Allen Media Group Purchases WJRT, ABC Affiliate In Michigan For $70 Million

by Derek Major

July 15, 2021

Allen Media Group Purchases WJRT, ABC Affiliate In Michigan For $70 Million

The Allen Media Group (AMG) has acquired another local TV station, purchasing WJRT, an ABC affiliate in Flint-Saginaw, Mich., from Gray Television for $70 million.

After the sale is final, AMG will own 24 local TV stations in 20 markets and 12 networks including the Weather Channel. The deal follows another purchase AMG made with Gray Television, buying seven of its stations in April worth $380 million.

Byron Allen, the founder, CEO, and chairman said in a statement that AMG plans to spend $10 billion over the next two years acquiring more local affiliates.

“Over the past year-and-a-half, we’ve invested close to $1 billion to acquire best-in-class, top-tier, broadcast network affiliates,” Allen said according to Deadline. “We plan to invest approximately $10 billion to acquire more ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox television stations over the next two years with the goal of being the largest broadcast television group in America. All of our media assets will work in concert to amplify our free-streaming service, Local Now.”

For Gray Television, the sale of WJRT facilitates regulatory approval for its pending purchase of the Meredith Corporation by removing the only market overlap between Gray and Meredith.

Gray Television Executive Chairman and CEO Hilton H. Howell said the sale of WJRT is bittersweet, but AMG will continue to achieve the station’s high standard of excellence.

“Having to divest WJRT-TV, which we have proudly owned for the past seven years, in order to facilitate our purchase of Meredith’s television stations is bittersweet,” Howell said, according to the Associated Press. “The wonderful WJRT-TV staff has done an exemplary job serving the Flint–Saginaw community, and we are disappointed to lose them. Nevertheless, we are excited that Byron Allen and his team will follow us as the next dedicated stewards of this fine television station.”

Last year, Allen told the Hollywood Reporter that he plans to one day own CNN and that it’s something he thinks about constantly.

“I’d love to own CNN. But I have to buy AT&T to do that. And I will. Believe me, I think about it every day,” Allen said.

Brooklyn Couple Allegedly Stole $3M Worth Of Money Orders From A Post Office

by Christian Spencer

July 15, 2021

Brooklyn Couple Allegedly Stole $3M Worth Of Money Orders From A Post Office

A Crown Heights, Brooklyn, USPS worker and her boyfriend got charged with stealing more than $3 million worth of blank money orders, The New York Daily News reported.

Federal prosecutors are saying Jaleesa Wallace, 30, and her co-conspirator boyfriend, Willie Cook, 34, allegedly stole the money orders on Feb. 13 from her Postal Service job at its Utica Avenue branch.

They were arrested on Tuesday.

The branch manager notified the authorities about the missing 10,000 blank postal money orders that were said to be delivered but never entered in the system.

Out of the 10,000 blank money orders, more than 100 of them were exchanged for cash at financial institutions, prosecutors charged, with 300 of them being recovered at Cook’s home after a search by federal agents was executed.

Cook allegedly admitted to being part of the crime, saying he was “holding” stolen money orders which they sold through messaging applications like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Cook said he would drive Wallace to deliver the money order to customers they were communicating with, prosecutors charged.

The boyfriend also allegedly admitted that he posed for pictures with the stolen money orders on Telegram, with one of the pictures captioned, “Let’s Eat.”

On July 9, in a search executed by law enforcement into Wallace’s home, agents found 3,100 of the stolen money orders in two large boxes. In addition, $42,000 in cash and 37 unemployment benefits prepaid debit cards discovered as well, Daily News reported.

At least $1.4 million worth of stolen money orders were cashed in, prosecutors said in a press release.

Wallace is waiting to be arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court.

The ‘Smithsonian Anthology Of Hip-Hop and Rap’ To Release 129-Song Compilation

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 15, 2021

The ‘Smithsonian Anthology Of Hip-Hop and Rap’ To Release 129-Song Compilation

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has announced that it has partnered with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to produce the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap. The eclectic project will be released later this summer on Aug. 20.

The collection of hip-hop artistry will chronicle hip-hop’s rise from the Bronx to the broadest areas of the American experience and worldwide influence.

“Born in the Bronx and raised across the American West and South, hip-hop is one of the most influential genres of music in the modern era,” said Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon Director of NMAAHC in a written statement. “Through beats, dynamic rhymes, and pointed lyricism, hip-hop has provided a platform for communities and generations to voice their ongoing struggles and has changed society and culture around the world.”

The anthology will feature hundreds of pictures that span decades of hip-hop history. It was designed by the founding creative director of Def Jam, artist Cey Adams.

“We wanted the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap to be reflective of the culture, of the music, of the people, of everything that is part of hip-hop,” said Dwandalyn R. Reece, NMAAHC’s associate director for curatorial affairs, curator of music and performing arts and producer of the anthology.

The project was produced over seven years as the work began in 2014 from an executive committee composed of some major figures in the music and culture of hip-hop, including rappers Chuck D and MC Lyte; writers and scholars Adam Bradley, Jeff Chang, Cheryl Keyes, and Mark Anthony Neal; early Def Jam senior executives-turned-cultural advisers Bill Adler and Bill Stephney; artist and writer Questlove; and producer and educator 9th Wonder. Other advisers were assembled with equal representation from all facets of hip-hop culture.

As listed on its website, “A first-of-its-kind collector’s item, the Anthology captures hip-hop’s evolution from its earliest days in the late ’70s to today’s contemporary artists (1979-2013). It features 9 CDs with 129 tracks, and a 300-page, coffee-table book with 11 essays and never-before-seen photographs and designs by Cey Adams, artist and founding creative director of Def Jam.”

The anthology can be pre-ordered here.

Disc 1 (1979-1982):

Fatback – King Tim III
Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight
The Sequence – Funk You Up
Kurtis Blow – The Breaks
Funky Four +1 – That’s the Joint
Spoonie Gee feat. The Sequence – Monster Jam
Treacherous Three – The Body Rock
Blondie – Rapture
Grandmaster Flash – The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock

Disc 2 (1982-1984):

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message
The Fearless Four – Rockin It
Cold Crush Brothers – Punk Rock Rap
Herbie Hancock – Rockit
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – Looking for the Perfect Beat
Run-DMC – It’s Like That
Whodini – Friends
Cold Crush Brothers – Fresh, Fly, Wild & Bold
T. La Rock – It’s Yours
The World’s Famous Supreme Team – Hey! DJ
Newcleus – Jam On It
UTFO – Roxanne, Roxanne

Disc 3 (1984-1987):

Roxanne Shanté – Roxanne’s Revenge
Fat Boys – Fat Boys
Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D – La Di Da Di
LL Cool J – I Can’t Live without my Radio
Schoolly D – P.S.K. ‘What Does It Mean?’
Run-DMC feat. Aerosmith – Walk This Way
Beastie Boys – Paul Revere
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Ego Tripping
Ice-T – 6 ‘N The Mornin’
Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now
LL Cool J – I Need Love
Eric B feat. Rakim – Eric B is President
Mantronix – King of The Beats

Disc 4 (1987-1989):

Stetsasonic feat. the Rev. Jesse Jackson & Olatunji – A.F.R.I.C.A.
Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Parents Just Don’t Understand
Audio Two – Top Billin’
MC Lyte – Lyte As A Rock
Big Daddy Kane – Raw
Marley Marl feat. Master Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap, & Big Daddy Kane – The Symphony
MC Lyte – I Cram to Understand U (Sam)
Tone Lōc – Wild Thing
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – It Takes Two
Jungle Brothers – I’ll House You
N.W.A. – F–k Tha Police
Public Enemy – Fight the Power
The Stop the Violence Movement – Self Destruction
Too Short – Life Is…Too Short
Slick Rick – Children’s Story
3rd Bass – The Gas Face

Disc 5 (1989-1991):

Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love – Ladies First
Public Enemy – Bring the Noise
De La Soul – Me Myself and I
Biz Markie – Just a Friend
The D.O.C. – It’s Funky Enough
2 Live Crew – Me So Horny
Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance
MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
Brand Nubian – All for One
Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me
A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario
Black Sheep – The Choice is Yours
Salt-N-Pepa – Let’s Talk About Sex
Yo-Yo feat. Ice-Cube – Can’t Play with My Yo-Yo
Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.

Disc 6 (1992-1994):

Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang
Ice Cube – It Was a Good Day
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back
Arrested Development – Tennessee
Digable Planets – Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
House of Pain – Jump Around
Positive K – I Got a Man
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
UGK – Pocket Full of Stones
Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M.
Cypress Hill – Insane In The Brain
The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By
Eightball & MJG – Comin Out Hard
Common Sense – I Used to Love H.E.R.
Da Brat – Funkdafied
Nas – N.Y. State of Mind
Craig Mack feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes – Flava In Your Ear

Disc 7 (1994-1997):

Beastie Boys – Sabotage
The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
Gang Starr feat. Nice & Smooth – DWYCK
Warren G feat. Nate Dogg – Regulate
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Murder Was The Case
E-40 feat. Suga T – Sprinkle Me
Goodie Mob – Cell Therapy
Coolio feat. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise
2Pac – Dear Mama
Mobb Deep – Shook Ones, Part 2
Method Man feat. Mary J. Blige – I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need To Get By
Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z – I’ll Be
Lil Kim feat. Puff Daddy – No Time
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Tha Crossroads
Wu-Tang Clan feat. Cappadonna – Triumph
Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
Master P feat. Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Fiend – Make ‘Em Say Uhh!

Disc 8 (1997-2003):

Missy Elliot – The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
DMX – Ruff Ryders’ Anthem
The Roots – The Next Movement
Mos Def – Mathematics
BG – Bling Bling
dead prez – Hip Hop
Eminem feat. Dido – Stan
OutKast – Ms. Jackson
Nelly – Country Grammar (Hot Shit)
Ludacris feat. Pharrell – Southern Hospitality
Nas – One Mic
50 Cent – In Da Club
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins – Get Low

Disc 9 (2004-2013):

Talib Kweli – Black Girl Pain
Kanye West – Jesus Walks
Three 6 Mafia feat. Young Buck, Eightball & MJG – Stay Fly
Rick Ross – Hustlin’
Lupe Fiasco feat. Nikki Jean – Hip-Hop Saved My Life
Young Jeezy feat. Nas – My President
David Banner feat. Chris Brown & Yung Joc – Get Like Me
Lil Wayne feat. Robin Thicke – Tie My Hands
Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – Thrift Shop
J. Cole feat. TLC – Crooked Smile
Kanye West – Blood On The Leaves
Drake – Started From the Bottom

Study: 45% Of Millennials Aiming To Buy Life Insurance Spurred By COVID-19

by Jeffrey McKinney

July 15, 2021

Study: 45% Of Millennials Aiming To Buy Life Insurance Spurred By COVID-19

Compelled largely by the dire impact of COVID-19, millennials have a greater inclination now to buy life insurance than other generations.

Millennials (ages 22-40) seem to be most influenced by the pandemic pertaining to such coverage, a study by nonprofit industry trade groups LIMRA and Life Happens shows.

Some 45% of millennials report they are more likely to buy life insurance due to COVID-19 than baby boomers (15%) or Gen X consumers (31%).

Two-thirds of millennials surveyed say they have dependents under 18 living in their households. As such, the study reveals 43% of millennials are more concerned than other generations about leaving their dependents in a difficult financial situation if they should die, or burdening others with burial/funeral costs.

The findings are intriguing as the report declares younger Americans are the least likely to be insured but are among the most prepared to purchase life insurance.

“COVID-19 has raised awareness about the important role life insurance plays in families’ financial security. Our research shows 42% of Americans would face financial hardship within six months if the primary wage-earner were to die unexpectedly,” David Levenson, president and CEO of LL Global, LIMRA and LOMA, stated in the study. (LOMA stands for the Life Office Management Association).

He added, “Young Americans, in particular, are at most risk — more than half of Millennials have no life insurance coverage. The good news is 48% of millennials say they plan to buy coverage in the next year. While we know not all will follow through, our industry needs to help these young adults get the appropriate coverage that will protect their families.”

Yet another analysis showed people who bought life insurance during the crisis wish they had held off.

Research from Expertise.com revealed that many young Americans perhaps bought life insurance in a panic during the pandemic and now 21% of them regret it. Of 1,000 Americans surveyed, the report showed that 25% of Americans bought a life insurance policy during the pandemic and within this group, 21% were ages 18-24, 32% were ages 25-34, and 26% were ages 35-44. Only 22% were over 45.

And among those who bought life insurance during the pandemic, 21% now regret it while another 13% preferred not to say. Within that group of 21%, 74% were between the ages of 18 and 44, the results showed.

Checking again with the 21% who regretted their life insurance buy, Expertise.com asked if they will cancel their policy now that COVID-19 appears to be winding down: 9% have already canceled it, 16% indicated they will cancel it eventually, 26% were not sure either way. Some 41% will not, and 9% did not answer.

At the same time, a synopsis by online insurance marketplace Policygenius.com includes insights on why millennials might want to consider acquiring life insurance.

‘The Rock’ Surprises Former School Custodian Who Went Back To College To Become A Teacher

by Andrea Blackstone

July 15, 2021

‘The Rock’ Surprises Former School Custodian Who Went Back To College To Become A Teacher

Tylan Bailey of Atlanta serves as a reminder that hard work coupled with determination can lead to tackling tough goals at nearly any age.

The father of four, who once worked as a custodian for 23 years as Hightower Elementary School’s head custodian, had a dream to switch careers and become an educator. On Monday, he was surprised live on Good Morning America when “Jungle Cruise” stars, actress Emily Blunt, and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson surprised him, his family, and school supporters, to honor Bailey for accomplishing his longtime educational goal.

Bailey’s journey can now inspire kids to push through obstacles to achieve greatness.

In 2017 at the age of 39, Bailey empowered himself by enrolling “at Georgia State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physical education,” according to Good Morning America. Bailey stayed committed to studying late at night, working, and balancing fatherhood. The Georgia State University alumnus who graduated from college in his forties was humbled by all the love.

“What a journey and how inspiring your story is,” Johnson said, during the segment. “We’re proud of you. Your beautiful family is proud of you, too.”

“You just keep shining your light. You’re amazing,” Blunt said to Bailey.

Tylan Bailey is a former school janitor from Georgia who attended college and graduated in his forties.
Facebook- Tylan Ron Bailey

Blunt and Johnson invited the longtime custodian-turned-teacher to the California premiere of their new movie, as well as roundtrip airfare to California for him and his family, plus hotel rooms and park passes at Disneyland,” ABC News reported.

In the fall, Bailey will begin a new chapter as a physical education teacher who works at Atlanta’s Briar Vista Elementary School, according to Good Morning America. Other surprises which were mentioned in the Good Morning America video included a $15,000 donation provided from Echelon for his new school home and an Echelon bike and treadmill for the new teacher to keep in shape.

“Your blessings will come to you if you go for it,” Bailey said in the story.

Black Mother Charged With Murder For Allegedly Killing Her Daughters In A Florida Canal

by Christian Spencer

July 15, 2021

Black Mother Charged With Murder For Allegedly Killing Her Daughters In A Florida Canal

A Black mother got charged with murder after police recovered the bodies of her two daughters in a Florida canal.

On Tuesday, the Lauderdale Police Department arrested Tinessa Hogan, 36, and charged her with first-degree murder of daughters Destiny Hogan, 9, and Daysha Hogan, 7, Newsweek reported.

The children’s bodies were found on June 22 with Hogan initially being a person of interest, CBS Miami reported. Investigators determined that the children were last seen alive on June 21.

“The investigation revealed that the female juvenile was last seen on June 21, 2021, at approximately 5 p.m. along with another black juvenile female. Through citizen accounts, investigators determined that the second female juvenile may be missing and a parallel investigation began in an attempt to locate the second female,” the Lauderdale Police Department said.

It was on June 22 that officers received calls about a floating person and were called to a canal at 5926 NW 21 Street.

“Police and Fire arrived on scene and the body of a juvenile female was pulled from the water,” the release said.

The authorities first recovered the body of what they described as a “pre-teen black female wearing blue jean shorts and a gray shirt containing the word “Dance” on the front in rainbow colors,” which later turned out to be Destiny.

Daysha’s body was recovered after police were called again about reports of a second body floating in a canal near 2201 NW 59th Way.

“This female was described as being a juvenile black female wearing a tan shirt and flower pajama pants. She was later identified as Daysha Hogan,” the Lauderdale Police Department said.

Police said that the body did not show any signs of trauma at the scene.

Originally, Hogan was taken into custody but police did not file any criminal charges against her.

After a month-long investigation, including reports that Hogan was offering to baptize children around the neighborhood in the canal two days before the incident, police had enough to arrest Hogan on Wednesday, ABC 10 Miami reported.

“Tinessa Hogan was transferred to the Broward County Main Jail without incident,” the Lauderdale Police Department said in a press release sent to Newsweek.

The case is still active and police are encouraging witnesses to come forward with information.

LeBron James’ SpringHill Company, Worth $750 Million, May Sell Equity Stakes in the Company

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 15, 2021

LeBron James’ SpringHill Company, Worth $750 Million, May Sell Equity Stakes in the Company

We recently reported that by the end of the calendar year, Los Angeles Lakers all-star basketball player, LeBron James would become a billionaire. There is a possibility that it may happen even sooner with the latest news regarding the company he co-owns with business partner, Maverick Carter.

According to Variety, the media and entertainment firm, SpringHill Co., which is led by James and Carter, is in early talks with potential investors to possibly sell a piece of the property that has a valuation of up to $750 million.

There are several big-name companies that are interested in being in business with SpringHill. Nike has been named as one of the companies interested in obtaining an equity stake in the company, which includes the three entities that the duo controls. SpringHill Co. encompasses SpringHill Entertainment, Uninterrupted, and the Robot Co. marketing agency. They aren’t anticipated to outright sell the company, but, possibly minor and/or major stakes in it.

The King, as he is referred to, is the NBA’s top-earning player for the seventh consecutive year, and that includes his off-court income, as the 2016-17 season was the only season of his professional basketball career that James had the highest playing salary in the National Basketball Association.

The successful businessman is expected to earn $95.4 million this year. That includes an estimated $64 million from his endorsement deals, memorabilia, and media. This will be a record level that no other NBA player has ever accomplished and the highest ever in American team sports. With the expected income, at the end of this year, his career earnings will be at $1 billion, including $700 million off the court. With that total, James joins an exclusive club that includes Tiger Woods, Floyd Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi in reaching the three-comma club while still an active athlete.

Facebook Civil Rights V.P. Roy L. Austin Speaks Out About Audit and Progress on the Platform

by Selena Hill

July 15, 2021

Facebook Civil Rights V.P. Roy L. Austin Speaks Out About Audit and Progress on the Platform

Facebook’s first civil rights executive says the social media platform has taken pivotal steps toward progress after facing criticism last year over the way it handled civil rights issues.

In May 2020, the tech giant refused to take action after President Donald Trump shared a Facebook post about “shooting” Black Lives Matter protesters. In the notorious post, Trump stated that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in response to protests in Minneapolis over the police killing of George Floyd. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the controversial message was not removed because it did not violate Facebook’s rules, which sparked intense employee and public backlash.

The company also endured a collective boycott from advertisers who were concerned that their ads were being tied to hate speech, misinformation, and pornography. In July 2020, Facebook published its third civil rights audit report, bringing to a close an independent two-year review of its companies policies and practices. According to Bloomberg News, auditors found that the social network failed to enforce its voter suppression policy against Trump’s posts in 2020. Facebook also failed to adequately address algorithmic bias as well as a rise of racist content on its platforms. One of the recommendations from the audit was to hire an in-house civil rights expert. In January, Facebook tapped Roy L. Austin, Jr., a nationally renowned civil rights attorney and advocate, to spearhead the company’s newly created civil rights division. Prior to his appointment, Austin was a partner at the law firm of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis L.L.P., where he specialized in criminal defense and civil rights law. Now, he says his focus is to prevent the spread of harmful information on the world’s largest social media platform.

“I want to make sure that the company is treating people as they should be treated and that the company is not doubling down on historic discrimination,” Austin told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Although Austin admits that monitoring and eliminating white supremacy and hate speech on the social network is challenging, he applauds the company for taking steps toward change by launching a public civil rights audit.

“There’s no other company that can say that they did that,” he says. “Facebook put it all out there for the world to see.”

He added that the Silicon Valley company has empowered him to make substantial changes.

“They’re allowing me to build a team of civil rights experts. They are allowing me in every room that I’ve asked to be in, and they are bringing me into rooms that I didn’t even know existed to have these hard and challenging conversations.”

As for the audit, Austin says he and his team are working to address more than 100 items before the end of the year.

“We’ve taken that audit. We’ve broken it down. There are about 125 to-do items,” he said. “Before the end of the year, I anticipate that we will publish an article and note that says, ‘these are the things that we have accomplished since the civil rights V.P. has arrived.’ And I think that’s going to be the bulk of the 125 items.”

Austin, a former Justice Department official under President Barack Obama, began his 25-year career as both a civil rights lawyer and advocate. He served as an honors trial attorney with the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ. He also worked in several prominent roles in the federal government, including as a senior assistant U.S. attorney in the civil rights unit of the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office and as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division from 2010 to 2014.

From 2014 to 2017, Austin served on the White House Domestic Policy Council as deputy assistant to the president for the Office of Urban Affairs, Justice and Opportunity. During his tenure, he co-authored a report on Big Data and Civil Rights, worked with Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, helped develop the Police Data Initiative, and was a member of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force.

Now, as Facebook’s first civil rights vice president, Austin is working to protect users from civil rights violations — a role he describes as tough but critical.

“It’s extremely challenging but there isn’t a challenge that I’m not willing to accept,” he said.

“The impact I’m having as a civil rights attorney on people’s civil rights is enormous and beneficial to all of these groups who have suffered for so long. So, that is why I am taking on this challenge.”

Editors’ Note: This article was updated on July 15, 2021. Originally, the article incorrectly stated that Facebook’s 2020 audit came in response to public criticism. The company’s audit last year was actually part of a two-year-long process.

Pharrell Williams Announces Black Ambition Initiative Winners, Awards $1M Grand Prize

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 15, 2021

Pharrell Williams Announces Black Ambition Initiative Winners, Awards $1M Grand Prize

Back in December 2020, mega music producer Pharrell Williams announced the launch of an initiative for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs called Black Ambition. The purpose of the nonprofit is to provide a bridge to success for entrepreneurs of color working in tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products/services startups.

According to Billboard, the winners were announced by Williams and his nonprofit initiative, Black Ambition, earlier this week. Cash prizes ranged from $50,000 to $1 million.

The ceremony, which was held as a private virtual event on Tuesday, was hosted by Black Ambition CEO Felecia Hatcher and saw Williams announce the $1 million Grand Black Ambition Prize winner. Livegistics, which is a team of software developers, accounting professionals, and former construction managers, have used their expertise to build a cloud-based platform that innovates the methods in which companies manage civil projects, was the recipient of the top prize.

“If you think you’re excited, we really mean it when we say that we’re excited,” Williams said. “This is a game-changer. This [Black Ambition initiative] is about meeting human beings like you. You guys are the examples. You’re the dreams that we dreamt of [and] this is what Black Ambition is all about. All the game-changing, it begins right now.”

Black Ambition had received more than 1,700 applications which led to a group of 34 finalists being chosen.

After revealing the top prize winner, Black Ambition CEO Hatcher stated, “I’m almost shedding a tear right along with y’all. I’m very excited for you in this moment. When Black Ambition was just an idea from Pharrell, this is exactly the moment that he hoped and wished for and now it’s here.”

The complete list of winners is shown below:

Livegistics – Black Ambition $1 million grand prize

Alodia – Black Ambition $250,000 prize

Beereaders – Black Ambition $250,000 prize

QuirkChat – Black Ambition $250,000 prize

Emagine Solutions Technology – Black Ambition $100,000 prize

Dosso Beauty – Black Ambition HBCU $250,000 grand prize

Shea’d – Black Ambition HBCU $100,000 prize

GABA – Black Ambition HBCU $75,000 prize

PaperAI – Black Ambition HBCU $50,000 prize

Record Number For Diversity in 2021 Emmy Nominations

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 15, 2021

Record Number For Diversity in 2021 Emmy Nominations

With the history of award shows typically favoring white performers and creators and being voted on by more white people as well, it has stirred up a call for more Black entertainers to get their nod with more diverse nominations at The Emmys.

According to Deadline, with the announcement of the latest Primetime Emmy Nominations, this is a record year when it comes to diverse talent being recognized (or, at least nominated) for the upcoming Emmy Awards.

There were a record 49 BIPOC nominees who were acknowledged in the acting and reality hosting categories. That number led to a 17% increase over last year’s diversity record of 42 BIPOC nominees.

“Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez’s Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is a breakthrough for transgender women in Hollywood, and a long-overdue recognition for her groundbreaking performance over the past three seasons of POSE,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.

“Additionally, the show’s nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as Billy Porter’s third nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, mark a historic show that undoubtedly raised the bar for trans representation on television and changed the way viewers around the world understand the trans community. As over 40 leading LGBTQ organizations pointed out in our open letter about POSE to Emmy Award voters, representation matters. Congratulations, Michaela Jaé, Billy Porter, and the entire POSE team — the world is standing with you and applauding your talents.”

Deadline composed a breakdown of the diversity of this year’s Emmy nominees:

In the Reality Competition Hosting categories, the nominees are:

RuPaul (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef), Daymond John (Shark Tank), Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), and Tan France, and Karamo Brown (Queer Eye).

In the acting categories:

Anthony Anderson (Lead Actor Comedy Series, black-ish), Kenan Thompson (Lead Actor Comedy Series, Kenan and Supporting Actor Comedy, SNL), Tracee Ellis Ross (Lead Actress Comedy Series, black-ish), Uzo Aduba (Lead Actress Drama Series, In Treatment), Mj Rodriguez (Lead Actress Drama Series, Pose), Jurnee Smollett (Lead Actress Drama Series, Lovecraft Country), Sterling K. Brown (Lead Actor Drama Series, This Is Us), Jonathan Majors (Lead Actor Drama Series, Lovecraft Country), Regé-Jean Page (Lead Actor Drama Series, Bridgerton), Billy Porter (Lead Actor Drama Series, Pose), Michael Coel (Lead Actress, Limited Series, I May Destroy You), Cynthia Erivo (Lead Actress Limited Series, Genius: Aretha), Anya Taylor-Joy (Lead Actress Limited Series, The Queen’s Gambit), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Lead Actor Limited/Anthology Series/Movie category, Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr (Lead Actor Limited Series, Hamilton)

Read the complete list here.