12-Year-Old Black Entrepreneur Awarded $25K Grant from Mayor of Tempe, Arizona
Meet King Mauni, the 12-year-old founder and CEO of We Kingz Bro, an inspirational apparel brand that empowers young men to build a life and future that they are proud of. His company was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the City of Tempe, Arizona for BIPOC micro-manufacturers to support business operations and growth.
We Kingz Bro aims to inspire young men across the globe to embrace their purpose, financial independence, and their inner ‘King.’
Mauni comments, “Being a King is all about having a purpose, a vision, and confidence, but it’s also about being diverse and standing up for what you believe in. Huge thanks to the City of Tempe, Tempe Chamber of Commerce, Teniqua Broughton, and my mom Dr. Velma Trayham for helping me encourage more positive masculinity and equality worldwide through my inspirational designed apparel.”
The young entrepreneur, also a running back for the Arizona Dragons Minor League football team, has always wanted to be a force of positive change in the world. He launched We Kingz Bro in 2022 to share creativity and a bold mission with the world; his affiliate program is designed to inspire entrepreneurship and opportunities for other young men to break the cycle of poverty. In April 2022, King was honored before the first pitch of the Arizona Diamondbacks-New York Mets game on Chase Field for his efforts.
We Kingz Bro manufacture a custom line of t-shirts, hoodies, and jackets for young men, focusing on being kind, diverse, and impactful. The site says, “Our beliefs fuel our commitment to offering this impressive range—we believe everyone should have access to positive affirmations and unique products, regardless of where they are and who they are.”
Mauni’s business was one of nearly 30 BIPOC micro-manufacturer grant recipients who can use the funds to help their businesses grow and succeed. The grant includes a Tempe Chamber of Commerce membership; King Mauni will also become a Certified Minority Business Enterprise to pursue his dreams of partnering with some of the world’s largest brands like Nike, Target, Under Armor, and the NFL through their supplier diversity programs.
“We all have a calling and value in this world—it’s up to us to decide how we want to use that fire for good,” added King Mauni, who is well on his way to achieving his dream and inspiring kids around the world to be Kool the positive way.
Memphis Approves Police Reforms after Beating Death of Tyre Nichols
The Memphis City Council on Tuesday approved a series of police reforms in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols following his beating by police during a Jan. 7 traffic stop, with more far-reaching measures under consideration.
The ordinances create an annual review of police training techniques, require police to use only marked vehicles for routine traffic stops, strengthen citizen review boards, and require more police data collection.
The death of Nichols, 29, an unarmed Black man, prompted outrage and calls for change. Nationwide, police have come under increasing pressure to alter their practices since the 2020 death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, anotherAfrican American who died at the hands of the police.
In the Nichols case, five officers, all Black, have been charged with second-degree murder.
Police yanked him from his car and immediately shouted vulgarity-laced orders and threatened him with bodily harm.
Officers went on to beat and kick Nichols, spray him with pepper spray and hit him with a baton on the streets near his Memphis home, as Nichols cried out for his mother.
The violence of the beating was revealed in four separate videos of the incident totaling about 67 minutes that the city released on Jan. 27.
Another 20 hours of video will be released on Wednesday, Memphis Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Sink told a city council committee earlier on Tuesday.
The ordinances approved on Tuesday passed a required third reading before the council, including one that mandates police use only marked patrol cars for routine traffic stops.
After that ordinance passed, reform supporters in the audience chanted, “Justice for Tyre!” Some officers in the Nichols case drove unmarked cars and formed part of a special unit that has since been disbanded.
Other measures passed would strengthen the role of citizen review boards, even though pending state legislation would strip power from such panels, potentially rendering the city’s action irrelevant.
A more far-reaching reform named the “Tyre Nichols Justice in Policing Ordinance” passed a first reading but needs to be heard by the council two more times to get approved. Those measures would ban racial profiling, require police to intervene when their colleagues use excessive force, and oblige police to offer assistance to suspects in danger or distress.
Even before the new rules, 13 officers came under investigation for their conduct in the Nichols chose, said Sink, city’s legal officer, who told the committee that the city’s investigation had concluded.
Seven of those 13 officers were fired, three were suspended, two had charges dismissed, and one resigned in lieu of termination, Sink said.
Of the five officers facing criminal charges, all of them pleaded not guilty and have been released on bail.
Afghan Broadcaster Airs Rare All-Female Panel to Discuss Rights on Women’s Day
Afghan broadcaster Tolo News on Wednesday aired an all-female panel in its studio with an audience of women to mark International Women’s Day, a rare broadcast since the Taliban took over and many female journalists left the profession or started working off-air.
A survey by Reporters Without Borders last year found that more than 75% of female journalists had lost their jobs since the Taliban took over as foreign forces withdrew in August 2021.
With surgical masks covering their faces, the panel of three women and one female moderator on Wednesday evening discussed the topic of the position of women in Islam.
“A woman has rights from an Islamic point of view … it is her right to be able to work, to be educated,” said journalist Asma Khogyani during the panel.
The Taliban last year restricted most girls from high school, women from university and stopped most Afghan female NGO workers.
Another panellist, former university professor Zakira Nabil said women would continue to find ways to learn and work.
“Whether you want it or not, women exist in this society … if it’s not possible to get an education at school, she will learn knowledge at home,” she told the panel.
Due to growing restrictions as well as the country’s severe economic crisis, the International Labour Organisation said female employment had fallen 25% last year since mid-2021. It added that more women were turning to self-employed work such as tailoring at home.
The United Nation’s Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday called on the Taliban to reverse restrictions on the rights of girls and women, calling them “distressing.”
The Taliban have said they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture and that authorities have set up a committee to examine perceived issues in order to work towards re-opening girls’ schools.
Calvin Ridley Takes Accountability For His Action, Sharing His Experiences Over The Past Year, As He Is Officially Reinstated by the NFL
After being suspended indefinitely by the NFL since March 2022, Calvin Ridley has officially been reinstated on Monday. Following this announcement, Ridley pulls back the curtain and shares his experiences over the past three years. Through his piece, “A Letter to the Game” on The Players’ Tribune, Ridley opens up about his struggles with mental health and how his actions during this time of darkness were “thoughtless.”
I just f***ed up. Period. In a dark moment, I made a stupid mistake. I wasn’t trying to cheat the game. That’s the thing I want to make clear. At the time, I had been completely away from the team for about a month. I was still just so depressed and angry, and the days were so long. I was looking for anything to take my mind off of things and make the day go by faster.” – Calvin Ridley
Ridley shares that he was not trying to cheat the game, but while suffering from depression, anxiety and stress, he was ‘just trying to get through the day’. Ridley opens up about his difficult upbringing growing up in foster care and how the game of football changed his life. Through his stories, he reminds fans that he is in fact, still human. Suffering these hardships then getting mentally and physically healthy has made him love football now more than ever.
“And then to make it to the NFL … that was just life-changing for my people and for my neighborhood, for real. That’s why I want people to know my whole story, and know that I never meant to tarnish this game.” – Calvin Ridley
Black Banks Are Surging, Disrupting Long-Term Flow of Closures
In less than a year, in a major about-face, new players are entering the Black banking sector.
The latest example came in late February when Redemption Holding Co. (RHC) marks the first time in U.S. history an existing non-Black bank would become a Black-owned minority depository Institution via acquisition.
The proposed deal would reverse a long trend of Black banks closing over the past several years. FDIC data showed 21 Black banks in America as of the fourth quarter of 2022, down from a whopping 48 in 2001. The resurgence comes after at least five—counting the RHC deal—Black banks or credit unions have declared start-up or acquisition plans to enter the financial-services space.
At RHC, Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of the late civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is among the Black investors involved with its deal. If gaining federal regulatory approval, the group would pick up a bank in Holladay, Utah, with $68 million in assets and $56 million in deposits.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. RHC did not respond to requests for comment. .
RHC reported former White House policy advisor and SBA regional administrator Ashley D. Bell will be its executive chairman and CEO. King will be senior vice president of corporate strategy and alliances and will sit on RHC’s advisory board with director and co-founder, former NFL player and investor Dhani Jones.
“Black banks make the American dream possible for all Americans by deploying resources that uniquely address the financial realities of communities that have been systematically excluded, overcharged, and under-capitalized for hundreds of years,” Bell said. “Redemption will serve as a lifeline to the next wave of Black and Brown first-time home buyers and small business entrepreneurs across the country.”
Black-owned banks have typically opened in their communities to target individuals and small businesses ignored by larger mainstream banks. Black banks have also pursued Blacks who have historically not been inclined to open accounts or borrow from traditional larger banks.
Check out these financial institutions that have made or are considering such moves. In June 2022, it was reported BetaBank was attempting to open in Chicago if it gains approval and is capitalized. In September 2022, the National Credit Union Administration granted a federal charter to the now-open People Trust Community Federal Credit Union in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
For Members Only Federal Credit Union in Chicago is being launched this year by Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest Black sorority. And Adelphi Bank intends to open by mid-April in Columbus, Ohio, after raising $24.5 million in capital from individuals and companies in Central Ohio. (Banks generally must gain $10 million to $30 million in starting capital, research shows.)
Along with core products, RHC will work with other MDIs to facilitate national large-scale lending opportunities. It too plans to create a full-service digital banking platform for its customers, offer SBA lending, and offer loan origination that will include mortgages.
Banking analyst William Michael Cunningham says activity in the Black banking sector has risen dramatically since COVID-19 struck three years ago. He says the growth may stem from an improved economic outlook in the Black community, with lower unemployment and more entrepreneurial activity.
“It is likely that we will see more Black banks being proposed and created,” he says. “Those that will be successful will have sound management and significant excess capital. Our analysis indicates that factors such as technology and perceived affinity market base will be less important.”
Also, he says, greater profitability might bring more Black bank openings—for minority banks, investment return potential remains elevated. He pointed to this link that shows how minority bank stocks outperformed the S&P 500.
Daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Princess Lilibet, Officially Christened in Los Angeles
A royal christening took place last week in Los Angeles, yet the Royal Family did not appear.
According to People, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle), Princess Lilibet, was christened on March 3. A spokesperson for the royal couple verified the event, “I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor.”
The ceremony took place at their home in Montecito, CA. Their daughter is now 21 months old.
A source close to the couple revealed that Prince Harry and Markle did invite Royal Family members, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, but none of them appeared at the ceremony.
But, there was one distinguished guest who DID appear to witness the ceremony: Lilibet’s godfather, Tyler Perry. He reportedly brought a 10-member gospel choir along with him and they sang two selections, “Oh Happy Day” and “This Little Light of Mine.” The latter song was played at the wedding of Prince Harry and Markle.
There were between 20-30 guests at the intimate gathering, including Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, and a godmother whose name was not revealed.
According to Forbes, this was the first time that Lilibet has been referred to as a princess. Once Prince Harry’s father, King Charles, became king after the death of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry and Markle’s children were given the respective titles of Prince and Princess.
Forbes also reported that when Prince Harry and Markle left the United Kingdom and were staying in Canada, paparazzi surrounded the home they were staying at. Although he did not know the couple, Perry actually offered them the privacy of his house in California. Due to his generosity, the couple asked him to be Lilibeth’s godfather.
Apple Is Creating A Blood Glucose Monitor For Apple Watch
Apple is creating a blood glucose monitor for the Apple Watch. And, the best part: it doesn’t require pricking, a real win to those fearful of needles and its ilk.
According to Bloomberg, people who have used Apple’s blood glucose monitor have said that it is still at the concept stage, and Apple is working hard at making upgrades.
“What Apple wants to do is it wants to create a system using chips, sensors, and software algorithms built into the Apple Watch to get a read on how much glucose you have in your blood without needing a blood sample,” Mark Gurman told Bloomberg.
Bloomberg also reported that Apple is working on optical spectroscopy and silicon photonics technology for the monitor.
“This means that the technology will use a chip that can output lasers into your skin…and sensors that could read the concentration of light in your skin to know how much glucose is there in order to get that reading,” Gurman said.
Bloomberg also reported that this new technology will alert those who are pre-diabetic, which might prevent Type 2 diabetes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes affects how the body breaks down food. When food breaks down, the body releases insulin. Insulin is what releases sugar into the bloodstream. With diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin.
CDC also reports that Black adults are 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to develop diabetes.
In 2021, Patti LaBelletestified before Congress, urging it to better advocate for people with diabetes. LaBelle, who has diabetes, worked on behalf of the #SeeDiabetes campaign.
“Diabetes is often invisible to everyone except those living with it—so we need to make it visible and help people access the care and technology they deserve,” LaBelle said.
Is Disney Is Too Big To Fail Despite DeSantis’ Corporate Kingdom Takedown?
Despite Disney’s targeting by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, it sits at No. 25 on Fast Company’s list of 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2023.
How is the House of Mouse doing so well despite pushback?
Well, according to Fast Company, Disney had fresh campaigns for Marvel favorites such as Thor: Love and Thunder, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Wakanda Forever. In 2022, Disney had the most profitable film studio for the seventh straight year at $4.9 billion.
Apps, Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ added have 235 million subscribers.
Dana McGraw, senior vice president of audience modeling and data science at Disney Advertising, said the goal is to plug the most relevant advertising on each platform. It is this game plan that has kept Disney thriving in the face of adversity.
We haven’t heard much from Disney since DeSantis declared war against the company (and Black culture), expressing interest in transferring control of the Disney board to the state of Florida. Finally, last week, the Republican darling—and possible 2024 presidential nominee—signed a bill that stripped much of Disney’s power.
“Allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy, especially when the corporation makes decisions that impact an entire region,” DeSantis said. “This legislation ends Disney’s self-governing status, makes Disney live under the same laws as everybody else, and ensures that Disney pays its debts and fair share of taxes.”
The bill signed by DeSantis gives the governor power to replace Disney’s board with a new five members handpicked by DeSantis.
“Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” DeSantis said. “There’s a new sheriff in town and accountability will be the order of the day.”
It remains to be seen how DeSantis’ measures will affect one of Florida’s premier tourist attractions (Disney World) and businesses.
Brooklyn Teen Invited to Present Shoe Line At 2023 Oscars Gift Suite
This young Black designer wants her sneakers to be relatable, comfortable, and something everyone wants.
Brooklyn teen designer Amira-Dior Traynham-Artis is the designer behind the shoe line Lane1 and is preparing to present her sneakers at a celebrity gift suite ahead of the Oscars.
According to Good Morning America, the 14-year-old was invited by Nathalie Dubois, CEO of global brand execution platform DPA group, to present her shoes at the 2023 luxe gift suite.
“I was definitely excited,” Traynham-Artis said about being offered the opportunity. “I didn’t know how to feel at first.”
Dubois learned of the teen through a PR group.
“Today’s world for the kids, I think is very dark,” she noted, saying she wanted to help Traynham-Artis, whom she called “brilliant.”
In preparation for the gift suite, which Dubois said is a free market for celebrities, Traynham-Artis has been working with Gernie NYC and Marc Joseph New York to design over 70 pairs of sneakers.
“We want to bring stuff that pops, but doesn’t talk too loud,” said Jack Gernie Ashkenazi, CEO of men’s lifestyle brand Gernie NYC. “We want something that when the celebrity sees it, they’re going to say, ‘We like this brand going forward.'”
With a push from her mother, Traynham-Artis created Lane1 around two and a half years ago.
“I know that my daughter is very creative. She has been creative since a very young age,” Kenesha Traynham-Cooper said, adding that she was “designing things already. So I figured, you know what, let me give her a platform where we can make this tangible.”
CBS News reported that the teen sells the made-to-order shoes online, but she wants that to change.
Traynham-Artis hopes celebrities like Zendaya notice her shoes and hopes to eventually sell her sneakers in stores.
Marsai Martin, Nicole Dow of Genius Productions Talk New Disney Sitcom
What began with a dream, empowered by family, love, and support, Marsai Martin‘s Genius Entertainment is now bringing Black Girl Magic to Disney — and the hottest skate moves coming out of Chicago.
Three years in the making, the talented Genius founder, actress, and executive producer is anticipating the premiere of her own Disney Channel show. At just 18 years old, Martin is forging a path for young Black girls and boys to achieve great heights in the entertainment industry.
The Fantasy Football star admitted to BLACK ENTERPRISE that she is still wrapping her head around the blessings and the growing responsibilities. Although she may be well-known for her acting prowess onscreen, her creative vision behind the camera has only gotten clearer.
“I think that is a sign that I should keep doing it,” Martin told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Four years ago, Martin became the youngest person to executive produce a studio film, Little, after launching her Los Angeles-based company Genius Productions at age 14. Then she made history again as the youngest to sign a first-look production deal at Universal.
“When Little came out, it was like, ‘I can do this? In this stature? In this level? And it can come out in the way that I want it to?'” she recalled.
“So many doors opened for me, not talking about just in the industry, but for my mind, for my happiness, my creative thoughts to just run wild. So to be able to do that and to experiment in a way, I just enjoy it. So that’s really what keeps me motivated. I’ve always challenged myself.”
Ahead of the series premiere, BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with Martin about her intentions behind bringing stories like Saturdays to life. From her parents, Josh and Carol Martin, to her star production team, she also credited longtime friend and Genius’ Head of Television, Nicole Dow, for helping her amplify her voice.
“You have to use your voice often to fight for what you want, and fight for what you want to see because it is different, and it is new and it’s going to be new for a lot of people,” Martin said.
“We don’t have production companies led by 13-, 14-year-old Black girl CEOs. But here we are and we’re doing it and we’re getting it done,” said Dow about Martin’s budding leadership.
Dow is responsible for Genius’ shows such as Saturdays,Remix My Space (Discovery+) and Tiny Talk Show (Quibi).
A show to remember
Saturdays, set to premiere March 24 on Disney Channel and stream Disney+ next day, is a coming-of-age comedy featuring skate culture, Chicago dreams, sisterhood, and better yet, an all-Black cast.
The series revolves around an ambitious14-year-old, Paris Johnson, and her goal-striving best friends, Simone and Ari, also known as the We-B-Girlz skate crew. Viewers of all ages can follow the trio as they hone their roller skating skills on the cool parquet floor of Saturdays, a local skating rink in Chicago.
The series stars Danielle Jalade (Yes Day) as Paris Johnson, Daria Johns (Nappily Ever After) as Simone Samson, Golden Brooks (Girlfriends) as Deb Johnson, Omar Gooding (Barbershop) as Cal Johnson, Jermaine Harris (The Map of Tiny Perfect Things) as London Johnson, Peyton Basnight (Sudden Sisters) as Ari, and Tim Johnson Jr. (Ballers) as Derek “D-Rok” Troy.
SATURDAYS – Disney’s “Saturdays” stars BACK ROW: Jermaine Harris as London Johnson, Golden Brooks as Deb Johnson. Omar Gooding as Cal Johnson, Tim Johnson Jr. as Derek “D-Rok” Troy, FRONT ROW: Peyton Basnight as Ari Stevens, Danielle Jalade as Paris Johnson, and Daria Johns as Simone Samson. (Courtesy of Disney/Roger Erickson)
Dow, whose goal with Genius is to populate the television landscape with as many stories centering on girls of color as possible, echoes Martin’s appreciation for Saturdays’ ability to acknowledge Black girls, while spotlighting skate culture and relatable family and marital dynamics.
More specifically, Martin wants audiences to hold Saturdays as dear as they would the nostalgic shows of their time.
“There were shows back in the day where my parents will still show them to me and be like, “We had That’s So Raven and Cory in the House, mixed in with shows like Martin to where it was such an amazing ensemble of people that you still grow with and you still remember to this day. And I wanted a show like that,” she recalled.
Martin added, “Being able to produce and create content that is for everybody and for somebody to relate to is what makes me happy and what’s best. And it doesn’t have to be my story for it to be great and for it to make sense that I’m creating it.”
In doing so, Martin felt inclined to introduce new talent to the world, and to empower those next for the throne.
“It means the world for people to get to know these amazing young Black girls that are coming up and not having it be a handful of young Black actresses that you can name off of your hand,” Martin said.
Dow added: “There still needs to be people opening doors, and paving roads, and laying the foundation for the next group of people to come in that we are going to continue to do the work. I mean, it’s not always about the win. Sometimes it is about laying that path.”
SATURDAYS – Disney’s “Saturdays” stars Daria Johns as Simone Samson, Danielle Jalade as Paris Johnson, and Peyton Basnight as Ari Stevens. (Courtesy of Disney/Roger Erickson)
