by Ahsan Washington

October 2, 2025

7 Black-Owned Companies Taking AI By The Horns

These companies are using AI to tackle real-world issues.

In the fast-paced world of technology, artificial intelligence is making waves across industries at a blinding speed. Despite all the hype around innovation, the trailblazing work of Black tech entrepreneurs often gets lost in the conversation.

BLACK ENTERPRISE is highlighting a few Black-owned companies that have made a mark in AI and are well ahead of the curve.

From preserving languages to gathering consumer insights in media engagement, beauty, and wearable innovations, these companies are harnessing the power of AI to tackle real-world issues. In doing so, they’re not just solving problems. They’re rewriting the narrative about who gets to shape the future of tech. Their performance shows an understanding at the intersection culture and the latest technology.

1)World Wide Technology

World Wide Technology (WWT) started in 1990 by David Steward in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The company grew from a small business servicing government contracts to become a global force, delivering services across multiple industries and offering AI, machine learning, cloud computing, data analytics and technology consulting. It’s clear that WWT is a player in the tech world.

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2) Centre for Digitization of Indigenous African Languages AI

CDIAL AI, established in 2021, has made it its mission to preserve the languages of Africa. Yinka Iyinolakan and Shona Olalere, a duo who have a drive to make a difference. With its office in Los Angeles and another in Lagos, the organization is well placed to tackle this project. The team believes that artificial intelligence can be a tool in their quest to save these languages. They've come up with innovations like Indigenius, a conversational AI that can communicate in multiple languages, and smart keyboards that support a whopping 180 African languages. They've also produced modernized dictionaries that showcase terms.

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3) Rwazi, Inc.

Rwazi Inc., a Los Angeles-based company launched in 2021, is making waves in the decision intelligence space. Founders Joseph Rutakangwa and Eric Sewankambo saw an opportunity to shake things up. What sets Rwazi apart is its use of zero party data—that is— the information that comes directly from people. This approach allows the company to offer recommendations that are surprisingly accurate. The driving force behind all this is Sena Rwazi's AI engine, which provides a wealth of insight into consumer behavior.

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4)Digital Green Book (Onyx Impact)

The Digital Green Book, also known as Onyx Impact, is an AI platform that launched in March. Its founder Esosa Osa set up shop in Atlanta, Georgia. The platform has been working to fight the spread of information that targets Black communities. What sets Digital Green Book apart is its commitment to using fact-based sources like the NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund to help users figure out what's true and what's not in the media. The project isn't solely about combatting misinformation—it preserves history in a world where so much of our shared past is going digital. By drawing on these trusted sources the Digital Green Book is doing its part to keep history alive and accurate for generations.

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5) Myavana

Myavana was born in 2011 out of Candace Mitchell's time at Georgia Tech. The company is based in Atlanta, made a name for itself as a pioneer in using intelligence to help people with textured hair find the right beauty products. For a time, this group has been overlooked. Myavana is changing that. With a value of $50 million, the company uses data to create products and services that cater to that group. Its approach is straightforward: Gather information, analyze it, and use those insights to develop care solutions that really work.

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6)Robin AI

Robin AI has been around for a while, but the company has started to make waves with groundbreaking innovation. At the helm is CEO and founder Richard Robinson and co-founder James Clough, an expert in machine-learning research. That Robin AI tackles contract review is particularly clever. Its AI program, which was trained on 4.5 million documents, automates the process, saving users time and money. Robin AI has pulled in $10.5 million in funding, which is helping the company expand and make a mark in the tech world.

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7) Noctal

Noctal, a startup that uses intelligence to shake up the sound design scene, set up shop in Los Angeles in 2023. The company makes it easier for media outlets to produce high-quality sound effects and get through the grunt work of post-production by leveraging the power of machine learning. In a vote of confidence, Noctal reeled in a $1.8 million in seed funding, with some pretty big names throwing their weight behind the venture, like the musician Grimes, Tony Kemp, and the investment firm Caruso Ventures.

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by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

All-Black Polo Team Makes Historic Debut In Atlanta

The team was established two years ago for students with little to no riding experience

The Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team made history as the first all-Black high school polo team to compete in the United States at the Soul Symphony Weekend on Sept. 19-21.

At the 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party, the BEST Academy team, co-founded by celebrity fashion designer Miguel Wilson, edged out the Star Creek Polo Club, 4-3. The three-day event included a black-tie gala, live fashion show, and multiple polo matches. Notable attendees included Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

The milestone is years in the making through the Ride to the Olympics Foundation, founded by philanthropist and fashion designer Miguel Wilson. Wilson co-founded the team in partnership with BEST Academy and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

“We are making history, and these young men are blazing a trail that we hope others will follow,” Wilson said in a statement.

“For too long, a socioeconomic barrier has kept most Black people from participating in polo and other equestrian sports. My foundation was created to dismantle that barrier, providing these students with access to the skills and opportunities that come with it. It’s about leveling the playing field.”

The team was established two years ago for students with little to no riding experience. The foundation covers horse rentals, uniforms, equipment, and lessons for underserved Black youth. BEST Academy Principal Robert Williams said the program is instilling more than technical skills in the academy’s students.

“The students have grown as leaders on campus and have really strived for excellence both on the field and off,” Williams said.

Quinn Ramsey a ninth-grade member of the team spoke to CBS Atlanta about the benefits of polo.

“When you’re on the horse, it gives you like kind of confidence. And it’s like builds up bravery. It gives me courage,” Ramsey said.

Wilson, who co-founded the Morehouse Polo Club in 2019, has focused on increasing opportunities for Black youth in equestrian sports. Through Ride to the Olympics, he has expanded access to polo and other disciplines while using the sport to encourage leadership development.

All proceeds from the Soul Symphony Weekend benefit Ride to the Olympics, which will continue to support the BEST Academy team and build more youth polo programs nationwide.

by Jameelah Mullen

October 2, 2025

RISECon Heads To ATL, Bringing Tamika Mallory, Jamira Burley, and Rep. Justin Pearson

The organization aims to strengthen young voices in politics.

RISE, a youth-led nonprofit that aims to build students’ political power and make higher education more accessible and affordable, will bring together over 100 youth organizations and partners for The RISE Action Convening. Also known as RISECon, the conference aims to amplify the voices of young people in politics ahead of the 2026 election. The three-day event will take place from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12, 2025, in Atlanta.

“This isn’t another conference. This is a gathering of active digital organizers, storytellers, and change-makers who refuse to sit on the sidelines.”

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“Participants will leave connected with pros who shape narratives online and off — gaining real insight they can take back to their own communities and put into action.”

Confirmed speakers include community activists Tamika Mallory, Jamira Burley, and Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson.

Conference attendees will learn and test cross-platform strategies to boost interest in youth politics while developing tactics aimed at uniting youth voters and addressing voter suppression.

Leading the effort is Mary-Pat Hector, founder and CEO of RISE. At 19 years old, she is the youngest woman and person of color to run for public office in Georgia. The Spelman graduate founded the organization in 2017 and built a team of 400 youth organizers to spearhead voter engagement in Georgia. She outlined the organization’s goals in a 2023 interview with Ashley Hopkins for What’s Working.

“We train and activate and teach students about how they can organize and be their own advocates on campus, and we also build youth and student political power because we know we can advocate and make noise around issues every single day.“ Hector told the outlet.

Additionally, Hector helped shape President Biden’s student debt relief initiative by organizing a group of HBCU students to meet with White House officials from the National Economic Council and the Domestic Policy Council. Hector was among the youth community leaders to advise President Barack Obama on criminal justice reform.

Hector also serves as a member of Black Youth Vote Georgia, an organization dedicated to promoting voter registration and political participation through music and culture.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 2, 2025

Lionel Richie Says Life On The Road Contributed to Michael Jackson’s ‘Smelly’ Hygiene

Lionel Richie says the late King of Pop’s poor hygiene earned him another memorable nickname.

Lionel Richie is opening up about Michael Jackson’s poor hygiene habits.

In his newly released memoir, Truly, Richie gets candid about his friendship with Jackson and the King of Pop’s “eccentric” lifestyle. Having grown up in the spotlight under the guidance of his parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, Richie believes Jackson may have missed out on learning some basic lessons in personal care.

“Michael was very close with his siblings and his mom, but once he went solo, making these monster albums, movies and videos, he was in charge of his own ship,” Richie wrote in the book, according to People. “His day-to-day life was what you could call eccentric. Like an absent-minded professor but still a kid.”

As a result, the Thriller singer was given the nickname “Smelly” by producer Quincy Jones, the mastermind behind the iconic album.

“Michael would laugh too, realizing that he was oblivious to the fact that he hadn’t changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days or so,” wrote Richie. “We all have our quirks.”

Michael Jackson photographed in disguise, alongside Lionel Richie. pic.twitter.com/kEMli3A81V
— Zakk (@MJFellowship) August 21, 2023

Richie explained that the King of Pop’s shortcomings in personal hygiene made sense given his hectic yet low-maintenance lifestyle when he wasn’t on stage or in the spotlight.

“He was on tour performing in the elaborate costumes made for him by his stylists, or he was in his pajama bottoms and slippers in the studio or he was in his going-out attire,” Richie wrote. “Or he was at home in something loose and comfortable so he could practice his dance moves and play with his menagerie of pets.”

But even the “Hello” singer couldn’t deny that Jackson was often “smelly” whenever they were together.

“Whenever Michael came to visit me, he was wearing whatever—jeans and a t-shirt. And the jeans were either falling off him or too short to even be jeans and, well, smelly,” Richie wrote.

Richie believes life on the road kept Jackson from washing his clothes, and items sent to the dry cleaner often disappeared as “souvenirs.” As a result, Jackson “just got into the habit of wearing the same pants until they were unwearable,” Richie recalled.

As a supportive friend, Richie let Jackson shower at his home and provided him with fresh clothes.

“I drove him home, on his back streets, and he was sweet and thankful. As soon as I walked back into my house, I passed by the living room and noticed that there on the carpet was the pair of Michael Jackson’s underwear and his old ratty jeans. Just lying there like roadkill,” Richie recalled. “What do I do but laugh? MJ was here.”

Kamala Harris, security clearance, Trump, Joe Biden

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 2, 2025

Kamala Harris’ Controversial Anti-Truancy Law Canned By Gov. Gavin Newsom, Highlighting School Attendance Policies

Chronic absenteeism in California is decreasing

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has played his hand by ending the controversial policy that punished parents for their children’s chronic truancy, once sponsored by former Vice President Kamala Harris, Politico reports

Newsom signed the repeal bill AB 461 to end the 2011 policy supported by Harris when she held the title of state attorney general, which presented misdemeanor charges for parents if their children missed school on a repeated basis. With a “chronic truant” being defined as a child absent from class for 10% or more school days a year, Harris once argued that the measure was necessary to prevent youth from becoming “a menace to society hanging out on the corner.”

The controversy behind the policy followed her throughout her political career, including Harris’ tenure as a state senator. Critics highlighted how the measure criminalized parents, with media coverage showing mothers being put in handcuffs. Following local outrage, Harris dialed back her position in 2019, expressing her regret. “I regret that that has happened,” she once said.

“And the thought that anything I did could have led to that, because that certainly was not the intention.”

However, several critics of the policy admitted that the bill’s demise had “nothing to do with our former VP.” Bay Area Democrat Patrick Ahrens, who wrote the bill, said his own childhood experiences drove his motivation.

In other states, chronic truancy is a continuous problem. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of chronic truancy for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade in Louisiana has increased, according to Louisiana Illuminator. Data from the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana reveals the truancy rate across the state sat at an average of 36% but rose over 40% since the 2020-21 school year.

Some of the blame is on the difference in how truancy is defined at the state and federal levels. In Louisiana, truancy is described as having unexcused absences for five or more school days each semester. However, the U.S. Department of Education defines chronic absenteeism as students who miss 10% or more of their school days due to unexcused absences.

Back in the Golden State, truancy has decreased somewhat, but it is still considered a problem. Data from the Los Angeles Times highlights that chronic absenteeism decreased from its 2021-22 peak in 2021-2022, but it continues to be 50% higher than before the pandemic. With an estimated 48 million public school students between kindergarten and 12th grade, nearly one in four — 11 million students — miss out on school without an excuse.

Tampons, Scarlet by RedDrop, Black Ambition, period care,Pharrell williams

by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

Scarlet By RedDrop Brings Education-First Period Products To Ulta Beauty

Scarlet by RedDrop, an Atlanta-based menstrual product line focused on education, was founded by a mother and her daughter.

Scarlet by RedDrop, an Atlanta-based menstrual product line, is now available in Ulta Beauty.

Founded by mother-daughter duo Dana Roberts and Dr. Monica Williams, Scarlet by RedDrop focuses on making its education-first period products more affordable and accessible.

The company’s line of pads and liners is now available in 350 Ulta Beauty stores nationwide. The news was announced via Scarlet by RedDrop’s official Instagram.

“Scarlet by RedDrop has now arrived @ultabeauty. From our signature period kits to individual pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, everything is now available both online and in-store,” the post read.

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Scarlet by RedDrop’s received a boost when the company won the $1 million Black Ambition award.

Black Ambition, a nonprofit launched by Pharrell Williams in 2020, is focused on closing wealth gaps through entrepreneurship.

Each year, it awards millions in funding to innovators in consumer products, healthcare, tech and other industries. Scarlet by RedDrop’s success story represents one of the largest individual investments the initiative has made.

For Scarlet by RedDrop, the funding has accelerated its ability to expand its reach. Ulta Beauty, one of the nation’s largest specialty retailers, confirmed its partnership with the brand this year. The retailer said the move reflects consumer demand as well as the company’s commitment to carrying more products from underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Scarlet by RedDrop’s founders say they are committed to continuing to build a brand that not only sells products but educates girls about menstrual health. Next steps include expanding its product line and distribution channels. Thanks to a national retail partnership and backing from a high-profile initiative, Scarlet by RedDrop is certainly positioned to succeed in business and make a significant social impact.

coffee, break, wellness, health, mental, break, journal

by Mary Spiller

October 2, 2025

Ever Wonder What The World’s Wealthiest People Spend $290 Billion On?

Ultra-wealthy buyers spent $290 billion on luxury goods in 2024.

The globe’s wealthiest individuals are pouring record amounts into luxury living, with a new analysis showing they spent $290 billion on high-end goods last year.

The report, released by wealth intelligence firm Altrata and informed by Bain & Company’s research, highlights how the ultra-wealthy—defined as those worth more than $30 million—are reshaping the luxury market. Though they represent just .006% of the global population, this group controls nearly $60 trillion, or about one-third of the wealth held by all millionaires.

That concentration of resources is evident in their spending patterns. In 2024, this tiny fraction of society accounted for 21% of luxury purchases worldwide. Leading the way were business titans such as Elon Musk and Oracle’s Larry Ellison, whose fortunes exceed 12 figures.

Transportation dominated their expenditures. According to Altrata, the ultra-wealthy funneled $129.5 billion into cars, yachts, and private jets, with $100.9 billion spent on automobiles alone. Private aviation and luxury vessels added another $28.6 billion to the total. Bain reported earlier this year that yacht and jet sales — categories almost entirely funded by this demographic—rose 13% in 2024.

Smaller luxury segments also commanded major outlays. Jewelry, watches, designer fashion, wine, and furniture added up to $115.6 billion, while fine art contributed another $19.6 billion.

As middle-market shoppers have pulled back, many luxury labels have doubled down on courting the ultra wealthy. Heritage houses such as Hermès have thrived, while brands like Gucci, which broadened its reach through more affordable collaborations, have stumbled.

“There’s been a kind of a refocusing, probably an over-correction of the strategy, to focus on the top of the pyramid that was more resilient in a moment of turbulence,” Claudia D’Arpizio, Bain’s global head of fashion and luxury, told Business Insider last year.

The appetite for experiences is also expanding. Spending on luxury hospitality hit $25.3 billion in 2024, with wellness tourism, spa retreats, and high-end adventure travel like safaris seeing strong demand, Bain noted in its 2025 Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study.

Still, not all outlays go toward indulgence. While Altrata did not provide figures for philanthropy in 2024, the firm noted that in 2023 the ultrawealthy donated $207 billion—nearly matching what they spent on yachts and watches combined.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 2, 2025

Black Employee Loses Discrimination Case Filed Against Amazon After Being Placed On Performance Improvement Plan

The case came about as one of the first cases adhering to the Supreme Court ruling that employees aren’t required to show sustainable damage such as pay cuts, demotions or terminations to pursue federal employment discrimination claims.

A judge ruled in favor of Amazon in a discrimination lawsuit against a former Black employee who accused the company of diminishing her duties and placing her on a performance improvement plan, Reuters reports.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of New York claimed the plaintiff, former Amazon Music event producer Keesha Anderson, failed to prove the online retailer issued her a poor performance rating as an act of discrimination, in addition to waiting for a woman of Black or Hispanic descent to become her superior before questioning her work. Amazon, however, provided “legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons” as to why Anderson wasn’t promoted, highlighting the need for a strategist with skills she lacked.

The case arose as one of the first to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling that employees aren’t required to demonstrate sustainable damage, such as pay cuts, demotions, or terminations, to pursue federal employment discrimination claims. But then, in May 2024, the case took a turn when Anderson admitted to deleting conversations with coworkers and managers that had been secretly recorded.

Following, a “whistleblower” who came forward turned out to be the Hispanic manager who was quoted in Anderson’s original complaint, saying things that were never said. Amazon thought it would seal the deal in the case. However, while Judge Subramanian rejected a request to sanction Anderson and her lawyer, he mentioned the conduct “toes the line on what constitutes sanctionable conduct.” “Putting the now-discredited allegations concerning the ‘whistleblower’ to the side, the case paints a picture of a run-of-the-mill workplace, maybe even one with more positivity than usual,” the judge wrote in his decision.

While disappointed in the court’s ruling, Anderson’s lawyer, Jessie Djata, released a statement saying the case is more about equal opportunity from one of the world’s largest companies. “We continue to believe that our client was subjected to discrimination (and) raised important concerns about fairness and equal opportunity at one of the world’s largest companies,” Djata said.

Anderson left Amazon in February 2022 after two and a half years, but before leaving, she claimed the ordeal resulted in her being excluded from meetings and events, having her ideas dumped, and being limited to administrative tasks, before being put on a performance improvement plan based on what was labeled as “trumped up” allegations.

Amazon isn’t new to accusations of discrimination and lawsuits. Disabled employees working for the company at the corporate level have accused the retail conglomerate of engaging in “systemic discrimination” while arguing their requests for accommodations have been denied in “automated” ways, according to The Guardian.

Employees also allege that messages have been repeatedly removed, as well as a petition posted on an employee Slack channel.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 2, 2025

Diddy To Speak On His Own Behalf At Sentencing

Sentencing is set for Oct. 3.

When Sean “Diddy” Combs’ is sentenced Oct. 3 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, his attorney says the music mogul intends to speak before Judge Arun Subramanian issues his ruling, The Independent reports.

Diddy’s attorneys notified the judge of their client’s request when they asked for the case to be dismissed and/or for a new trial to be ordered.

“The sentencing proceeding holds significant importance for Mr. Combs. He wishes to appear before the Court, address Your Honor, and allocute in the most dignified and respectful fashion possible,” Teny Geragos, an attorney for Diddy, wrote in the filing submitted Sept. 26.

Along with that request, the attorney said the music producer wants to be allowed to wear “non-prison” clothing when he appears before the court.

Federal prosecutors had requested that the entertainment mogul receive a sentence of “at least 135 months’ imprisonment,” along with a fine of $500,000. The maximum sentence for each charge is 10 years. Diddy faces a total of 20 years for the two charges he was found guilty on.

Subramanian denied the defense’s request for a new trial or an acquittal but said Diddy “is permitted to have one button-down shirt, one pair of pants, one sweater, and one pair of shoes without laces to wear to court,” when he replied to the defense’s request on Sept. 30.

Diddy, 55, has been in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest.

by Mary Spiller

October 2, 2025

Jasmine Ray To Publish Memoir Claiming Past Romance With Mayor Eric Adams

The memoir is described as an unveiling of hidden truths

Jasmine Ray, a former member of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s administration, is preparing to release a self-published memoir that she says will expose a personal relationship she once shared with the mayor.

The book, Political Humanity: A Memoir of Love, Legacy & New York City Politics, is scheduled to be released in October. Ray previously worked as the city’s director of the Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness, and Recreation, a position often referred to as “sports czar.” She stepped down in late September, just before Adams confirmed he would end his pursuit of another term, as reported by WBLS.

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On her website, Ray describes the memoir as an unveiling of hidden truths. “From the shadows of City Hall to the silence of closed-door meetings, Jasmine Ray reveals her untold role in the life of New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams,” the book description reads. The summary points to themes of “intimacy, sacrifice, and betrayal.

To promote the book, Ray also posted an AI-generated trailer on Instagram. The video depicts digital renderings of herself and Adams in both professional and romantic contexts, paired with voiceovers alluding to legal investigations surrounding the mayor.

Ray has said their relationship occurred about 10 years ago, though City Hall officials have drawn a clearer boundary. Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for the mayor, acknowledged the pair once “dated” but insisted there was no overlap between their personal history and their government work. “The relationship was professional while working together,” Mamelak said.

Adams himself has not denied that he and Ray were involved in the past but has dismissed the book’s framing of their connection. His office maintains that any personal relationship took place before she entered city service.

The memoir emerges at a turbulent time for Adams, who ended his re-election campaign last month amid difficulties with fundraising, sagging poll numbers, and unrelenting media attention. Some political observers suggest the timing of Ray’s book could intensify public scrutiny. “If Ms. Ray’s account is credible, it could change public perception,” one commentator noted.

Ray’s publicist has not yet answered questions about the release, and the mayor’s office has declined to expand on earlier statements.