Social Media’s Favorite Cussing Grandma Holla Is Laid to Rest
One of social media’s favorite grandmothers finally took her rest.
Helen Davis, also known as Queen Holla, died a few weeks ago. While her fans mourned her death, the family was fighting over money. Now, it looks as if the feud is over as photos from her wake have circulated the internet.
According to Sports Keeda, her funeral took place January 28 at New Life Community Church. Fans were welcome to come but camera usage was allegedly strict. One fan was able to capture some of the funeral via livestream and posted it on TikTok.
Davis’ family announced her death January 14. Davis rose to fame after her granddaughter, Michelle Willams, started recording her vulgar speeches of wisdom mixed with a witty personality. She became an instant internet sensation, going viral on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube.
After images of her funeral started coming in, fans shared their memories. “Going to miss you granny Holla,” one fan commented. “You made of laugh with you good spirits. Your love you had for everyone….Shell you did a wonderful job taking care Holla.”
Video footage of her burial made it to TikTok and viewers were quick to point out missing funeral fundamentals, like chairs and a tent. The owner of the video was quick to respond. “Different strokes for different folks,” the TikTok user said. “You make sure you have those items available for yourself and your family.”
Finances definitely became part of the conversation pertaining Holla’s arrangements. BLACK ENTERPRISE reported the family set up a GoFundMe to assist with the home going as Ms. Holla, didn’t have life insurance. To date, the family has raised a little under $50,000.
Who Asked HIM? Donald Trump Dumps On Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance
Maybe it’s his way of getting back into the public eye as he eyes returning to the Oval Office in 2025.
After initially attacking the Super Bowl halftime performer Rihannabefore the big game was played, former President Donald Trump continued to bash the Bajan singer after commenting on her performance.
As the country watched the epic comeback performance of the Fenty billionaire, who has not done a concert of this size since 2016’s The Anti World Tour, Trump, denigrated the singer via his failing Truth Social platform.
This year’s Super Bowl was played at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The former leader of the free world called her halftime show, during the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, an “EPIC FAIL.”
“EPIC FAIL: Rihanna gave, without question, the single worst Halftime Show in Super Bowl history — This after insulting far more than half of our Nation, which is already in serious DECLINE, with her foul and insulting language. Also, so much for her “Stylist!””
Before the Super Bowl weekend, Republican Texas Congressman Ronny Jacksonposted to his Truth Social account that Rihanna has had a “career of spewing degenerate filth while badmouthing America every chance she gets.” He asked why was the “NFL showcasing this crap?” before protesting that “Rihanna SHOULD NOT be the halftime performer!!”
Trump took this opportunity to pile on the Umbrella singer when he replied to Jackson’s post.
“Without her “Stylist” she’d be NOTHING. Bad everything, and NO TALENT!”
There may have been just as many Rihanna fans excited for this year’s Super Bowl as there were football fans. She built her entrepreneurial empire with the rise of her fashion brand, Fenty, and her fans have been craving a new album from her. The album is purportedly on the way, but when the news of her being the featured halftime performer of the Super Bowl broke, fans went crazy.
As Rihanna fans reveled in the excitement amid rumors of an upcoming tour, they were shocked when she revealed a baby bump showcasing the expected second child between her and rapper A$AP Rocky.
NNPA Announces Major Partnership That Gives Exclusive Investment Opportunities To Black Publishers
Black publishers will now have a chance to grow, thanks to a new partnership.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association recently announced a deal with Reset Digital, giving Black-owned publishers access to media investments with Fortune 500 companies they didn’t have access to before. Using a new program called Neuroprogrammatic, advertising will be more effective. The NNPA, known as the trade association for America’s Black-owned media companies, made the announcement during the 2023 Midwinter Training Conference in Puerto Rico.
The theme for this year’s conference was “Digital Innovation Training and Engagement,” as reported by the Washington Informer.
Charles Cantu, CEO and founder of Reset Digital, says the advertising platform appeals to a broad audience based on emotions and affinities versus “sub-sets of consumers defined by demographics or other bias-laden attributes.” “Many studies have proven that it drives the best inclusive-effective advertising because when brands touch our hearts versus target us based on what we look like, where we live, or how much money we make, we respond with our true interest, purchase from, and evangelize them, Cantu said, according toa press release.
According to 4As, certain publishers the Savannah Tribune, The County News, Chocolate Diamond and The Atlanta Voice, received the news first while attending the conference. Major brands such as AARP, GM, Hyundai, Nissan, Pfizer, and Wells Fargo, were also in attendance.
Reset Digital’s partners already include top brand partnerships with companies like P&G, GM, Verizon, Newsweek, and more. NNPA President Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. says working with Reset Digital will bridge and close a digital media gap. “Reset Digital has already showcased how biased and inaccurate these assumptions are as the biggest brands in the world are driving major successes on its platform,” Chavis said. “We will stand as the “trusted multimedia voice” of Black America, combining our digital assets and inventories to advance and increase economic sustainability in the communities we mutually serve.”
This Black Man Went From Serving 25 Years in Prison to Owning His Own Box Truck Delivery Company
Ed Hennings, an African American man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who spent 20 years in prison, is now an entrepreneur who owns multiple businesses including a trucking company called Go Time Trucking. Through his business, he does not only deliver goods but inspiration too.
In 1996, Hennings was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree reckless homicide. When he got out in 2016, he immediately turned his life around. He has since launched 3 businesses — his own barbershop, apparel line, and box truck fleet company, according to his interview on Fox Soul.
Go Time Trucking is aligned with Hennings’ goal to help those who are struggling in life to get back on their feet. He employs those who have the same background as him and inspires them by leading by example.
“Whether it be in prison or out here in the free world, there’s a lot of brokenness, so people need some inspiration and to know they can do it,” said Hennings, who is also a motivational speaker and author.
Learn more about Ed Hennings via his official website at EdHennings.com
How a Black Woman Real Estate Mogul Is Fighting a System from Stealing $50M Worth of Property
By Anne Kihagi
These are complicated times and theft is more than robbing a bank. When a person is deprived of their hard-earned monies through illegality or scam, a theft occurs. Additionally, if honest people are silent, illegality becomes more perverse. Hence, we must all give truth a voice.
One of the oldest laws that we have as humans is: “Thou shall not steal!” To be clear, even if one is not robbing a bank, there is a lot of dishonest finesse.
Why is the wrongful taking of a person’s earnings stealing even if not at gunpoint theft? First, what is stealing? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as: “to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice…to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly.”
There are two key elements of the definition of stealing. First, to take the property of another wrongfully. We can have a debate about what is the meaning of “wrongful” but – most of us might agree that any taking of someone’s property in violation of law would be wrongful.
Here, a few San Francisco Superior Court judges have defied rather than followed the law, and this is tantamount to theft. This is what has been happening in this black woman in San Francisco – and whereas we can agree that San Francisco marches to a different beat, we must all agree that its Courts, judges and City Attorneys are bound by the same LAWS that bind every other Californian resident or United States Citizen.
We would also agree that if the state and federal property laws, if violated by anyone – regardless of the “cloak” they wear, or title they give themselves, then we have a duty as a citizen to call them out as THIEVES as they would have orchestrated STEALING.
Because we have a problem with calling people out by the TRUE words, we ENABLE them to persist in their conduct. This is why the 2nd part of the definition of Stealing is relevant and it states: “especially as a habitual and regular practice.” When we fail to uphold the same standards for ANY OFFICIAL that we expect from any other citizen, we allow ourselves to be Transgressed upon.
Over the past 5 years, I have wailed, waved, and screamed about the corruption in the San Francisco Superior Court – not by all judges, but few who are overt and NOT covert. Several judges in the SF Court have ruled sua sponte and without permitted discussion, and in blatant disregard of the law. It is so understood, yet no one does anything about it.
I have written previously about Judge Charles F. Haines, who is a judge in the department that deals with everything to do with housing issues. One would assume to be hired as a judge for one of the most important departments, he would have to have experience and be willing be bound by the Judicial Canons: the most important of which is 3B which states: “2) A judge shall be faithful to the law regardless of partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism, and shall maintain professional competence in the law.” https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ca_code_judicial_ethics.pdf
What does it mean to be faithful to the law? It is as simple as defined. Meaning – the judge must apply the law. The word “faithful” is not an accidentally chosen word – one can think of religious uses of the word. And it is a similar binding requirement of the judges if they accept the role/job of being a judge.
The goal is to show you how easy the laws are – and hence when one cloaked as a judge or a City Attorney chooses to ignore and violate the laws, their actions are intentional and only because it is easy to do so as they expect the public never to attempt to understand the law, and in hopes that they can get away with their abuses and misconduct.
Most people will have hard time believing, that without reason, the authorities took my buildings and transferred them to few white landlords.
This is NOT about simply calling out race, but to show how careless and disdainful the SF Court is in regard to my properties. And since no one can explain why a judge would choose to ignore the law, the only explanation is their actions are for corrupt purposes or bias. The transfer of my properties has been based on pretextual or false claims. To boot, I GOT ZERO from every Illegal Transfer / Theft.
So, for me, this is total theft and should not be sugar coded. In my case, the system thought they could steal $50 MILLION dollars worth of real estate from me with impunity and get away with it. For average people, the authorities could get away with this, but I stood up to be counted by learning the law. But they never expected that I would learn everything about law and teach others to look at the simple laws to see that there is no black-or-white interpretation. There can ONLY be one interpretation of the law – and despite the lie that has been sold to the rest of the world, San Francisco in my eyes is the MOST CORRUPT place I have encountered.
This is the problem, racial bias creeps into the system, not merely for black street people but also for more successful black litigants. Stealing from Black businesses is a daily occurrence in San Francisco– which I will discuss in further articles. But let’s look at how Judge Charles F. Haines and the San Francisco Court have stolen my hard-earned buildings, and why the Law will still hold them accountable to return each drop stolen – only if we hold them accountable.
My first three property acquisitions in San Francisco came after I had sold several buildings in Los Angeles. I hated hearing that my own sisters could not enjoy the city because of the high rents. So I decided to sell some of my best properties in Los Angeles so I could buy some in San Francisco where my siblings and I could happily live in.
All my buildings are my favorites. But specifically 1000 Filbert Street, San Francisco, (1000 Filbert St – Google Maps), I acquired it for a price of $3,100,000 in August 2013. I borrowed from Sterling Bank 65% of the purchase price and put down my own money for a sum of $1,000,000. This means I had a loan of $2.1 million dollars. When any property owner borrows from a bank, they enter into a Loan Agreement – which is comprised of a mortgage contract and another agreement to create a Security Agreement – in which the borrower agrees that the property title will be held in a Trust, until it the loan is paid in full, at which time the bank reconveys the Title Deed.
As part of the Mortgage Contract, the parties agree to certain conditions, for example, that the bank can seek control of the property to dispose of it in the event that you ever fail to make your monthly mortgage payments.
In my case, I had NEVER missed a single payment to my lender. In fact, the payments were automatically drawn from my bank account as I gave the bank authorization to take the payments each 10th of the month. I NEVER had any issues with the lender. Sometime in 2015, Sterling Bank was acquired by another bank – UMPQUA Bank from Portland, Oregon. By this time, I had a total of 10 loans with Sterling of which I had enjoyed an immensely great relationship.
Imagine – NEVER having missed any mortgage payment, that Umpqua Bank, represented by greedy attorneys, came to court and misrepresented the law to the Court. Most judges rely on the attorneys to properly inform them of the law, and the attorneys can be punished for misrepresenting the law. However, this has NOT happened and dirty lawyers, like Robert Kaplan of Jeffer Mengel – https://www.jmbm.com/robert-b-kaplan.html has been breaking the laws just to bring in fees for his company. It should be a big deal to throw away sell off without permission someone’s property. But this is clouded in formalities. [Another article to see how the attorneys made over $1.3 million in fees by misleading the judge and how he hopes to get away with violation of CalBar Rule 3.3A.]
Property laws are so important that the legislature has created very solid laws to protect property rights. The most important area of law is summarized by the Supreme Court statement:
“In California, as in most states, a creditor’s right to enforce a debt secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property is restricted by statute” – Supreme Court Walker v. Community Bank, 10 Cal.3d 729, 733-34 (Cal. 1974)
Almost all homeowners know that if a lender claims they have breached the mortgage contract, the very first place to start is by filing a Notice of Default. The procedures are spelled out under Civil Code Section 2924 which holds that:
“the power shall not be exercised except where the mortgage or transfer is made pursuant to an order, judgment, or decree of a court of record… until all of the following apply:
(1) The trustee, mortgagee, or beneficiary, or any of their authorized agents shall first file for record, in the office of the recorder of each county wherein the mortgaged or trust property or some part or parcel thereof is situated, a notice of default. That notice of default shall include all of the following:
(A) A statement identifying the mortgage or deed of trust by stating the name or names of the trustor or trustors and giving the book and page, or instrument number, if applicable, where the mortgage or deed of trust is recorded or a description of the mortgaged or trust property.
(B) A statement that a breach of the obligation for which the mortgage or transfer in trust is security has occurred.
(C) A statement setting forth the nature of each breach actually known to the beneficiary and of the beneficiary’s election to sell or cause to be sold the property to satisfy that obligation and any other obligation secured by the deed of trust or mortgage that is in default.
In our case, we have NEVER received a Single Notice of Default on our property at 1000 Filbert Street, 4018 19th Street, 195 Eureka Street, San Francisco. Any judge would STOP right there as a key issue is missing. Yet, Judge Charles Haines issued orders asking Umpqua Bank to transfer our buildings to a stranger. In other words, no sale should have occurred absent a valid default.
No ONE can take your property by force, except if they comply with the law. And as the Supreme Court has stated in simple words: “In California, as in most states, a creditor’s right to enforce a debt secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property is restricted by statute.” The statute is written above for anyone to read. The material first step requires that “agents shall first file for record in the office of the recorder.” The use of “SHALL” is not a coincidence, and any judge or person hoping to violate such steps would be transgressing the law.
This is what Judge Haines has done repeatedly. The system hopes that you will not take time to read or that most people would be distracted by LABELS they put out in the press, but I invite you to dig into the above, as the San Francisco Court has stolen $50 MILLION worth of my Properties.
And I am going to get all the buildings back as there can NEVER be a legal transfer by THEFT. And this is the key, as he has taken the properties without the proper force of law. He has been the serving agent of the lender and the white system. And this is a problem because Haines is like the legal god; He decides it all. But what if he likes the city and is a political appointee? What if he doubts the property owner since she is African? What if he is too busy? There are a lot of landmines in the litigation fi3le.d
Join me in bringing awareness of judicial corruption, as that is the only way we can change the system. In the words of a famous man – Bob Marley in his legendary song, “Redemption Song”.
Old pirates, yes, they rob I Sold I to the merchant ships Minutes after they took I From the bottomless pit But my hand was made strong By the hand of the Almighty We forward in this generation Triumphantly
We can only sing these songs when we STAND UP against any fight for our rights. It has nothing to do with my being black or a foreigner; it has to do with freeing ourselves so no one can assume they can treat us differently and get away with it. We must give Equal Application of Law a voice. Give a voice for the truth and what is right.
Notes: The picture above is my property at 1000 Filbert Street in San Francisco that they claim to have transferred for $5.1 million – and recall that the loan was only $2.1 million. YET NOT A SINGLE penny of $3 million has ever come to me. And in fact, there is NOT even a sale, as only by compliance with the law can there be a valid transfer. Next article, we will look at the additional illegal transfers.
To learn more about Anne Kihagi, visit her official website at AnneKihagiCA.com or send her email to annekihaginews@gmail.com
Also be sure to follow her on Twitter – Tweeter @AnneKihagi1
Down Goes Frazier! Halle Berry Takes Tumble at Charity Event but Laughs Off Embarrassing Moment
Sometimes we have to laugh to keep from crying!
Halle Berryappeared at a recent charity event to help out a friend. As she was called to the stage to speak, the actress took a tumble that at first looked concerning, but after being helped up, the Oscar-winning actress was fine.
The only thing that hurt momentarily was her pride. But she laughed off the embarrassing incident.
We may not have known about the fall except that she posted a video on her Instagram last week. The 56-year-old actress had a novel way to post the gaffe while helping to promote the charity she went to help out.
She said she went to an event where her friend, Shilla Hekmat,asked her to speak. It was a charity event for an organization called Looking Beyond LA.
The video clip, posted to her Instagram page on Friday, starts like the beginning of a television show that shows a preview of an upcoming episode.
A voice states, “Yep, that’s me; you’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.” In the frame, a written phrase says, “Yup, that’s me,” with an arrow pointing to her on the ground on stage.
She includes several clips of her fall at different angles as she is helped up. Slightly embarrassed but not looking bruised, she warns the audience, “OK, if I see this on the internet, Van is coming for you.” (Van is her current boyfriend, singer Van Hunt).
“Sometimes you bust your ass!
“What happened was….
“My dear friend @shillahekmatpiano invited me to speak at her charity event celebrating a wonderful organization called @lookingbeyondla that raises money for children with special needs… then that happened!!! I face planted 🪴
“If you can go to lookingbeyondla.com and donate. Children are worth it! 🙏🏽”
The Instagram account for Looking Beyond LA also posted the tumbling video clip thanking the Monster’s Ball actress for her support.
“A huge thank you to our gracious presenter @halleberry, our Soaring Spirit @jake.skis, and to all of YOU for supporting us in our mission of enriching the lives of individuals with special needs!! To donate, visit lookingbeyondla.com.”
Black Entrepreneur Releases Newly Developed System to Regrow Stubborn Hair Back
Meet Angela Brown, an African American hair coach and product developer who is on a mission to stop the fast growth of hair loss. Her hair loss product line, D’Serv Professional Hair Care Products, consists of plant-based detox treatments, elixir oils, maintenance products, and hair tools such as derma rollers. Most recently, she has launched her new PACC program (Performance Application Coaching & Consistency) which has the capability to restore hair loss on all levels.
Angela, who was a salon professional for over 38 years, says that her goal with her products is to support salon professionals and their everyday customers. She says that over the years, she has fallen in love with growing hair while understanding all types of hair textures.
Over 35 million men and 21 million women suffer from hair loss according to TheHairSociety.org. Angela agrees so she has taken her education on hair loss and hair care line to the next level. Angela says that God gave her before she was even born her God-given purpose to aid in slowing down hair loss.
Angela comments, “There are a number of different ways that a person can lose their hair including Alopecia, male and female baldness, protective styles side effects from medications, laziness, and lack of education. Many African Americans or people, in general, don’t understand what a real treatment is or how many times a year they should even be getting one along with steam treatments.”
She continues, “It is now time to learn more about your own hair and its capabilities, than to just settle and take it because you’re lost. Many people just don’t know where to start and feel they don’t have the time nor the money.”
That’s where the PACC program comes in as it helps to restore your hair on all levels if you’re consistent. Hair loss is real, and Angela has the education, passion, patience, and right recipe for each one who reaches out to her and her team of professionals. The combination of ingredients, PH levels, treatments, and products for the salon and home is a perfect dish to love! Angela is now breaking the silence and speaking out about her brand, salon, and powerful message about hair care. She believes that although she is not a dermatologist or trichologist that she still has what God gave her and she discovered it a couple of years ago when she excepted her purpose.
For more details and/or to request a free hair consultation to get a complete understanding of how to completely restore your hair, visit DeserveHealthyHair.com
Legendary Businessman Reginald Lewis Continues to Influence Generations of Black Entrepreneurs
Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The book is about Reginald F. Lewis, the legendary entrepreneur who rocked Wall Street when his firm, TLC Group, acquired Beatrice International Foods for $985 million. The purchase in 1987 helped Lewis build the first Black-owned business to exceed the billion-dollar revenue mark. At the time it was the largest-ever offshore leveraged buyout. It was gigantic as TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc. became the nation’s largest snack food, beverage, and grocery store conglomerate with a global presence.
And now, an audio version of the classic book was just released. Written by Lewis and co-author Blair S. Wall, the book was a New York Times best seller. The extraordinary exploits of the life and times of the astute, courageous, and bodacious Lewis still serve today as a source of inspiration to generations of Black entrepreneurs, including those in finance, technology, entertainment, and other fields.
Before his death in 1993, Lewis helped Black Americans gain access to financing for Blacks on Wall Street. His landmark endeavors encouraged Blacks to overcome barriers like race to become business owners, corporate executives, and major growth contributors to America’s economy. Lewis’ accomplishments remain momentous though they occurred over a quarter century ago. They shine like a beacon for African Americans to keep striving for, and potentially exceed, his success in their own business pursuits. The trailblazing work by Lewis is perhaps even more amazing in that it shows how a Black man pulled off acquiring a major international company with 64 companies in 31 countries. Lewis’ name became a sign of hope. That was especially true in the Black community as many African Americans were compelled to believe that if Lewis could score such a feat, then others could possibly play in the game as well.
Lewis left an enduring mark on business history. His actions permeated with many top Black business leaders, including the likes of real estate mogul Don Peebles and BET founder Bob Johnson.
“Reggie was not afraid of going beyond what Black business was, which was privately owned companies run by family members to be passed on to family members,” Johnson told BLACK ENTERPRISE eight years ago. “He got access to public capital, which gives you leverage in deal making.” Johnson is founder and chairman of The RLJ Cos., a portfolio of companies with holdings in many industries.
Also a philanthropist, Lewis donated millions of dollars to empower and help others. The Reginald F. Lewis International Law Center was the first building at Harvard University named after an African American. The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, whose chairman is Loida Lewis, Reginald’s widow, is among the largest African American private foundations in the world. As of December 2019, the foundation had given $30 million in grants since starting, according to its website.
BLACK ENTERPRISE connected with Black entrepreneurs by email who reflected how Lewis inspired them in business and how future generations can build on his legacy.
Reginald F. Lewis as role model
IMB Partners CEO Tarrus Richardson recalls that in July 1987, there was an article on “Mr. Lewis buying McCall Patterns for $27 million and selling it for $90 million. He had invested only $1 million and made $63 million. I was 17 years old. After reading the article I looked at my mom and said, ‘Now that looks like a good job’ and from that time on I committed to getting a job in the leveraged buyout business.”
Richardson adds, “You can’t be what you can’t see. Once I had the visual of a Black man making that kind of money buying and selling companies, it made it easier for me to believe I too could do it.”
Today, Richardson is founder and CEO of IMB Partners. The Bethesda, Maryland-based firm is a 100% Black private equity holding company (similar to TLC Beatrice) that makes control acquisitions and partners with management teams to grow lower middle-market companies serving government agencies and electric and gas utilities. IMB Partners has revenue of over $500 million, five portfolio companies, and more than 300 employees. It ranked No. 42 on BLACK ENTERPRISE’S Top 100 list, an annual ranking of the nation’s top Black-owned businesses.
When he started imbpartners.com in 2010, Richardson says, Loida Lewis was one of his earliest investors and has invested in all of IMB’s deals. Richardson says while his company has not made a 90-to-1 return, the company is making 5-to-1 returns on its investments and its goal is to get to over $1 billion in revenue in the next five years.
Outside of business, Richardson says he helped Christina Lewis, Reginald’s daughter, found All Star Code as its founding board chair. He reports he was the lead funder for the 2018 PBS documentary on Reginald Lewis that was a dream of Loida and the family.
“I am incredibly grateful for the inspiration and role modeling both in business and in life Mr. Lewis and his family have played in my life since I was a teenager and continues to play in so many others.”
Lewis leaves us a blueprint
For serial entrepreneur Paul Brunson, Why Should White Guys Hall All the Fun? was the first book that he read cover to cover; he was 18 years old at the time.
“My life was completely heading in the wrong direction. It was prison, death, or out on the streets. The book really spoke to me because it was the first time that I felt someone was speaking to me. It gave me inspiration and instruction.”
More importantly, Brunson was inspired because someone who looked like him was winning and doing it not on a basketball court or a football field. He loved the step-by-step instruction the book offered. For example, Brunson spoke of how Lewis had a specific schedule or gave himself mantras, including on such matters as to become a great lawyer you have to work hard. “That structure was very important because we can see that structure led to his success,” Brunson says.
Today, Brunson hosts the Better With Paul podcast. He’s also a TV host and a business columnist at USA Today. The previous host of BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s TV show, Our World, Brunson says Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? is one of the first books that “moved a lot of us to the mindset we can actually do this, meaning that we can actually succeed as a professional in business.”
Brunson contends future generations can learn from the book threefold. He says in order for us to continue to succeed in business, rise the ranks of corporate America, or increase our social economic standing, all of that requires extraordinary discipline. Lewis says he won because his extraordinary discipline led to his extraordinary success: “That is a pillar that we have to hold onto.”
Brunson says another pillar is we have to constantly re-evaluate ourselves and ask ourselves what we can do better, even in the face of adversity like racism.
For example, Brunson says there was at least one acquisition, but probably more than one, that Lewis attempted to make in his early 40s where he was unsuccessful—namely because of racist tactics on the part of the seller. Still, he says, Lewis re-evaluated what he could do better in the situation though he obviously could not change the color of his skin. “That self-reflection and introspection is very important for us, particularly for Black professionals as we move forward.”
Further, Brunson says, one of the biggest things that has gotten lost in the Black community is that real wealth building comes as the result of acquiring businesses, not just starting businesses.
He says one of Lewis’ philosophies was: how to acquire a business, add more value to that business, and then extract value from that. Brunson says acquisitions are what Black entrepreneurs should be focusing on. “We would benefit to a much higher degree if we would acquire more businesses.”
“People didn’t just read the book. They turned its words into action, into money, and into companies,” says Christina Lewis, younger daughter of Reginald F. Lewis, who is an author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of GiveBlck.org, a comprehensive database of Black-founded nonprofits. (Image: Courtesy of Reginald Lewis Foundation)
Lewis’s mark as a father
Following in her father’s entrepreneurial footsteps, Christina Lewis started All Star Code. The nonprofit creates economic opportunity for young men of color by helping them develop tools needed to succeed in a technological world. But in developing a generation of young Black high school students and future tech entrepreneurs, Christina says what she is doing is helping develop Reginald Lewises in tech and trying to develop others to follow in her father’s footsteps.
Christina, who also is treasurer of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, says, “My dad inspired me in life to be hard-working, to value strength of character, and to be generous. He and my mother taught me to be a caring parent. Future generations can build on his legacy by staying humble, achieving success, but also enjoying their lives. My father never had a chance to retire. I hope that those who follow in his footsteps of hard work know that Black joy is a precious thing.”
Using Lewis’s words as a guide
Another Black entrepreneur Lewis greatly influenced was Troy Carter. He’s the founder and CEO of Q&A, a music and technology firm. He was previously founder and CEO of Atom Factory and co-founder/managing partner of Cross Culture Ventures. He most recently was global head of Creator Services at Spotify.
Carter recalls coming across Lewis’s biography when he was 22-years-old. “I just became a father and was struggling with what to do with my life. Reginald’s life story gave me the inspiration I needed and gave me the confidence that a young Black kid had the ability to play in the big leagues.” Over the years, Carter says he has re-read the book dozens of times as he ran into roadblocks. “‘What would Reggie do?’ became my internal mantra when I needed a battery in my back.”
A couple of decades later, after building a successful career in music and technology, Carter says he was speaking at an MIT event. He says a woman walked over and told him her idea of building an organization to teach Black teenagers software programming. The woman was Christina Lewis. Carter says he became a founding member of her board and part of the Lewis family.
“More importantly, I became a true part of Reginald’s legacy,” Carter says. “If I can impact one kid the way Reginald’s life has impacted mine, it would serve as a small forwarding of the blessing.”
Rémy Martin Unveils First-Ever Super Bowl Ad ‘Inch by Inch,’ Inspired By Legendary Film, Any Given Sunday, Starring Powerhouse Athletes Serena Williams
Yesterday, Rémy Martin, the centuries old iconic Cognac House makes its first-ever debut at Super Bowl LVII. Teaming up with Serena Williams, global tennis superstar, cultural icon, philanthropist, and champion for women everywhere, Rémy Martin found the perfect partner in Williams to mark their Super Bowl debut.
Taking inspiration from the iconic football film from Warner Bros. Pictures, Any Given Sunday, in which the famous “Inch by Inch” speech was recited by fictional coach Tony D’Amato, Rémy Martin’s first Super Bowl advertisement celebrates teamwork in many forms by highlighting the individuals who acknowledge that great success cannot be accomplished alone, and that as part of a collective team, true excellence can be achieved.
Under license from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the advertisement and new campaign aired live for the first time during the first quarter of Super Bowl LVII held in Glendale, Arizona on February 12th.
“Rémy Martin has an incredibly rich history, and we are constantly striving to reach new audiences every day through new mediums and channels, like the Super Bowl” said Nicolas Beckers, President & CEO of Rémy Cointreau, Americas. “For Rémy Martin to be present at Super Bowl LVII for the first time is a major step in our continued quest for excellence as a Cognac House. This campaign is an extension of our investment as a company, with Super Bowl LVII marking Rémy Cointreau’s third straight year participating, and we are excited to share our message of teamwork, inspiration, and passion with fans of the sport nationwide.”
Rémy Martin’s new “Inch by Inch” campaign spotlights how teamwork drives success forward by shining a light on the many ways teams achieve greatness, which stems from a common goal of the pursuit of excellence. Like the House of Rémy Martin, whose values are rooted in accomplishments shaped through teamwork to instill passion, excellence, and savoir-faire, the talents highlighted in this new campaign know there is nothing more powerful than creating, building, and achieving together. The campaign stars Serena Williams, who masterfully recites her own version of Coach Tony D’Amato’s pre-game speech from football film Any Given Sunday, bringing her natural quiet authority, credibility, and star power to inspire those on and offscreen. Together, “Inch by Inch” represents the combination of skills, qualities, and emotions that embody true, dedicated excellence.
“I have always been a fan of Rémy Martin and the work they have done to amplify unique voices through collaboration. I personally resonate with the values of the House, and love that I’m able to work with a brand whose principle of teamwork and dedication are so closely aligned with my own,” said Serena Williams, global tennis powerhouse and cultural icon. “I would have never been in the position I am today without the teamwork and support of everyone in my life who has empowered me to achieve my goals. My career is proof that greatness is achieved through collaboration, and I am thrilled to share that message with the world during Super Bowl LVII with Rémy Martin.”
Conceptualized by creative agency Fred & Farid New York and through the vision of Terence Neale, a globally renowned director who is known for creating stunning movie-like narratives, Rémy Martin and multi-hyphenate, powerhouse talent Serena Williams, work as one to evoke passion and inspire unity for viewers of “Inch by Inch.” The ad begins with a silhouette of Williams, walking through a stadium tunnel, to kick off the much-anticipated full creative spot. As Williams is illuminated and comes into focus, her inspirational words echo throughout the campaign and drive the narrative, which highlights the many different ways that teamwork is cultivated – whether through chefs in a bustling kitchen, a dance troupe, a group of urban cowboys, and of course, a football team. As Williams concludes her monologue, we find her seated, and enjoying a neat glass of Rémy Martin.
Highlighting the different ways that teams work together, the inspirational sentiment of “Inch by Inch” ties closely to Rémy Martin’s core values. Just as the dedicated combination of many talents, from Cellar Masters to distillers and winemakers, Rémy Martin joins together to create the most radiant and high-end Cognac since 1724. Whether it be Rémy Martin VSOP, the signature style of the House or Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, which commemorates the reward of excellence bestowed on Rémy Martin by King Louis XV or the Cellar Master’s signature blend of Rémy Martin XO, all are derived with knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Together, the passions of all members of the Rémy Martin team combine to achieve true excellence, like the teams showcased in “Inch by Inch.”
NFL-Heroic Mahomes Leads The Kansas City Chiefs to Huge Super Bowl Win Over The Philadelphia Eagles
Patrick Mahomes proved why he is the NFL’s Most Valuable Player as he shrugged off an ankle injury to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a dramatic 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday to claim their second Super Bowl in four years.
Kansas City’s hopes of returning home with the Lombardi Trophy looked bleak late in the opening half when quarterback Mahomes appeared to re-injure the right ankle that had been a major worry coming into the game.
Grimacing in pain after a tackle, Mahomes hobbled off the field and slammed his helmet to the turf as the Chiefs headed into halftime trailing 24-14.
But when the teams returned after the break a resilient Mahomes produced a heroic effort, tossing two fourth-quarter touchdowns and engineering a final drive to set up Harrison Butker’s 27-yard game-winning field goal with eight seconds to play.
“I told you all this week there was nothing going to keep me off this football field,” said Mahomes after accepting the Super Bowl MVP award to go along with the NFL MVP honor he received on Thursday.
There could be no better end to the NFL season than a championship game featuring the two teams with the best records and two dynamic young leaders in Mahomes and the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts – the first two Black quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl.
It was the type of intriguing matchup that drew a Who’s Who of industry, entertainment and sports to suburban Phoenix, with Elon Musk, Paul McCartney and LeBron James among the capacity crowd of 67,827.
Hurts, who was another leading candidate for the NFL MVP award, turned in an almost equally dazzling performance, running for three touchdowns and throwing for another.
While questions remained over Mahomes’ ankle there were no cracks in his determination as he started the third quarter by leading a 75-yard drive capped off by a one-yard run by Isiah Pacheco to cut the Philadelphia lead to 24-21.
Jake Elliott booted his second field goal to increase the Eagles’ advantage before Mahomes found Kadarius Toney with a five-yard touchdown strike for the Chiefs’ first lead of the night at 28-27.
Toney returned an Eagles punt 69-yards to the Philadelphia five, where Mahomes found Skyy Moore for a four-yard touchdown to increase their lead to 35-27
But the Eagles were not about to wave the white flag, Hurts spotting a wide open Devonta Smith at the two before diving over for the touchdown himself.
Philadelphia tied the game 35-35 with a two-point conversion with five minutes to play.
