An annual awards show powered by Empower Media Group, the group “honors broadcasting, public relations, media, mass communication, journalism, entertainment, and education icons” who have been major influences on the industry. The weekend-long event kicks off on Apr. 22 at the Venue @ WestCobb in Austell, Georgia, and ends with a star-studded gala.
Hosted by actress Brely Evans and radio personality Willie Moore Jr. this year, the Black Media Honors started with a vision to recognize African American media who have been trailblazers in the media space and paved the way for others trailing behind.
Some of this year’s honorees have decades of experience as accomplished media professionals. Being honored this year are restaurateur Pinky Cole, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, ALIVE Network Podcast founder Angel N. Livas, Black Enterprise’s very own Alfred Edmond, Jr., and more.
Edmond Jr., a senior vice president and executive editor-at-large, has been a driving force in the success and growth of the iconic publication. Starting his journey over 30 years ago, Edmond says he is so proud to receive this prestigious honor. “I’m happy that the Black Media Honors is recognizing the importance of Black media in all its forms,” Edmond says. “It is a great honor to be included and to be recognized for my work at BE over the years and other media platforms.”
“I really accept the award in honor of people like Black Enterprise’s late founder Earl Graves, Sr.—that’s the legacy that drives me and inspires me to continue to do work in this space.”
Rising to the occasion as a Black student leader at Rutgers University, his start at BE wasn’t what he first expected. With a passion for fashion and lifestyle, Edmond aspired to be the first Black editor at Esquire or GQ, but he found himself somewhat captivated by the culture and essence of what Black Enterprise is today. “What’s kept me there is the culture of the company, which I describe to people as ‘excellence, no excuses,'” Edmond confesses.
“We know that we have to help Black people succeed, and we can’t bring second best. You may not always be the best, but that’s no excuse for not doing your best…36 years later, I still love that.”
Conservative Radio Host Larry Elder Announces He’s Running For President in 2024
The race for the White House is on, and the conservatives can add another candidate to the growing list of candidates. Larry Elder has joined that list!
The conservative radio host announced he’s running for President of the United States. The big announcement came on Fox News’s Tucker Carlson Tonight after the two laughed at Elder, 70, being called the “Black face of White Supremacy.”
After his appearance, he made an official tweet about his candidacy.
Elder joins a long list of conservative candidates eyeing the Oval Office, including former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who reportedly launched a presidential exploratory committee, allowing him to raise money that could then be used for an official presidential campaign.
The former lawyer and the longtime host of the nationally syndicated conservative radio program, The Larry Elder Show, has never been shy about sharing his opinion on issues like critical race theory and a “woke” agenda. In 2021, in his first political bid for public office, he ran to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a recall effort. Associated Press reports he received the most votes out of the 46 other people in the race, but California residents voted to keep Newsom in office.
His controversial ways and ideologies have made continuous headlines over the years. In 2021, he told fellow conservative Candace Owens that he feels slave owners deserve reparations. Over 20 years ago, Elder wrote in Capitalism Magazine, “Women know less than men about political issues, economics, and current events. Good news for Democrats, bad news for Republicans. For the less one knows, the easier the manipulation.”
Black Entrepreneur Opens Co-Working Franchise in Minneapolis, Raises $1.3 Million for National Expansion
Alex West Steinman has opened her initial franchise location of The Coven in Minneapolis. It is said to be the first woman- and Black-owned co-working space in the city.
The new location along the Lake Street corridor is a partnership with the Dogwood Coffee Co. and provides a smaller concept with designated desks and private offices.
The Coven, which Steinman co-founded, describes itself as a business that offers community space to help women, transgender, and non-binary people become confident leaders. The fresh site will join locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Steinman tells BLACK ENTERPRISE that she has raised $1.3 million to expand The Coven nationally and has submitted Franchise Disclosure Documents to start that expansion in several states, including Illinois, North Carolina, and California.
She expects The Coven to sign three franchisees by late this year and another 10 in 2024. The inclusivity-focused co-working business plans to expand by identifying underdog markets and neighborhoods and investing in communities nationwide. The plan, she adds, is to grow intentionally and sustainably.
Plans for franchise expansion come after Steinman started The Coven in 2017 with her co-founders. After closing its physical space temporarily due to COVID-19, the business launched a digital platform to keep its community connected.
“As we reopened and members started coming back, we saw an increase in team and private office interest,” she says. “Today, we are at 100% capacity in private offices.”
All told, Steinman says $2.9 million has been raised since 2019 to help the business expand.
She is confident her franchise model can keep growing because more companies are leaving formal office environments and pursuing co-working spaces. She says The Coven has three assets: an ability to design inclusive spaces, a strong marketing background to build brands, and mentoring entrepreneurs.
“Those skill-sets and capabilities allow us to support franchises and ensure they can thrive as business owners,” Steinman says. “We’re really excited to be at this stage and support more entrepreneurs.”
In Minnesota, Dogwood Coffee invested $50,000 to open Lake Street as a franchise location. Steinman says that the neighborhood was heavily impacted by the 2020 uprisings following George Floyd’s murder.
“Revitalization of the Lake Street corridor is essential to the well-being of Minneapolis,” she explains of the dense business district is filled with organizations, businesses, and families of so many backgrounds.
“We must invest in the communities we want to see thrive,” she says.
She says The Coven will continue to invest in marketing and advertising for the business to drive traffic to the East Lake location and its surrounding neighborhoods. Steinman says it now has a 50-plus person waitlist to occupy space.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Sen. Ed Markey Reintroduces Legislation to End Qualified Immunity for Government Officials
A bill introduced in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd pushing to end qualified immunity is making the rounds again.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, (D-MA) joined Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) outside the United States Capitol on Wednesday to reintroduce their “Ending Qualified Immunity Act” legislation to end the “court-invented doctrine” that has failed to hold state and local officials “accountable for their wrongdoing.”
Pressley and Markey unveiled Wednesday in an effort to address the issue regarding public officials who violate their legal and constitutionally-secured rights. According to Pressley and Markey, the statute unjustly impacts people of color.
“Police brutality is a crisis plaguing Black and brown communities, and a crisis that will continue to go unchecked until we end the dangerous, unjust, and court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity,” said Pressley.
During the press conference, Pressley raised the subject of the Civil Rights Act of 1871, also referenced as the Ku Klux Klan Act, which protected the civil and political rights of individuals, allowing them to sue public officials, including police officers, who deprived them of their constitutional rights.
“For too long, qualified immunity has prevented accountability and shielded those charged with enforcing the law from any consequences for breaking it. Our bill would restore necessary civil rights protections and is essential to providing the families of those abused by law enforcement with the healing they deserve,” the congresswoman continued. “Structural change is necessary to address this crisis and save lives, and that must include ending qualified immunity.”
“There will never be true justice for the victims and family members of police brutality, but qualified immunity deprives Americans of one of their most powerful tools to seek justice in a court of law,” said Markey. “Qualified immunity is a dangerous doctrine that protects law enforcement officers from lawsuits and personal liability for their abuses.”
“For decades, law enforcement has relied on qualified immunity to shield officers from accountability for police brutality and excessive force, far too often suffered by Black and Brown Americans. This must end. Victims and their families are due their day in court against those officials who violate their civil rights,” he added.
Angela Simmons Reveals 6-Year-Old Son as CEO of Little Giants | Giant Shorties
The youth are our future, and reality TV star Angela Simmonsis a staunch believer in that as she announces her 6-year-old son as a CEO. In a recent Instagram post, the daughter of hip-hop royalty, Rev. Run (of Run-D.M.C.), posted a video clip of her son, Sutton JosephTennyson Jr., signing a contract to become a CEO of a clothing company his deceased father, Sutton Tennyson was involved with before he died. “My baby is a young CEO. His father was sure to leave him behind something he can grow with. My son loves making money (hustling). It’s in his blood. It’s time to finally give him what’s his! Your son gets the torch now. Though you are not here with us your legacy lives on ❤️ Go time baby boy 🚀 @wearelittlegiants”
The video clip shows the young boy signing the contract. She asks her son, Sutton, “How does it feel that your dad left you behind this legacy of a company?” His response was, “It feels super great!” According to Atlanta Black Star, the man Sutton is named after was shot and killed outside his Atlanta home in 2018. TAbrick-and-mortar store, Little Giants | Giant Shorties, is in Los Angeles. There are also locations in Brooklyn, New York. The website states that the clothing company, “Little Giants Giant Shorties (L.G.G.S.) Makes Quality, Modern Day Goods For Your Children Inspired By Youth Cultures Of The Past And Present.”
Simmons, and her hip-hop mogul boyfriend, Yo Gotti, announced their blossoming romance when they presented pictures of an official photoshoot they did on New Year’s Eve. After the big announcement, Simmons took to her Instagram Story to say she was “happier than I’ve ever been.” “You are all I need and more ❤️”
Zendaya Epitomizes Luxury in Debut Campaign as Louis Vuitton’s House Ambassador
Leave it to the fans to predict the next move in a celebrity’s career, this time predicting a Louis Vuitton collaboration!
Fans did just that after Zendaya strutted into the Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week show in March. Now the actress has entered the Louis Vuitton empire as the newest face of the brand.
(Photo: Gotham/FilmMagic)
According to People, the fashion company announced on Thursday that the 26-year-old Euphoria star would is its newest house ambassador and face of the Capucines bag.
“Launched in 2013, the Capucines handbag is named after the Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, the Paris street where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854,” according to Louis Vuitton. “Today, the bag is one of the Maison’s most emblematic designs, a creation of practical elegance crafted in full-grain Taurillon leather and offering multiple styles of wear (hand, shoulder, cross-body), as well as a flap that can be styled shut to display a Monogram Flower or tucked inside to reveal leather-clad LV initials.”
In the ad campaign, the young fashion maven is seen flaunting classic looks styled by “image architect,” the now retired Law Roach, as she clutches the various colors of the handbag in each photo. “Personifying the dreamy energy of the Côte d’Azur, the new #LouisVuitton House Ambassador brings a playful vibrancy to the #LVCapucines collection,” the fashion house captioned a campaign reel on Instagram.
Zendaya shared her thoughts on fronting the ad campaign for the fashion house’s iconic handbag in an interview with Vogue.
“I remember growing up around LV campaigns,” Zendaya said. “There was this one that I loved from the early 2000s of Naomi Campbell, and she’s like sprawled out over a trunk. I can still see it. I can see the image in my head and I remember seeing it in magazines as a kid.”
She discussed her appreciation of fashion’s transformative quality and how she uses it to create characters.
ESPN: Ime Udoka Frontrunner for Open Toronto Raptors Head Coaching Job
With the NBA’s Toronto Raptors firing head coach Nick Nurse Friday, former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has emerged as a candidate for the job. Yes, that Ime Udoka.
(Photo: Annette Grant/NBAE via Getty Images)
That’s according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, who sent out a tweet stating that Udoka is expected to be seriously considered to take the place of Nurse, who led the Raptors to the championship in 2019.
Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka is expected to be a serious candidate to replace Nurse, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/L15nmpkxVo
Reportedly, Udoka has a long relationship with Raptors team president Masai Ujiri. Sources have stated that the former Celtics coach will play a prominent part in the Raptors’ coaching search.
Udoka, who had a son and long engagement with actress Nia Long, was suspended before the 2022-23 season started for violating multiple team rules. He received a lengthy suspension as punishment for allegedly having an intimate, but consensual, relationship with a female Celtics staffer. He was still an employee since the team didn’t terminate him. In February, his time with the team came to an end when the Boston Celtics named interim head coach Joe Mazzulla as, the team’s permanent head coach.
Udoka officially became a free agent with that hire, and he was highly coveted despite the scandal. After replacing head coach Brad Stevens, who became the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Udoka became the fifth head coach in the last 25 years to take his team to the NBA Finals in his first season as head coach.The Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
When the Brooklyn Nets parted ways with head coach Steve Nash early in the 2022-23 season, Udoka instantly became the frontrunner to replace him. But, reportedly, the league discouraged the franchise to hire him. Instead, the Nets went with Jacque Vaughn.
Michelle Obama Opens Up About 30-Year Marriage to Barack: ‘Compromise Ain’t Always Fun’
Michelle Obama is sharing the secret behind the success of her 30-year marriage to Barack Obama in hopes of inspiring the new generation of married couples.
Making it through three decades together, raising two daughters, and serving two terms in the White House, the former first lady appeared on CBS Mornings with Gayle King Thursday and admitted how “hard” marriage is, and it’s “impossible” to like “everybody every day.”
“If I fell out with him for 10, and we had (a) great 20 years, I’d take those odds anytime,” Michelle said of their 30-year union.
“I share these things because marriage is hard. And a lot of young people quit on marriage over things that are just a part of the commitment.”
Now, she’s offering her advice to the new generation of marrieds and reminding them what a real union is about.
“We glamorize marriage. And in this day and age, marriage is more about the dress, and the dresses, and the proposal, and the honeymoon and all the stuff around it, and young people aren’t ready for the real of marriage,” Obama told King.
“So I think once again, it’s incumbent upon us, people who have had successful marriages, to be really honest about the fact that making a commitment to be with someone means you compromise, and compromise ain’t always fun.”
Michelle, 58, and Barack, 61 met in 1989. She was assigned to be his mentor at the Chicago firm of Sidley Austin since the two were both Harvard students, she once told ABC News.
They married in 1992 and welcomed their children, daughters Malia, 24, and Sasha, 21. In December 2022, Michelle got candid about how challenging it was during the early days of raising their girls.
“There were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband,” Michelle toldRevolt TV. “And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.”
Tiara Willis Is ‘the Influencer’s Influencer,’ Shares the Blueprint for Entrepreneurial Success
Meet the woman who is influencing the influencers.
Running a social media empire of nearly half a million followers across platforms, 21-year-old Tiara Willis is working to eliminate the gap for women of color in the beauty industry by providing tips, insight, and information to her community. As a licensed esthetician and beauty and skincare influencer, the beauty expert remains hard at work advocating for her community.
After years of offering free education to help women find their voice in beauty, Willis has launched her own masterclass, Securing and Negotiating Influencer Brand Deals, teaching individuals how to optimize their careers as influencers and content creators.
“I draw my inspiration from my audience,” Willis shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “The core part of my platform is listening to the needs of others and forming my content around that.”
Courtesy Francesca Andre
She advises women seeking to become influencers and entrepreneurs to “just start!” Willis entered the influencer world at 14, posing as the face of several beauty and makeup influencer campaigns. “Young people make up the main demographic of many platforms, so your peers are there waiting for you to tell your story. People from multiple generations exist on social media, and your voice matters too,” she says.
Willis believes individuals with smaller platforms can make an impact, monetize their platforms, and create a great career in the industry. “This is one of the reasons why I created my masterclass on securing and negotiating top influencer brand deals,” Willis says. “People with smaller followers can monetize their platforms and land brand deals by creating a clear brand, building a community, networking, pitching, and properly negotiating.”
The beauty influencer provides full coverage on how entrepreneurs can apply monetization and negotiation strategies as they build their platforms.
Discussing money and finances is important to Willis as she understands how some people are wary of taking financial advice from influencers. “Influencers are in a unique financial situation that a lot of people are still learning to understand, including accountants. It is vital that influencers are transparent about money and finances because it can help clear up myths, close pay, wage, and equity gaps, and help others optimize their careers as an influencer,” she says. For entrepreneurs who want their audience to know they are credible, showing their success along with the success of people they’ve helped is significant in building that trust.
Masterclass: Securing and Negotiating Influencer Brand Deals
“In my masterclass, I teach influencers and content creators how to create a brand unique to the industry yet profitable. I also address how to network within and outside of your niche to build connections that can transform careers.”
Once creators have learned how to network, Willis teaches them how to properly secure a lucrative deal via strategic and intentional pitching, negotiating, and more.
“I am committed to helping influencers, especially those of color,” the beauty influencer says. “I experienced many instances of being lowballed, underpaid, and undervalued,” she recalls of her early years in the industry. “I never countered with a higher price because I did not know my value, nor did I know that I actually had the upper hand. Like most people of color when money comes our way, I initially thought that I should just be grateful for the opportunity that I was given knowing that many people desired what was presented to me and, moreover, knowing that girls who look like me don’t get these types of opportunities often.”
Willis believes this unnecessary guilt and falsehood is a tremendous hindrance to the Black community.
“It is well known that Black women influencers earn less than their counterparts,” she continues. Willis uses her platform to extend her knowledge to Black creators in financial literacy, empowering them to recognize their worth.
“Black women seeking to secure higher pay should do research and ask their peers about what they’re getting paid. She shares that ” transparency is everything,” adding that Black women should never hesitate to ask for help and build a team of people who are rooting for them.
Looking forward to a future of new brand deals
“I’m looking forward to brand partnerships with some amazing brands this year and to keep sharing my expertise regarding beauty, finance, and entrepreneurship with my loyal audience and community. My new brand @yourcreatorbff will continue launching resources to help creators secure the bag and make the best out of their career,” she says.
Willis boasts a long list of experience working with big names, including CeraVe, Nissaan, Target, L’Oréal, Ulta Beauty, POPSUGAR x Garnier Green Labs, Paula’s Choice, Topicals, Harvard University, and Burt’s Bees. She has also worked on multiple collaborations with InStyle and Twitter, including Twitter Spaces and more.
Issa Rae Will Receive Trailblazer Award At 2023 Peabody Awards
It’s always Issa Rae season.
Few in Hollywood have been able to do what the Insecure and Rap Sh*t creator has done in the last decade, so it’s only right that she be considered a trailblazer. Deadline reports that Rae will receive the Peabody Trailblazer Award at the 83rd annual event, set to take place in Los Angeles in June. The award celebrates “visionaries that are impacting our culture and affecting social change through their innovative storytelling,” according to a statement from the awarding body. Veteran actor and funny woman Lily Tomlin will also receive recognition on the night, taking home the Peabody Career Achievement Award.
In an official press statement, Jeffrey Jones, the executive director of the Peabody Awards, said, “Beyond our annual awards recognizing the most compelling stories, Peabody is dedicated to recognizing individuals that inspire and delight us.” He continued, “Lily Tomlin has made so many people laugh over the decades with her remarkable talent, and Issa Rae has proven herself a profound entertainment storyteller, performer, and force for good. We’re thrilled to recognize Issa and Lily for not only their extraordinary contributions to storytelling but also for their important role and place for women in comedy and entertainment.”
Issa Rae is gearing up for a major summer with a role in the highly-anticipated Barbie movie. She will voice the character Jessica Drew in the newest installment of the Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Versefilm series. Rae’s Rap Sh*t is also headed back to HBO for a second season, and A Black Lady Sketch Show, which she produces through Hoorae Media, is already in Emmy discussions for the coming year. Elsewhere in the industry, Rae’s influence still has an impact. With her “Raedio” music label, she is empowering the next generation of artists, executives, and producers to create projects that speak to a diverse and ever-changing world.
