Black Woman Says Her Construction Company Neglected as She Works to Help Ukraine
She believes she’s being overlooked because she’s a woman and she’s Black.
The CEO of the District of Columbia-based CDAG International, Carolyn Davis, is encountering heaps of discrimination as she works to help Ukraine after it faced massive destruction caused by the Russian invasion.
According to Amsterdam News, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. politicians, government organizations, and others have neglected Davis, who has taken her construction company around the country to assist civilians and military personnel, installing containers and facilities to improve living conditions.
“We installed electrical systems and other mandatory features,” Davis said.
“They do not recognize me. I’m just some Black woman who wants to lend a hand. And that’s exactly what they perceive. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want to support a Black-owned business, but they clearly don’t,” she added.
Davis said she has been ignored multiple times by the American envoy to Ukraine and the USAID in her requests for a meeting to compete for contracts.
In a letter addressed December 30, 2022 to Nathaniel Adler, the principal director of the U.S. Office of the Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Defense, The Defense Ministry said even with all of the help thus far, Ukraine still needed supplies, equipment, and logistical support.
“CDAG International has worked with our military and has proven that they can assist the Ukrainian government to acquire critical services and facilitate many of our requirements. CDAG has proven beneficial to our troops and had contributed to saving lives,” the letter stated praising CDAG as one of the few companies capable of accomplishing the needed tasks.
Dwight Brown, senior managing partner for CDAG and a retired U.S. Army Sgt. Major, said CDAG has created housing to accommodate 3,000 within eight months.
Foot Locker Invests $17M Toward Black Businesses, Spotlights Black Designers in New Series
The Black community is a major influence on the fashion industry. Want proof? Foot Locker has just invested $17 million toward Black-owned brands in the design industry.
According to a news release, the retail company aims to support its LEED initiative (Leading Education and Economic Development) to expand programming for Black students and employees by working with Black vendors, community non-profits, creators, and professional service partners.
“Our business exists because of the passion of the Black community around sneakers,” Foot Locker Inc. CEO and chairman Dick Johnson told Insider last year.
Along with the funds, Foot Locker will release UNDENIABLE, a four-part content series surrounding the Black community and its influence in the fashion industry.
“It’s a dream of countless designers and entrepreneurs to not only start their own brand, but to have it sold at a major retailer. Foot Locker is making that dream a reality through its LEED initiative,” broadcast sports personality and series host Taylor Rooks said in the episode one introduction.
The series, available on YouTube, features J. Grant of JJ Grant, Drew Sanders of AWARE Brand, Shakir Goodrich of Campus Remixx, Terrance Hosley of The SDN Brand, and Darryl Brown of The Midwest Kids.
MaC Venture Capital, a Black-led venture capital fund, reported that Foot Locker made a $5 million investment.
“We’re thankful for Foot Locker’s support and partnership,” MaC Venture Capital co-founder and managing partner Marlon Nichols said at the time.
“Capital is one thing, but when you have the opportunity to partner with an organization that’s aligned in your values and is actively demonstrating its commitment to the Black community—that’s truly special,” Nichols added.
Foot Locker launched its LEED initiative in 2020 and pledged $200 million in 2021 toward efforts to empower the Black community. In a 2022 announcement, the footwear company said it had invested close to $54 million in the Black community through its fiscal year ending in 2021.
White Middle Schooler Brings Cotton Balls To Class To Mock Black History Month
A California school district is acknowledging the “racist” incident that took place at one of their middle schools when a student brought cotton balls to class to mock Black History Month.
On Thursday, the Superintendent of the Mt. United Diablo School District Dr. Adam Clark sent a letter to parents about the student at Diablo View Middle School, KTVU reported.
“Unfortunately, we as school and District leaders missed a crucial opportunity to turn this bullying and racist incident into a learning opportunity,” the letter stated.
“I will correct that inaction. That said, Mt. Diablo Unified School District is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students.”
Clark said other students were involved in the incident and the child who brought the cotton to school, only did so as a “joke.” The student’s grade and the disciplinary action taken haven’t been announced.
The superintendent did condemn the student’s actions, saying they don’t represent the district’s values.
“We have to directly address and reject all forms of offensive and divisive behavior within our school communities…I encourage all parents to talk to your students about what kinds of language/actions are acceptable at school…as we work to address this offensive event, safe conversations can take place to prevent any student from feeling unwelcome or intimidated within our schools,” Clark said.
Parents of children who attend the school are outraged by the incident.
“Honestly, it’s disgusting to me. Children learn from what they see and I’m a firm believer of that,” Clayton resident Vina Ferrat toldNBC Bay Area.
On Friday, the school district brought counselors from its equity department to the middle school to discuss the incident with students.
“I want to make sure the adults who are in charge. Address this issue, turn them into teachable moments, not here to punish, not the penal system,” Clark said.
Dr. Sabrina Kizzie Speaks On The Undeniable Black Millennial Consumer Power
Dr. Sabrina Kizzie, an award-winning social media lecturer within the Department of Communication Studies at CUNY Baruch College in NYC, devoted over seven years to conducting research that she believes cannot deny the power of the Black millennial trend to spend.
After presenting her doctoral dissertation, Kizzie kicked off the new year on primetime television. She appeared on CBS-TV in an exclusive segment featuring her groundbreaking research titled, New Study Explores Black Millennials Spending Power.
“There is a critical need for research that explicitly examines Black millennials‘ advertising perspective due to differences in their cultural and lived experiences compared to other racial groups of millennials,” Dr. Kizzie tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Kizzie’s research was conducted as part of her dissertation, The Effects of Black Millennials’ Perceptions on the Acceptance of Mobile Advertising, while attending California Southern University. She surveyed 158 Black millennial participants in the United States from January 2022 to the end of February 2022.
The online data gathered anonymous demographic information such as education, region, and work industry, revealing current findings on Black millennials’ acceptance of mobile advertising and its impact on their buying of products and services.
“More academic market research like this study is needed to add information about the perceptions of a consumer segment, Black/African American millennials, that has not been addressed in any prior research,” Kizzie says.
“Future studies are needed on this generational cohort—increasing awareness of this topic through conferences, peer-reviewed journals, and professional business publications.”
According to a 2019 Nielsen Media Research study, Black consumers were expected to spend at an annual rate of 1.54 trillion in 2022. This massive buying power is projected to reach $1.8T by 2024 as Black millennials lead the way with the highest average time spent on cell phones (2.47 hours/minutes) over all other ethnic groups in smartphone usage. They also spend nearly half an hour more per day than the total U.S. population.
One of many findings from Kizzie’s research revealed that Black millennials are more likely to spend due to their interest in entertaining mobile ad messaging.
“It is essential that marketers and advertisers recognize how millennials use mobile devices as they have matured to a point in life where they embody a large portion of the workforce and therefore represent a consumer segment with the type of wealth that translates into buyer power,” says Kizzie.
Highly educated, high-spending consumer groups such as Black/African American millennials are early adopters of technology. They offer a valuable opportunity for businesses amid high mobile device usage rates, high acceptance rates of smartphone advertising, and how they drive and influence trends. However, they are marginalized and often overlooked.
“Many marketers are taking a one size fits all approach in marketing to millennials, not realizing that Black millennials have different needs than their othermillennial counterparts, Dr. Kizzie tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“This valuable consumer segment should be noticed. Businesses need to know how to drive sales, develop trust, build brand loyalty, and tap into their immense spending power. Advertising dollars need to be focused on Black millennials.”
In today’s landscape, diversity in digital media is critical to building trust with consumers, Kizzie says. Consumers, especially millennials, want to “buy from brands that share their values and represent them in their ads and commercials.”
“Brands that have taken the time to examine market research and speak directly to this cohort to determine what matters to them and what influenced their purchasing decisions will ultimately benefit from their strong buying power,” Kizzie says.
Kizzie will bring her speaking and networking prowess to BLACK ENTERPRISE’sWomen of Power Summit on March 9–11 in Las Vegas.
He Tried It! White Republican Tennessee Politician Tries to Criticize Black Rep For Wearing Dashiki
Add wearing traditional African garments to work as a crime for Black people.
That’s what Justin Pearson, a Tennessee state representative and Democrat, experienced recently when he was criticized for wearing a dashiki on the Tennessee House floor.
The Hillreported Pearson was told by a fellow state representative Twitter account that if he continues to wear such attire, a career change is in his future. “If you don’t like rules, perhaps you should explore a different career opportunity that’s main purpose is not creating them,” the GOP account tweeted.
Pearson, a newcomer who was elected to the House in a special election, wore the garment on his first day on the job. He told Action 5 News why. “Wearing this dashiki on the first day and being sworn in, wearing it is paying homage to the ancestors who made this opportunity possible,” Pearson said.
His appearance seemed to threaten notable Republicans. Representative David Hawk, a Republican, made opening remarks regarding the “importance” of appearance.
Referencing the bipartisan and unanimously approved rules for House decorum and dress attire is far from a racist attack.
If you don’t like rules, perhaps you should explore a different career opportunity that’s main purpose is not creating them. https://t.co/UdPkk8WLCS
“We honor Lois Deberry’s memory by how we look and how we treat each other and how we give the respect we hope to get back. I still, to this day, keep an extra tie in my drawer,” Hawk said. Deberry, the second African-American woman to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly, died in 2013.
Pearson feels its time to move past that narrative.
“I’ve been wearing suits since I was 8 years old. It’s not a problem with wearing suits,” Pearson said. “There is a problem with upholding systems that tell people what is wrong and what is right based on what is considered normal and, in this status quo, what is normal is what is white.” While ridiculed by others, some House representatives applauded the young politician’s bravery, claiming Deberry wouldn’t have approached it that way.
State Rep. Karen Camper (D) says this is a teachable moment. “She wouldn’t embarrass a new member. She would say let’s educate the new member,” Camper said as reported by The Hill. “Let’s fold them in appropriately.”
As for Pearson, he plans to educate his chamber mates in a different way—by wearing the dashiki again but with a tie and jacket over it, if needed.
According to Action News 5, there is no written rule for what can be worn on the House floor.
U.S. Arrests Four More Suspects In Plot to Kill Haitian President Moise
U.S. federal agents arrested four suspects in Florida for alleged roles in the plot that led to the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, authorities said on Tuesday.
Moise’s murder left a political vacuum in the Caribbean nation and emboldened powerful gangs who serve as de facto authorities in large parts of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
Eleven individuals are now in U.S. custody in connection with the murder, according to the Justice Department.
Three of the new defendants – Antonio “Tony” Intriago, owner of Counter Terrorist Unit Security, or CTU; Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, operator of the affiliated CTU Federal Academy LLC; and Walter Veintemilla, head of Miramar-based Worldwide Capital Lending Group – are accused of supporting a conspiracy to kidnap or kill the president of Haiti, U.S. authorities said in a briefing.
The fourth defendant, Frederick Bergmann, is accused of conspiring to smuggle ballistic vests for former Colombian soldiers who allegedly carried out the fatal shooting of Moise, officials added.
Their investigation focuses on weapons, ballistic vests and financing used in the deadly plot.
Intriago is a Venezuelan-American businessman, while Pretel Ortiz is a Colombian-American citizen. Both were detained in South Florida, the Justice Department told reporters.
Veintemilla, a U.S. citizen, lent over $170,000 to CTU Security to finance their operations in Haiti, officials added.
The arrests and expected charges were reported earlier on Tuesday by the Miami Herald and the New York Times. Intriago’s lawyer told the New York Times he intended to enter a not guilty plea at his bond hearing on Tuesday.
Haitian gangs have expanded their territory since the assassination. The resulting violence has left much of the country off-limits to the government and led to routine gun battles with police.
In October, the United Nations suggested a “rapid action force” be sent to Haiti to combat escalating violence from armed gangs whose turf battles have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
The latest arrests in the United States come a day before leaders of the Caribbean bloc, CARICOM, are set to meet for a three-day conference, where the situation in Haiti is expected to be one of the main issues.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Reveals New Company Name, Combs Global
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combsstarted as a Bad Boy, then changed his company to Combs Enterprises. Now he has gone Combs Global.
The hip-hop billionaire has announced that the conglomerate of companies in his control will now be under the umbrella titled Combs Global.
“Combs Global represents the next chapter in my journey as a business leader and a bigger vision to build the largest portfolio of leading Black-owned brands in the world,” Combs said in a written statement. “I’ve enlisted world-class teams of top executives, specialists, and strategic partners to bring this new dream to life and put us in the best position to keep making history while leading another 30 years of dominance across industries.”
Diddy is also celebrating 30 years of business success, forget about what he’s done in the recording both as well as the stage and screen.
The expected expansion of his businesses has grown after the initial success of his seminal label, Bad Boy Records. Now he has evolved to make a mark in various industries including music, entertainment, fashion, spirits, and media/television.
Combs Global started in 2013 with Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Spirits (Cîroc Vodka, DeLeón Tequila), AQUAhydrate, REVOLT MEDIA, Sean John, Capital Preparatory Charter Schools, and The Sean Combs Foundation. Now, he has added other entities and ventures such as Empower Global formally Shop Circulate, Our Fair Share, Love Records, and his recent entry into the cannabis industry.
This year will mark several milestones for the Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop businessman. It is the 30th anniversary of Bad Boy Entertainment, the 15th anniversary of Combs’ partnership with Diageo, as well as the 10th anniversary of REVOLT.
The unveiling of the new company name was evident, yet not as revealing when the latest Uber commercial was recently released. The commercial spot reaffirms Diddy’s penchant for creating and making hits—kind of.
Supermodel and Cay Skin Founder Winnie Harlow Talks the Business of Beauty
Winnie Harlow took the fashion world by storm as soon as she sashayed her way onto the scene. The 28-year-old Jamaican-Canadian beauty got her big break on the 21st cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2014.
Instantly, she became a standout contestant and fan favorite who refused to let vitiligo, a chronic skin condition and auto-immune disease, hinder her from pursuing her dreams.
Following the show, Harlow was tapped as a brand representative for Desigual and appeared in advertising campaigns for Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, Swarovski, and MAC. She also made history as the first model with vitiligo to walk in the coveted Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2016 and went on to grace countless magazine covers, including Vogue, Harper’s Baazar, and Elle.
Now, after redefining the face of beauty, the 5’9 supermodel is making her mark in the beauty industry with her new skincare line, Cay Skin, which promises to protect all skin tones and shades from sun damage.
“I created Cay Skin to ensure that everyone has access to clean sun care, no matter their skin color, condition, or type,” Harlow told BLACK ENTERPRISE in an email. “It was important for me to create a brand formulated for people who, like me, dislike the feeling of heavy sunscreen, with pore-clogging ingredients, and the white cast it leaves.”
Cay Skin (Image courtesy of MP-IMC)
Harlow says she was inspired to launch Cay Skin last year after getting a severe sunburn during a tropical photo shoot back in 2018.
“I had a two-day shoot in the Bahamas from sunup to sundown, and I was asked to skip sun protection to avoid the awful white cast that traditional sunscreen would leave on my skin. I ended up severely sunburned and was forced to seek emergency medical care for extreme pain and severe inflammation,” she said.
In addition to enduring physical pain, the sunburn permanently altered her vitiligo pattern. “That experience changed my life, and, since then, it became my mission to create superior products for everyone—skincare that is sun care—with no compromises.”
Cay Skin includes SPF-enriched body and face products packed with nourishing ingredients like sea moss, a nutrient-rich seaweed containing 92 minerals; hydrating tropical plant nectar; and Kakadu Plum, a rich source of vitamin C and a powerful antioxidant that brightens skin. Some of the most popular products from the line include the Isle Glow Face Lotion SPF 45, Universal Mineral Face Lotion SPF 55, Isle Body Oil SPF 30, Isle Lip Balm SPF 30, and Deepwater Body Créme.
BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke to Harlow about her entrepreneurial journey and the importance of diversity in the beauty and fashion industries. See what she said below.
Cay Skin (Image courtesy of MP-IMC)
BE: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
My experience on that shoot really empowered me to make a change in the industry. Growing up visiting my dad in Jamaica, sunscreen has always been something that’s been really important to me, and I was determined to create a solution for the issue of it leaving a white cast. I want people to feel comfortable and beautiful showing their skin while also being protected from the sun. This process has been unlike anything else in my career because every step of the way, I am involved, so while it’s been a lot of work, it’s been the most rewarding because it’s a product that I truly created from scratch.
BE: You’ve raised $6.5 million from investors to start this company. What was that process like?
The fundraising process was unlike anything I’ve done before! Looking back, I think my passion and my belief in this brand was truly the most successful tactic. It’s so easy to slap your name on a product, but when you really believe in your product, it’s so much easier for others to believe in you, too.
Cay Skin (Image courtesy of MP-IMC)
BE: What would you tell young people struggling to embrace their differences?
I was bullied and taunted so much growing up, so I understand firsthand how it feels to struggle to embrace your differences, but these differences don’t define us. Headlines and reports have often referred to me as someone who “suffers from vitiligo.” I don’t suffer from this; I am a model. And I happen to have vitiligo. And it’s important to remember that our differences are what make us unique and beautiful.
BE: Why are diversity and representation important in the fashion and beauty industries?
I think often people look at diversity and representation as a box to check. We are all unique and different, and if we don’t embrace that, what do we have? I often hear the term “new norm” around inclusion and diversity, but really, this is the norm and always has been; it’s just finally coming to the surface. Avoiding tokenism or one-off trends is really important to me—I want to use my diversity to help make meaningful and impactful changes that truly open doors and change the beauty landscape.
BE: You’ve graced the cover of countless magazines, launched your own beauty brand, and changed the face of beauty. What’s next for Winnie Harlow?
I am constantly on the move between my modeling work, fashion appearances, and work for my brand Cay Skin—and I don’t foresee myself slowing down anytime soon. We have new products launching for Cay Skin in 2023, and I can’t wait for everyone to see them. There’s still so much I would like to develop for the brand, and it’s been such a fantastic journey; I can’t wait to see what happens next!
This interview was lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Watch Winnie Harlow’s full interview on The New Norm With Selena Hill below.
Jay-Z Made Sure to Catch Blue Ivy’s Angles At Super Bowl 2023
Jay-Z was in full dad mode Super Bowl Sunday after bringing his 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter as his date to the big game.
Video clips captured the moments when Jay-Z crouched down to capture Blue’s angles while taking photos of her at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Blue, who was decked out in stylish streetwear, ran over to her dad to check the pics out for herself.
“Was it live? Was it live?” she asked while giving the billionaire hip-hop mogul a nod of approval.
Fans praised the adorable daddy-daughter Super Bowl date.
“Poor Julius working overtime with Blue Ivy 😂😂🤣🤣🔥🔥,” one fan jokingly said.
“I think she has Beyonce’s mannerisms,” one fan wrote in reference to Blue’s superstar mom, Beyoncé.
“They so cute,” added someone else.
Another video showed Jay-Z taking a photo of Blue and Rihanna, who headlined the halftime show and confirmed her second pregnancy with rapper A$AP Rocky.
More fans applauded the father-daughter moment and demanded to see the photo of Rih and Blue.
“WE NEED THIS PIC RN,” one fan said.
“He’s such a dad omggg she’s so tall nowww🥺💙,” added someone else.
Many others demanded to know why Beyoncé wasn’t in attendance. But on the heels of announcing her Renaissance tour and taking home four Grammy awards last week, Queen Bey was likely at home with their 5-year-old twins, Rumi and Sir, enjoying the game.
The big game is developing into an annual tradition for Jay-Z and Blue Ivy after they stole the show at Super Bowl 2022. In addition to flicking it up with Rihanna and her baby bump, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy also hung out with Gordon Ramsay, Lil Uzi Vert, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, E! Newsreported.
History was made at Super Bowl LVII as Patrick Mahomes became the first Black quarterback in NFL history to win more than one Super Bowl after the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35.
Pharrell Williams Replaces Virgil Abloh As Louis Vuitton’s Menswear Designer
Super producer and fashion guru Pharrell Williams is Louis Vuitton’s new menswear designer, a spot that has been vacant since Virgil Abloh’s death in November 2021, The Wall Street Journalreported.
The music producer and streetwear entrepreneur remained mum about the reports but noticeably wiped his Instagram page clean ahead of today’s big announcement, which was made by Williams and Louis Vuitton.
“Louis Vuitton is delighted to welcome Pharrell Williams as its new Men’s Creative Director,” Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO wrote in a statement.
“His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed next June during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris.”
“Pharrell Williams is a visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion— establishing himself as a cultural global icon over the past 20 years,” the statement continued. “The way in which he breaks boundaries across the various worlds he explores, aligns with Louis Vuitton’s status as a Cultural Maison, reinforcing its values of innovation, pioneer spirit, and entrepreneurship.”
The “Lemon” hitmaker and N.E.R.D. frontman is no stranger to working with Louis Vuitton and mentioned his previous work with the luxury brand in closing.
“I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director,” Bacarri added.
“His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.”
Many applauded the announcement, including rappers Moneybaggyo and Tyga and supermodel Heidi Klum who all left comments applauding the new venture.
Williams currently runs his Billionaire Boy’s Club and ICE CREAM fashion lines in addition to designing for collaborations with major luxury retailers like Chanel—which named him the first male fashion ambassador—and Tiffany & Co., owned by Louis Vuitton parent LVMH.
