• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

March 4, 2022

With RescueData, Never Worry About Losing Valuable Files Again

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These days, our personal computers and mobile devices double as personal safes as they typically contain troves of personal data that’s of the utmost importance to many. Everything from files that contain social security numbers, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and passports to important email messages are stored on our devices. All this is well and good until the unthinkable happens and the aforementioned documents are deleted and seemingly lost for good.

For such situations, RescueData offers a lending hand. For a limited time, you can purchase a lifetime subscription to RescueData for just $49.99. That’s a savings of 88% from its MSRP ($419).

With RescueData, any of your deleted information can be retrieved and saved, no matter if you placed them in your computer’s recycle bin ages ago or if you accidentally erased them. RescueData is the ultimate data recovery software.

It’s been featured in Gizmodo, Engadget, Digital Trends, Digital Journal, and other leading digital technology publications.

RescueData offers recovery for all types of files, including PDFs, multimedia, messages, mail, and more. It also offers the capability of retrieving data from internal hard drives and solid-state drives, and it supports SD cards and USB storage.

With this software, you can scan and preview your files before you recover them to make sure they’re the correct files or data. An easy three-step process is all that’s needed to recover your files: Select, scan, and recover. That’s all it takes.

This software requires a device with Pentium processors, a Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, or 7 operating system, and at least 2 GBs of memory. This program can be used on one device.

Our computers are tasked with cataloging some of our most sensitive and important data. Rest assured knowing that no matter what, you won’t have to worry about accidentally deleting it and losing it for good. Purchase this product today while it’s available at its limited-time price of $49.99.

Prices subject to change.  

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 3, 2022

A Breakdown of Shaquille O’Neal’s Franchise Ventures

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This story first appeared in Entrepreneur Magazine

As the 2022 International Franchise Association convention kicks off in San Diego, attendees may be surprised to see former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal as a keynote speaker for the conference.

But O’Neal has been in the business game for a long time. The 7′1″ former basketball player actually studied business when he was a college student and has been able to put his knowledge to use with business ventures that include being Carnival Cruise Ship’s “chief fun officer” and a celebrity spokesperson for a variety of brands endorsements. Many of his business experiences come from the franchising world, and his reported net worth of $400 million speaks to his success in the industry.

Here’s what you should know about Shaquille O’Neal, franchisee and franchisor extraordinaire.

Shaquille O’Neal the franchisee

Franchises seem to have a special place in the 49-year-old’s heart. When the Wall Street Journal asked O’Neal why he found franchising so attractive, the entrepreneur said, “It’s just partnering up with another reliable, excellent brand. Being in business with people, and just owning stuff.”

At one point, it was reported he owned 40 24-Hour Fitness gyms and 150 car washes.

But O’Neal also has experience franchising for several famous restaurant brands. He has owned and sold 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants — which totaled 10% of the company’s entire franchise portfolio. He also owns 17 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels restaurants and nine Papa John’s franchise units. In fact, O’Neal is a brand ambassador for Papa John’s and has been on the pizza company’s board of directors since 2019.

Out of O’Neal’s franchise ventures, Krispy Kreme seems to be his current favorite. According to his WSJ interview, the celebrity was introduced to the donut in college and wants to be a large part of the business. The celebrity says he owns a few Krispy Kreme franchises and is on the lookout for more.

Shaquille O’Neal the franchisor

O’Neal also knows what it’s like to be on the other side of the franchising relationship as a franchisor of his own food brand. In 2018, O’Neal founded chicken sandwich brand Big Chicken. The Las Vegas-based chain has 10 locations, with partnerships that include Toronto-based Ghost Kitchen Brands and Carnival Cruise Ships. Big Chicken started franchising in 2021 and is looking to expand in cities like Austin and Phoenix.

While a startling 60% of former NBA players go broke within five years of leaving, O’Neal’s desire to diversify his career portfolio seems to have helped him steer in the other direction. So no matter whether IFA conference attendees identify him with his former athletic pursuits, franchise ventures or even his DJ career (yes, he’s a DJ), it’s clear O’Neal can’t be defined by any success metric other than his own.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2022

Black Women Raise $60,000 to Help Over 500 African Students Flee Ukraine During Russian Invasion

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Three Black women came together to aid African students stuck in Ukraine dealing with racist mistreatment amid the Russian invasion.

One member of the trio was actually a Black student who successfully fled Ukraine after a grueling journey. Twenty-six-year-old Korrine Sky was studying in the eastern city of Dnipro when Russia invaded Ukraine last week, Sky News reports.

Sky began documenting the difficult journey she and other Black students experienced while attempting to flee the country.

https://twitter.com/korrinesky/status/1498253568410800129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1498253568410800129%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsone.com%2F4297955%2Fblack-women-raise-funds-to-help-african-students-flee-ukraine%2F

When 29-year-old Londonite Patricia Daley and her friend, 40-year-old Tokunbo Koiki, learned of Sky’s journey to escape Ukraine, they reached out to her on social media to offer some help. Together, the three women organized a campaign to aid the students of color who were facing racist opposition from Ukrainian authorities trying to prevent them from safely crossing the border.

Now the trio of changemakers has helped “more than 500 Black students” to successfully flee Ukraine by “funding transport costs, like arranging taxis and other emergency needs,” they told the outlet.

Black students had been reaching out, sharing the harrowing mistreatment they’ve been subjected to during the Russian invasion.

“People said they were pushed, sent back, and physically assaulted on both sides of the border in Ukraine, Romania, and Poland,” Koiki said.

Daley said students reached out, revealing the racism they experienced while trying to flee safely. Some even reported segregated lines for Ukrainians and non-white people.

“I do think they have been treated differently at borders because of their skin,” Daley said. “Racism is now happening even in situations where there is war.”

Videos on social media have shown Ukrainian officials threatening to shoot groups of African students for trying to board trains and other modes of transportation to safely flee the country, NBC News reports. Other videos show a woman shielding an infant from the cold and officials chasing groups of Black people stranded in Ukraine.

Filippo Grandi, the U.N.’s high commissioner for refugees, has since issued a statement condemning the racist mistreatment taking place in Ukraine.

“There should be absolutely no discrimination between Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians, Europeans and non-Europeans. Everybody is fleeing from the same risks,” Grandi said.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2022

Black People Now Surpass White People In Drug Overdose Deaths

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New studies show that the next phase of the opioid epidemic will have a larger fatal response within the Black community.

A peer-reviewed study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that Black Americans are now dying from drug overdoses at higher rates than white Americans. Based on drug deaths from 1999 through 2020, the research shows a surge in drug deaths that are now taking the lives of more Black people than ever before.

“Overdose rates have been growing fastest among Black communities,” Joseph Friedman, an addiction researcher at UCLA, told NPR.

“For the first time we see them overtaking the overdose rate among white individuals.”

A more toxic, illicit drug supply is credited with being the most significant factor causing the change. With Mexican drug cartels mixing the deadly substance fentanyl into many of the street drugs sold in the U.S., the Black community is feeling the brunt of the devastation.

“The illicit drug supply, the street drug supply, is becoming more and more toxic,” Friedman said.

Black people are more vulnerable to using drugs laced with fentanyl due to the community relying more on illicit drugs than their white counterparts. During the first phase of the opioid crisis, white people were dying of fatal drug overdoses at rates twice that of Black Americans when the drugs were mainly supplied through prescription pain medications.

“People who are lower down on the social hierarchy tend to be exposed to fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids at disproportionate rates,” Dr. Helena Hansen, a co-author of the report, said. “You find Black Americans are exposed to fentanyl more often than white Americans.”

The new research comes one month after a study published in the medical journal the Lancet predicted over 1.2 million more drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in the coming decade.

“As a member of the Black community and as an addiction treatment specialist … I’m terrified of that prospect, but that’s exactly what we could be facing,” Dr. Stephen Taylor with the American Society of Addiction Medicine says.

“A larger percentage of this next million [deaths] will be Black and other people of color.”

Medical researchers say the solution is to provide better healthcare and access to addiction treatment.

“All of this needs to be done with a real sense of urgency,” Taylor said.

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2022

Nick Cannon Opens Wild ‘N Out Sports Bar In San Diego

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Nick Cannon recently teased his plans to turn his Wild ‘N Out brand into a “billion-dollar business,” and now he’s opened the doors to an official sports bar.

The Wild ‘N Out Sports Bar and Arcade opened its doors last week in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Fox 5 San Diego reports. The new two-story entertainment venue combines a restaurant, sports bar, and arcade, all themed around Cannon’s popular freestyle comedy show.

The bar and arcade serve as an “eatertainment destination” with a menu of classic American dishes, large drinks, and various fun-themed events planned each week. The venue has indoor and outdoor seating options, including a bar area that seats up to 40.

The menu includes popular American dishes like burgers, chicken sandwiches, barbecue, lobster rolls, sides, salads, and desserts at affordable price points ranging up to about $42 for the more luxury entree options like skirt steak and shrimp.

Brunch will also be available on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with availability for a Churro Waffle Stack, among other popular brunch menu items. During the evenings, the restaurant transforms into a nightclub with music and eccentric drink options like their two-gallon party buckets that serve four or more people for $99.

“Be like @NickCannon and enjoy the Candy Shop Cocktail made with @50cent’s @bransoncognac, lemonade, and a grenadine floater, served with an additional shot on the side,” one promotional Instagram post said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WildnOut Sports Bar (@wnosportsbar)

Cannon tapped pop artist Rob Prior to hand paint murals throughout space that pays homage to several hip-hop legends, KUSI reports. Guests can also expect performances by comedians, DJs, and appearances from Cannon and the Wild’ N Out crew.

Wild ‘N Out’s hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 3, 2022

Kelly Rowland Set to Inspire During Disney Dreamers Academy 15th Year

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Four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and television executive producer Kelly Rowland is among the well-known celebrities participating in the landmark 15th year of Disney Dreamers Academy, an educational mentorship program created and hosted by Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.

Rowland will be the program’s ambassador and will serve as a mentor and advocate during the Mar. 3 through Mar. 6 event, which aims to broaden career awareness and create exclusive enrichment opportunities for the 100 Black high school students and teens from underrepresented communities being hosting by Walt Disney World Resort.

“Mentorship is an experience I treasure, and the opportunity to invest my time into these students is incredible,” Rowland said.

“I’m excited to work with them and watch how they grow throughout the program.”

Rowland will share personal insights with the students, drawing from her own unique experience as a pre-teen performer then as a teenager in one of the best-selling female groups of all time, Destiny’s Child, according to a press release. She has gone on to become a multi-platinum-certified recording artist on her own with more than 40 million records sold.

During the weekend program, Rowland will be joined by several other celebrity speakers as well as community leaders, business executives and educators, who will nurture and inspire the students, including fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond, gospel artist Kierra Sheard, R&B recording artist Mali Music, actress Faithe Herman of the NBC drama series “This Is Us” and actress Demi Singleton, who played tennis star Serena Williams in the Oscar-nominated film “King Richard” and starred in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, among others.

The impactful program will introduce the Disney Dreamers to an array of new immersions, such as sessions teaching valuable life tools as well as leadership skills, effective communication techniques and networking strategies. Some of these immersions will be supported by the program’s sponsors, such as State Farm.

Students will also experience in-depth career workshops in a variety of disciplines aligned with their dreams. These workshops introduce the Disney Dreamers to diverse career paths within business, entertainment and sciences, including career opportunities within The Walt Disney Company.

The Disney Dreamers Academy program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities, such as Black America, by encouraging the next generation to think big and to carry what they learn with them back home, so they can relentlessly pursue their dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.

Over the years, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,300 students from across the country. Each year, graduates have gone on to become doctors, engineers, performing artists, entrepreneurs and more, and some have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who followed them.

• Women

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2022

Solange Knowles Receives 2022 NYU Global Trailblazer Award

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Solange Knowles is set to be honored with the 2022 NYU Global Trailblazer Award for Creative and Artistic Excellence on March 8, International Women’s Day, The Amsterdam News reports.

The singer/songwriter is receiving the accolade for her work within her multidisciplinary platform, studio, creative agency, and curatorial project, Saint Heron. Solange uses Saint Heron to amplify the work and creative expressions of Black and brown artists through a range of innovative projects.

In addition to the award, Solange will also take part in a conversation on innovation and women’s leadership as part of the NYU Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity and Strategic Innovation launch of the NYU Women Lead: A Global Leadership Accelerator and its Global Black Women Leadership Initiative.

The event builds off of the NYUWomxn100 initiative that “celebrates the lives, pursuits, innovations and achievements of womxn of transgender, non-binary and cisgender experiences.” This trailblazing event will also be made free to the general public. Those interested can register HERE.

Solange’s award for Saint Heron comes nearly one year after announcing the brand’s transition into a creative agency. Initially launched in 2013 as a digital hub for cultural conversations, Saint Heron’s mission was always to preserve, collect, and uplift stories that amplify Black and brown voices.

The new phase of Saint Heron took viewers on a literary and visual retrospective of the Black family through a series of temporary digital exhibitions.

Saint Heron is a process. It is a moving, living, and breathing evolution. It is a spirit,” Solange told ArtNet at the time. “Like most of my projects, it started with a question, and in the process of answering, newer questions and calls to action arrived.”

“I needed to find my community, and there was no space or outlet that embodied the nuances that represented the people who surrounded me and the space we took up in the world,” she added. “And so I thought, I’ll just create it.”

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2022

University of Alabama’s First Black Student, Autherine Lucy Foster, Dies At Age 92

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Autherine Lucy Foster, the first Black student to break the color barrier at the University of Alabama, has died at the age of 92.

Her family confirmed her death on Wednesday and asked for privacy during this time, AL.com reported.

“She was known, honored, and respected around the world after she broke the color barrier at the University of Alabama,” her daughter Chrystal Foster said in a statement. “She passed away at home, surrounded by family. We are deeply saddened, yet we realize she left a proud legacy.”

Foster’s death comes less than a week after she cut the ribbon on the school’s newly-named college of education building, where she once sheltered herself from a racist mob during her integration at the school.

Previously named after the KKK leader and former governor ,Bibb Graves Hall is now called Autherine Lucy Hall.

“For you to bring me out today, the Lord must be on each of our sides,” Foster said during her Friday speech. “If I am a master teacher, what I hope I am teaching you is that love will take care of everything in our world.”

Back in 1956, Foster briefly attended classes at the then all-white university but was expelled three days later due to the protests and threats made against her life, NBC News reported. Foster faced angry white mobs and hostile crowds while attending classes. She was later celebrated for being brave enough to help desegregate the university.

The school released an official statement in remembrance of Foster’s legacy.

“The UA community is deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster,” University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell said.

“While we mourn the loss of a legend who embodied love, integrity, and a spirit of determination, we are comforted by knowing her legacy will continue at The University of Alabama and beyond. We were privileged to dedicate Autherine Lucy Hall in her honor just last week and to hear her words of encouragement for our students. Dr. Foster will always be remembered as one who broke barriers, reminded us of the respect due to every individual, and lived a life of strength in steadfast service to her students and community.”

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

March 3, 2022

Mary J. Blige Set To Executive Produce Lifetime Movie Inspired By Her Hit ‘Real Love’

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Fresh off her memorable performances at the halftime of the Super Bowl and at the NAACP Awards, Mary J. Blige will executive produce a Lifetime original movie.

“The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” is partnering with Lifetime on a romantic drama entitled and inspired by her 1992 hit, “Real Love.” One of her most beloved tracks, “Real Love” was Blige’s first song to hit the Top 10 and was certified gold two months after its release.

“I wrote Real Love based on my real-life experiences and my fans connected to it in a deeply personal way,” Blige said in a statement on Wednesday,” according to Deadline.

The coming-of-age film will chronicle the journey of Kendra, who starts at a college in upstate New York. Determined to focus on her studies, the young woman ends up falling in love with her film class partner, Ben. The couple fights through “disapproving parents, financial hardship, and competition for the top spot in class” and ultimately discovers the true meaning of ‘real love.’

“It’s exciting to now use this song and my music to create a new story by way of film, continuing to build on a pillar of the foundation of my production company, Blue Butterfly,” Blige continued. My passions for acting and music now include developing diverse stories with music as the backdrop. I am grateful to Lifetime for their partnership in the story of Real Love.”

According to Variety, the movie, written by Sonja Warfield and Rachel Ingram, will interweave selections of Blige’s music as part of Blue Butterfly’s goal to “bring more stories to life with music as the foundation.”

Blige’s anticipated movie follows after yet another collaboration with Lifetime. Alongside Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott, the “Good Morning Gorgeous” singer executive produced the 2020 film, The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel.  She also played the role of Dr. Betty Shabazz in the civil rights biopic, Betty & Coretta.

“Mary is one of those phenomenal talents that can do it all, and we are so thrilled to be able to partner with her again on this new opportunity to bring her music to life in the form of a movie that we know audiences will love,” added Tanya Lopez, executive vice president of scripted content for Lifetime and LMN.

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 3, 2022

Serena Williams Calls Out Newspaper For Using Questionable Article Title and Wrong Photo: ‘Do Better’

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This story first appeared on Entrepreneur.com

Twitter went wild on Wednesday after a New York Times article was published about Williams’ VC fund. Serena Williams isn’t staying silent in the face of an oversight by The New York Times.

The paper, which printed an article about Williams raising a whopping $111 million for her new venture fund (which is focused on “early stage” companies and is aptly named Serena Ventures) made several questionable decisions in its print publication of the story on top of one major error.

For starters, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was not named by her name in the article title but instead dubbed “Tennis Star.” That oversight might just raise a few brows, but combined with the articles small-sized display towards the side and bottom of the page, it made Williams feel not-so-great.

But perhaps the worst of all was that the NYT chose to include a photo of Williams yet actually printed a photo of her twin sister, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams. Serena Williams took to Twitter to voice her frustrations in a short but powerful statement.

“No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it’s not enough. This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures. To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases,” Williams penned on social media.

“Because even I am overlooked. You can do better, @nytimes.”

Williams’ response garnered over 16,600 likes on Twitter and over 4,100 retweets including quoted retweets. Many fans rallied behind the athlete in support, calling the error “disgraceful” and “shameful.” The NYT shortly thereafter tweeted out a statement directly in response to Williams regarding the error in print.

“This was our mistake. It was due to an error when selecting photos for the print edition, and it did not appear online,” the Tweet read.

“A correction will appear in tomorrow’s paper.”

However, many still weren’t having it, with many calling out the fact that the paper’s response was “not an apology.”

“I was a photo editor for years. No way I would make this mistake because our editorial department was rigorous,” Lisa Thais Tweeted in response.

“You make these mistakes on an almost daily basis. And it shows.”

Serena Ventures is a VC firm that currently has over 60 investments in its portfolio, including Propel, Cointracker and Masterclass.

“The venture capital ecosystem needs an inclusive player with the platform necessary to enact change at scale, and this fund gives us an opportunity to take our mission to the next level,” the company said in a statement.

“The best is yet to come.”

Williams runs SV alongside Alison Rapaport.