Michael B. Jordan Raises Money For Black Women’s Health With Sneaker Raffle
by Dana Givens

September 28, 2020

Michael B. Jordan Raises Money For Black Women’s Health With Sneaker Raffle

Black women experience unique challenges when it comes to accessing proper healthcare and actor Michael B. Jordan wants to help.

The Black Panther star partnered with style platform GOAT for an exclusive sneaker raffle to raise funds for GirlTrek, the nation’s largest public health nonprofit dedicated to Black girls and women.

The sneakers–custom fits inspired by Jordan’s favorite movies — including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coming To America, and The Last Dragon — are crafted by Los Angeles designer the Shoe Surgeon.

“I’ve loved sneakers since I was a kid and there are so many people in the sneaker community that inspire me. Coming up at a time where I couldn’t afford all these kicks, I would use my imagination to think about what my sneaker would look like if I had a chance to build it,” said Jordan in a press statement. 

“Knowing that designing a pair of kicks has always been something I wanted to do, my best friend Sterling Brim introduced me to the Shoe Surgeon, who provided me with an opportunity to combine my passion for sneakers and film and design some incredible sneakers inspired by some of my favorite movies. I’m excited to partner with GOAT to showcase my custom kicks to a community that loves sneakers as much as I do. More importantly, I’m excited to help bring awareness to the health movement amongst African American women, a cause that’s close to me and my family.”

The raffle ended on September 27 with the winners expected to be announced on September 28 through the GOAT app. The proceeds will go toward initiatives targeting to help Black girls and women with access to quality healthcare.

“At GirlTrek, we lace up our sneakers and walk each day as a declaration of self-care. So, we’re beyond thrilled that Michael B. Jordan recognizes the beauty and power of Black women walking in the direction of our [happiest, healthiest] lives,” said Jewel Bush, GirlTrek’s chief of external affairs, in a statement. 

“As the largest health movement for Black women in the country, it truly is a gift when Black men are passionate about Black women’s health and ready to join us on the frontlines,” she added.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 28, 2020

16-Year-Old Entrepreneur Makes History, Opens Beauty Supply Shop In Brooklyn

At the age of 16, Paris McKenzie has opened her own beauty supply shop called Paris Beauty Supplyz in Brooklyn, New York, making her the youngest person to ever do so. Already equipped with a lot of business experience, she has so far been running the business smoothly.

Over the years, Paris has been racking up knowledge in business while she was assisting her mother, Senica Thompson, in running her businesses, a boutique and a salon near where her new beauty supply shop is now located.

“I’ve been helping my mom run her business since I was very, very young. So I know how to handle finances and how to market products in the store,” Paris told CBS News. “I had enough money saved to invest in this.”

Despite her young age, she also earned the respect of her relatively older staff including 22-year old Giselle Ashby who said, “Paris, she’s like a little sister to me. I respect her. It’s fun.”

Aside from being an entrepreneur, Paris, who is a straight-A student, also plans to major in pre-med to achieve her dream of being an orthopedic pediatric surgeon. She is an incoming junior year high school student and is already taking college courses. She is a busy teenager but she doesn’t forget to enjoy from time to time.

“I don’t really have any more free time, but when I do, I try to go out with my friends,” said Paris. “Walking in here every morning, it makes me feel awesome.”


This article was originally published by BlackBusiness.com.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 27, 2020

Founder of Black-Owned Bakery in Chicago Buys Historic Candy Factory For $500K

Stephanie Hart, the owner and founder of Brown Sugar Bakery in Chicago, is buying out a historic 84-year old candy factory called Cupid Candies. To finalize the acquisition, she is using the funds from a $500,000 small business grant that she recently received from the state of Illinois.

In 2004, Stephanie opened Brown Sugar Bakery, which quickly became one of the most popular destinations for Black food culture in the city. It started with one location but has since grown to three locations in the local area

Stephanie had been planning to grow her business even more so when she heard that John Stefanos, the owner of Cupid Candies, wanted to sell the business, she immediately began taking steps to make the purchase. According to The Chicago Sun Times, she applied for a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and was approved for the maximum state grant of $500,000 – the exact amount needed to seal the deal.

Wth the funds, Stephanie is able to acquire, not just the rights to the company’s brand and products, but also the equipment and the building. Ultimately, she will combine the two brands together which is why she is keeping all 20+ employees on staff. Their new job will be to continue to produce all the ice cream and chocolate products of Cupid Candies, as well as the cakes of Brown Sugar Bakery. They will also integrate some of the ideas to create new dessert ideas.


This article was originally published by BlackBusiness.com.

Black Woman Entrepreneur Owns Two 7-Eleven Stores Right Across the Street From Each Other
by Black Enterprise

September 26, 2020

Black Woman Entrepreneur Owns Two 7-Eleven Stores Right Across the Street From Each Other

Meet Alyson Rae Lawson, the CEO and founder of RaeLawson Enterprise LLC, a franchisee/operator of two 7-Eleven convenience stores with gas stations that are located right across the street from each other in Arlington, Texas. She is the only African American in her city to have accomplished this.

Originally from Dallas, Alyson is an HBCU graduate who earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Hampton University and later, her Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University.

She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a franchisee because her father franchised three McDonald’s in the Oak Cliff area when she was younger. By the age of 30, she herself was a 7-Eleven franchisee with not just one, but two locations.

She recently made history after partnering with a Black-owned wine brand whose products continue to sell out in her stores.

Challenges along the way

“It is never an easy road to being an entrepreneur,” Alyson told Voyage Dallas. “Although 7-Eleven waves the purchasing fees, I was still left with the franchising fees and other costs that are associated with promoting my own business. It is always difficult financially beginning your own business.”

She says that she believes the biggest struggle when having a business is employment. She comments, “In this industry, it is a challenge finding the best help and longevity because although I am there most of the day, I have to be able to trust my staff when I am not there. So the hiring process is very tedious and selective.”


She also says that there are new challenges every day, but nonetheless, she describes herself as a team-oriented leader who combines motivation, drive, and the ability to adapt to various opportunities and work assignments. She says that she anticipates and readily accepts challenges.

In addition to running her 7-Eleven franchises, she is also a motivational speaker that empowers high school and college students.

The article was originally published by BlackBusiness.com.

Trump Attempts To Woo Black Voters With ‘Platinum Plan’
by Derek Major

September 26, 2020

Trump Attempts To Woo Black Voters With ‘Platinum Plan’

President Trump is making his most significant effort to woo Black voters with what he calls his “Platinum Plan” for Black economic empowerment at a campaign event in Atlanta.

The Trump campaign released its plan Friday to coincide with the event. Trump’s Platinum Plan includes a $500 billoion investiment in Black communities across the country, increasing access to capital to fuel Black owned Busineeses, a tax cut, increased education opportunities, lowering the cost of healthcare, making Juneteenth a National Holiday, prosecuting the KKK and ANTIFA as terrorist organizations and making lynching a national hate crime.

“President Trump’s return to Atlanta, GA will lay out his second term vision for Black America. Capitalizing off a successful first term of unprecedented accomplishments for the Black community, the Black Economic Empowerment-Platinum Plan, is a gamechanger for Black Americans and will lead to historic opportunities, security, prosperity and fairness for all Black Americans. President Trump made the Black community a priority in his 4 years in office while Joe Biden spent 47 years creating and supporting policies that destroyed Black families, communities and generational wealth,” Paris Dennard. senior communications advisor for Black media affairs said in a statement.

Additionally, the Platinum Plan will also create 3 million new jobs for the Black community, create 500,000 new Black owned busineeses, access to better education and job training opportunities and a committment to a Second Step Act, among other initatives.

President Trump, who won 8% of the Black vote in 2016, has had a contentious first term with Black voters. During his first term, Black voters have watched Trump praise the Charlottesville protesters, call Colin Kaepernick and other NFL player protesting protesting police brutality  “disgraceful,” call the Black Lives Matter mural in New York “a symbol of hate” and praise police officers in Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed.

Many movements by Black Americans over the past year, including National Black Voter Day have been movements towards signing up more Black voters in order to defeat President Trump and push Black Americans to enter politics.

Trump does have a group of Black supporters who believe that he is fighting for their causes and the Dmerocratic Party has negliected and ignored the cries of Black Americans.

“Though Black Americans have traditionally been shut out of opportunities to grow our own businesses and create generational wealth, President Trump is working hard to give us access to the American Dream,” said K. Carl Smith, Black Voices for Trump Advisory Board Member said in the Trump release. “Unlike career politicians like Joe Biden, President Trump is a businessman and understands that pride, community, and dedication are built through entrepreneurship.

More detailed information on Trump’s Platinum Plan will be released in the coming days.

Texas Teacher Fired For Refusing To Stop Wearing Black Lives Matter Mask
by Dana Givens

September 26, 2020

Texas Teacher Fired For Refusing To Stop Wearing Black Lives Matter Mask

Texas teacher Lillian White was terminated from her position in Great Hearts Western Hills because she continued to wear a Black Lives Matter mask after being asked to stop.

White says that she wore facial masks with slogans from the Black Lives Matter movement and that she was asked by the assistant principal to stop wearing those types of masks. When she refused, she was terminated from her role.

“It was stressful because I have a financial obligation to help support my family,” White told KENS5 News. “It’s also kind of heartbreaking that this is the kind of—this is the reason that I lost my job,” she continued.

“This is human rights and it should be something that is promoted at our school. It’s an excuse to not talk about it by saying this is politics, talk about it on your own time. It’s just an excuse because they’re uncomfortable with the conversation,” White said.

Superintendent Daniel Scoggin said in a statement that “Great Hearts respects the privacy of all current and former employees and as a result does not issue a public comment on specific personnel matters. On the question related to face coverings, Great Hearts enacted, in this unprecedented pandemic environment, a policy that faces coverings have no external messages. This policy was authored by school leaders and teachers in service to the learning environment of our classrooms.

“Great Hearts was founded and exists today to serve the innate dignity and worth of every human being. We stand with the Black community and all who are suffering. Great Hearts deplores bigotry and its crushing effects on all those subjected to it,” Scoggin continued.

“Great Hearts is committed to an America where racism, violence, and injustice do not happen because such acts find no home in the hearts of a great people.”

by Selena Hill

September 25, 2020

Highlights From the Black Enterprise Women of Power Tech Summit

Hundreds of women at the BLACK ENTERPRISE inaugural Women of Power Tech virtual summit were empowered with the tools, insight, and knowledge needed to thrive in various tech-driven industries.

The two-day digital conference included an all-star lineup of dynamic speakers, executives, and Silicon Valley leaders who talked about their climb to the top of the industry during a variety of sessions, panels, and workshops. Hosted by Ally, Women of Power Tech also included professional coaching to help Black women identify new trends and opportunities and gain new skills.

Here are some of the highlights.

Netflix CMO Bozoma Saint John on Career Transitions

Netflix Global Chief Marketing Officer Bozoma Saint John offered a masterclass of information for women looking to power through or to pivot in tech. During a keynote conversation hosted by Ally with Women of Power Chief Brand Officer Caroline V. Clarke, the marketing superstar opened up about navigating in Silicon Valley, shared salary negotiation tips, and how to turn your experiences into a story of success.

“Advice that I have for us and for Black women, in particular, is that we actually have to own our unique ability and our unique experiences–and tout them,” said the marketing executive extraordinaire.

Saint John also talked about the various transitions she’s made throughout her 20-year marketing career, which includes serving in C-suite positions at Endeavor, Uber, Apple Music, and Pepsi-Cola North America.

“I would not say that transitions are ever easy,” she said. “I had to be able to figure out what was going to work for me, what I needed to do in order to advance and to grow because sometimes I couldn’t find those opportunities in the jobs that I was in or at the companies I was in.”

 

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Apple VP of Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson on Knowing When to Exit 

During another keynote session, Lisa Jackson, the vice president of environment, policy, and social Initiatives at Apple, talked about the importance of knowing your worth in the workplace. The tech veteran also shared insights on when and how to pivot in your career.

“You can do a lot of things on your own, you can put up with a lot…But if your evaluation leads you to believe that you do not have a supportive management structure, you are probably in the wrong place,” said Jackson. She also advised viewers to trust their gut when decided when to make a new career move.

“Ask yourself, ‘is it worth it?’ because walking away feels good and it may be the right decision, but you have to think deeply about that.”

Verizon Director Shellye Archambeau on Owning Your Career

Silicon Valley leader and Verizon Director Shellye Archambeau stressed the importance of owning your career and being intentional about your journey.

“It’s really important as you’re building your career to realize that you own your career. You do, not anybody else. Not your boss, not your manager, not your employees, not your spouse, not your mentors. You own it,” she said during a session hosted by Verizon. “It’s important to take charge of what you own.”

 

 

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Entrepreneur Dawn Dickson on Using Tech as Solution

Serial tech entrepreneur Dawn Dickson discussed how she conceptualized and then actualized the development of her two most recent ventures Flat Out of Heels, rollable flat slippers for women, and PopCom, revolutionary software for automated vending machines. She revealed that she came up with Popcom after identifying a problem and then using technology to find a solution.

“I decided to solve my own problem and start PopCom,” she said during the “SistersInc.: Founders Real Talk Roundtable.”

“I had been itching for a big problem to solve.”

 

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Hulu Apologizes For Promoting Breonna Taylor Docuseries on Same Day of Grand Jury’s Announcement
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 25, 2020

Hulu Apologizes For Promoting Breonna Taylor Docuseries on Same Day of Grand Jury’s Announcement

Hulu is under fire for promoting a new docuseries about Breonna Taylor on the same day that it was revealed that the police officers responsible for her death would not be directly charged for the fatal shooting.

On Wednesday, the streaming service started the promotion of the FX docuseries titled, The New York Times Presents: The Killing of Breonna Taylor. Critics say HULU was being blatantly insensitive by promoting the series on the same day, causing the Disney-owned company to withdraw the promotion and offer an apology, according to The New York Daily News.

The streaming company posted an apology on its Twitter account.

The original now-deleted post with the trailer, read: “Breonna Taylor’s life was changing. Then the police came to her door,” the tweet read. “#NYTPresents: The Killings of Breonna Taylor traces the missteps of the deadly raid. #FXonHulu.”

Hulu
(Image: Screenshot)

 

One particular Twitter user was disgusted by the promotion.

Yet, another gave a different perspective.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, defined as exhibiting extreme indifference to human life for firing shots into a neighboring apartment.

Black Physicians Group Will Independently Vet Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 25, 2020

Black Physicians Group Will Independently Vet Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines

The rush by President Trump to get a vaccine for the coronavirus to the general public before the election is leaving many people feeling uneasy. Some Black and brown people feel that the rush is motivated by Trump’s political agenda while others feel that the first round of recipients will be “guinea pigs” when the vaccine is initially released. As a result, a task force formed by the nation’s oldest Black physicians group will track data on the varieties of vaccines currently in development. The Trump administration is trying to fast-track the timetable in which vaccines are usually produced and approved. 

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: “Operation Warp Speed’s goal is to produce and deliver 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines with the initial doses available by January 2021, as part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics (collectively known as countermeasures).”

Dr. Leon McDougle, president of the National Medical Association (NMA), says that they want to ensure safety when it comes to the effects of the upcoming coronavirus vaccine.

“This is about ensuring safety for Operation Warp Speed,” said McDougle. “We’re really doing this to be a source of trusted information for our physicians and our community.”

The NMA’s task force, which is made up of infectious disease and immunization experts, will be “reviewing the available data to help ensure appropriate evidence exists, and that in clinical trials diversity is represented, in order for us to speak to the safety and allocation within the African American community,” McDougle, a family physician, and professor at the Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, told CBS MoneyWatch.

Since it typically takes several years to develop a vaccine, and the White House is pushing to release a vaccine this fall, the shortened time frame has caused concerns that the vaccine is being rushed for political purposes.

“There’s concern about some of these decisions being politicized,” McDougle said. “It even impairs the ability to complete the clinical trials appropriately.

“There seems to be political influence and it’s disturbing. We want to help provide some clarity with the mixed messages out there.”

Breonna Taylor’s Mom: ‘I Have No Faith in the Legal System’
by Derek Major

September 25, 2020

Breonna Taylor’s Mom: ‘I Have No Faith in the Legal System’

Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, said Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was not up to the job of achieving justice for her daughter.

“I never had faith in Daniel Cameron to begin with,” Palmer said in a statement that was read aloud by her sister and Taylor’s aunt, Bianca Austin, according to NPR. Palmer later added she believes Cameron is too inexperienced and had failed her daughter by shifting responsibility to a grand jury.

“I was reassured Wednesday of why I have no faith in the legal system, in the police, in the law,” Palmer said through her sister. “They are not made to protect us Black and brown people.”

Only one officer involved in the March 13 incident was charged with a crime. Brett Hankison, who was fired from the police force in June, faces three counts of wanton endangerment related to shooting into apartments adjacent to Taylor’s. The Class D felony carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The other two officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Det. Myles Cosgrove, both of whom also opened fire that night were not charged. An FBI analysis determined Cosgrove fired the shots that killed Taylor, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said on Wednesday.

Cameron said in a press conference Wednesday that his office believes the actions of the two officers “were justified in their use of force,” because Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, was the first to fire. Walker told the police he fired first because he thought someone had broken into the apartment.

“When I speak on it, I’m considered an angry Black woman,” Palmer said in her statement. “But know this: I am an angry Black woman. I am not angry for the reasons that you would like me to be — but angry because our Black women keep dying at the hands of police officers. And Black men.”

Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys for Taylor’s family, said the indictment punishes one officer for literally missing Taylor with his bullets while forgiving the others for shooting Taylor.

“If Hankison’s behavior constituted wanton endangerment of the people in the apartments next to hers, then it should also be considered wanton endangerment of Breonna,” Crump said in an interview with NBC’s Today show.

Crump, along with others, including Louisville’s Mayor Greg Fischer, has been calling for Cameron to release the transcripts from the grand jury proceedings.

When Mayor Fischer was asked about the potential release of records related to the investigation, he said the city is working with Cameron and the FBI “to understand what we can release so it doesn’t interfere with any of the ongoing investigations” into Taylor’s death.

“What we want to do is get as much of this information out as soon as we can,” Fischer said. “There does need to be some redaction of names to protect individuals’ identities in some of these cases. So that process has started and we hope to be able to announce further information on that soon.”

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