• Business

by Derek Major

March 8, 2022

Black-Owned Brands Boosted By Large Retailers Helping Them Scale Up

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Corporate pledges made by large retailers, including Walmart, to direct more money to Black-owned businesses have led to a new mix of products on shelves and a significant increase in dollars for Black entrepreneurs .

According to Bloomberg, Macy’s, Walmart, Amazon, and Target have all increased the number of black-owned brands they carry in-store and online.

Macy’s says it has increased the Black-owned brands it carries by five-fold after signing the Fifteen Percent Pledge. Sephora has doubled the number of Black-owned brands in its stores after making the same pledge.

However, as retailers continue to work with Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, some are realizing there aren’t a lot of large-scale Black-owned businesses that can immediately fill big orders from large U.S. chains.

Shelley Stewart III, who leads McKinsey & Co.’s Institute for Black Economic Mobility, told Bloomberg the reason for that is these same large retailers are coming “to the realization that these businesses need additional capital and support—not just shelf space.”’

Many of these retailers are addressing the needs of Black entrepreneurs by launching and expanding business accelerators or incubator programs to provide mentorship and feedback on the products they sell.

Megan Graham, the owner of Ries, which sells face and beauty products in reusable travel-size bottles, was among a group of entrepreneurs selected by Sephora for its accelerator program last year.

Despite the good news, one specific area Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs are still significantly struggling with is raising capital. Large banks are still apprehensive about giving capital to small Black businesses, which Graham knows all about.

“Raising [capital] is difficult and raising as a Black woman, we know, is that much more difficult,” Graham said, adding when she pitched to Sephora, its group of diverse executives immediately understood her capital raising problem.

Venture capital firms, seeing the Black businesses boom, are trying to get in and support black brands that need an infusion of cash.

• Technology

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 8, 2022

Three Black Women Create Instagram Feature to Ensure Black Creators Get Credited for Their Work

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As TikTok continues to face criticism for white creatives who receive more visual representation than Black creatives, Instagram added a new feature to help address the issue.

On Monday, Instagram announced a new special tag where professional accounts and influencers will receive credit for their original creations. The feature was made in direct response to the Black creators who feel overlooked or shut out from trends that they create, NBC News reported.

“We want to ensure that as Black creators’ content is being distributed as it already is, they are getting the proper attribution,” Instagram engineer Cameryn Boyd said.

The tag comes after Black content creators boycotted creating dance challenges on TikTok after noticing white creators were receiving more recognition from the trends created by Black users.

Alexis Michelle Adjei, a data analyst, worked with Boyd and Alexandra Zaoui, a data analyst at Meta, to address these disparities on Instagram in an effort to amplify more Black creators and get the influencers to transition their viral content from TikTok over to Instagram.

“Black creators and addressing that inequity in the creator ecosystem” was a central focus when developing the new feature, Adjei said.

To use the new enhanced tags, users will need to tap “Tag People” when creating a post, Tech Crunch reported. The next step is to tap on “Add Tag” where users can search and select their contributors. Click “Show Profile Category” to display the creator category that includes roles such as “stylist” or “photographer.”

The feature will help ensure that all who were involved in the content receive their proper credit.

“Proper creative credit and recognition is a starting point for discovery, new opportunities, and economic empowerment,” Instagram s n a blog post.

“For many Black and underrepresented creators, crediting is an entryway to building a sustainable career as a creator, while combating cultural appropriation and ensuring the world knows who is driving culture. Simply put —if you’re a makeup artist, songwriter or another significant collaborator on a post, your contributions will be more visible in the post.”

Zoë Kravitz portrays Catwoman, one of the world’s most famed female anti-heroines, in Matt Reeves’ film The Batman. But it wasn’t her first attempt to land a role in the Batman universe.

The Hollywood star says she wanted to audition for a small role in Christopher Nolan’s 2012 epic The Dark Knight Rises but was shot down because of her skin color, Teen Vogue reports.

“I don’t know if it came directly from Chris Nolan,” the 33-year-old said in an interview with The Observer.

“I think it was probably a casting director of some kind, or a casting director’s assistant. … Being a woman of color and being an actor and being told at that time that I wasn’t able to read because of the color of my skin, and the word ‘urban’ being thrown around like that, that was what was really hard about that moment.”

Although she didn’t reveal which role she strived for, the Mad Max: Fury Road actress previously discussed the experience in a 2015 interview with Nylon.

“They told me that I couldn’t get an audition for a small role they were casting because they weren’t ‘going urban,’ she explained. It was like, ‘What does that have to do with anything?’ I have to play the role like, ‘Yo, what’s up, Batman? What’s going on wit chu?’”

Finally landing a co-lead in the Batman franchise, Kravitz’s role as Selina Kyle took months of physical preparation while also studying “cats and lions and how they fight.” She takes pride in starring in the infamous cat burglar’s origin story.

During the same interview with The Observer, the 33-year-old shared her experiences with casual racism, recalling what it was like working on HBO’s 2017 project Big Little Lies.

She said, “there were a few moments where I felt a little uncomfortable” while filming on set, specifically noting that the series’ location was “such a white area” with “weird racist people in bars and things like that.”

As the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, the singer-actress admits having had difficulty accepting her Blackness as a biracial woman. She expresses her gratitude to her parents for helping her understand that “despite the color of my skin I should be able to act or dress or do whatever it is I want to do.”

The Batman exponentially soared in domestic box office sales at $128 million during its opening weekend. It is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 8, 2022

Concerns Grow Over Actor Daniel Kaluuya’s Connection to ‘Life Strategist’ Heir Holiness

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Actor Daniel Kaluuya’s relationship with “life strategist” Heir Holiness is causing a stir and mounting speculation.

The Academy Award-winner typically makes media headlines for his acclaimed acting career and standout roles in films like Judas and The Black Messiah and Get Out. But insiders say Kaluuya has been curtailing advice from his agents and publicists due to Heir Holiness’ influence, Page Six reports.

Those with inside knowledge question the credibility of Heir Holiness’ background in life coaching. She identified herself as Kaluuya’s personal manager in a since-deleted LinkedIn page and as the “Head Mistress” for “The International Alma Mater, Blessed University.”

Heir was by Kaluuya’s side when he filmed Jordan Peele’s Nope in California last summer, and many started to speculate how she has gained so much influence over Kaluuya’s career.

“People on the ‘Nope’ set were very concerned that Heir had ‘taken over’ DK’s life and all decisions had to go through her,” an industry insider said. “I’ve heard there were multiple blow-ups, and the production people were afraid of her.”

“To be honest, we can’t quite figure out who she is…we really have no clue as his team has shifted camps,” a source admitted.

Holiness describes herself as “just a spiritual gangster serving a life sentence in a human body.” But her addition to Kaluuya’s team reportedly became a hindrance while filming his second horror film with Peele.

“Was everyone a fan of Heir on set? No,” an insider claimed.

It’s also said that Kaluyya fired his talent agents from the powerful CAA agency. A rep from the agency confirmed that Kaluuya is no longer one of their clients.

Kaluuya also parted ways with his publicist of four years from Shelter PR and fired his stylists and multiple assistants at the request of Holiness.

“Heir Holiness has marginalized DK’s usual team,” a source said.

While filming Judas and The Black Messiah, Kaluuya reportedly flew Holiness to Los Angeles from Las Vegas every week for spiritual healing and a diet of herbal supplements to lose weight. The actor is said to have met her while on set for Black Panther.

Those who work for, or worked for, Kaluuya hope that he makes the best decisions for himself on his own and without the influence of Heir Holiness.

“Everyone who worked hard for Daniel is confused by all of this [upheaval] and really quite upset,” a source said.

• Career

by Derek Major

March 8, 2022

Maine Gov. Nominates Rick Lawrence To Become First Black Justice In The State’s Supreme Court

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Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has nominated veteran judge Rick Lawrence to become the first Black Supreme Court judge in Maine’s history Monday.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Lawrence, 66, has served as a district court judge in Maine for more than two decades and has been reappointed by three governors in the state. If confirmed, Lawrence will replace Associate Justice Ellen Gorman, who announced her retirement in Jan. 2021.

Mills noted Lawrence’s two decades on the bench in a statement adding that she is honored to nominate him.

“Judge Lawrence’s extensive legal experience, measured temperament, strong intellect, and proven commitment to upholding the law and administering justice impartially make him an exceptional candidate for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court,” said Mills.

“I am honored to nominate him and believe his service on our highest court will greatly benefit the people of Maine.”

In addition to his experience on the bench, Lawrence also serves as the Presiding Judge for the foreclosure diversion program for three counties in the state. The judge previously served as a member of the Access and Visitation Advisory Committee and was an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law.

As if his résumé wasn’t distinctive enough, the judge also sports an undergraduate degree from Yale and a law degree from the Harvard School of Law. In a statement, Lawrence thanked Mills for appointing him and added that he would continue to serve the people of Maine if confirmed.

“I am deeply honored by Governor Mills’ nomination to serve on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, a nomination that comes with formidable responsibility and unparalleled opportunity to serve the people of our great state,” Judge Lawrence said in a statement.

“If confirmed by the Legislature, I promise to work tirelessly to serve the people of Maine and to administer justice fairly and impartially to the people of Maine, just as they deserve.”

The judge still needs to be confirmed by the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary and the Maine State Senate.

• Women

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 8, 2022

Lancôme USA and NAACP Scholarship Opens International Women’s Day

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On International Women’s Day, Lancôme USA is proud to announce the “Write Her Future” Scholarship Fund at NAACP in partnership with ACT-SO is officially open to accept student applications, which will result in 40 grants of $10,000 each for young women of color entering college in the 2022/23 academic year.

Lancôme USA announced the NAACP partnership in September 2021, to help bring equity to education and encourage career development in the United States. The “Write Her Future” Scholarship Fund at NAACP in partnership with ACT-SO builds on the brand’s global commitment to empower women through literacy and education, as well as mentoring and entrepreneurship opportunities, according to a press release.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 8, 2022

Kandi Burruss Kicked Off Premiere of ‘Kandi & The Gang’ With a Star-Studded Bang in Atlanta

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Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker and the aunties and her momma who influenced her new Bravo show Kandi & the Gang, kicked off their premiere with a party in Atlanta over the weekend.

The new show follows Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi, her husband, and their staff of family and friends at Atlanta’s own OLG (Old Lady Gang) restaurant as they work to overcome the drama that often challenges them from getting the work done.

But on Sunday it was all play as Kandi’s many celebrity friends showed up and showed out at OLG on Peters street in Atlanta for a star-studded premiere that was truly a block party that had folks doing the electric slide and jamming in celebration for the new show.

Between Shawndreka Robinson’s attitude towards the new General Manager Phillip Frempong, Brandon Black spending more time flirting with Dom’Unique Variety than actually working, and Brian Redmond returning to work as a bartender while promoting his own food business, Kandi and Todd have their hands full.

Not to forget, Kandi’s outspoken Mama Joyce and her two boisterous sisters Aunt Nora Wilcox and Aunt Bertha Jones who also bring their own drama. Kandi explains how she got Bravo on board with the idea of a show around one of her many businesses.

Click HERE to read Kandi’s BLACK ENTERPRISE interview and enjoy the premiere pics below!

Former Kansas City Detective Eric DeValkenaere was convicted for the 2019 killing of Cameron Lamb and sentenced to six years in prison.

DeValkenaere, who was convicted late last year,  received three years for involuntary manslaughter and six years for armed criminal actions, according to ABC7 Chicago. The sentences will be served concurrently. In a news conference following the sentencing hearing, Lamb’s mother, Laurie Bey, called it “a fair decision.”

Last month, defense attorneys for DeValkenaere requested that he remain free while appealing the conviction, which Judge James Dale Youngs granted. Lamb, a 26 year-old father of three, was killed the night of Dec. 3, 2019, when DeValkenaere and his partner responded to a traffic incident involving a red pickup truck.

The officers, dressed in plain clothes and wearing police department vests, entered the home’s backyard where Lamb was parked without a warrant and with their guns drawn. As Lamb backed the truck down into a basement garage, the officers attempted to get him to stop the truck, but according to the indictment, it’s unclear if Lamb heard them.

DeValkenaere then shot at Lamb four times, hitting him twice and claiming he saw him  grab a gun and point it at his partner. However, according to DeValkenaere’s partner, Lamb’s left hand was on the steering wheel, and his fingers were spread apart, and he held up his empty hand before the shooting.

Medical records later showed Lamb did not have full use of his left hand due to an injury he sustained before the shooting. Judge Youngs issued a bench ruling without a jury at DeValkenaere’s request. He said DeValkenaere had no probable cause, no warrant, and no consent to enter Lamb’s property and added the officers initiated the aggression and had no right to use deadly force.

Before the shooting, Lamb allegedly had an argument with his girlfriend that turned physical, and he left the residence but received a call from his roommate asking him to return. Meanwhile, police were investigating a crash in the area and reported Lamb’s red pickup chasing a purple Mustang. A police helicopter then caught the pickup pulling into the residence.

• Money

by Black Enterprise Shop

March 8, 2022

HOW THIS LIFE INSURANCE IS BUILT FOR MODERN PARENTS

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Part of building a successful future is looking ahead and planning for anything that might come your way. This is especially important when your future includes family, and children who you want to be well taken care of. Thinking about covering yourself and loved ones is one thing, but doing it is another. 

When it comes to life insurance, for example, we usually seek it out during the busiest times in our lives, like when we begin raising families, embarking on careers, and securing homes. Whether you’re too busy, or you’re one of the 42% of millennials who refrain from buying life insurance because they don’t think they’ll qualify — there are options for you to consider. One example is Fabric, a digital life insurance provider and platform that makes getting covered easier. 

Working with the busy schedules of young professionals and parents, and flipping the historically slow life-insurance application process on its head, Fabric enables you to get a term life insurance policy in as little as ten minutes, if qualified. It all starts with heading to Fabric’s website and taking a brief, minute-long questionnaire to see how term life insurance can help you and your family. From there, the provider’s easy-to-use digital application can be completed in about ten minutes. Qualified applicants can receive and offer right away then make a payment to start their coverage immediately. Even if you aren’tt approved right away, Fabric will walk you through any next steps needed to get a final decision as quickly as possible. Fabric offers a ton of different options with various lengths, coverages, and rates so you can easily customize your policy to meet your budget and needs.

In addition to applying for term life insurance through Fabric, you can use their fantastic app to do important things like create a will, organize financial accounts, and manage your information from a single space. If you have any questions along the way, Fabric’s fantastic customer service team is available to help.

Fabric’s genuinely valuable coverage and ease of use has led to its praise in a number of highly regarded publications including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. It’s rated 4.8/5 stars on TrustPilot, and has been celebrated by a ton of users who’ve left 5-star reviews and kind words on Fabric’s website. One such policyholder named Bridget wrote that Fabric is “easy to access and easy to follow. I love it. Can refer a friend with 100% confidence.” 

Join happy Fabric users like this. Take the 60-second quiz on Fabric’s website to find the term life insurance policy that’s right for you. 

This article is designed to provide general information on the subjects covered. By providing your information, you may be contacted regarding the sale of insurance products. (for use with CTAs asking for contact information). Term Life Insurance policies (Form ICC16-VLT, ICC19-VLT2, and CMP 0501 with state variations where applicable) are issued by Vantis Life Insurance Company (Vantis Life), Windsor, CT. Coverage may not be available in all states. Issuance of coverage for Term Life Insurance is subject to underwriting review and approval.