Columbia University Rolls Out First Installment of Obama Presidency Oral History Project
Researchers at Columbia University are capturing the legacy of Barack Obama’s presidency.
The first installment of a new Obama Presidency Oral History project was recently announced. CNN reported that panelists discussed climate change and the environment throughout Obama’s presidency, starting from the former Illinois senator’s initial campaign up to the 2008 presidential election.
The project involves research dating back to 2019, conducted by Columbia University’s Incite institute, which gathered 470 interviews and nearly 1,100 hours of audio and video featuring officials, activists, organizers, and others involved with the Obama administration.
The project’s mission is to “decenter the experience of the president and center the study around the experiences and interactions of people both inside and outside of the administration,” according to Incite director Peter Bearman.
“We pushed very hard during the campaign to raise the climate issue,” environmental activist Frances Beinecke said. “And we raised it during the primaries, and then when he was the candidate we raised it. During that period, we also worked on the platform, on the Democratic platform, making sure that climate was a main feature of the platform.”
Climate narratives in the first installment discuss issues that include the Keystone Pipeline, food security, and international climate negotiations, such as the Paris Agreement.
The overall project will tackle nearly 40 issues including health care and Black politics. Interviews pertaining to the additional topics are planned to be released over the remainder of the year and into 2024.
According to Incite at Columbia University, the special preview of the study features 17 interviews with White House official Carol Browner, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, school teacher Sarah Holway, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, and farmers Art and Helen Tanderup.
‘Shark Tank’ Investor Daymond John Seeks Restraining Order Against Former Contestant ‘Stalker Much?’
Shark Tank investor and businessman Daymond John is taking action against a former contestant claiming their experience with him has been unpleasant.
John, the only Black shark on the show, is pursuing a temporary restraining order and a pause on their business matters against the owners of Bubba Q’s Boneless Baby Back Ribs, a Black-owned business, the Los Angeles Timesreports.
Al “Bubba” Baker, daughter Brittani, and wife Sabrina are accusing the FUBU founder and some of his business partners of misleading them, trying to take over their business and keeping profits from them of potential partnerships.
The barbecue business scored a deal—$300,000 for 30% of the company—on season five of the popular ABC show. After the show, the Bakers claim John changed the terms of the agreement to $100,000 for a 35% stake.
Questions started after they began working with Rastelli Foods Group, a meat manufacturer that was going to produce their patented product. The Bakers felt the partnership with John and Rastelli Foods was problematic as Al Baker wasn’t included in important business meetings and was kept from financial information.
They claim John ignored their complaints about a company hired to build their website as well as control the company’s bank. The family-owned business claim to have only received 4% of the $16 million in revenue from the business, stated publicly.
John and Rastelli Foods have filed pending complaints, alleging the family has made “false” and “defamatory statements” against them. John has refuted most of the claims and says he played a vital role in helping the Bakers’ boneless rib business, including using his network of contacts.
John said he was a non-managing partner of the company, meaning he went “without access or control over the company’s books and records.” His role and duties within the partnership “are limited to acting as a brand ambassador.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, Zach Rosenfield, a spokesperson for the shark, says the restraining order is due to the Bakers’ blatant actions to undermine a business partnership started four years ago. The Bakers have made make public statements against the investor on social media, posting emails and a recorded conversation between Brittani and John.
“Their belief that they can unwind poor business decisions through slanderous social media posts and articles will no longer be tolerated,” Rosenfield said.
‘106 & Park’s’ Free Marie Speaks On How She Bridged A Gap Between Music And Technology
Many people know Free Marie from her culture-defining role as co-host for BET’s 106 & Park, but few know that she originally had her hopes set on revolutionizing the tech world.
In an interview with AfroTech, Marie opened up about her love for both hip-hop and tech and why her experience as “the lonely only” helped to decidedly move her to music.
“At the time, when I was doing tech, I was an admin for a law foundation that was an environmental law foundation, and I was going to school and I’m in these classes and this woman that looks like me is teaching, I went to Boston University, and I’m teaching people computers and I’m doing classes in it, but I felt very alone, right?” she said.
What she could not have foreseen was how much the two worlds would end up colliding.
“When hip-hop started evolving past just like CDs, they began to tell us like, ‘Oh, this runs off of it.’ Everything about hip-hop is digital now, so it’s interesting to see. Some people like it, some people don’t, but it’s interesting to see the growth and how we keep leveraging some type of digital space for hip-hop.”
What Marie says she loves most about the intersection of music, specifically hip-hop, and the evolution of technology is how many doors have become open to Black women.
“If people understood how many women are behind the scenes at SiriusXM and Amazon Music and all of these places—they’re running the boards and running the technology behind the scenes and so that’s what [it’s] about, showing off our women and recognizing how strong they are.”
Marie was definitely part of revolutionizing the mainstream acceptance and celebration of hip- hop culture through 106 & Park, helping to usher a variety of artists that speak for an entire generation.
Amie Fornah Sankoh Makes History As First Black Deaf Woman To Earn A Doctorate In Stem
Graduation day for Amie Fornah Sankoh was more than the completion of a degree. She became the first deaf Black woman to complete her doctorate studies in a science, technology, engineering, and math program in the United States.
According to Chemistry World, Sankoh was awarded her Ph.D. after graduating from the University of Tennessee (UT) Knoxville’s biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology program.
A native of West Africa, Sankoh was sent to the U.S. to live with her father’s best friend at 12 years old after losing her hearing during the civil war. She struggled with her studies as a young deaf student; American doctors could not cure her deafness. Sankoh said she took a few years to learn American Sign Language.
Mathematics was enjoyable for Sankoh as she found it to be more of a visual subject. “Anytime a person talked, I didn’t understand anything, but when they would write out the formulas then I could see it and I could see each step of how to solve that problem,” she said.
In high school, she fell in love with more complex mathematics. That led her into chemistry, which excited her. “I was able to learn about and see chemical reactions–how the reactions occur–and then make predictions,’” she said.
Sankoh worked as a lab technician for Dow Chemical after high school. She obtained both her associate’s degree in laboratory sciences and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. She found another laboratory position after college.
“I was participating in research and enjoying it, and learning and experiencing the beauty of it, and then started to discover my own potential,” Fornah explained. “And that led me to go ahead and enter the Ph.D. program at UT Knoxville.”
Sankoh was the featured speaker for UT’s Spring 2023 Graduate Hooding Ceremony. Her Ph.D. research focused on the effects of hormones on plant-pathogen interactions.
Naomi Osaka ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,’ Partners With Meta On New Digital Apparel Collection
Tennis champion Naomi Osaka just made a major move into the metaverse, partnering on a digital apparel collection with Meta Avatars.
The 25-year-old four-time Grand Slam winner has designed a deeply personal collection that draws on everything from her media company, Hana Kuma, to her dog Butta and the Japanese art print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Adding to her list of fashionable collaborations that include her own line of Nike apparel and a capsule collection with Victoria’s Secret, Osaka is following in the footsteps of other big names in sports by taking her talents virtual.
“Being able to take trends from the real world and translate [them] into the metaverse was really fun,” Naomi Osaka said in a press release, according to Boardroom. “Plus, you can try a lot of new things when designing digitally—it’s all about pushing myself outside of the box. To me, one of the most exciting parts is that digital apparel is much more accessible than luxury apparel in the real world. I can dress my avatar in whatever I want—there’s a lot more freedom and flexibility to have fun and experiment with looks and designs.”
The collection will launch with five different outfits that Osaka feels reflect her personal style which she describes as “eclectic, unpredictable, yet comfortably cool.”
“Tennis takes a lot of patience—whether that’s patience with the time it takes to develop a training routine and get in the best shape possible, or patience on the court when waiting for the perfect shot to close the point,” she said. “I know parenthood will require a lot of patience in many other ways and I’m really just feeling optimistic and grateful for all that’s ahead.”
Black Women: Here’s Why You Need to Seek Feedback More Often
Written By Nneka Enurah
It’s no secret that women of color sit at the intersection of multiple barriers along their career journey. From a lack of representation at the top, limited mentorship, and allyship to the realities of corporate culture often being at odds with the ways in which diverse communities naturally engage with one another to feeling a palpable lack of support even while ascending the ranks—there’s no shortage of challenges to navigate.
As a corporate executive who also coaches women and underrepresented professionals, I’ve heard story after story about incredibly accomplished and well-liked women in the workplace who have been blindsided by a missed promotion, termination, or poor performance review.
So how do you get ahead with so much working against you?
An often underutilized but incredibly powerful tactic is to solicit feedback from your manager every 60 days. This is something that’s important for any professional in the workplace today but can prove extremely valuable for women of color. Here’s why:
1. Your supervisors are probably wary about giving you candid feedback.
It’s a manager’s job to provide their teams with feedback on an ongoing basis, right? Sure. But let’s be real: today’s managers are often hesitant to give constructive feedback to women of color for fear of being accused of discrimination or harassment. This fear may be amplified if the manager is not from the same racial or ethnic background as the employee. Additionally, the mere possibility of facing backlash or being “canceled” on social media can be another deterrent for managers to have difficult-but-necessary conversations with underrepresented employees. As a result, women of color may not receive the feedback they need to improve their performance or advance in their careers. Also, giving people honest feedback without being prompted to do it as part of a more formal review process is almost always awkward no matter the circumstances, so being proactive about it takes the pressure off your manager to be the one to start the conversation and can help open the door for a candid dialogue.
2. Waiting until your formal review puts you at a significant disadvantage.
In today’s remote-driven work environment, waiting until your formal review is likely impeding your professional progress. First, it limits opportunities to improve your performance in real-time. Without consistent feedback, you may continue making the same mistakes, failing to build the right relationships, or missing opportunities to develop your skills. Second, when you wait until your formal review to seek feedback, you’ve likely missed critical moments to demonstrate your strengths and contributions, making it harder for your manager to give you a positive evaluation. Finally, if you wait until your formal review to address any issues or concerns, it may be too late to make improvements which can cause you to miss out on opportunities for growth and development.
3. Being “liked” by your colleagues isn’t enough.
While it is essential to establish positive relationships with your colleagues, it is equally important to prioritize your professional development and performance. Being well-liked may create a pleasant work environment, but it doesn’t guarantee that you are delivering the results your company needs. Advancing in your career requires more than just being well-liked; it requires a combination of skills, knowledge, experience, an ongoing track record of achieving results—and an ability to understand how to navigate your company’s culture. A music industry client who thought her promotion was in the bag due to her strong rapport with her manager and team was caught by surprise during her latest review cycle. Unfortunately, because rapport was not a metric that she was being evaluated on she ultimately did not get the promotion that she felt she deserved. She wasn’t on the same page with her supervisor and missed key performance indicators for her role level.
4. It empowers you and holds your manager accountable.
Initiating conversations about your performance on an ongoing basis allows both you and your supervisor to address any performance gaps or skill deficiencies and empowers you to make the necessary improvements to achieve your goals. Feedback also provides a valuable opportunity for you to showcase your strengths and contributions to the organization—which will likely be fresher in your memory vs. having to think about what you did months ago. When requesting feedback, be sure to schedule time with your manager in advance and explain the specific areas you’d like to focus on. Above all, be receptive and discuss action steps if gaps are identified.
Ultimately, requesting feedback from your manager on an ongoing basis is crucial for women of color who are looking to take ownership of their professional development and advance their careers. By seeking feedback ahead of the typical review cycle, you can ensure that you’re one step ahead of the game.
Nneka Enurah is an award-winning producer, speaker, and creative executive with over a decade of experience in entertainment and is the founder ofCelebrate & Elevate—an inclusive online community and network advancing women of color and allies in tech, media, and business. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
15-Year-Old Twins Brooke And Breanna Bennett Are Fighting To End Period Poverty
Be “that girl” who always has an extra pad or tampon.
Twin sisters Brooke and Breanna Bennett recently took over Washington, D.C., to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day and encourage girls worldwide to celebrate the power of the period!
It all started at an all-girls school in Florida. The sisters wanted to be the answer to what seemed to be the most pressing question among the girls in their mom’s classroom—if anyone had a pad? After their mom explained that the lack of access to menstrual products and education was real, Brooke and Breanna were determined to make a difference.
“I feel like me and my sister always wanted to do something for our community, but we never knew what,” Brooke told BLACK ENTERPRISE. The girls took this mindset with them to their new home in Alabama, dug deeper into the issue, and helped pass Alabama’s “period poverty” law in April 2022, which allocates $200,000 to the Alabama Department of Education to provide grants for the provision of menstrual products for Title I schools. “We just thought back to when our mom worked at that school,” Brooke said.
The Bennett twins partner with Always to help #EndPeriodPoverty
Keeping the momentum of their efforts going, the Bennett sisters recently flew to D.C. as part of their partnership with Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) menstrual hygiene brand, Always. Brooke and Breanna represented the Always Period Heroes to spread awareness and encourage systemic change as they supported Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Menstrual Equity for All Act. The teens have worked closely with P&G to #EndPeriodPoverty in the U.S. for good.
The dynamic duo was recently named one of Always brand’s “50 Period Heroes in 50 States.” Committed to youth success for over 35 years, Always has donated over 75 million period products since launching its #EndPeriodPoverty campaign.
The girls agreed that P&G had created a comfortable community for them and other young women. Breanna knew P&G was a partnership she would always appreciate. “The team has always been so wonderful and giving. They stand up for change in such a big way,” she said.
Women in Training
Brooke and Breanna created their signature program, The WITKITS Campaign, through their youth empowerment organization, Women in Training, Inc. (WIT), and the girls credit P&G and WIT volunteers for stuffing the kits with the period products.
According to WIT, 25% of American young people skip school or miss work because they cannot afford menstrual products, which explains the significance of WIT’s monthly donations to at-risk girls, low-income women, and nonbinary youth. WIT offers several programs to help girls break the generational cycle of poverty, which includes: the WIT Leadership Development Cycle for high school women, the WIT Girls STEM Initiative, and their WIT Mentor Program.
Tips from the Twins
“We should embrace our period because it gives us the power to create life!” Breanna said. During WIT Menstrual Education workshops, the sisters always share these tips.
Talk about it.
Brooke said talking about it is key. “Talk to your friends about it.” She shared that she and Breanna discuss the topic so much with their mom that they feel extremely comfortable now. “The more you talk about [it], the less it will be stigmatized.”
Use a period tracker.
Breanna shared that a period tracker informs women when to expect their period. “There’s nothing worse than being caught unaware!” she said.
Take a warm bath or shower to relieve cramps.
Whether it’s using a heating pad, sitting in the sun, or exercising, doing something will make you feel better than just lying in bed all day. “I know that’s what a lot of us feel like we want to do, but I do feel like it’s important to get up and workout and do something to help yourself,” Brooke said. “I also like to get extra sleep when I’m on my period!” Breanna expressed.
Drink a lot of water and eat healthy.
Minding what goes into your body will help keep your mood balanced. “We all get that PMS sugar craving. It’s better to satisfy the craving with dark chocolate instead of sugary sweets,” Breanna said.
Always keep a pad or tampon in your purse or backpack.
The twins always have spur-of-the-moment period products available for their friends. Breanna stressed the importance of having “one to use in an emergency, and one to share with a friend or even a stranger.”
Combatting period poverty in the future
Brooke and Breanna have faced massive audiences speaking about the issue, and the girls are excited to continue their partnership with P&G as they expand their WIT organization. “We’ve been on many Women in Training-based trips to give out period products across the U.S.,” Brooke shared.
In 2025, the girls plan to take a global trip around the U.S. to distribute WITKITS in areas that need them. “As Women in Training, we just want to be a little bit more like P&G and always try to keep expanding and making a difference,” Breanna shared.
Help #EndPeriodPoverty, by contacting your elected officials here and encourage them to support the Menstrual Equity for All Act.
Gayle King’s Kids Are Making Moves in Tech and Social Impact Spaces
Gayle King is a powerhouse in journalism, and her extensive résumé continues to grow. With her long track record of various successes in her career, one would think her kids would follow in her footsteps. Yet, King’s daughter, Kirby Bumpus, and son, William Bumpus Jr., have chosen to make a name for themselves in other industries.
According to Kirby’s’ bio for the SXSW Conference, where she was a speaker in 2019, her interests fall in public health and wellness. That explains her role as Sweetgreen’s head of social impact and inclusion, focusing on food education and food access in relation to the company’s mission. Bumpus has also worked in digital marketing for Under Armour and as a blogger for MyFitnessPal.
Kirby recently celebrated her 37th birthday on May 12, 2023, and King posted a slideshow of photos to her own Instagram page featuring Bumpus over the years.
King’s son, William Bumpus Jr., founded reWerk, a nonprofit he started following the 2020 pandemic, according to Concrete Rose Capital, which lists him as a partner. He launched his organization to close digital gaps for communities of color through financial and social capital. Bumpus Jr. graduated from Duke University and earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University.
Bumpus Jr. also recently celebrated a birthday, and King shouted her son out for his 36th birthday with a similar slideshow of photos.
While the Bumpus kids continue building their careers, King remains hard at work.
BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that King was nowhere near retirement. “I stand before you at 68 years old,” King said during her April Journalist Icon Award acceptance speech at Byron Allen Presents The Washington, D.C. Gala. “I’m not even kind of thinking about retiring. Not even kind of! I’m looking for more work.”
King recently announced a new CNN show with former NBA star Charles Barkley. Presently, the acclaimed journalist hosts her own XM Radio show while fulfilling her spot as an anchor on CBS This Morning.
Vegan Luxe Esthetics Spa Owner Shares 5 Reasons Plant-Based Products Are Best For Black Skin
Vegan beauty and self-care are less of a trend and more of a lifestyle choice. And yet, 70% of Vegan Luxe Esthetics’ clientele are not vegan. The Black woman-owned spa’s five-star Google rating invites all to indulge in a guilt-free pampering and pleasurable experience demonstrating why plant-based products are best for Black skin.
As the founder and CEO of Vegan Luxe Esthetics, the first and only vegan spa in Houston, Brooke Young is architecting the embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit, female empowerment, mindful luxury, and an unwavering commitment to a vegan lifestyle.
“Opening a vegan spa space in a town where barbecue reigns supreme was bold. But being bold is what makes a successful business,” Young told BLACK ENTERPRISE in an exclusive interview.
“I saw a need; a need for a place where women and men who sought clean and effective skincare services could learn how to get their skin glowing in the right direction. This is how the concept of Vegan Luxe Esthetics came to life—and still is—the only cruelty-free spa experience in the city of Houston.”
But her success didn’t take place overnight. In runway and fashion makeup artist and management, Young was determined to build and self-finance a brand synonymous with her cruelty-free lifestyle. For her, Black skin deserves to glow in knowledge and skin care.
Prepared to pledge her own $5,000, the vegan entrepreneur began distancing herself from companies that did not align with her ethical goals for the beauty landscape. These intentional disassociations brought her closer to veganism and enlightenment through fasting and prayer.
“Budding estheticians should take note to where our industry is heading and what clients are seeking. More clients are wanting safe, effective and cruelty-free skincare. So definitely invest in product knowledge as a relates to the vegan beauty landscape,” Young advises.
Brooke Young, Owner and Founder of Vegan Luxe Esthetics / Photo Credit: Vegan Luxe Esthetics
“As a vegan myself for almost 10 years, I understand how my decision-making in the beauty retail space affects my skin, hair, nails, and the environment around me, Young explained.
“Vegan ingredients are the safest and highly effective for holistic health. Too often consumers shop trend and not for their skin, thus leading to a cycle of unused products and erratic skin conditions.”
Vegan Luxe Esthetics consists of the passionate and charismatic mother-daughter duo of Young and her 18- year- old daughter and COO, Kaori Adams. After overcoming marketing strategy challenges, the team makes it their business to light up social media feeds with luxe spa facial and waxing experiences. With the ethical consumer in mind, Young offers Black skin rejuvenating facials, body treatments, and waxing services within the walls of her elegant boutique. She also creates products designed to enhance your skincare routine beyond spa visits.
The boss lady is proud to use her Vegan Luxe Esthetics Skincare exclusively alongside her favorite sunscreen, the Black woman-owned brand Black Girl Sunscreen. For oily/combination skin, Young recommends her detoxifying gel cleanser, AHA/BHA fruit acid toner, Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, essential Neroli oil serum, and Rosehip oil and hibiscus face cream. If you have dry/combination skin, check out the Tea Leaves cream cleanser.
Photo Credit: Vegan Luxe Esthetics
“I wanted to design a skincare brand that directly spoke to the needs of almost every client I had met over the course of my 20 years in the beauty industry,” Young recalled. “We all seek bright, even, smooth, clear skin. It was important for me to harness the efficacy of ingredients that would provide real-time results and not overcomplicate the time one had to invest in their routine.”
Photo Credit: Vegan Luxe Esthetics
Now get into these five reasons why plant-based products are the best for our royal melanin skin, thanks to H-Town’s only vegan spa CEO.
Chemical-based products that are tested on animals may have an adverse effect on melanated skin tones. This can lead to uneven tone, texture, and erratic skin conditions.
Plant-based sunscreen is essential for beautiful Black skin. Cases of skin cancer, like melanoma, may be harder to detect in deeper skin tones. So it’s always advised to wear an SPF of 30-50 year-round. There are many on the market that do not leave a “white cast” on the skin.
When treating hyperpigmentation, consider the plant-based ingredient Licorice Root and Rosehip Oil. Both help to brighten and smooth areas of the skin that have signs of Hyperpigmentation. This is a better alternative compared to Kojic Acid. Large percentages of Kojic Acid are very popular in Korean beauty or “K- Beauty” skincare routines. This is because, culturally, most K-Beauty brands seek to suppress the melanocyte, thus hindering the production of melanin to create fairer-looking skin tones.
If you want to fight the signs of aging, try the plant-based ingredient Bakuchiol. Derived from a plant native to India, Bakuchiol is a wonderful alternative to low-grades of Retinol. It leaves the skin balanced and properly hydrated.
Fruit enzymes found in toners, masks, and serums are a safe and gentle way to exfoliate your skin. It will leave your skin smooth and glowing.
Young tells us to look forward to a company expansion this winter, 2023. Clients have been raving about her products and services and want more. From body massages to additional serum and eye cream offerings, Vegan Luxe Esthetics will be leveling up.
This Kindergarten Graduate Goes Viral Because ‘She Lives In Her Truth’
Rising first grader Taylor Sims has caused quite a stir on social media after her mother shared a photo of the adorable 6-year-old at her kindergarten graduation.
Sims can be seen ready for kindergarten graduation donned in her royal blue cap and gown perfectly paired with slightly heeled sandals. What commenters pointed out was her perfect posture accentuated by a cross- legged pose and a strictly business facial expression.
The girl’s mother, Lexii Sims, says this is just further proof of who her daughter is, according to TODAY.v “She’s got sass to her—and she always has,” Sims said. “She lives in her truth.”
Describing her daughter as a “tough cookie, Sims did not expect for the photo to gain traction outside of her friends and family in Louisiana. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise. Born six weeks premature, Taylor has stunned the adults around her from the very start.
After being told she would have to spend extended time in the neonatal intensive care unit, Sims was shocked to be told that she could leave the very next day. “Literally, the next morning I got a knock on the door, they’re like, ‘Taylor can go home with you,’” she said.
As for her future plans, the kindergarten graduate has her eyes set on being a princess, of course. But not just any royal—one who also owns a hair salon. Brittney Higginbotham, Taylor’s kindergarten teacher at the Beekman Charter School where the photo was captured, has high hopes for her former student.
“Taylor is a child who is confident, strong-willed and resilient,” Higginbotham said. “Taylor has never been afraid to have fun, show her personality or stand up for what she believes in.”
Wherever she goes next, there’s no doubt that she’ll continue to draw attention. “As soon as you pull out a camera, she’s going to give you a pose,” her mother said.
