• Technology

by Derek Major

December 6, 2022

Electric Vehicle Plant In Georgia Was A Big Achievement For Sen. Raphael Warnock But Republicans Are Ignoring His Contributions

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In his two years as a senator, Rev. Raphael Warnock has had several significant legislative wins; now, Republicans are using an electric vehicle plant slated for construction in Georgia to hurt his record.

The New York Times reports Warnock’s accomplishments in office include science funding for HBCU schools, infrastructure grants for the Peach State’s highway-rail intersections, and creating new programs to boost maternal healthcare.

However, his contributions are being ignored regarding the Hyundai electric vehicle plant located outside Savannah. The e-vehicle plant will employ more than 8,000 state residents by 2025. Although Warnock was part of the effort to bring the plant to Georgia and held a shovel at the groundbreaking, he did not speak at the ceremony, and Republicans have refused to give him credit for the plant, instead saying state officials secured the plant.

President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act included significant incentives for producing and purchasing electric vehicles. Additionally, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which Warnock supported, also earmarked $20 million for the Peach State to build charging stations across the state. The senator has also supported other efforts to combat climate change and boost infrastructure.

“From securing strong federal funding to boost U.S. microchip manufacturing to championing investments in expanding E.V. charging infrastructure in Georgia, Reverend Warnock has a proven track record of working alongside Georgia automakers,” Michael J. Brewer, a Warnock campaign spokesman, told the Times.

While Republicans have ignored Warnock’s contributions to the Savannah e-vehicle plant, they’ve also blamed him for things that aren’t his fault.

South Korean officials took issue with details of the tax incentives that Warnock voted for in the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided up to $4,000 in credits to U.S. consumers who buy e-vehicles in the U.S. but not imported vehicles from Asia.

According to Hyundai officials, the Savannah site was driven by tax incentives and other bonuses offered by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. The “buy American” requirement was not a factor in the deal but is considered a disadvantage to importers.

Cody Hall, a Kemp advisor, told the Times that Warnock could have forced the consumer tax credit to include imported vehicles, at least until the plant was completed.

Warnock did push for a broader consumer incentive. However, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who has largely defeated the climate goals of the Biden administration by himself, turned the issue into a “take it or leave it,” as he was happy with no financial incentives at all.

Hyundai is still expected to receive billions in tax incentives for the plant, including $10 billion in manufacturing tax credits for the plant’s construction and another $30 billion in tax credits for batteries and battery components.

“It’s just an implausible assertion that the senator doesn’t get credit for one of the top priorities that he’s been driving in Washington, boosting U.S. clean energy and autos manufacturing,” Ali A. Zaidi, the White House climate adviser, said last week, according to the Times.

Uncle Funky’s Daughter launched a College Athlete Brand Ambassador program to empower student athletes of color to push limits, break barriers and create change for a more equitable future.

With this program, the brand aims to encourage youth to celebrate their individuality and uniqueness and embrace the beauty of their curly and textured hair with natural hair products that love them back, according to a press release.

With her passion for basketball and her winning mindset, Haley Jones was named Most Outstanding Player of 2021 NCAA Tournament. While being an exceptional basketball player, there were times when Jones battled with insecurities and didn’t feel like she fit in. Going through her natural hair journey and learning to embrace her curls, Jones realized that female athletes have a voice that can be used to create change.

“I love being able to inspire the next generation and help them work through problems and give them a role model that I didn’t have,” Jones said.

By partnering with a brand like Uncle Funky’s Daughter, Haley Jones hopes to become a role model for everyone who experiences similar struggles and insecurities.

Renee Morris, CEO of Uncle Funky’s Daughter, said: “I am so excited that Haley has chosen to partner with us. Haley is a woman with confidence, grace, and a clear understanding of who she is and how she wants to represent herself to the world.”

“I am looking forward to watching her blossom on the court and beyond. She is a true Funky Junky!”

About Uncle Funky’s Daughter

Uncle Funky’s Daughter is a Black and woman owned hair care brand created in 2009 with a mission to support women, men, and children in their quest to confidently showcase their beauty—naturally.

Uncle Funky’s Daughter curates high-quality all-natural hair products that are designed to naturally satisfy every curl in the world. Free of sulfates, parabens and harsh chemicals, Uncle Funky’s Daughter products are available to shop at www.unclefunkysdaughter.com or select retail stores.

About Haley Jones

Haley Jones is a college basketball player for the Stanford Cardinal of the Pac-12 Conference. In High School, Jones was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American. As a five-star recruit, Jones was ranked the number one recruit in the 2019 class by ESPN. In 2021, she was named an all-conference selection in the Pac-12.

On Friday, Dec. 2nd, Urban One taped the 5th annual URBAN ONE HONORS in Atlanta, Ga. The two-hour telecast will premiere on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, on TV One and CLEO TV, a division of Urban One, and will be hosted by R&B singer and actor, Tank.

The televised event heralds the accomplishments of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in entertainment, media, music, politics, education, and the community.

Under the theme, celebrating “Icons of the Culture,” this year’s honoree class recognized an esteemed group of individuals. Honorees are Entertainment Icon Honor, two times GRAMMY and NAACP Image Award winner, LL Cool J, the first ever Phoenix Honor to award-winning entertainer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Bobby Brown, Inspirational Impact Honor, NAACP Image Award winner David Mann and his wife, GRAMMY Award winner, Tamela Mann (TV One’s “The Manns”), Lifetime Achievement Honor recipient Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and the Music Innovation Honor to thirteen times GRAMMY Award-winning Artist/Producer/Songwriter Pharrell Williams.

The 5th Urban One Honors included a performance by Keke Wyatt; and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with DJ Spinderella (Salt-N-Pepa), Monie Love and Doug E. Fresh. This year’s annual celebration also included special appearances by: T.I. (award-winning artist, actor), Pusha T (artist), Marvin Sapp (TV One original film “Never Would Have Made It”), Rev. Run (Run DMC, “Run’s House”), Lamman Rucker (TV One original film “Bad Dad Rehab: The Next Session”) and Michelle Rice (TV One/CLEO TV President).

GRAMMY Award winning singer and actress LeToya Luckett will host a special backstage pass segment, featuring exclusive interviews with the show’s honorees, performers, and presenters.

URBAN ONE HONORS is Executive Produced by Eric Tomosunas and James Seppelfrick of Swirl Films. Daniel Moore serves as the Musical Director. Marilyn Gill serves as Executive Producer. Kashon Powell is the Vice President of Programming for Radio One and Susan Henry is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production for TV One.

For more information on the Urban One Honors visit TVOne.tv.

Major League Baseball (MLB), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. jointly announced today the launch of the inaugural “HBCU Swingman Classic,” an annual All-Star experience for baseball student-athletes from Division-I programs at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU).

The philanthropic and educational event, which will center around an “All-Star” Game, will be held during 2023 MLB All-Star Week in July at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, the franchise for which Griffey Jr. played for 13 seasons during his legendary career.

The HBCU Swingman Classic, which will be powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, will highlight the history and legacy of HBCU baseball programs while also providing 50 HBCU baseball players with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage. The student-athletes will be selected by a committee that will include Griffey Jr., representatives from MLB and MLBPA, and scouts. Additional details about the HBCU Swingman Classic will be announced in the months ahead.

Griffey Jr., who is an Ambassador for the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, said: “I am excited to help these kids get the national attention that they don’t receive compared to other college baseball programs. Over the years, we have seen the decline of African American players, not because they don’t want to play, but rather because they haven’t been seen. College scholarships for baseball are not comparative to other sports, and a lot of families cannot afford to pay the difference. So, this effort is the industry coming together to give these kids an opportunity to play the game they love on the national stage. Financial restrictions prevent them from going to schools that give more exposure.  The HBCU Swingman Classic will try and close that gap.”

“Major League Baseball is thrilled to continue to work alongside Ken Griffey Jr. and the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation to bring this groundbreaking event to MLB All-Star Week,” said Tony Reagins, Chief Baseball Development Officer, MLB. “Highlighting the talent at HBCU Baseball programs is an important part of how we connect with college baseball while also improving African American representation at all levels of our game.  We are excited to offer this opportunity to these players and for our fans to witness this new All-Star experience.”

“Players believe that creating opportunities to showcase underserved Black baseball talent will result in a more competitive and exciting game in years to come,” said MLBPA Senior Director, International and Domestic Player Operations Leonor Colon.

“The Midsummer Classic can become an important vehicle to achieve that goal.”

“As the industry’s joint foundation, we are proud to create and invest in new opportunities to level the playing field and ensure that a family’s financial means isn’t a defining limit to having their youth play baseball,” said Jean Lee Batrus, MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Executive Director. “Our friend, Ken Griffey Jr., has been a tireless ambassador helping us achieve our organization’s goals. We are excited to launch the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic as a unique and innovative experience to highlight African American talent on a national stage and encourage finding solutions to improving college scholarships for baseball.”

MLB All-Star Week in 2023 will be hosted by the Mariners in Seattle from Friday, July 7 through Tuesday, July 11. The HBCU Swingman Classic is the latest major event added to the schedule of the annual Midsummer Classic, joining the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, the Sirius-XM All-Star Futures Game, All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, the MLB Draft, the High School All-American Game and a series of youth and fan engagement activities.

The HBCU Swingman Classic joins the annual Hank Aaron Invitational as youth-oriented and diversity-focused programs powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint initiative by MLB and MLBPA to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and internationally.

Historically, many HBCU alumni have reached Major League Baseball, including Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Lou Brock as well as Marquis Grissom, Rickie Weeks, Jr., Vince Coleman, Tommie Agee, Tom Alston, Earl Battey, Joe Black and others. Hall of Famer Larry Doby is also an HBCU alumnus, but did not play baseball at the collegiate level.

Oscar Edwards, the serial entrepreneur whose built a legacy in Downtown Oakland, Calif., with dining and entertainment concepts like LA’s famous Trap Kitchen Oakland and the Complex Oakland concert hall, is expanding his unique empire beyond the Bay Area with a new coastal cuisine concept in Houston, Texas.

Edwards’ latest restaurant venture, called “Cali”, is slated to open in Houston in January 2023. The bar/restaurant is a culinary infusion of culture, California flavors and Texas Cajun cuisine that will feature Trap Kitchen signature favorites, like their famous pineapple bowls and lobster pizza, along with specialty dishes from viral Instagram chefs and some of California’s most popular restaurants all under one roof!

Cali will join a line-up of half a dozen successful businesses Edwards has created with passion and community-focused intention. The pioneering entrepreneur, who launched his first hospitality venture right out of college at the age of 22, was the youngest person of color to own a liquor license in Northern California and the first African American to own a concert venue in the state.

“I have been around hospitality and marketing since I was a kid and worked in many aspects of the business from a young age,” said Edwards.

“It’s in my blood. My dad was a football star-turned-marketing economics expert, and my mom was event planner who started the Los Angeles Black Business Expo.”

Growing up in Southern California, Edwards went to school at Crenshaw Christian Center, and spent most of his time between Compton and Long Beach. He started deejaying at age 11, launched his own DJ business at age 13, and became one of Northern California’s top DJs during the Hyphy Movement of the late 1990’s/early 2000’s.

The budding entrepreneur played basketball at San Francisco State University, overseeing the Associated Students Finance and Creative Arts Department, and worked at Warner Bros Records, Capital Records, Clear Channel Media Base, and Deejayed on-air, before opening Complex Oakland; a multi-level arts, concert and entertainment facility on 14th Street, in the heart of a historically Black neighborhood in Oakland’s downtown theater district.

For the past 15 years, Edwards has been building a small empire on 14th Street with businesses including Complex Oakland, the Trap Kitchen Oakland restaurant, Trap Kitchen Food Truck, fast-casual restaurant Mac Attack, the Culture nightclub, and the 14th Street Market, all of which are helping make inroads for Black entrepreneurs and uplifting the community.

“For me, it’s all about providing what is needed to people in neighborhoods and communities and reinvesting those dollars back into that community,” said Edwards.

“When you build a business with community-focused intention, respect the people and culture, and keep the dollars in that community, it leaves a legacy for everyone else.”

Edwards’ 14^th Street businesses were thriving when the pandemic hit. His entertainment and hospitality businesses – the concert venue, the nightclub and the dine-in restaurant- were shut down. Forced to let go of his entire restaurant staff, he worked in the Trap Kitchen by himself and flipped the business during the pandemic to become one of the top delivery services on DoorDash.

His businesses are located in Oakland’s Black Arts Movement Business District – the site of historic civil rights protests. When the George Floyd movement reached a fever pitch, the one convenience store in his neighborhood that sold groceries, a Walgreens, was set on fire.

“I realized then there was nowhere in this area to get groceries, not just convenience goods, but fresh, healthier foods,” said Edwards.

“I started researching food deserts, found a gym that went under due to the pandemic, worked in the Kitchen by day and started building a grocery store by night.”

After six months of licensing, permits and securing vendors, Edwards opened the 14th Street Market, another pioneering Black-owned business, introducing healthy, affordable options like fresh produce and baked goods, along with corner store staples and grab-and-go meals, to his downtown neighborhood.

With all of his businesses now back up and running in California, Edwards is embarking on new venture in a Houston community rich in cultural diversity, with a thriving dining scene. His vision is to share a variety of California cuisine, culture, and costal signature drinks with Houstonians at his new Cali restaurant.

Edwards is transforming a 7,500 square foot restaurant, located at 12910 Northwest Freeway in Houston, into a cool urban eatery with a West Coast vibe. The venue will have a full sports bar, live entertainment, and a menu curated by Edwards, Malachi “Spank” Jenkins and Roberto “News” Smith, the former rival gang members and Compton Chefs who founded LA’s famous Trap Kitchen empire.

For Edwards, and the Trap Kitchen group, “Trap,” is an inspirational acronym to “take risks and prosper” and put that prosperity back into the community; a mantra he lives by with each new business he launches.

His new Cali restaurant concept is expected to open in Houston in January 2023.

Our former FLOTUS wants America to make the choice to ‘go high.’

Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama explained the meaning behind her memorable motto, “When they go low, we go high,” which she said in a speech during the 2016 Democratic National Convention, supporting Hilary Clinton‘s presidential campaign.

During a November appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Obama broke down what she meant by the catchphrase.

“Do we really have to ‘go high’ when they go low,” Colbert asked?

“I totally understand going high when somebody goes low,” Colbert told her, “but the bar is so low that staying at your own altitude still means higher. Do I actually have to go up here or can I just be normal? Do I have to be a saint? Because down here, I’m pissed off!”

“For me, going high is not losing the urgency, or the passion, or the rage, especially when you are justified in it,” Obama said.

“Going high means finding the purpose in your rage. Rage without reason, without a plan, without direction is just more rage. And we’ve been living in a lot of rage.”

“I’m trying to push us to think about solutions that will actually unite us and get us focused on the real problem. That’s what I mean when I say ‘go high.’” – @MichelleObama

More from the former First Lady TONIGHT on @CBS & @ParamountPlus at 11:35/10:35c. #Colbert pic.twitter.com/yRNCYVWsHB

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) November 15, 2022

The Independent reported that Obama explained going low as a quick fix that does not solve anything over the long term.

According to the latest report, there may be other reasons why executives from ABC News removed T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach from GMA3: What You Need To Know after the discovery that the two were romantically involved.

According to Page Six, Robach is not the first woman on set whom Holmes has engaged in extramarital affairs with. It is alleged that, along with a romance with Robach and producer Natasha Singh, the still-married co-host has had several other romances with women who are on the staff of the third hour of Good Morning America.

Page Six previously reported that Holmes and Singh had been an item for three years, starting back in 2016.

Singh, who was based in Los Angeles during that time, left the show in 2018 and moved to New York. She started a gig as a producer for a rival program, CBS Mornings. At that point, Holmes and Robach supposedly started spending more time together.

Holmes’ wife, Marilee Fiebig, discovered the two were having an affair in 2019, after finding several emails between Holmes and Singh.

Now, according to various sources behind the scenes, this may be one of the issues that resulted in him being dismissed, according to the outlet.

“T.J.’s cheating with ABC staffers was definitely one of the reasons why they were yanked off,” says a source. “It has become a distraction.”

Also, the insider stated that Holmes’ attitude may have contributed to his dismissal.

“He’s also a d—k to producers. No one likes working with him. He yells and has the biggest ego.”

According to TMZ, executives at ABC News decided on Monday to take the co-hosts off the air after finding out that the two were seeing each other. Initially, executives dismissed it as being between two consenting adults, stating that the relationship did not violate company policy.

But, during an editorial call on Monday, ABC News President Kim Godwin called the relationship an “internal and external distraction.” She also told staff members, “If you think there is something that management needs to know, you can always call HR or, as we’ve said, talk to a manager that you trust. If you think there is something that we need to know.”

Last week, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that the hosts of GMA3: What You Need To Know were entangled in a romantic relationship, according to The Daily Mail. Although both hosts are separated, Holmes is still legally married to attorney Marilee Fiebig, while Robach is still married to Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue.

• Sisters Inc

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 6, 2022

Here’s What Happens When 25,000 Women Go Vegan Together

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Award-winning public health nutritionist, 35-year vegan activist, and best-selling author Tracye McQuirter, MPH, recently held another free 21-Day Vegan Fresh Start program from September 18 – October 9, 2022 and the results were extraordinary.

This marks the fourth free 21-Day Vegan Fresh Start program as part of McQuirter’s 10 Million Black Vegan Women Movement, a revolutionary public health intervention that is changing the health paradigm of Black women now and for generations to come, according to a release.

The 21-Day Vegan Fresh Start continues to attract a sizable cohort of women, with 3,705 enrolling. Participants who responded to the post-program survey obtained remarkable health benefits from the 21-Day Vegan Fresh Start:

• An astounding 77% of the respondents ate 80-100% of their meals completely vegan, tying the 2020 10K Vegan Fresh Start program for an all-time high.
• The high intake of nutritious, plant-based foods contributed to weight loss for 72% of respondents, ranging from 1.2 to 15 pounds and improved general health for 71%.
• Remarkably, 14% of respondents addressed specific health conditions as a result of program participation.
• Other notable gains attributed to the program include: lowered blood pressure and cholesterol for 43% and 39% of the respondents, respectively.
• A significant number of respondents (54%) reported having more energy, increased mental clarity (43%) and strengthened immunity (20%).

“I couldn’t be happier with the results we saw after this program,” said Tracye McQuirter, MPH. “We are truly changing the way Black women look at nutrition and health proving we really are what we eat. I encourage Black women looking to change their lives to check out 10MillionBlackVeganWomen.org/freshstart and join our incredible community.”

Data shows the 21-Day Vegan Fresh Start effectively promotes, educates and prepares women to live a healthy vegan lifestyle. Amazingly, 64% of the respondents ate more vegetables, 60% enjoyed cooking more, 59% gained confidence in going vegan and an impressive number (43%) learned how to prepare meals. And it doesn’t stop there, as a smaller, yet growing number of respondents(17%) experienced a greater commitment to the environment and 10% sensed a greater compassion for animals.

McQuirter’s free 21-Day Vegan Fresh Start programs have helped thousands of Black women experience life-changing health benefits, including weight loss, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improved mood and cognitive function, and more.

Tracye McQuirter is a transformative leader in the field of plant-based nutrition and Black women’s health, and has been helping people go vegan for more than 30 years. McQuirter created 10 MIllion Black Vegan Women to change the paradigm of Black women’s health. She is the author of Ageless Vegan and By Any Greens Necessary, and created the first free African American Vegan Starter Guide. The New York Times cited her work as a key factor driving the rise in veganism among African Americans. McQuirter was also an advisor for the Black Women’s Health Imperative and Spelman College, and an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia Center for Nutrition, Diet, and Health. McQuirter has a Master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Black Studies from Amherst College.

For more information, please visit: 10millionblackveganwomen.org/freshstart/.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 6, 2022

Black-owned Fiber and Material Science Firm Aja Labs Raises $2.5M Ahead of Launching Patent-Pending Hair Extensions Made From Plants

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Aja Labs has raised $2.5MM in a seed round of funding led by Impact America Fund, Better Ventures, and SOSV’s IndieBio, with participating changemakers across public health, business, beauty, and cosmetics, including Diishan Imira, CEO of Mayvenn, a beauty-tech company and platform for hairstylists that closed a $40MM Series C in Summer 2022.

The money will fuel Aja Lab’s move from development to commercialization of their first product, biomaterial hair fibers made from plant material sold under the consumer brand Nourie, according to a release.

Aja Labs is a venture-backed materials innovation company creating the next generation of safe-for-people and safe-for-the-planet fibers and materials by collaborating with nature. Nourie, the company’s first consumer brand, features patent-pending hair extensions, including a time-release function, delivering a nutrient complex over time during wear.

Aja Labs is comprised of a team of Black scientists and innovators. Their first product was developed in conjunction with North Carolina State University.

Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Osahon Ojeaga started her career in Silicon Valley, working for startups in fintech and software as a service.

The current $13B hair extension industry is dominated by products made overseas with low-quality, irritant-laden petrochemical-based plastics that often cause discomfort for the wearer. By market estimations, the average hair extension wearer spends upwards of $5,000 annually on the product and service costs associated with their hair.

Comparatively, Aja Labs uses domestic sourcing and manufacturing that honors the interconnectedness of sustainability and human wellness to develop a better-for-you and better-for-the-planet product that prioritizes scalp and hair health.

“Beauty and fashion technology are the material representations of our culture and the items that come in contact with our bodies daily,” said Ojeaga.

“Black women, in particular, have been subjected to some of the lowest quality materials by way of fashion and beauty products, leading to irritation, contamination, and disease. We are championing a new future in which sustainability and wellness are paramount. From both an economic and a cultural perspective, better-made hair extensions are a meaningful flagship endeavor for us.”

Kesha Cash, the Founder and General Partner of Impact America Fund, said, “Aja Labs is paving an exciting new path in the field of materials science by inviting Black women into the biomaterials revolution and envisioning a world where we can look and feel good without compromising our health or the environment. We’re thrilled to join Osahon and the brilliant team that she’s built as they embark on the bright path ahead.”

The strategic group of angels and investors includes Overlap Holdings, Joshua Mailman Foundation, Making of Black Angels & Commune Angels, Debut Capital, and generous individual contributions.

Aja Labs will use the funds to accelerate go-to-market strategies for Nourie, make strategic hires in growth and operations, and further push patented research and development.