• Men

by Booker Jones

February 10, 2023

Former Super Bowl Champion Ryan Mundy Creates Mental Health Platform for Black People

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Ryan Mundy began his career playing for his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won a Super Bowl. Playing eight seasons in the NFL, he also played for the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears. Despite a successful career in the NFL, Mundy battled mental health issues, and decided to create a mental health platform for Blacks.  

“I saw a trend in the marketplace as it relates to verticalized care,” Mundy explained. “I was seeing platforms for men, platforms for women, platforms for the LGBTQ community, et cetera. But I didn’t see a platform that was explicitly focused on folks who looked like me,” Mundy said during an interview with Entrepreneur. 

In 2020, Mundy launched Alkeme Health, which provides resources for suicide prevention, or for people who simply need someone to speak with, as well as other resources. 

“There’s a lot of inequity in healthcare,” Mundy said. “Our community is at an outsized risk for every chronic disease and illness in the book. So how do you take the first swing at that?”

Alkeme Health also offers mental health videos and courses from Black psychologists and therapists, along with meditation tools and exercises. Additionally, Alkeme hosts regular live-streamed events led by clinical professionals when something traumatizing, like another police shooting, happens to the Black community.

“I’m always reminding myself and the team that this is a marathon,” Mundy said, “particularly doing what we’re doing. There are not many companies out there that have the aspirations that we have. Sometimes we jokingly say we’re going where no company has gone before — because nobody out there is doing what we’re doing, quite like we’re doing it.”

During an interview with Essence, shortly after his 2016 retirement, Mundy said, “I was physically hurt, and I was emotionally hurt, and so I left the game wounded. I’ve always been a football player. It’s done so much for me. It has been my life. I left the game so, so hurt, and I was mad and upset, and jaded. That initial transition out was not good for me on multiple levels, and it really kind of set the course for how I got here today.”

Recently, Mundy’s company partnered with McDonald’s to provide a mental health course for HBCU students. Students who receive the 2023 McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholars scholarship will also get a free subscription to Alkeme Gold for one year.

• Career

by Stacy Jackson

February 10, 2023

Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment Appoints Justina Omokhua as Senior Vice President

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What an honor it is to be appointed to the top of Queen Bey’s entertainment empire.

In a recent announcement, Grammy-winning artist Beyoncé Knowles-Carter appointed Justina Omokhua as Senior Vice President of Parkwood Entertainment to run daily operations for the film and production company, which also operates as a record label and management firm.

Omokhua had already been with Parkwood Entertainment for almost six months, leading a successful team and contributing to the creative, editorial, public relations, and technology departments.

“Justina brings a wealth of marketing knowledge and experience to Parkwood Entertainment,” said Beyoncé, Founder and Chairwoman of Parkwood Entertainment. “I am pleased to officially welcome her to the team and excited to have her expertise as we continue to grow.”

Omokhua moves into her new position as Parkwood’s Senior Vice President with years of leadership experience in marketing positions for major companies. The businesswoman has worked as Senior Vice President for Endeavor, extending her work in Brand Marketing for WME and IMG. She has also worked as the Global Head of Content and Lifestyle Strategy at Apple, a role that required her to build the brand across its Apple Services suite of businesses. Prior to her official transition into her tech and entertainment career, Omokhua served on the marketing teams at Pepsi, Nokia, L’Oréal, and Verizon.

The Toronto native is the daughter to Nigerian parents, and is set to extend her global perspectives in her new position at the Parkwood Entertainment empire.

“Parkwood is the epitome of excellence and to serve in this role is an opportunity of a lifetime,” Omokhua said. “We will continue to push boundaries and challenge the status quo.”

Beyoncé founded Parkwood Entertainment in 2010, following its original name, Parkwood Pictures, where the company released projects such as Cadillac Records in 2008, and Obsessed in 2009. After becoming Parkwood Entertainment, the company released new projects including Lemonade in 2017 and Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé in 2019. 

A jersey worn by Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant, sold for $5.8 million at a recent Sotheby’s auction.

According to Sotheby’s, the game-worn basketball jersey from Bryant’s MVP season (2007-2008) set a record for a Kobe Bryant item at the famed auction house. It was the “most valuable Bryant item ever sold,” although it comes in second place for the highest price paid for a basketball jersey.

“Kobe Bryant’s game-worn Los Angeles Lakers Jersey from his only MVP season scored $5.8 million today, becoming the most valuable Bryant item ever sold at auction and second most valuable basketball jersey ever sold.”

Another record smashed at #SothebysNewYork!

Kobe Bryant’s game-worn Los Angeles Lakers Jersey from his only MVP season scored $5.8 million today, becoming the most valuable Bryant item ever sold at auction and second most valuable basketball jersey ever sold. pic.twitter.com/HTbiwL0q3F

— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) February 9, 2023

The record for the highest-priced basketball jersey that was sold at Sotheby’s (and just in general) belongs to the Chicago Bulls jersey worn by Michael Jordan. That jersey, which the six-time NBA champion wore for the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals, was sold at Sotheby’s for over $10 million in September 2022.

When Bryant’s jersey was initially listed, the expected price for the item was between $5 and $7 million.

Bryant wore this basketball jersey from the start of the season in 2007 until the end of the Western Conference Finals on May 29, 2008, according to Sotheby’s website. The five-time NBA champion wore this particular jersey in five pre-season games, 14 regular season games, and six playoff games.

Bryant was a five-time NBA champion, a two-time Finals MVP, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player. During his career, he made the All-Star team 18 times and was the youngest player to reach 30,000 points. Bryant retired in 2016 and scored an NBA-season-high 60 points in his final game.

The 41-year-old basketball legend died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people on January 26, 2020.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 10, 2023

White Insurrectionist Gets Handed 3 Years In Prison After Pointing Confederate Flag at Black Capitol Cop

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A man who was seen carrying a confederate flag during the insurrection that took place on Jan. 6, 2021 has been sentenced to three years in prison.

According to CBS News, Kevin Seefried, who was seen attacking a Black police officer with a Confederate flag on that day, was convicted last June and sentenced on Thursday to be in prison for the next three years. He took part in the riot in Washington, D.C. near the White House after he and his son, Hunter, attended the “Stop the Steal” rally and protest organized by former President Donald Trump. Trump claimed that the year’s election was stolen from him.

When Seefried completes his prison term, he must then serve a year on probation.

Judge Trevor McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, announced the rioter’s sentence on Thursday, and called the defendant’s conduct “outrageous” and “especially shocking.”

Seefried informed Judge McFadden that he “crossed the line” and regretted his actions. He said, “I had no idea that any of this would ever happen. My intention was to use my voice…I never wanted to send a message of hate.”

When McFadden handed down his sentence, he mentioned Seefried’s action of thrusting the flagpole of the Confederate flag at Black U.S. Capitol Police Officer, Eugene Goodman. “Sir, I hope you realize how deeply offensive, how troubling it is,” McFadden told the prisoner.

Goodman testified at the trial last year, and told the court that while he was inside the Capitol Rotunda during the planned attack, Seefried yelled out, “Where the members at?” As the rioters threatened Goodman, they taunted him by saying, “What are you going to do, shoot us?”

Goodman was credited with leading the mass of protesters away from the Senate chambers and toward another section of the building where there was more law enforcement present.

Prosecutors requested a prison sentence of 70 months for Seefried, but the judge sentenced him to half the time sought.

• Celebrity News

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 10, 2023

Adidas’ Business Breakup with Kanye West Could Cost Them Over $1 Billion

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If Adidas thought they would be able to get rid of Ye, formally known as Kanye West, that easily – guess again.

According to CNN, the breakup with the music producer is costing Adidas a pretty penny. The company anticipates losing $1.3 billion in revenue this year due to Ye’s designs, Yeezy, selling slower than usual. In a statement, Adidas said if the company “can’t repurpose any of the remaining Ye clothing,” it could cost the company $534 million in operating profit this year. “The numbers speak for themselves,” Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden said. “We are currently not performing the way we should. 2023 will be a year of transition to set the base to again be a growing and profitable company.”

Black Enterprise reported last October that the mega sports brand dropped Ye, after a nine-year partnership, following his anti-semitic antics and daring the brand to drop him during an appearance on the popular Drink Champs podcast. “I can say anti-Semitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?” the former music producer said. Shortly after, the apparel brand lowered their sales projections.

MarketWatch reported that shares for the company are also down, dropping 46.6% in the last year.

Yeezy isn’t the only partnership struggling with Adidas. Black Enterprise reported the news earlier this week that Beyoncé’s Ivy Park clothing line is in trouble as well. Allegedly, Ivy Park only brought $40 million in sales in 2022, compared to the $93 million the brand earned in 2021. Although there was some money lost, Adidas claims their partnership with Queen Bey is “strong and successful,” according to CNN.

The Chicago-born rapper can’t seem to stay out of the negative spotlight lately. After a string of odd behavior, Black Enterprise reported that Ye is under investigation after getting into an altercation with a woman after she was seen recording him. He allegedly got into a screaming match with the woman on his way to his children’s basketball game and threw her phone in the street.

A high school in Harlem is making history as they head down to Philadelphia today. According to CBS New York, the Thurgood Marshall Academy boy’s squash team will be the first all-Black team to participate in the national high school championships.

The boys learned about the sport through StreetSquash, a nonprofit organization located in Harlem.

Simba Muhwati, the academy’s coach, grew up playing squash in Zimbabwe before competing in the sport as a collegiate athlete.

“It was super affluent here and the rest of the world; it’s not,” Muhwati stated. “It’s actually pretty middle class and below.”

After playing the sport for years, last semester, they petitioned The Thurgood Marshall Academy to have squash as an official sport, which permitted them to enter the national high school tournament.

“Being the only all-Black team, we broke a lot of stereotypes, and it’s deeper than squash,” said one player, Harlem Jones. “Squash has opened a lot of doors for me.”

For the first time in history, an all-Black team is heading to the national high school championships in the sport of squash, and it is from Harlem. The Thurgood Marshall Academy boys hope to make a big impression. @tvjessi reports. https://t.co/nPT66oElsh

— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) January 31, 2023

StreetSquash’s website states that every team is guaranteed to play at least three matches throughout the weekend in Philadelphia. StreetSquash will have three separate teams participating at SEA (Squash  & Education Alliance) Team Nationals this weekend (Feb. 10–12).

StreetSquash opened in September 1999 and became the second urban squash program in the United States. The program helps young people between the ages of 11 and 24 develop skills related to “academic tutoring, squash instruction, community service, college preparation, leadership development, and mentoring.” The program started as an after-school program with 24 middle school students and two staff members that have grown to help 400 people from 6th grade through college graduation and entry into the workforce.

As for this weekend’s competition, Muhwati says, “If I don’t shed a tear, I’ll be shocked. It’ll be probably the most proud moment of my career in squash. To walk into that facility with these young men is going to be super special.”

On Thursday, Grammy-winning musician, record executive, and entrepreneur DJ Khaled announced plans to offer a full-ride, four-year scholarship for a student seeking to attend the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU). 

To be eligible for the scholarship, prospective students must be looking to enroll in the Fall 2023 semester. Additionally, applicants must either submit a written or video entry (maximum three minutes) that answers the following questions: 

·       How do you define success? 

·       Please share how the DJ Khaled Scholarship will help you be the best version of yourself. 

·       Where do you see yourself in ten years, and how will you get there? 

“Me and my queen ever since we been together, even before we met each other, we both had a love for giving back,” Khaled said. “Giving back has always been a priority in my life and her life. We’re raising our kids to see that you have to work hard but also always give back and show love. We have a team that works year-round nonstop on how can we give back, do more, uplift, inspire, motivate and hug all the kids in need. Inspire them to keep going and not just the kids, but also the families, the mothers and fathers and give out scholarships.” 

Khaled joins a growing roster of luminaries that have provided scholarships for students looking to attend the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment at LIU, including three-time, Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year and Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, and Grammy-winning audio engineer and producer Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton. International sportswear brand PUMA also established the PUMA Hope Scholarship Fund to provide financial support to students in the Roc Nation school. 

The University has also continued to expand its renowned Roc Nation School Speaker Series over the past year, securing Grammy-nominated musician Fat Joe, NFL SVP of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing Marissa Solis, and SiriusXM on-air personality Swaggy Sie, among many others. 

Applications for Khaled’s scholarship formally opened at 3 pm on Feb. 9 at https://apply.liu.edu/rn and the University will accept submissions until 11:59 pm on April 15.

If you’ve been following the murder trial of the late XXXTentacion, then you’ve seen the theory of defense attorneys naming Drake as a possible suspect in the murder of X. Now, the 6 God is being ordered to give a deposition or make an appearance in court later this month for the XXXTentacion murder trial.

Mauricio Padilla—defense attorney for Dedrick Williams, one of three suspects on trial—attempted to subpoena Drake late last month. Per Rolling Stone, Padilla claims the Her Loss artist was, in fact, served properly, but was a no-show.

On Feb. 7, the legal team for Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome and Dedrick Williams, the three men charged with XXXtentacion’s murder, told jurors that investigators and the prosecution were hasty in their conclusion that the defendants were the culprits. They also alleged a failure to explore the possibility of Drake’s or other celebrities’ involvement and were feeling pressured to nab a suspect in the murder, due to the crime being in close proximity to the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School months earlier, during which 17 people were killed.

XXXTENTACION’s lawyer continues to blame Drake for his murder 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/C9sI1lKKRP

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) February 8, 2023

The defense pointed to a social media post by XXXtentacion prior to his death, warning that if he were to end up dead, Drake was behind the murder. The rapper later claimed that his Instagram account was hacked and that he was not responsible for the post.

XXXTentacion was shot and killed during a robbery on June 18, 2018, while leaving Riva Motorsports in Florida. According to the prosecution, Boatwright, Newsome, and Williams had come to the store looking to purchase masks to disguise themselves during armed robberies, but spotted XXXTentacion and decided to key in on him instead. As the rapper was leaving the location in his BMW, his car was cut off by the suspects, with Boatwright and Newsome approaching the vehicle and demanding money. After retrieving $50,000 from a Louis Vuitton bag inside the BMW, Boatwright shot XXXTentacion multiple times “without any provocation,” said prosecutor Pascale Achille.

Billboard also reported that Padilla listed Migos, Joe Budden, and Tekashi 6ix9ine as potential witnesses, however, at a hearing reported on by The Miami Herald, prosecutors called the move a stunt.

Herman J. Russell purchased his first property in 1946 – a vacant lot where he later built a duplex. Over the years, he would acquire and develop numerous real estate projects in the Jim Crow South. He also built a construction powerhouse that consistently ranked among the largest Black-owned companies and reshaped the Atlanta skyline.

In recognition of these and other achievements, BLACK ENTERPRISE awarded Russell the A.G. Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He has since handed the reins for H.J.  Russell & Co. (No. 15 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE COMPANIES list with $248.4 million in revenues) to his sons, but he remains very active in the company leadership, serving as chairman. Back in 2014, BE spoke with Russell, who authored Building Atlanta: How I Broke Through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire, about his seven decades in the industry. Here’s what he had to say:

The construction industry is one of the industries that has very little minority participation. What advice can you offer an African American entrepreneur looking to get into this area to help them overcome that?

Herman Russell: Do not hesitate. Push for opportunity but most of all be persistent, prompt, and reliable. African Americans make up a huge percentage of the population so it is important that you work hard to increase the percentage of our participation and you should seek it as if your life depends on it.

How has the industry changed over the years from the perspective of someone trying to land that first contract?

Russell: As a young entrepreneur growing up in Atlanta with all the challenges African Americans experienced just being African American, you can imagine that the business world was no less challenging. But the key here is that it was challenging, it was not impossible. I worked hard to focus on my business, ensuring that it was competitive and maintained a consistent reputation of honesty and good workmanship. While those characteristics were not always considered in the decision making process, it did often help and eventually made a difference when considering my company among the others.

Today, it is still a competitive process and pots are growing smaller as the participant list gets longer. Although the RFP process is more sophisticated than it was in the earlier years, it is still the company whose good reputation precedes them and who can come in as the best bid at a reasonable price [that] will get the contract.

I’m sure you experienced overt racism in the industry during the segregation years. How did you handle it?

Russell: As you are aware I am 83 years old, so you know I’ve experienced racism in all areas of my life including this industry. However, I did not allow racism to dictate my success. If racism played a role in creating an obstacle I would go around it. For example, there were many who would not sell land to an African American. So, I would have my Greek brother purchase the land for me and continue to move forward building and developing my projects uninterrupted. By the time white landowners discovered what had happened, it was too late. I discuss these transactions in my book. In my book, I point out that although racism was pervasive in this era, every white person was not a racist and many, like my Greek brother, worked tirelessly to assist me and other African Americans to succeed – even during the segregation years.

What sort of mistakes did you make early on and what were the lessons learned?

Russell: That is a good question. I shall never forget overlooking and miscalculating some numbers in preparing an RFP that cost me a bid. From that moment on, I made sure that I would pay attention to details. So I would pore over every contract and proposal, checking and rechecking to make sure that every detail was covered. Often I would be up to the early morning hours reviewing and ensuring that each proposal was accurate and complete. I learned that attention to detail is a CEO’s best friend.

You have a multi-generational family business. What’s your secret for grooming your children to take over?

Russell: I put my children to work in the business at an early age. They did not have glamorous or “pen-pushing” jobs. I made them get into the field and get their hands dirty. They worked on the properties and on the construction sites. No cushy office jobs for them. Then at the dinner table we would have a variety of discussions including conversations about what they learned while on the sites and why it is important to the company. This gave them the foundation they would need to become the great leaders they are today. I am proud of my children and the work they have done to move the business forward. I feel that they would not have the good work ethic and business savvy they possess if I had not exposed them to the “hands-on” basics of the business.

Herman Russell died on November 15, 2014.

KISS Colors & Care, an award-winning textured hair brand, has announced its newest brand partner: international rapper, songwriter, and model, JT.

KISS Colors & Care is dedicated to celebrating individual empowerment and self-expression in its consumers’ hair journey by delivering high-quality, nourishing, innovative products to style confidently. As a longtime fan of the KISS brand and a trendsetter herself, JT was the perfect celebrity to align with the ethos of the brand message and belief – Your Hair, Your Style.

“I’ve always been the girl who was creative with her hair and looks. I’m not afraid to try different styles and different colors that are trendsetting. I love having options that cater to my texture and creativity, so being the face of KISS Colors and Care was the perfect collaboration. Let’s Be Bold!” said JT.

As the KISS Colors and Care brand partner, JT will champion their products through her unique content creation for editorials, press, and events. She will also give her fans and followers an exclusive sneak peek of how KISS Colors & Care is essential to her day-to-day beauty routine through her social platforms.

“JT is the epitome of confidence and self-expression. Because KISS Colors and Care celebrates creativity and style versatility, we could not think of a more iconic brand partner to represent the brand and its philosophy. We’re thrilled to have JT as our celebrity partner – she continues to be a disruptive force in the music, fashion, and beauty industries. She is bold and embraces new hair looks with confidence and authenticity, which aligns perfectly with our new styling collection,” said SVP of Global Marketing Annette DeVita-Goldstein.

JT’s love for different hairstyles has kept her a pro at switching up her look and vibe. Her passion for braids, stunning updos, and gorgeous locks make her the perfect advocate for the new KISS Colors & Care styling products. The new styling collection includes Braid, Loc and Twist stylers, Edge Fixer Wax sticks, and Reversible Premium Crepe Satin Hair Bonnet Super Jumbo and Braid Bonnet available at KISSColors.com, Amazon.com and select Walmart and CVS stores.

With KISS Colors & Care, everyone can express themselves and showcase their different sides, styles, and attitudes. Go JT!