobos Tequila. The independent spirits company, Lobos 1707, launched in 2020 with LeBron James as an early backer. Savannah James further shared that she invested in “a web 3 start-up called Lockerverse, and a natural deodorant company called NEZ.”

James’ ventures did not start there.

Her first business was The Juice Spot, according to AfroTech. The juice shop in Miami served cold-pressed juices, açaí bowls, and oatmeal bowls among other healthy bites. Miami New Times reported the store’s plans to close in 2016 over a year after her husband left the Miami Heat.

When asked about her future endeavors she told The Cut, “Definitely have some passion projects I’m working on, one of which is with a partner, one of which is on my own. And I’m super-excited about them.”

Without offering too much, she said, “I think they’re going to be amazing. They’re going to be well received.”

It is no secret that James keeps her business private, but every now and then she pops out, including her appearance at Milan Fashion Week.

Savannah James caught the attention of onlookers and her husband while wearing an all-black Dolce & Gabanna set. Her superstar husband commented, “OK NOW YOU JUST SHOWING OUT!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. GET YOUR A** HOME NOW AND GET WHAT YOU CAN’T GET IN EUROPE! 😜😈.”

We love to see Savannah James making boss moves on her own.

Black-Owned Hat Shop In Phoenix Chosen For ESPN NBA Finals Initiative
by Iman Milner

June 9, 2023

Black-Owned Hat Shop In Phoenix Chosen For ESPN NBA Finals Initiative

Straw and Wool, one of Phoenix’s premier Black-owned businesses, has captured the national spotlight and will be featured alongside other small brands as part of ESPN’s Championing Black Businesses initiative during the 2023 NBA Finals.

Despite opening during a tumultuous time in 2020, Ali Nervis and Henry Dickerson have become a mainstay in the bustling Roosevelt Row Arts District area. Down in the valley, Straw and Wool, known for its fedoras and newsboys hats, is getting increasingly popular.

“Black businesses are the heart of local communities across this country, and we’re committed to leveraging the power of our sports media platform to drive positive impact in those communities,” said ESPN vice president of sports marketing Emeka Ofodile. “Seeing the impact this program has made in the past three years fuels us to do more, and we can’t wait to get to work with our 2023 businesses.”

Black businesses as a whole account for only 1 percent of businesses in Phoenix, according to a report by the State of Black Arizona and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Nervis and Dickerson are no strangers to the importance of upholding Black businesses in areas where they are less prevalent. The pair have owned and operated Archwood Exchange, a monthly marketplace for small Black-owned businesses, since 2017, according to Arizona Highways. Their experience in championing others helped them weather the storm of the pandemic and expand their own reach.

“When we started this business, we expected hat wearers,” Dickerson said. “But what we found was, the majority of people we ended up getting were first-timers — people who had never worn hats before and wanted to know what would work with their style.”

Known to Phoenix hat lovers as “hat heaven,” Straw and Wool is still in the process of providing products for every type of customer.

“The primary thing is knowing our audience, and that’s something we struggled with early on,” Nervis says. “We would only sell hats that we liked, and people would come in asking for different ones. We realized that not everybody thinks like us.” So they’re always recalibrating, with successful, stylish results.

Nervis and Dickerson hope that their turn in ESPN’s spotlight will bring more Black businesses to the Phoenix area.

RELATED CONTENT: ESPN And The NBA Continue To ‘Champion Black Businesses’ For A 4th Year

In A Shocking Move, The Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Black Alabama Voters
by Lauren Nutall

June 9, 2023

In A Shocking Move, The Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Black Alabama Voters

On June 8, in a surprising 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the provisions of the Voting Rights Act, requiring the majority Black states’ congressional maps represent its population, AP News reported. This move follows Alabama’s Republican-led effort to eliminate such requirements, thereby further eroding the Voting Rights Act, which has already sustained two major blows within the last decade. 

More than a quarter of Alabama’s population is African American. Despite this, Black voters have a very slim chance of electing their preferred candidate, NPR reported. In January, a three-judge federal court, two of which were appointed by former President Trump, unanimously decided that Alabama create two compact congressional districts with either a majority or near-majority Black assembly. The state subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court. 

The state argued that unless there was intentional discrimination, congressional districts should not account for race, and claimed that Alabama need not create a new map for the upcoming elections. However, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s decision, mandating that Alabama create a new map preceding next year’s elections. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the Supreme Court’s liberal justices in the decision. 

In what would have been a devastating blow to the already fragile act, the Supreme Court has instead upheld one of the few remaining provisions that maintain the integrity of the overall Voting Rights Act. Its decision has many Americans surprised, as the majority conservative court has not done so in the past. 

Previously, the Voting Rights Act required states that maintained a history of discriminatory voting practices to establish new election laws that must first be reviewed by either a federal court or the Department of Justice. However, in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress used outdated facts in requiring that nine states receive federal approval for voting rule changes affecting racial minorities, Reuters noted. The provision that worked to eliminate such harmful practices was then abolished.

In Abbot v. Perez in 2018, and again in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee in 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that state legislators must receive a presumption of good faith. In 2022, Justice Samuel Alito established five criteria to determine if election laws were discriminatory under Section Two, criteria that many activists and election attorneys believed were regressive to future challenges.

Given the Supreme Court’s past rulings, many Americans expressed shock at its most recent ruling, particularly at Justice Roberts, who had previously voted to diminish the efficacy of the Voting Rights Act. Still, it is not a finished battle as elections loom in the coming year.

 

 

Black-Owned Embroiderer Becomes First Honored With Buffalo Manufacturing Award
by Iman Milner

June 9, 2023

Black-Owned Embroiderer Becomes First Honored With Buffalo Manufacturing Award

Briana Ferguson made history this week becoming the first Black-owned embroiderer to take home the coveted Buffalo Business First Manufacturing Award.

The 30-year-old entrepreneur launched her business in Buffalo, New York, in 2020 after learning to embroider by watching videos on YouTube.

“I started out at home during COVID,” she says. “I was making masks and putting people’s names on it, which was really cool.”

Last year, she opened a brick-and-mortar shop on Buffalo’s Main Street called BriMadeIt. And betting on herself paid off after just one year: Ferguson was recently awarded the Manufacturing Buffalo Business First Award, making her the first Black person ever to receive the honor.

“Honestly, I was really shocked when we got chosen for the award, and I was so overjoyed,” she said.

For Ferguson, the moment is further confirmation that the sacrifices she makes to keep her customers happy are well worth it.

“There are nights when I’m here until three or four in the morning,” she says. “So it takes a lot of hard work, and when I say we, I mean me.”

International customers comprise a large part of BriMadeIt’s clientele, and the store can bring in up to 100 orders per day, according to WKBW News.

“We embroider bags and T-shirts and all different things,” Ferguson says. “We have all kinds of things, we do not like to turn down any embroidery orders — honestly, all things are possible at BriMadeIt.”

As Buffalo still struggles to overcome racial inequalities for Black residents, putting the spotlight on entrepreneurs like Ferguson is a great way to show the city what’s possible.

According to the study “The Harder We Run: The State of Black Buffalo in 1990 and the Present,” 35 percent of Buffalo’s Black residents live below the poverty line, and unemployment remains in the double digits at 11 percent.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Life Is A Precious Gift’: Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Celebrates 25th Birthday After Near-Fatal Injury

 

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2023

Tupac’s Father Claims He Was Tricked Into Appearing in ‘Dear Mama’ Documentary And Hated The Song

Tupac Shakur’s biological dad may have appeared in Hulu’s Dear Mama documentary, but he wasn’t happy with the final result.

Allen Hughes’ Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur clears up any misunderstanding over who Tupac’s real father is. The documentary provides the backstory of how former Black Panther Billy Garland conceived Tupac with the late Afeni Shakur, also a Black Panther, during their time in the political organization.

But Tupac grew up with a skewed understanding of who his biological father really was. By the time he penned the song “Dear Mama,” the young rapper was embattled over his family tree and referred to his father as a “coward” in the song.

“No love for my daddy, ’cause the coward wasn’t there/He passed away and I didn’t cry/’Cause my anger wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger,” Tupac raps on the 1995 track.

Garland shared his initial response to the song when he appeared on “The Art of Dialogue” on June 7 and was asked about Tupac’s infamous “Dear Mama” lyrics.

“At first I was upset, because I’m trying to see you,” Garland said about his relationship with Tupac at the time.

“But then it hit me: For one, I ain’t dead, and so you really didn’t know me,” he continued, noting how the lyrics made him realize that “someone had lied” to Tupac about the true identity of his biological father.

Now, in hindsight, Garland loves the song and he sees Tupac as his son. The documentary reveals when Garland finally made contact with Tupac while he was in the hospital recovering from a shooting and the two shared a bond prior to Tupac’s 1997 murder.

But when it comes to the documentary, Garland believes he was blindsided by how the film made him look like he was bad-mouthing Afeni for keeping his identity a secret.

“Allen Hughes asked me to do an interview,” Garland said. “He didn’t tell me it was about “Dear Mama.” He didn’t tell me too much of anything except that it was about Tupac.”

Garland was “slightly disappointed” with the interview and how it was “more about something else” and not his late son.

Throughout the documentary, director Hughes remains transparent about his quarrel with Tupac in the early ’90s, including how Tupac once called him a “delusional mythmaker,” as mentioned in Garland’s latest interview. Now Hughes has Tupac’s father to answer to.

 

Wendy Williams
by Sharelle B. McNair

June 8, 2023

Wendy Williams Checks Into Rehab Facility And ‘Doing Her Best To Be Her Best’

Former radio host Wendy Williams is getting the help she needs after checking into a wellness facility for her alcohol abuse, Entertainment Tonight reports.

Williams’ manager, Will Selby, says she’s “doing her best to be her best” just days after her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., accused her team of ignoring her health issues in order to complete certain projects. Hunter Jr. feels his mother’s illness could be “fatal.” “And it’s gotten to a point where yes, it could have that effect that it might be fatal because it affects her way worse than a normal person, since it stays in her system,” he said.

Selby says Williams is taking it “day by day” and is disheartened that people aren’t asking about her well-being.

“I feel like everyone just puts out negative information about her, and that’s the focus,” Selby opined.

“Why don’t we just stop for a moment and just say, ‘Hey, how is she? Is she doing OK today?'”

Williams has had bouts with her health for a few years, fighting both Graves’ disease and lymphedema. Selby is asking fans to uplift her and show some compassion. “Just understand that she’s a human being that’s going through a lot. She’s dealing with a lot, and support her, please,” Selby says.

“She’s only thinking about Wendy 2.0 and her new chapter of her life, and the things that she wants to accomplish, and that’s our focus.”

Hunter Jr. says his celebrity mother had been doing well while living with him in Florida from late 2021 until spring 2022, according to The Sun. He would take her to restaurants that didn’t serve alcohol and had her eating better. When she is with her team, however, he fears she’s being taken advantage of. “I know the rate that she uses alcohol isn’t like a normal person, and we’ve spoken about it,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who are very aware that there is an issue with her drinking, and how that issue may be helped, but I think these people are taking advantage of it while allowing it to play out to make it look like they aren’t causing the issue.”

RELATED CONTENT: Wendy Williams’ Son Breaks Silence, Fears For Her Health And Says She ‘Needs Help’

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2023

Nicole Beharie Reveals The Racist ‘Us-Against-Her Environment’ She Endured On Set Of ‘Sleepy Hollow’

A new book is unearthing the alleged “hellish” and “miserable” experience Black actors and writers had while working on Fox’s supernatural thriller “Sleepy Hollow.”

Written by journalist Maureen Ryan, “Burn It Down” explores the behind-the-scenes harassment and bias plaguing Hollywood. “Sleepy Hollow” has become a topic of conversation after Ryan spoke with one production staffer who revealed the “very us-against-her environment” launched against the show’s Black female lead, Nicole Beharie, EW reports.

According to the insider, a predominantly all-white male staff under showrunner Clifton Campbell allegedly labeled Beharie as “difficult” and treated her differently than her white co-lead Tim Mison. Beharie and Mison starred in “Sleepy Hollow” as detective Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane. But, the book reveals the alleged feud between Beharie and Mison that got so bad, the actors refused to hug on screen, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.

One Black staffer identified only as Robert noted how both leads “went through steep learning curves that sometimes involved friction with colleagues,” but “Beharie’s behavior was weaponized against her in a way that Mison’s was not.”

A number of higher-ups reportedly “claimed not to have had a good experience” with Beharie, including staffers who never even met her in person, Robert claimed.

“When a bunch of white guys say a person of color is difficult, I tend to assume that there’s a lot more to that story,” he said.

“I found her to be pleasant, extremely talented, and an actor who was adjusting to being a lead. There are growing pains with that. In the time I was there, where the discrepancy came in was how their growing pains were viewed and handled.”

Others noted the “resistance” displayed over Beharie wearing her hair naturally and how Campbell allegedly cried when Black writers on the show accused him of showing signs of racism. When the bias issues were presented to network execs, staffers claim the concern was overlooked due to the leaders being “conflict-averse or unwilling to have tough conversations,” staffers said.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2023

Tyrese Airs Out DJ Vlad’s $10K Interview Offer To ‘Leach Off of Black Culture’

Tyrese is calling out the owner of VladTV for allegedly offering thousands to public figures to continue his operation of “leaching off of Black culture.”

The “Fast and Furious” star blasted Vlad Lyubovny on Instagram this week after the vlogger spoke negatively about him during an interview with Boosie his site published on Tuesday, June 7.

“In this clip, Boosie reacted to Tyrese’s child support battle and the actor’s decision to request the help of Ben Crump and MLK’s son,” Vlad’s site wrote.

“Boosie and Vlad also recalled Tyrese’s past antics on social media before Vlad described his interactions with the “Fast & Furious” star.”

With the caption seemingly highlighting a personal quarrel between Vlad and Tyrese, the “Baby Boy” star, who’s known for not biting his tongue, took to Instagram to fire off a verbal shot at the media owner. The singer/actor revealed personal DMs showing Vlad offering him $10,000 for an interview on his platform, Complex reports.

Tyrese accuses Vlad of launching a  personal vendetta against him for turning down his interview offer. According to the “Lately” singer, Vlad is trying “milk my trauama” and “leach” off Black culture.

“Haven’t you used BLACK PEOPLE ENOUGH??? What’s the dudes name who talks off camera who owns VLAD TV?? Can y’all pull his tax returns????????,” Tyrese wrote in the since-deleted post.

“How much is he leaching off of BLACK CULTURE???? This dude is already have four people on his show and he randomly keeps bringing MY NAME UP… laughing about my divorce traumas laughing about my crying video and trying to milk my traumas and pains in the Clickbait for his goofy ass show….”

The “Sweet Lady” singer doubled down on his anti-Vlad rant on Wednesday, June 7 by reposting a few articles about his feud with the alleged “culture vulture.”

“He’s worth 5 million and that 5 million came from MY CULTURE,” Tyrese quipped. “Since my divorce and traumas are funny…. Let’s keep laughing….. What more do you want from me??”

“I want EVERY RAPPER and singer who ever gets interviewed by this culture vulture to hit them pockets….. He offered me 10k I could of stuck him for 50k.”

 

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This isn’t the first time DJ Vlad has been called out for his interviews with predominantly Black public figures. In the past, Vlad has been accused of seemingly working with authorities to criminate rappers who make reveals during their interviews on his platform, as noted by Moguldom.

In March, “Love & Hip Hop” star Benzino vowed to never appear on VladTV again following the murder of rapper BTB Savage over a feud many feel was ignited following an interview on Vlad’s platform. One critic claimed DJ Vlad blocked them on social media after they called him a “culture vulture.”

Bill Spriggs: A Black Labor Leader Who Challenged Discriminatory Systems Against Black Economists And Workers
by Atiya Jordan

June 8, 2023

Bill Spriggs: A Black Labor Leader Who Challenged Discriminatory Systems Against Black Economists And Workers

Bill Spriggs, who notably called out the role of economists in perpetuating racism, built a legacy as one of our nation’s most accomplished, effective and respected economics professionals and policymakers whose guidance was sought by business and political leaders, including the President of the United States.

The trailblazing specialist at AFL-CIO and beloved friend at BLACK ENTERPRISE has reportedly passed away at the age of 68, according to an announcement posted by the federation union. As an educator, Spriggs’ commitment to racial justice and Black economic equality will continue to be a model for generations to come.

According to a statement, Derek Dingle, EVP and Chief Content Officer at BE, first met Spriggs as a student at Norfolk State University where he taught economics. He is proud to have witnessed Spriggs’ ascension in the fields of economics, policy and labor for more than 40 years.

“I will always remember Bill for his loyalty and energy in advancing the mission of BLACK ENTERPRISE, spending time and making invaluable contributions to our economic and business coverage as a trusted source and through his vital commentary,” said Dingle.

As a good friend, he was available and willing to provide sage counsel, engaging conversation and enthusiastic support. He will be deeply missed.

“As an esteemed member of the BE Board of Economists, he embraced our nation’s greatest economic challenges – especially in driving Black employment and closing the racial wealth gap – and always offered incisive analysis as well as innovative solutions.”

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Spriggs, a man who brought as much lasting brilliance to economics as he brought joy to his friends and colleagues,” President Biden shared in a statement.

Biden described Spriggs as a “towering figure in his field” and “a trailblazer who challenged the field’s basic assumptions about racial discrimination in labor markets, pay equity, and worker empowerment.”

An advocacy champion for Black economic equality

Born in Washington, DC, William Edward Spriggs graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts and holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sprigg’s tireless devotion to racial injustice is a reflection of his resilient parents, a Tuskegee Airman and a member of the Women’s Army Corps. His experience as a Black man pursuing the economic space is emulated in his dissertation, “Afro-American Wealth Accumulation, 1900-1914,” which he defended at the University of Wisconsin

The dissertation outlined the ongoing acts of segregation and discrimination in land and labor markets by evidencing the way these systems blocked access to wealth for Blacks people.

From the National Urban League and the US Department of Commerce to the Small Business Administration, Spriggs’ achievements are monumental. He went onto educate thousands of Black students as a Professor and Chair of the Economics Department at Howard University, and proudly declared it in a recorded interview.

As the former chair of the Howard University Economics Department, Spriggs continued to mentor and mold the next generation of Black economists with his government service, academic, and advocacy work. He also taught six years at Norfolk State University and for two years at North Carolina A&T State University.

Even President Obama tapped into Briggs’ commendable fight for worker’s rights when he nominated him, with Senate approval, to be Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Labor. His term witnessed the Great Recession and its most severe economic and financial crises in a generation.

A fighter for racial injustice

Following George Floyd’s 2020 brutal murder by a white police officer, Spriggs was unstoppable. He penned an open letter to economists. He brought attention to the profession’s extensive and despicable history on race, including committed eugenists who see Black Americans as an inferior race.

“Watching the other three police officers sit by and do nothing about the murder means you have to question other assumptions too. But I am not sure if this moment has gotten to economists enough to see their role as economists in perpetuating the very things they wish to recoil from,” Spriggs wrote.

Upon hearing about Spriggs’ passing, the Twitter community have continued to pay their respects with honorable interactions and everlasting memories. Spriggs was a generous man to many and an intellectual force who motivated them to continue his life’s work.

 

 

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