ReShonda Young Is On A Mission To Open The First Black-Owned Bank in Iowa To Help Close The Racial Wealth Gap
by Derek Major

February 23, 2022

ReShonda Young Is On A Mission To Open The First Black-Owned Bank in Iowa To Help Close The Racial Wealth Gap

ReShonda Young is trying to change her home state of Iowa by becoming the first person to open a Black-owned bank in the Hawkeye state.

Young, a well-known businesswoman in the state and beyond, wants to break down the economic barriers and systemic racism in the banking industry and in her state, which often strangle the dreams of Black entrepreneurs.

She’s even found a location for her bank, the Ambassadors For Christ Church in the town of Waterloo. Now comes the hard part, convincing investors to buy in and buy in big.

According to USA Today, Young’s target amount to get started is $10 million. So far, Young says she has about 5% of the money needed. She’s also had conversations with federal regulators.

However, Young’s goal also points to what many Americans and specifically Black people have known for decades, the racial wealth gap will keep growing and Black Americans as a whole will continue to be left behind.

Due to decades of systemic racism, Black Americans have fewer savings in their bank accounts, less access to credit, and smaller credit accounts. The situation also extends to small Black businesses, which struggle to raise seed money and get started.

Young, who previously owned Popcorn Heaven, has been helping Black Americans for years, buying homes to rent out, and has helped other Black entrepreneurs in Waterloo. She also sued the federal government in 2019 and won, forcing the federal government to push financial institutions to release race and other demographics of small business loan decisions as required by a 2010 law.

The racial wealth gap has gotten so wide between Black and white Americans that the trend cannot be reversed without significant federal intervention.

Young isn’t holding her breath; instead, she’s trying to be the change she wants to see. Black-owned banks have received significant investment in recent years due to the Black Lives Matter movement and the focus on social equity, but Black banks say more help and money is needed to begin closing the wealth gap.

 

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 23, 2022

Michael Jordan Getting Handsy Showing Mary J. Blige ‘Real Love’ at NBA All-Star Game Has Social Media Cackling

With her ongoing role in Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost and a rousing performance at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Mary J. Blige has been rightfully embraced lately.

Though, being embraced by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan is probably not what the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul was expecting.

In a video that has gone viral, Jordan is seen hugging the R&B diva but in a way that looks like there may be more than meets the eye. The “loving” look he gives her is accentuated by a seemingly butt touch. Social media couldn’t help but make a big deal out of Jordan’s seemingly handsy embrace of the R&B singer.

It may have been “accidental” but social media definitely caught it and had several comments about it.

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Sherri Shepherd to Debut Talk Show ‘Sherri’ This Fall, Wendy Williams Show Officially Canceled
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 23, 2022

Sherri Shepherd to Debut Talk Show ‘Sherri’ This Fall, Wendy Williams Show Officially Canceled

It’s been officially announced that Sherri Shepherd will be hosting her own talk show this upcoming fall season! Shepherd acknowledged the news on Tuesday’s Wendy Williams Show where she’s been guest hosting.

The good news comes along with the obvious. With Shepherd gaining the new morning talk show means that The Wendy Williams Show has been officially canceled to make room for Shepherd’s latest project.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shepherd’s program, which will be self-titled as Sherri is going to be distributed by the same company that produces The Wendy Williams Show and The Nick Cannon Show, Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury. David Perler will have the showrunner title duties on Sherri, as well as executive producing with Shepherd and her producing partner Jawn Murray.

“Sherri is a natural who proved her hosting skills for many years as a panelist on The View, on Fox’s Dish Nation and again this season as a popular guest host of Wendy,” said Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein in a written statement.

“Like our viewers, we have been impressed by the unique comedic twist Sherri puts on our daily live ‘Hot Topics’ segment, her creativity and interactions with our guests. Her love for the content and daytime fans is obvious, and we are excited to partner with her to create another long-term talk franchise.”

Williams has acknowledged the change and has congratulated Shepherd for the announcement.

Deadline has reported that a statement was sent to the publication by Williams’ spokesperson Howard Bragman.

“It’s been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues. She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time,” Bragman said.

“She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television — you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s The Maybe Wendy Show. She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.”

Howard University Receives $2 Million To Digitize Its Black Newspaper Archive
by Derek Major

February 23, 2022

Howard University Receives $2 Million To Digitize Its Black Newspaper Archive

Howard University has received a $2 million donation to digitize a collection of Black newspaper archives, making it more accessible.

According to a university release, Howard’s Black press archives date back to the 1970s and contains more than 200 titles from newspapers in the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Benjamin Talton, the director of Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, which holds the archives,  said the bulk of the collection has largely been hidden from the public for several reasons. For starters, only a small percentage of the collection has been microfilmed and many of the physical copies are old and fragile.

“Once digitized, Howard’s Black Press Archive will be the largest, most diverse, and the world’s most accessible Black newspaper database,” Talton told ABC News.

The $2 million for the archives was provided by the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation with the help of Howard University’s Center for Journalism & Democracy. The foundation has donated to many social justice causes in journalism and the arts.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and 1619 Project co-author Nikole Hannah-Jones said it is extremely important to have access to Black newspapers to get a better sense of the past and to potentially tell Black stories that were kept from or ignored by mainstream media at the time.

“Documenting and telling our stories has always served as a source of truth and power for the Black community in the United States and across the African diaspora,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick said.

“The Black Press Archives is a unique and deeply important resource for Howard University faculty and students as well as the broader research community. We are very pleased to receive the support of the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation to digitize the archives–an important milestone that advances Howard’s mission to share the story of the Black experience with the world.”

Tasha K: ‘I Ain’t Got It’ — Cardi B Claps Back and Says the Blogger Better Have Her Money
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 23, 2022

Tasha K: ‘I Ain’t Got It’ — Cardi B Claps Back and Says the Blogger Better Have Her Money

Tasha K, a blogger who recently lost a defamation lawsuit against diamond artist Cardi B, was asked about her paying the Bronx-born rapper, and she revealed, “I ain’t got it!” Cardi B seemingly responds to the news of hearing this statement.

Earlier this year, the Grammy Award-winning rapper was awarded nearly $3 million in punitive damages and attorneys’ fees after a jury found Tasha K, real name Latasha Kebe, liable on counts of defamation, invasion of privacy, and infliction of emotional distress. Variety reports that the $3 million comes on top of the $1.25 million she was awarded.

Tasha K appeared on a recent podcast episode with Kendall Kyndall and Kendra G of Social Society. The hosts asked Tasha K if she even had that type of money to pay out to Cardi B in the interview. She quickly responded by saying, “I ain’t got it.”

 

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A post shared by KENDRA G. (@kendragmedia)

She continues by stating that there are things in place for situations like lawsuits.

“But listen, we have business things in place that takes care of things like this. But of course, the appellate court and the Supreme Court is in process right now.” When the hosts pressed her again about the judgment, she said, “Who trying to pay $4 million?”

Although Cardi didn’t mention anyone by name or even state what she was referring to, her tweet seemingly is in response to Tasha K’s initial reaction to paying her.

When Cardi B was awarded her judgment, she thanked the judge, jury, family, friends, and her legal team for the victory.

“I appreciate Judge Ray for conducting a fair and impartial trial. I am grateful for the jury and their careful deliberation over the past two weeks. I am profoundly grateful for the hard work and support from my legal team. Most importantly, thank you to my family and close friends who held my hand and helped me get the support I needed during this experience.”

Actor Tim Reid Is Launching ‘Legacy Of A People’ Streaming Platform Focused On Black Creators
by Derek Major

February 23, 2022

Actor Tim Reid Is Launching ‘Legacy Of A People’ Streaming Platform Focused On Black Creators

Actor Tim Reid is launching “The Legacy Of A People,” a streaming service focusing on the Black experience from across the African diaspora.

Reid, who has been an actor, producer, and comedian for more than 40 years and has more than 100 credits to his name, told NBC 12 Legacy Of A People will show all aspects of Black entertainment.

“We affect history, music, culture, and science. I mean, there’s no area of life where we have not been involved,” Reid said.

The streaming platform will feature tv shows, documentary films, and more, giving multicultural creators across the globe the opportunity to tell their stories. Reid added the platform will have three channels in the coming weeks and hopes to have four or five on the platform internationally in the future.

In the last several years, streaming platforms have exploded, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic kept everyone in their homes for days on end. However, many of these platforms do not have deep libraries of Black content, including ’90’s sitcoms, independent Black movies, and plays.

Reid has been an agent of change in Hollywood for decades. When Reid auditioned for WKRP in Cincinnati, he sported a beard, setting off a debate at the top levels of the network, but he was allowed to keep the beard as well as an earring that created another conversation.

“Man, you would’ve thought I shot a puppy, but I stood my ground,” Reid told NBC. “I wasn’t going to lose my job over it, and finally, they allowed me to wear an earring. Myself and Ed Bradley were the only two Black people on television allowed to wear a beard and an earring for about two or three years. Hollywood was, and is, surprisingly one of the most racist industries and places you could ever find.”

Reid, born in Norfolk, Virginia, and graduated from Norfolk State University, also wrote for WKRP and other shows throughout his career. In 1997 Reid and his wife Daphne Maxwell-Reid opened New Millennium Studios and filmed several productions there since.

 

Learn The Art Of Coding With This Nine-Course Bundle
by Black Enterprise Shop

February 23, 2022

Learn The Art Of Coding With This Nine-Course Bundle

If you haven’t been paying attention, the time to learn to code was yesterday. While coding has always been popular with those in the technology circles, it’s enjoyed a resurgence in popularity recently as companies are desperately seeking those experienced in the field. According to TechRepublic, “Computer programming is now the fastest-growing profession in the UK in terms of employee numbers.” The numbers in the United States are just as robust, and the job forecast of the field is highly favorable.

While yesterday would have been the ideal time to learn to code, it’s not too late to catch the wave. Get up to speed with The Complete 2022 Java Coder Bundle. For a limited time, it’s available for $39.99. That’s a savings of 97% from its MSRP ($1,791).

Nine courses covering 492 lessons are included in this bundle. Individually, each course costs $199. Start with the Introduction to Java course, which is a crash-course in the most popular programming language used by coders. Not only does it explain key concepts, but it also establishes a firm understanding of the popular language for users.

The Java Basics: Learn to Code the Right Way course is intuitive and beginner-friendly, but it does a thorough job of explaining variables, functions, and methods used to build Android and desktop applications.

The Java Web Technologies: Become a Java Web Developer does exactly what it says. After 20 lectures in this course, you’ll have enough of a foundation and training to take the Oracle Certified Expert, Java EE 6 Web Component Developer exam. You’ll receive a certificate of completion after taking the course.

Other courses in the bundle include Become a Junior Java Software Developer, The Complete Java & Android Studio Course for Beginners, Oracle Certification Readiness: Mastering Java for Beginners & Experts, and other information-packed courses.

The coding job market isn’t expected to settle down any time soon. Seize the vast number of opportunities to advance your career today and purchase this bundle for $39.99.

Prices subject to change.

Darryl Brown and Adidas Originals Honor The Real Champions Behind NBA All-Star Weekend
by Atiya Jordan

February 22, 2022

Darryl Brown and Adidas Originals Honor The Real Champions Behind NBA All-Star Weekend

Toledo, Ohio-based designer, Darryl Brown teamed up with Adidas Originals to salute workers at this past weekend’s NBA All Star weekend in Cleveland as part of the “Made Possible” campaign.

This collaboration brings attention to the workers who ensured this past week’s long-anticipated NBA All-Star Weekend was possible. Brown, the founder of clothing brands Darryl Brown and Midwest Kids, will release a lookbook that showcases the stadium’s workers outfitted in his gear from his eponymous label and shoes from the Three Stripes. The collection is filled with neutral-colored premium workwear that reads, “Made Possible By Darryl Brown Co.”

Select apparel shows a pop of color, while the shoes also appeal to the eye.

 

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“All-Star Weekend is a moment full of glitz and glamor, but no one takes the time to talk about all of the people behind the scenes that pull everything together, the countless ‘unknown’ individuals who make sure our entertainment is met with a seamless experience, and that’s my intent with “Made Possible,” Brown said.

“This is an All-Star moment for the arena workers too, they’re the soul of the NBA and the fuel that keeps it running.”

The modern workwear designer took pride in leveraging his blue-collar background and his Midwest roots to create this campaign. While basketball lovers and celebrities travel to celebrate the athletes, Brown wanted to capture and chronicle the strength and resilience of real people and real life in Cleveland.

“Last time All-Star weekend was here [Cleveland] was like 20 years ago. So I’m just super excited to not only be doing all these cool activations and releases and stuff, but just to have the support of somebody like Adidas behind me. We’re in All-Star weekend, and around all my peers and people that I grew up with since I was a kid,” Brown shared, according to Esquire.

“For them to be able to see me in this capacity is pretty cool, it’s almost like I’m a creative All-Star myself for my city, area, region, and such.”

Check out some of images from the “Made Possible” lookbook below:

(Courtesy of Adidas Originals)
(Courtesy ot Adidas Originals)
(Courtesy of Adidas Originals)
(Courtesy of Adidas Originals)
Bodka Creek Capital Is Now Largest Black Woman Owned Real Estate Private Equity Firm
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

February 22, 2022

Bodka Creek Capital Is Now Largest Black Woman Owned Real Estate Private Equity Firm

 Bodka Creek Capital has acquired Valencia Grove Apartments, a 460-Unit Multifamily Complex in Houston, Texas.

Valencia Grove Apartments was the third acquisition for Bodka in 2021, following the close of two complexes in 1H 2021. The investment establishes Bodka Creek as the largest African-American, woman-owned real estate private equity firm in the United States.

Located at 11810 Algonquin Drive, the property features a sparkling swimming pool, resident clubhouse, two dog parks, mature oak trees, spacious courtyards, and three onsite laundry facilities. Valencia is situated between Houston Hobby Airport and the NASA Mission Control Center and neighbors Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital and San Jacinto College South Campus, according to a press release.

The firm plans to execute a value-add strategy that will drive occupancy and net operating income up, thus increasing the value of the property. Bodka Creek Capital is dedicated to revitalizing the exterior, interior, and amenities of the property to better serve current and future residents. Some of these improvements will include the addition of a new playground and walking trail, updating the resort style pool area, enhancing the property building systems, and renovating unit interiors.

“Valencia Grove exemplifies our multifamily value-add acquisition strategy and our emphasis on utilizing investment as a tool to build and improve communities,” Allyson Pritchett, founder and CEO at Bodka Creek Capital, said in a news release.

“Our past investments showcase our focus on the transformation of properties into high quality/budget-friendly housing while building strong communities, a product which is increasingly in short supply. With the Southeast seeing such tremendous growth, we feel investments like these will be even more important for the region into the future.”

Investment Partners included RTC Global Investments, Value Investment Partners, Trinity Investors, Impex Capital Group and Melifera Partners.

Vernon Beckford and Eric Andrew of Diversified Lending Solutions and Dwight Mortgage Trust’s New York Office secured the debt financing.

 

Google Launches Career Training Initiative to Help People Secure Higher-Paying Jobs
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 22, 2022

Google Launches Career Training Initiative to Help People Secure Higher-Paying Jobs

Google is using its $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund to launch a new job training program aimed at preparing over 20,000 workers for higher-paying career opportunities.

On Thursday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the launch of the new fund with a goal of driving $1 billion in aggregate wage gains, FOXBusiness reported.

The “innovative” program will “equip people with job-ready skills in fields like data analytics, IT support, project management, and UX design with three to six months—with no degree or experience required,” Google said.

The advisory nonprofit Social Finance is one of three nonprofits working with the public, private, and social sectors to form partnerships and investments “that measurably improve lives,” the tech giant added.

“We are excited to support Social Finance to help expand economic opportunity for more Americans with our new $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund,” Pichai said.

“This innovative funding model brings together digital skills training and support services to connect more Americans to high-growth, high-paying jobs,” Pichai continued.

“We hope it will be transformative for people, their families, and their communities.”

Along with Social Finance, which designs student-friendly financing and repayment plans, Google is working with two other nonprofits on the initiative. Year Up is an organization aimed at upward mobility programs for the disadvantaged. Merit America provides tech training for adults without a bachelor’s degree.

The training organizations will be paid partially for their resources upfront and receive additional payments only if their graduates land and keep higher-paying jobs. The program will use Google philanthropy and interest-free loan repayments from students for funding.

Students will begin repaying the loans only if they get a job that pays at least $40,000 a year. The payments will be about $100 a month and continue for a maximum of five years.

“I genuinely think this is one of the important areas for society to figure out,” said Pichai said, who hopes the fund will serve as a “template for other companies to do more.”

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