In a move to possibly combat former Miami Dolphins head coac, Brian Flores‘ discrimination lawsuit, the National Football League (NFL) is assembling a diversity hiring committee to review its hiring practices.

• Sports

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 29, 2022

Kevin Durant’s Boardroom Joins First-Ever Collegiate Partnership With St. John’s Department of Athletics

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The St. John’s Department of Athletics announced the first-ever collegiate partnership with Boardroom that will further enhance the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) resources available to Red Storm student-athletes.

Boardroom, a sports business media network founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, has become a premier source of sports, entertainment, and culture news and insights, including reporting on deals and development in the NIL space.

As the newest partner of St. John’s UNLIMITED program—an all-encompassing educational, networking and leadership platform—Boardroom will serve as an exclusive editorial partner around select NIL announcements, help amplify storytelling and content development, and provide unique access and experiences with Boardroom executives. The program will officially launch on Wednesday, Mar. 30 as part of St. John’s Student-Athlete Career Night at Carnesecca Arena, according to a press release.

“There is no question that our partnership with Boardroom will help take St. John’s UNLIMITED to new heights,” said St. John’s director of athletics Mike Cragg.

“It will provide such unique opportunities for our student-athletes to maximize their NIL potential and leverage key networking and professional resources by connecting with the talented team at Boardroom right here in New York City.”

As part of the partnership, Boardroom will maintain an on-site presence at St. John’s, notably through speaking engagements and participating in professional events with a focus on the latest trends in NIL and sports business.

“I’ve been a St. John’s fan my whole life, and it’s really important to what we’re building at Boardroom that we’re able to connect directly with the next generation of student-athletes and young entrepreneurial minds,” said Kleiman, co-founder and CEO of Boardroom/Thirty Five Ventures. “This is just the beginning of Boardroom’s true connectivity with athletes at the university level.”

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 29, 2022

Meet the 2 Women Giving Black-Owned Businesses a Winning Edge Through Free Digital Marketing Training

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Danielle McGee, the founder and CEO of a social enterprise called Black Business Boom, and Tee Wilson, the company’s creative director and chief marketing officer (CMO), have formed major partnerships to launch a training initiative that provides entrepreneurs with the strategies and services to not just survive but thrive in today’s digital economy.

Sponsored by Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) and facilitated by Black Business Boom (BBB), 50 Black entrepreneurs from Minneapolis, Minn., Indianapolis, Ind., and Memphis, Tenn. have already received in-depth training in digital marketing, brand development, advertising, and social media campaigns. Held in December 2021, the courses featured low-cost and easily implemented strategies for launching and growing a business in a digital world.

CARE has a special interest in growing Black wealth and promoting social justice in housing, jobs, voting, police reform, and more. Therefore, the partnership is a perfect fit.

Preparing disadvantaged businesses for success

Danielle, who is an expert in digital marketing and professor at Tennessee State University, comments, “The mission of Black Business Boom is to help minority-owned businesses become more competitive in the digital marketplace to increase their brand awareness and profits.”

Her company’s 12-week specialty cohort, known as Boomin University, provides business owners with the opportunity to learn effective digital marketing, and walk away with tangible marketing assets to execute what they learn.

Even more, CARE has provided numerous grants to help Black-owned businesses recover from the economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, approximately $2 million in funding has been distributed to almost 200 businesses, each receiving grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to make a major impact on the Black entrepreneurial community,” says Danielle.

“From the day we launched, our company has existed to empower Black entrepreneurs. This partnership will give us the scale we need to make a major difference.”

Taking it to the next level

Digital marketing is important to all businesses, but it can make or break minority-owned businesses that are historically under-funded and under-resourced. Boomin University gives Black entrepreneurs an opportunity to bridge the gap by providing education, coaching and services they may otherwise not have the budget to secure on their own.

Under the direction of Danielle and Tee Wilson, the company’s creative director and chief marketing officer (CMO), Black Business Boom worked one-on-one with selected Black-owned companies to develop tailored action plans and ensure every participant was prepared to launch and execute what they learned.

“These are not templated, boilerplate paint-by-numbers campaigns,” explains Danielle.

“This community is as rich and diverse as the culture itself. Each owner we help has a unique set of goals and challenges. Our job is to give them the tools they need to meet those challenges head-on.”

To select participants, Black Business Boom worked closely with local organizations to find new businesses that could benefit from the training. These organizations included:

– Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA)
– Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis
– Coalition to Back Black Businesses
– Indy Black Chamber of Commerce

Once selected, each entrepreneur received an in-depth training program. Touting a robust curriculum, the program touches on the most important aspects of digital marketing. Boomin University courses include:

– Digital branding
– Canva 101
– Branded social media campaigns
– Website building
– SEO strategies
– Email and list building
– Social media marketing
– Digital media campaigns
– Targeted advertising
– Creating video content
– Sales funnels
– Google suites and more

Proficiency in these skills will allow businesses to gain a competitive edge and position themselves for unstoppable growth.

Tee has been impressed with the experience.

She comments, “We’ve all heard the old metaphor about how a fish will feed someone for a day but learning to fish will feed them for life. We’re in a position here to do both.”

She adds, “We get to provide black-owned businesses with extraordinarily successful, targeted campaigns, and then we get to endow them with the tools to replicate that success over and over.”

This article first appeared on Blackbusiness.com. 

• Technology

by Derek Major

March 29, 2022

Former Parkwood Entertainment COO Steve Pamon Named President Of Verzuz

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The former president and COO of Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment, Steve Pamon, has been named the president of the music series Verzuz.

The virtual music series was started by producers Timbaland and Swizz Beats during the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The series quickly became as famed artists from the past and present played their best hits while millions around the world watched from their homes. The series eventually evolved from two artists playing their hits to live concerts, including last year’s concert with Method Man and Redman to celebrate April 20th.

According to a press release, Pamon will oversee Verzuz and manage its operation including programming, live events, and partnerships.CEO Mahi de Silva of Triller, which owns Verzuz, said in a statement that Pamon is the right man for the job.

“Steve is the proverbial triple threat. His exceptional track record and reputation across Parkwood Entertainment, the NFL, and HBO, delivering global entertainment innovation, and his devotion to respect and lift culture makes his stewardship of the Verzuz brand the perfect match,” de Silva said. “Verzuz is a cultural phenomenon and Steve’s leadership is a perfect complement to Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, who continue to curate the iconic Verzuz events. Steve will accelerate the Verzuz platform to new heights.”

Under Pamon’s leadership, Verzuz will continue its support of artists and the hip-hop and music culture. The series has been a big part of the change in media during the pandemic to live events you can watch from the comfort of your home.

Swizz Beats and Timbaland also allocated a portion of their equity in the Verzuz series to the 43 artists that initially performed in the series. The series is also expanding into Verzuz Gamez, Verzuz Iconz, Verzuz Sportz, Verzuz Comedy, and beyond.

The two producers released a joint statement saying Pamon wants to keep the same energy and artist-fist initiative of Verzuz.

“Verzuz was born in the culture, and it thrived because it believed in it. Steve showed the culture nothing but respect from our first conversations,” they said. “He understood what Verzuz meant to the millions of viewers who made it what it is, and he wanted to preserve the same energy and magic. This is another beginning for Verzuz.”

Anthony Anderson’s wife of 22 years, Alvina Anderson, has filed to end their marriage.

But this divorce petition wouldn’t be the first attempt.

PEOPLE reported that Anderson’s second divorce filing was placed last Friday, March 25. According to court documents, Alvina cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for her separation from the 51-year-old Black-ish actor. The pair are college sweethearts who married in September 1999 and share two adult children: Nathan, 22, and Kyra, 26.

According to reports, the couple met while studying at Howard University in the 80s. Anthony has shared the story during multiple interviews about his personal life.

“My sophomore year [1989], her freshman year, I knew a girl who lived in the apartment, so I went to knock on the door to invite her to this party that I and my buddies were having. My wife answered the door. I was like, ‘I was coming to invite Stacey to this party we’re having.’ Stacey didn’t show up, but my wife did—and we have been together ever since that night. And I was just me: I got there early, she didn’t see anybody else, she was, ‘All right, I’m gonna rock out with this dude!’ We got married on our 10-year anniversary,” he recalled.

The mother of two, whose maiden name is Stewart, wants her legal fees paid and seeks spousal support from the actor despite the marked date of separation as “TBD.” She has also requested that property acquired during the marriage be split between her and Anthony.

“All gifts and inheritance, all assets, earnings, accumulations, and debts acquired by Petitioner prior to the date of marriage and after the date of separation, the exact nature and extent of which are unknown,” the newly filed documents read.

In 2015, E! News reported that Alvina filed for divorce after being separated since April 2014 but asked the judge to dismiss the petition after she and Anthony reconciled their differences in 2017.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

March 29, 2022

‘GMA’ Viewers Blast TJ Holmes’ Opinions On Will Smith’s Shocking Slap

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During a live segment, GMA’s Oscar correspondent T.J. Holmes had some strong words regarding the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock during the Academy Awards.

But viewers disagreed with Holmes’ opinions and unapologetically expressed their disappointment on social media.

Live from the new Oscar museum, Holmes went in on his opinions about Smith’s slap, describing the incident as “awful” and “ugly.”

“It was embarrassing, it was confusing,” he said, according to Deadline.

Will Smith hits Chris Rock in heated on-stage moment at the #Oscars. @tjholmes has more on the shocking slap. https://t.co/j49Ummie6A pic.twitter.com/c38H28ePjM

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 28, 2022

Producer Will Packer made history leading the first all-Black production team in the history of the 94th annual Oscars, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. Holmes made light of this achievement while expressing his disappointment in Smith’s actions.

“On a night where this entire production, the entire Oscar show was done for the first time by an all-Black producing team, here we are leading off the show and the story of the morning is about one man assaulting another on the Oscar stage.”

Following aired segments on the incident, Holmes continued to unleash his judgment.

“This was awful, unfortunate and out of character behavior from Will Smith who we’ve all spent a whole lot of time with over the years.” His fellow host mates, George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts, echoed his opinions, adding that they also felt there was “no excuse” for the violence.

Twitter exploded with “shock and disappointment” regarding the morning show’s segment. Some viewers were clearly in solidarity with Smith’s protective actions, while others wanted Holmes to hold Chris Rock accountable.

The tone of GMA’s coverage about this incident was definitely one of shock and disappointment. https://t.co/XOa7NLmwJg

— Geena Arevalo (@GeenaArevalo) March 28, 2022

@tjholmes Your overdramatizing the slap. If someone insulted your family member that has underlying health issues you would probably do the same thing maybe we should bring more light to what Jada is going through.

— Jeff Wojtanowski (@jeffw71367) March 28, 2022

@tjholmes please talk about Chris Rock behavior
Really disappointed in how you are painting this narrative. Will Smith protected his wife.

— BluDominican25 (@Blu2AfroLatina) March 28, 2022

Hey @GMA and @tjholmes it’s pretty messed up to report the Rock/Smith incident as a GI Jane joke. Rock made an alopecia joke. He mocked JPS’s MEDICAL condition. Shame on you for framing this as anything other than Smith standing up to a bully.

— Linda 🐉 (@LaLinda63) March 28, 2022

• Politics

by Derek Major

March 29, 2022

Investigation: Blacks in Kansas City Police Department Face Racism, Abuse, Lack of Opportunities

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Herb Robinson, a Black detective with the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) found out just how far the badge he puts on every day protects him last March.

Robinson was in uniform driving an unmarked police cruiser last March when two other KCPD officers pulled him over. Despite being a police officer Robinson told the Kansas City Star he was terrified by the situation, calling it the most frightening he’s ever encountered.

“I might have been taken down to the ground. I might have been shot,” Robinson said. “I might have reached in my car to get my ID to prove (that he was a police officer) and been shot.”

According to the two newspapers, the two officers, Cole Modeer, who is white, and Marco Olivas, who is Hispanic, stopped Robinson because his unmarked license plate didn’t register on their computer when they ran it.

Making matters worse, as Robinson drove away the two cops insulted Robinson, calling him a “retard” and other expletives.

The situation outlines a trend within the KCPD, according to an investigation by The Star. The racism in the department is so widespread it has resulted in many Black officers leaving the force.

Scott Wells, a former officer with the KCPD told The Star being a Black officer in the department “is like being a mouse in a snake cage.”

“You’re constantly watching your back 24/7,” he said.

Some 25 current and former Black officers with the KCPD described a police department littered with discrimination, racist abuse, and a system that pushes Black officers out of the department while keeping the top brass mostly white.

Their accounts are backed by department emails, internal police memos, legal documents, lawsuits, and videos.

The issue is not isolated to Kansas City either. In the last two years, Black police officers in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Syracuse, NY, and New York City have filed racial discrimination lawsuits against the departments they work for.

Several civil rights groups, including the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference–KC asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the KCPD in a 15-page letter. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker wrote a letter of support for the group.

Things began to change under Darryl Forté, the city’s first and only Black police chief, who led KCPD from 2011 to 2017. Forté made several moves to change the KCPD including hiring a diversity officer and implementing de-escalation training to address police brutality. He also spoke out about the racism he felt from co-workers and engaged residents through public forums and social media.

However, when Rick Smith, who is white, took over for Forté, many cops compared it to going from Barack Obama to Donald Trump.

First-time Oscar producer Will Packer took to social media to comment on his entry into the televised award show. Without directly mentioning the Will Smith/Chris Rock fiasco, he did admit that the moment hit him deeply.

With Sunday’s telecast, the movie and television producer Will Packer made history when he led the first all-Black production team in Oscars history. Sadly, that will be a footnote as everyone continues to talk about Smith slapping Rock in the face on stage at the Academy Awards presentation.

Packer said, it “was a very painful moment for me.”

Packer did acknowledge on his Twitter account the day after the airing that he did assure viewers that the show wouldn’t be boring. And it certainly wasn’t.

Welp…I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars

— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) March 28, 2022

After the producer sent out that tweet, a Twitter user, Jonathan Jewel, admonished him for sending that out the tweet and made sure the “assault” witnessed was mentioned in his response.

Making jokes about an assault that happened during your show isn’t the congratulatory message you think it is

— Jonathan Jewel (@jonathanjewel) March 28, 2022

This led Packer to respond to the user directly and express how painful the moment was for him.

Black people have a defiant spirit of laughter when it comes to dealing with pain because there has been so much of it. I don’t feel the need to elucidate that for you. But I also don’t mind being transparent and say that this was a very painful moment for me. On many levels. https://t.co/zzgeKIqrHm

— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) March 28, 2022

Despite the attention to what transpired at the Academy Awards presentation, Packer was still proud of the achievement accomplished with a Black producer taking the helm.

I’m so damn proud of this show!!! I’m grateful for all the appreciation, support and critiques. The LOVE has been overwhelming. It was a true honor and pleasure to take on this responsibility. @ShaylaCowan and I wanted an OSCARS that looked and felt different than any before it… pic.twitter.com/BK6rleXlRJ

— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) March 29, 2022

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Derek Major

March 29, 2022

Founder Of Anwuli Eyewear Brand Wins $5,000 Grant From Black Girl Ventures, Visa

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Nwamaka Ngoddy, the founder of Anwuli Eyewear, has won the grand prize of $5,000 at the Atlanta Pull Up & Pitch competition.

The competition, held earlier this month, was hosted by Black Girl Ventures in partnership with Visa and supports Black and Brown small businesses. BGV and VIsa visited several cities virtually through their partnership, including Washington, D.C., Detroit, Chicago, and Miami.

“Black Girl Ventures as a whole focuses on pitching as an avenue for their voice. Our entire focus is on enhancing the way women can articulate who they are and what they have, and how they can be funded through those matters. Because often, we find women who have extraordinary ventures. They’re putting numbers on the board. They’re generating revenue. They’re hiring staff. They’re creating community impact, but they’re still not getting the funding they deserve, “Shelly Omilâdé Bell told AfroTech.

Ngoddy started Anwuli Eyewear in 2019 after working as an optometrist for years. During that time, Ngoddy realized her Black clients cited issues, including frame size and fit, leading her to start her brand, bringing inclusivity to the eyewear industry.

Ngoddy’s eyewear brand is already being sold at four local eyeglass outlets in Georgia and has eight frame designs. Bell said she is confident Anwuli Eyewear will continue to grow.

“I noted more inclusivity in the clothing industry, with fashion lines expanding to include different body types. I then envisioned transferring this principle to eyewear; the driving concept is that people have unique facial landscapes and every consumer, no matter their race or facial features, deserves fashionable eyewear options that make a statement without speaking,” Ngoddy told AfroTech.

Last month, BGV announced a partnership with the NBA to launch the BGV NextGen Program. In the Program, 25 students will have an opportunity to bring their visions to life and advance their business plans.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

March 29, 2022

Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Jamaal Bowman Come To Jada And Will’s Defense In Now-Deleted Tweets

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Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., posted now-deleted tweets in defense of actor Will Smith for slapping comedian Chris Rock after making jokes about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith during the Oscars on Sunday.

Since its removal, screenshots of the tweets have circulated across the internet. According to Pressley, who has been living with alopecia herself, Smith’s actions were honorable.

“#Alopecia nation stand up! Thank you #WillSmith,” tweeted the Massachusetts congresswoman. “Shout out to all the husbands who defend their wives living with alopecia in the face of daily ignorance & insults.”

Alongside the tweet was a photo of Pressley, effortlessly claiming her bald head, and posing next to her husband. She added: “Women with baldies are for real men only…boys need not apply.”

Just-deleted tweet from Rep. Ayanna Pressley #mapoli #Oscars pic.twitter.com/gGFlStTQ3D

— Grace Panetta (@grace_panetta) March 28, 2022

In January 2020, the lawmaker publicly revealed that she has alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss. In her journey to acceptance, she realized “it’s about self-agency” and  “power.”

Pinkett Smith also opened up about her alopecia diagnosis in 2018, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. Although her journey wasn’t easy, she’s chosen to embrace her bald scalp and learn to live amicably with alopecia.

In a series of additional tweets on Monday, Pressley advocates for “Team Jada,” as a fellow “Alopecian,” but does not encourage violence.

“My life’s work has always been about trauma & healing,” Pressley wrote in one tweet. “I’m a survivor — I don’t endorse violence in any form.”

Our bodies are not public domain. They are not a line in a joke—especially when the transformation is not of our choosing.

I’m a survivor of violence. I’m a proud Alopecian. The psychological toll we carry daily is real. Team Jada always. That’s that on that.

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 28, 2022

“Our bodies are not public domain. They are not a line in a joke—especially when the transformation is not of our choosing,” she added in another tweet. “I’m a survivor of violence. I’m a proud Alopecian. The psychological toll we carry daily is real. Team Jada always. That’s that on that.”

Rep. Jamaal Bowman also rallied in solidarity with the King Richard star in a now-deleted tweet, Insider reports.

“Teachable Moment: Don’t joke about a Black Woman’s hair,” Bowman wrote.