Yesterday, the Black Women’s Health Imperative issued the following statement in response to attacks on medical abortions in Wyoming and Texas.

“We knew this was coming. We knew the attacks on our agency, our access, and ultimately our bodily autonomy had only just begun with the overturning of Roe. We knew they would go after yet another important part of women’s healthcare – medication abortion. And, now we truly know just what political leaders in certain states in America really think about the rights of Black women, indeed all women,” said Dr. Ifeoma C. Udoh, Executive Vice President of Policy, Advocacy & Science at the Black Women’s Health Imperative.

The facts are indisputable: Medication abortions are safe. Medication abortions became the preferred method for ending pregnancy in the United States even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the law that protected the right to abortion care for 50 years.  Now, a combination of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol that can be taken at home is the most common form of medication abortion in the US.

This was an alarming end to the third week of Women’s History Month. In what seemed like coordinated anti-abortion fury, on Friday night Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon banned abortion pills in his state and allowed a separate measure restricting abortion to become law without his signature. That chilled the hopeful news out of North Dakotathe day before, when the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled that a state abortion ban will remain blocked while a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds. A day earlier, Trump-appointed Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard arguments about whether mifepristone could be sold in the US. His pending ruling could restrict access to the drug nationwide – thereby potentially criminalizing its use for women and providers across the nation.

Mifepristone has been deemed safe by the FDA for 20 years. It can be taken at home, is used in more than half of US pregnancy terminations and also treats other diseases and conditions. But a lawsuit filed by an anti-abortion group in Texas argues that the drug’s safety was never properly studied. The pills are already banned in 13 states with blanket bans on all forms of abortion care, and 15 states have limited access to abortion care pills. For the first time, a state judge is being asked to essentially overturn the approval of a drug with a long record of safety and effectiveness that has been safely used by more than 5.6 million people since it received FDA approval.

This ruling is particularly important to Black women living in Texas. According to a 2022 Texas Tribune  article, at least 50,000 Texans receive abortions each year, with Black Texans consistently having the highest rates of abortion. As of 2020, Black women accounted for 30% of all legal abortions in Texas. (Find here: Texas Abortion Statistics)

Carrying a child to term is not without its risks. The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee report estimates that up to 90% of maternal deaths may have been preventable (See: Texas Tribune article December 2022).

Severe medical complications from pregnancy and childbirth also increased significantly between 2018 and 2020, surging from 58.2 to 72.7 cases per 10,000 deliveries in Texas.

Black women were twice as likely as white women and four times as likely as Hispanic women to die from pregnancy-related causes. Safe abortion care is often the only path to saving a woman’s life.

“All women – no matter their race or ethnicity – are now forced to acknowledge that we exist in a political and judicial environment that intentionally and openly disregards the body autonomy of women, and Black women in particular. These legal maneuvers are becoming synonymous with what the American public recognizes as the markers of a contemporary democratic breakdown. Human rights are being both questioned and challenged nationally,” added Dr. Udoh.

Despite this challenging week, the Black Women’s Health Imperative will continue to actively promote access to safe reproductive health services. We stand firm in our belief in the right to privacy and health equity – which means the right to access safe abortion-care options.

The Black Women’s Health Imperative will continue to educate those we serve on their rights, to encourage voter registration and civic involvement on all levels – especially the judicial – to ensure that our needs are voiced and represented. Most importantly, we will continue our efforts to achieve a reality in which all women have the unequivocal right to receive quality and dignified care.

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is pleased to announce the 2023 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows, twelve exceptional student leaders who will participate in a three-continent global journey that will take them to Washington, D.C.; Cape Town, South Africa; and Dublin, Ireland; for a comparative study of social justice leadership.

During the four-week summer program, Fellows will explore the legacies of Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, John Lewis, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Daniel O’Connell, John Hume, and other giants of social change.

The outstanding students of color selected for this prestigious award were chosen based on their demonstrated commitment to advancing peace in our world by building bridges between people with different viewpoints.

The 2023 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows are:

• Daniel Hernandez – Arizona State University, Health Service Administration
• Akil Cole – Georgetown University, Interdisciplinary Studies
• Samuel Li – Georgetown University, International Business
• Ife Martin – Howard University, Computer and Information Sciences
• Ja’Niya Howard – Indiana University, Interior Design and Business Management
• Ryan Javier – Lehigh University, Engineering and International Studies
• Hufsa Ahmed – Macalester College, Political Science and Economics
• Darius Butler – Oberlin College, African American Studies and Law and Legal Studies
• Charlotte Yeung – Purdue University, Political Science
• Malavika Kannan – Stanford University, Comparative Literature and Ethnic and Cultural Studies
• Florence Onyiuke – University of Pennsylvania, International Relations and International Business
• Gregory Perryman – University of Virginia, Public Policy Analysis and Environmental Science

You can meet the 2023 Fellows in this personal video.

“The 2023 cohort of Frederick Douglass Global Fellows is an extraordinary group of student leaders, selected from a record number of outstanding applicants representing a rich diversity of academic and cultural backgrounds,” said Kyndall Cox, Director of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship.

The Government of Ireland will co-sponsor the 2023 Frederick Douglass Global Fellows in honor of the meeting between 27-year-old abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the great Irish reformer Daniel O’Connell in Dublin in 1845 – an experience that expanded Douglass’ view of social injustice and influenced his style of agitating for positive change through non-violent social and political efforts in the United States.

“Just as Douglass’ style of agitating for positive social change through non-violent social and political efforts was influenced by his meeting with Daniel O’Connell, the Fellows’ future changemaking efforts will be shaped by their comparative study of international peacebuilders and the personal connections they forge with their peers during the program,” said James P. Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE. “The students on this program will return home from their time abroad with an enhanced global perspective on advancing social justice and will be better prepared to be agents of positive change in their communities and in our world.”

Welcoming the announcement, Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S., Geraldine Byrne Nason remarked: “When 27-year-old Frederick Douglass met and spoke alongside the Irish abolitionist Daniel O’Connell in Dublin, Douglass was, in his own words, ‘completely captivated.’ Three months later, as he readied to leave Ireland, the young American reflected that he had spent some of the happiest moments of his life in Ireland and now lived ‘a new life.’ To celebrate that legacy, and reinforce the ties between our nations, I’m delighted that, through the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows, twelve brilliant young Americans from minority backgrounds will have the opportunity to travel to Ireland this year.”

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship was launched in 2017 as part of CIEE’s commitment to increasing access to study abroad by students in underrepresented groups. In addition to funding the 12 Fellows, CIEE will provide the nearly 600 students who applied for this year’s fellowship with a $1,500 Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant that can be applied on any CIEE study abroad program for the next year, committing more than one million dollars in grant funds to help diverse students study abroad.

Each year, the CIEE Frederick Douglass Scholars Grant is matched by more than thirty college presidents who are champions of international education, further reducing the cost of studying abroad for their students. CIEE is proud to partner with these global leaders to open doors for all students from all backgrounds and significantly increase diversity abroad.

To learn more about the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, visit ciee.org/FDGF.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

Prostate Cancer Foundation-funded Genetic Study of Men of African Ancestry Finds New Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

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One in six Black men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime versus one in eight white men. Black men are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, with more aggressive disease, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer. New findings from Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF)-funded investigators shed light on the genetic underpinnings of this racial disparity and point the way toward more effective screening strategies.

Studies have identified close to 270 genetic variants linked to prostate cancer risk, but genetic researchers have yet to explain the disproportionate risk among men of African ancestry. Nor have they been able to predict which Black men face a high risk for aggressive prostate cancer.

To address these questions, Christopher Haiman, ScD, director of the Center for Genetic Epidemiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and AFLAC Chair of Cancer Research at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, led a meta-analysis of 10 genome-wide association studies pooling data representing more than 80,000 men of African ancestry (19,378 men with prostate cancer and 61,620 healthy controls) collected in the U.S., Africa and the Caribbean.

The researchers found nine previously undiscovered genetic variants that increased the risk for prostate cancer in men of African ancestry, seven of which are found either largely or exclusively in Black men. One new variant in the 8q24 region, long known to influence prostate cancer risk, is found only in men of African ancestry. This variant influences the risk of higher rates of aggressive disease among Black men, researchers concluded. They also showed that a multiancestry polygenic risk score was able to differentiate between the risks of developing aggressive and nonaggressive prostate cancer in men of African ancestry. Their study was published March 3 in the peer reviewed journal European Urology.

The newly identified variants can be used to refine polygenic risk scores, genetic tests that assess a person’s risk for developing a condition based on the combined influence of multiple genetic factors and can help patients decide how early and often to get screened.

“Addressing African American disparity in prostate cancer is a critical focus for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and we congratulate Dr. Haiman and colleagues on their findings which will lead to more effective precision screening strategies for men of African ancestry,” said PCF President and CEO Charles J. Ryan, MD. “Through the Robert F. Smith-PCF Special Challenge Award for the Smith Polygenic Risk Test, we are proud to invest in the vital work of Dr. Haiman and all of the RESPOND investigators to understand and address the reasons why Black men disproportionately experience aggressive prostate cancer.”

Haiman and collaborators study prostate cancer among Black men through the $26.5 million, multi-center RESPOND (Research on Prostate Cancer in African American Men: Defining the Roles of Genetics, Tumor Markers and Social Stress) study, funded by the PCF, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. This work is ongoing, including research into how social determinants, access to care, genetics, and tumor characteristics affect prostate cancer diagnosis, progression, recurrence and survival rates.

With funding support from PCF and Robert F. Smith, Haiman and colleagues also are working to develop the Smith Polygenic Risk Test for Prostate Cancer, a non-invasive, early detection test that will identify a man’s lifetime prostate cancer risk using a combination of the nearly 270 genetic variants obtained from a single sample of saliva or blood.

“The results of this research will markedly change the ways physicians test for prostate cancer. We now have the ability to identify at-risk men before they develop the disease and proactively implement the most effective preventive measures and treatments,” said Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. “We must continue to make investments in health equity research and transform prostate cancer from a life-altering diagnosis into a manageable condition.”

Since its founding in 1993, PCF has invested over $30 million in health disparities research through 48 different research programs with more than 20 institutional collaborators.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

Black Men Vote Appoints Non-profit Leader Larry Williams Jr. as Executive Director

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Black Men Vote (BMV), a leading non-profit focused on educating, informing, and inspiring all Black men (particularly aged 18-35) to vote at all levels of government, today announced that non-profit leader Larry Williams Jr. has been named Executive Director. Mr. Williams will direct the organization’s national programming to engage with Black men across America. Black Men Vote is committed to registering ONE MILLION Black Men to vote by November of 2024. The organization will leverage national partnerships, unique programming, and an unprecedented “ground game” to connect directly with Black men from all walks of life.

“Black Men Vote’s mission – registering One Million Black Men to vote – is critically important to the future of this country,” said Larry Williams Jr, BMV’s new Executive Director. “My work in the labor and climate communities, as well as my deep understanding of and commitment to engaging with communities of color, will be an important element of our path forward. I appreciate the faith the BMV Board of Directors has placed in me and look forward to taking BMV to the next level.”

Before joining Black Men Vote, Mr. Williams had a career spanning 15 years in the labor, climate, and tech spaces.

“Larry is a proven leader with a track record of success,” said Herman Cooper, Board member of Black Men Vote.” “His leadership skills, relationships, and commitment to our mission were key factors in selecting him for this role. Registering One Million Black Men to vote is a major undertaking, and our ability to attract top-notch talent like Larry will be key to our success.”

In 2022, the Black Men Vote Civic Action Fund, an affiliated 501c4, conducted a voter engagement program in Pennsylvania ahead of the midterm election. The program targeted low-propensity, Black voters in Philadelphia. Through canvassing, phone-banking, digital outreach, texts/robocalls, and local radio, this initiative increased Black voter turnout by more than 83,000 votes.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

• Entertainment

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

Rapper Ludacris’ Karma’s World Entertainment Launches Satin Sleep Collection in Partnership With Firstline Brands

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Firstline Brands, the leading textured hair accessory company in the U.S., furthers its mission to innovate high-quality haircare and fashion items with the launch of its Karma’s World© Satin Sleep Collection under its Camryn’s BFF® brand for girls and tweens.

The collection is the brand’s first release under a groundbreaking licensing agreement with 9 Story Media Group and Karma’s World, the hit animated Netflix series executive produced by Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges and inspired by his oldest daughter. Karma’s World follows 10-year-old Karma Grant, an aspiring musician with enormous talent and an even bigger heart.

The Karma’s World© Satin Sleep Collection by Camryn’s BFF® is an assortment of satin bonnets and pillowcases made with non-abrasive, high-quality satin in three fun, vibrant, and coordinated prints that inspire sweet dreams and leans into the series’ focus on issues such as self-expression, creativity, and identity.

“We immediately recognized how closely aligned Karma’s World is to Firstline’s values for Camryn’s BFF. What I love about this partnership is the opportunity to combine our expertise in developing elevated haircare accessories and tools with Karma’s lovable and confident personality. Positive, colorful, bold, and beautiful like Karma, the assortment educates girls and tweens about healthy haircare practices that are incredibly important as they come of age,” said Joni A. Odum, President and CEO of Firstline Brands.

“We’re excited to partner with Firstline Brands to expand the Karma’s World universe. 9 Story Media Group’s main goal is to align with brands that speak to the representation and inclusive storytelling embedded within the groundbreaking series. Firstline’s new product offering of the Karma’s World Satin Sleep collection of bonnets and pillowcases is truly innovative, and we can’t wait for kids to see it,” said Kyra Halperin, Co-Vice President, 9 Story Brands.

The Karma’s World© Satin Sleep Collection by Camryn’s BFF® is available TODAY on Amazon.com/karmasworld and in beauty supply stores across the country:

• Karma’s World© Satin Pillowcase – Available in Black, Teal, and White Prints ($9.82) 
  Designed with luxuriously smooth satin, the Karma’s World Satin Pillowcase by Camryn’s BFF® is the superlative option for protecting her hair during sleep. Its non-abrasive fabric minimizes hair breakage, reduces frizz, and maintains natural moisture to promote healthy hair.
• Karma’s World© Satin Bonnet – Available in Teal and White Prints ($6.99) and Available in Reversible Black Print with Fuchsia ($7.99)
  Karma’s World Satin Bonnet by Camryn’s BFF® is the ultimate hair protector. This soft bonnet, made of non-abrasive, high-quality satin will help retain her hair’s natural moisture while keeping it secure and intact during nighttime wear. Great for protecting all hair types and styles.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

• Career

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

27-Year-old Former Ramp Agent Achieves Childhood Dream, Becomes Pilot for Delta Airlines

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Justin Mutawassim, a 27-year-old African American pilot at Delta Air Lines, achieved his childhood dream of becoming a pilot at the same airline where he previously worked as a ramp agent.

When he was 5 years old, Mutawassim’s interest in flying began on his first time riding an airplane and exploring the cockpit. From then on, he always wanted to become a pilot, he told the Washington Post.

However, the path toward his goal became unclear at some point. He was terribly discouraged when his middle school teacher, who was in the US Air Force, wrongfully informed him that perfect vision was a requirement to become a pilot. Mutawassim, who had to wear glasses, said he had no means to verify it at that time.

That’s why after graduating high school, Mutawassim settled to pursue a career in broadcasting. He started college, landed some jobs and he enjoyed it but he said it wasn’t as fulfilling as he thought aviation would be.

A year later, he decided to drop out of college and began working as a ramp agent loading baggages at Delta Air Lines in 2014. His passion for aviation came back stronger. He quickly climbed up the ranks and became a supervisor and then instructor. But he couldn’t find the confidence yet to pursue being a pilot at that time.

Mutawassim’s life started to change in 2016 when he met Ivor Martin, a pilot who is Black. Martin offered to mentor him when he shared about his long-held dream to become a pilot. With Martin’s support, Mutawassim was able to complete his licenses in just less than a year.

In 2018, he began working as a pilot for a regional airline and then a start-up airline. In 2022, he took the opportunity to apply to work as a pilot at Delta after learning that the company no longer requires a college degree for pilots. After a few months of training, he officially became a Delta pilot.

Mutawassim took to Twitter to celebrate his achievement. He posted a picture of him as a Delta ramp agent in 2016 and as a Delta pilot in 2022. “This one has been 6 long years in the making,” he wrote in his now-viral post.

Mutawassim, who is based in New York City, is currently taking college courses for a degree in Aviation Science and working towards his next goal of becoming a captain. He also does volunteer work mentoring aspiring pilots, paying forward what Martin did to him.

This news first appeared on blackprwire.com.

• Career

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

Recording Academy Appoints Spelman Alumna Nzinga ‘Zing’ Shaw as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

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The Recording Academy® has appointed Nzinga “Zing” Shaw as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Officer. In her role, Shaw oversees diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across all areas of the Recording Academy, including internal and external programs, organizational and staff culture, Membership, Awards, and related initiatives. With direct support from Vice President of DEI, Ryan Butler and Manager of DEI, Ricky Lyon, Shaw is responsible for ensuring that diversity and inclusion are core to business values and standards and demonstrated throughout the organization. She is also responsible for designing, building and implementing world-class programs and industry standards and making sure they are demonstrated throughout the organization. Additionally, Shaw’s expertise will help activate an engaged global workforce and cultivate a more inclusive culture in order to best position the organization for future growth.

“I am thrilled to introduce Zing to the Recording Academy as our Chief DEI Officer,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Her groundbreaking work in the DEI field speaks for itself and we are excited to see how she’ll amplify the Academy’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and drive positive change throughout the organization.”

“I am proud to join the Recording Academy and work with a talented team of leaders to cultivate a culture of inclusion that fosters different points of view and empowers diverse colleagues,” Shaw said. “The organization has made incredible strides in diversity, equity and inclusion over the last few years, and I look forward to being part of the Academy’s continued commitment to supporting both our internal stakeholders and the music community at large.”

Prior to joining the Academy, Shaw is known for her pioneering DEI work with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, launching the MOSAIC symposium (Model of Shaping Atlanta through Inclusive Conversations), and making the Hawks the first professional sports team to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, Shaw was the first Chief DEI Officer at three blue chip organizations: Edelman, Starbucks and the National Basketball Association.

In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of Fisk University, the Board of Directors of ColorComm, and the Board of Advisors of Arctos Sports Partners, Shaw was appointed by 39th United States President Jimmy Carter to serve a six-year term on the Board of Councilors of the Carter Center. Her leadership has been recognized by Sports Business Journal, Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Network Journal, and PR Week.

Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College and a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania. She was a study abroad scholar at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

This news first appeared on blackprwire.com.

• Entrepreneurship

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

Black Mom, Teen Daughter Make History With Cosmetic Products in 600 Stores and New Amazon Partnership

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Danielle Pasha, and her 17-year-old daughter, Samiah, the founders of The Beat House Cosmetics, continue to make history. Over the past three years, they have signed a major distribution deal with Citi Trends to have their products sold in 600 of their stores nationwide. And now they have been accepted into Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator program, which is dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs.

Danielle and Samiah launched their company back in 2020 when Samiah was just 14 years old. Now, she’s 17 and serving as the President of the company while her mom fulfills the role as CEO.

Over the years, they have been busy securing their spot in the cosmetics world. After introducing the critically acclaimed Knock Out Palette and the 2020 Palette, the duo secured a partnership with Citi Trends Inc. for The Knockout Palette and the newly released “Legacy Palette”, that could also be found in Citi Trends stores across the nation and on TBHC’s website.

As mom began to focus more on the expanding of the brand, Samiah has taken the reigns to design and introduce her own collection, “The Good Girl Collection, When asked what inspired her to create the Good Girl Collection, Samiah stated; I came up with the good girl collection for all the girls who are focused on their education, self-care, being a good person, having fun and looking good while doing so. (Samiah Laughs) “I wanted to put some colors and products together that would capture that vibe. So, I told my mother it’s my turn, I’ve been watching and learning! I was so happy she trusted my vision for this collection. She gave me the space to create while helping me along the way. (While smiling at mom)

While Samiah held down the Good Girl Collection, Danielle released another jaw dropping and aesthetically pleasing palette inspired by the season of love.” On the Nakia NiteShade Podcast, Danielle stated that after entering the cosmetics arena she has developed lifelong friendships with MUAs around the world. “A lot of people wear make up but these MUAs use make up in their day-to-day operations. When we speak, I always ask what events are the hardest to prepare for. The answer is always Weddings. I wanted to create something that has the colors and tones that one would see on a wedding day.”

The Wedding Planner Palette is fun, elegant, sexy and everything an artist would need to stick the landing for their bride’s special day. This palette marries highly pigmented prismatic colors with delicate shades that’s perfect for brides, bride Maids, and guest alike.

It’s safe to say this mother daughter Duo are here to stay. Offering a wide range of products for all age groups and lifestyles. This cosmetic line is dedicated to beating the odds, beating self-doubt, and beating adversity.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 19, 2023

Couple Secures $250K Deal on Shark Tank for Black-Owned Virtual Bridal Company

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Meet Charles and Ashley Young, a married couple who are the co-founders of a virtual bridal company called Bridal Babes that designs bridesmaids’ dresses that are body-flattering catered for curvy Black women. After appearing on Shark Tank and securing a $250,000 deal, their Maryland-based company has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the wedding industry.