Celebrity Chef Nik Fields Launches Seasoning Blends In Response To Goya Boycott
Goya has come under fire after CEO Robert Unanue publicly endorsed President Donald Trump at a recent press event. Since the incident, Unanue has doubled down on his remarks, triggering online backlash and the hashtags #BoycottGoya and #Goyaway. Celebrity chef Nik Fields, however, has used the controversy as an opportunity to expand her food brand to include original Adobo and Sazon seasoning.
Fields, who owns Chic Chef and claims to be the only African American chef with her own olive farm, has produced a collection of infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Her love of food began with her father as a way to build community.
“My Dad was a self-taught chef. [He] drilled in my head that you eat with your eyes first. He would say your food has to be visually appealing so people can see the love that you put into your food,” said Fields in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Meals have always been a bridge to break down barriers and build bonds,” she added. “Eating together taught me how to eat healthy, make informed decisions on food choices, how to be conscious of food costs, food waste, and the importance of growing your own food.”
In light of the Goya-inspired protest, Fields expanded her brand while embracing her heritage. “I am a proud Caribbean Afro-Latina that was born and raised using Goya products such as Sazon & Adobo seasonings,” added Fields.
“However, due to some recent controversy with the brand, my customers asked if I had a comparable product because they needed an alternative option because they planned to join the #Goyaboycott. I pride myself on being a problem-solver and I recognized that I had all of the ingredients to fill a gap with a healthier version.”
These Founders Launched A Weather App That Helps You Pick An Outfit According to the Forecast
For many of us, the first thing we do when we get up in the morning is to check our phone to see news highlights and the weather. With forecasts often being unpredictable, it can make deciding what to wear for the day a little complicated. A group of Black male founders decided to take that concept one step further and create an app that allows you to style your outfit based on the weather predictions
Snafu is the hybrid weather and clothing app designed by Warren Connley, Schapiro, and Michael Kalu that has successfully relaunched and is continuously growing in size. The app works by recommending outfits to wear that most likely already exist in your closet with suggestions for every day of the week so your fashion choices are always prepared for Mother Nature.
“Snafu changes how people get dressed for any weather condition for thousands of people in over 20 countries worldwide,” said the founders according to Black News. “We converted raw weather data into beautifully designed visuals coupled with designer and fashionable clothing brands that align outfits for any weather forecast. From casual to formal, this app displays wardrobe suggestions to our users looking for that perfect outfit.”
Meet The Black Woman Who Started Her Own Beauty Brand, And Her Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Founded in 2015 by Niye Aniekan-Attang, Ace Beauté is a black woman-owned cruelty-free, beauty brand – best known for its ultra-pigmented, vibrant eyeshadows. The Ace Beauté motto is “Beauty for All,” and everyone is encouraged to experiment, play and create unique makeup looks, regardless of age, gender, skin-color, religion or socio-economic status.
Originally specializing in false lashes, they expanded into color cosmetics in 2017 with their best-selling “Quintessential Palette.” In 2018, a four-eyeshadow palette collection entitled the “Paradise Collection,” was released and proved to be another hit in the industry. Ace Beauté products are distributed internationally across North America, Africa, Europe and Australia.
Black Enterprise: Can you tell us about your career journey? How you came to work in finance and what inspired you to change career paths and start your own beauty brand?
Aniekan-Attang: I have always had a love for beauty, which was inspired by the love my grandmother also had for beauty growing up. I saw how happy she would get when using her beauty products and I ultimately became a beauty enthusiast. After working in finance for some years and realizing that it wasn’t what I was passionate about, it became a no-brainer that returning to beauty was what I was really meant to do.
Black Enterprise: Was there a big learning curve when you decided to start Ace Beaute? Was there someone you learned from or looked to for guidance?
Aniekan-Attang: When I decided to start Ace Beaute, I knew only a handful of entrepreneurs and none were in the ecommerce beauty space. I had to learn everything I know through hours of research and by making mistakes. Thankfully, some of these mistakes were made early on and I have quickly learned from them.
Black Enterprise: How many SKUS did you start with and how quickly did that expand?
Aniekan-Attang: We started with 10 styles of lashes and only a few quantities of each style. As people caught on to the brand via social media, the demand for our lashes increased and at one point we carried about 25 different lash styles. It was then that we decided to expand our product offerings.
Black Enterprise: Ace Beaute has quite a loyal customer base and following on social. Do you have any advice for aspiring beauty entrepreneurs?
Aniekan-Attang: Don’t get distracted by what others might be doing. Stay focused on your goal, stay positive, repeat positive affirmations to yourself at all times and work hard.
Black Enterprise: Can you tell us what’s next for Ace Beaute?
Aniekan-Attang: We have a lot of new and innovative product launches being developed and hope to start rolling those out toward the end of the year.
Cannon, who is the host of the long-running improv competition series Wild ‘n’ Out on VH1, was criticized for statements he made on an episode of his podcast, Cannon’s Class, with former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin. The episode was taped last year but aired on June 30.
During their conversation, Cannon stated that “it’s never hate speech; you can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people. When we are the same people who they want to be. That’s our birthright.” He also stated that “we are the true Hebrews.”
He did issue a statement saying, “Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice [sic] intentions. I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric. We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding.
“The Black and Jewish communities have both faced enormous hatred, oppression[,] persecution[,] and prejudice for thousands of years and in many ways have and will continue to work together to overcome these obstacles.”
ViacomCBS stated that after speaking to Cannon that they “are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism.”
In a written statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter the company stated:
“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism. We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast “Cannon’s Class” on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
“While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him.
“We are committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. ViacomCBS will have further announcements on our efforts to combat hate of all kinds.”
In response, Cannon further defended himself in a Facebook post early Wednesday, in which he claimed his request to speak with ViacomCBS chair Shari Redstone about “reconciliation and actually apologize” was met with silence. He also demanded “full ownership of my billion dollar Wild ‘N Out brand that I created, and they will continue to misuse and destroy without my leadership.”
A rep for Redstone told The Hollywood Reporter that Cannon’s claim he reached out to Redstone is “absolutely untrue.”
Wild ‘N Out first premiered on MTV, which ViacomCBS owns, was renewed in 2019 for three more seasons on MTV’s sister network VH1. Cannon is also the host of the Fox variety musical series The Masked Singer. ViacomCBS is also the parent company of Nickelodeon, where Cannon launched his acting career back in the 1990s and before later serving as a board executive as an adult.
Angela Davis Said She Backs Biden Because He Can Be Pressured By The Left
Activist Angela Davis said in an interview that resurfaced this week she’s rallying behind Joe Biden because it’s crucial to back the candidate “who can be most effectively pressured” by the left.
In the interview, which took place in November 2019 on the YouTube show Going Underground With Afshin Rattansi, Davis admitted neither Joe Biden or President Donald Trump reflects her political views. However, she said Biden is far more likely to take mass demands seriously.
“I don’t see this election as being about choosing a candidate who will be able to lead us in the right direction,” said Ms. Davis in the video clip. “It will be about choosing a candidate who can be most effectively pressured into allowing more space for the evolving anti-racist movement.”
“Biden is very problematic in many ways, not only in terms of his past and the role that he played in pushing toward mass incarceration, but he has indicated that he is opposed to disbanding the police, and this is definitely what we need,” Davis continued.
While the interview led to comments on both sides of the political, spectrum, #OscarsSoWhite creator April Reign said although many African Americans plan to vote for Biden, they do not look at him as the ideal candidate.
“We’re not voting for Biden as much as we are voting for ourselves,” Reign wrote on Twitter. “For the ability to redefine our future w/ someone in the WH who we can pressure into change.”
Davis, a professor emerita at the University of California, has been an activist and prison abolitionist since the mid-1960s. Davis has written more than 10 books on class, feminism, and the U.S. prison system and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019.
African American voters turned Biden’s primary run around after a slow start, carrying him to victory over progressives such as Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and others. Like Davis, many African Americans believe Biden can be pressured into taking issues such as climate change and race more seriously than President Trump has.
Black Teens Make History With Third Consecutive Win at Harvard Debate Competition
Due to the lack of diversity in higher education, specifically in the country’s highest-ranking universities, many institutions have created different programs to close the gap to give youth from all socio-economic backgrounds a chance at a high-quality education. Atlanta is the home of the Harvard Diversity Project (HPD) where high school students can participate in different activities sponsored through the Ivy League university. This week, two of the program’s participants made history with their win at the Harvard University Debate Competition.
According to 11 Alive, for the third consecutive year, Madison Webb and Christian Flournoy celebrated their recent win at the prestigious competition. Webb is a high school senior and Flournoy is a sophomore who made history as the first Black female student and the youngest Black student to come out of the competition victorious. The program has a reputation of positioning Black youth to receive full scholarships and acceptance to different Ivy League and elite colleges and universities around the country.
Every year, the project recruits talented Black youth in the metro Atlanta area to take part in the competition. The program also includes a summer residency at Harvard College where students can debate with other scholars from around the world. This was the first year that the competition was done online in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vomos CEO Mark McNeil Says Private Jets Are The Future of Air Travel
As the world begins to lift travel restrictions, travelers will be faced with a new norm in air travel. Airlines will quickly have to come up with new ideas and ways for travelers to purchase flights, check bags, ticketing, store overhead luggage, and purchase in-flight entertainment. To protect themselves from COVID-19, some people are reportedly opting to buy the seat next to them or even the entire row to avoid contact from strangers. Meanwhile, some airlines are proposing to allow passengers to purchase the middle seat for an extra fee while others are leaving them empty. It will be a mandatory requirement for all passengers and crew members to wear a mask while inflight. Everything will be based on safety and sanitation as airports and airlines will go the extra mile to keep its terminals, check-in counters and ticket kiosks clean. Since COVID-19 landed, airlines have significantly reduced their routes and some cut back capacity to 80% to leave extra room on their planes. Due to COVID-19 concerns, many people who never considered flying private jets in the past are now considering it as a safer alternative to flying commercial.
Mark McNeil, CEO of VOMOS, a private aviation company, understands that airline routes are being cut back, and passengers will find it more difficult to find space on available flights. BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with McNeil about the private jet industry, why it may be a smart choice for travelers, the perception of private jet travel, and advice for young men and women to get into the private jet travel industry.
BE: What is a Private Jet Broker?
McNeil: Jet Brokers are like travel agents who search, find, and book private air travel for their clients. Booking a private jet can be time-consuming and difficult without the proper contacts or knowledge of the industry. Experienced brokers have direct contacts with jet owners or their management companies and are able to match your travel itinerary with the best available aircraft at a great price.
Experienced brokers typically deal with only Part 135 commercial private aircraft with the highest safety ratings and standards. Seasoned brokers regularly attend continuing education courses and seminars to stay up to date on the latest rules and regulations as well as changing guidelines within the industry. Choosing the right private jet broker can save you invaluable time, energy, and money.
Why is Private Jet Travel a smart choice and possibly more affordable for travelers?
Travel by private jet in today’s climate with COVID-19 is smart for those who normally fly first class and are seeking the next level in safety, value, and convenience. We are seeing a significant uptick in friends and family pooling funds together to fly private versus commercial. We are currently running one-way routes from New York to Miami for roughly $1200 per person, which in some instances, cost less than a first-class ticket.
We normally think of PJ’s for the wealthy, celebrities, CEO’s, and investors. Is a PJ experience attainable for the everyday person or family?
Private jet travel is definitely attainable for the everyday consumer although many think it’s associated only with celebrities, athletes or wealthy businessmen or women. Flying private if broken down on a per seat cost can be quite affordable for those seeking a premium alternative to commercial flights and for those looking to avoid the long lines and uncertainty of public airport terminals. It’s definitely something to consider if you have elderly family members or loved ones with lower immune systems or health problems.
What is next for the Vomos and the PJ Business?
VOMOS is in the midst of completing our V3 upgrade to our mobile application to allow users to book flights on demand with guaranteed pricing and availability. It’s rare in our industry for clients to be able to view, select and book a specific aircraft without the aide of a broker. The new VOMOS update will allow travelers to select their exact plane, interior and even order catering without speaking to anyone.
What advice do you have for more men and women of color to find success in the aviation and private jet industry?
There’s a ton of detail that goes into booking a private jet for travel besides just finding an aircraft and negotiating the best deal on behalf of your client. Successful brokers find ways to seamlessly coordinate in-flight special requests such as catering and creating moments to make their client feel special in addition to arranging pre and post flight requests such as car service and housing accommodations.
Do your research and familiarize yourself with the different types of aircraft and attend all the industry conferences. There are not many people of color, so you will definitely stand out in the crowd. Use that to your advantage to make connections and be sure to follow up. Prior to starting your own company, I recommend to first work under a company to get your feet wet while establishing a client base until you are stable enough to fly on their own (pun intended).
The main barrier of entry is not realizing how costly it is to secure a plane at any given moment. Having access to capital and large credit lines especially during the night and weekends when banks are closed are a must. Over the years, VOMOS has served as a credit facility to many brokers of color who don’t have instant access to capital or the ability to get their clients in the air.
To learn more about VOMOS, its offerings, and services, visit www.vomos.com or their social media channels @vomos on Instagram and TikTok.
Democratic Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Minority Businesses Amid COVID
In a move that could invigorate black small businesses amid COVID-19, Capitol Hill leaders have proposed new legislation to invest in minority businesses.
More specifically, a group of U.S. senators that includes Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) in early July introduced the Minority Business Resiliency Act. The bill is aimed to build-up the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) several ways. It calls for making the agency permanent, expanding its reach with new regional MBDA offices, intensifying its grant-making capacity, and enlarging its coordination with other federal agencies.
Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the MBDA’s efforts include supporting minority firms in all industries, ranging from construction to manufacturing to information technology to professional services.
Address the disparate impact COVID-19 has had on minority businesses by increasing MBDA’s fiscal year 2020 budget to support MBEs through this crisis;
Provide certainty by placing the MBDA in statute and formally establishing processes for its largest program, the Minority Business Development Center (MBDC) Program;
Make the MBDA more effective by putting into law the mission and goals of the agency and giving it the proper tools to carry them out successfully;
Build a diverse pipeline of entrepreneurial talent by creating a new program to spur entrepreneurship at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and ensuring regional coverage of the MBDC Program; and
Expand the geographic reach of the MBDA by authorizing the creation of regional and district MBDA offices.
The coronavirus pandemic displayed the pre-existing disparities that minority entrepreneurs face in access to capital, mentorship, and technical training. According to a National Bureau of Economic Research analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses, from February to April in 2020, an estimated 41% of Black-owned businesses, 32% of Latinx-owned businesses, and 26% of Asian-owned businesses closed while 17% of white-owned businesses closed.
Booker stated, “Minority-owned businesses are key drivers of growth in towns and communities across the country, but often face steep challenges when it comes to things like access to capital, mentorship, and training. These existing disparities have only been compounded by the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities and the ensuing economic downturn. Our bill addresses these challenges head-on by strengthening and expanding the Minority Business Development Agency so it can provide greater relief to minority-businesses as they weather this economic storm.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light to the disparities already facing minority-owned small businesses,” said Harris.commenting on the bill. “With over 40% of Black small businesses closed due to COVID-19, its imperative Congress ensure that we are doing everything we can to support and lift up these businesses, particularly during a health and economic pandemic. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Minority Business Resiliency Act— enhancing and making MBDA permanent will provide the resources and funding needed for minority-owned businesses to succeed in California and across the nation.”
A similar bill was introduced in the House last year by Congressmen Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) and Don Young (R-Alaska). It is endorsed by the Page 30 Coalition, which includes the U.S. Black Chambers, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Association for Enterprise Opportunity; and the National Urban League, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council, and the Black Economic Alliance.
“MBDA is the only federal agency specifically created to help minority entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses—making it one of our best tools to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority-owned businesses,” added Sen. Ben Cardin, (D-Md.), a sponsor of the bill. “It is long past time for Congress to make MBDA permanent and give the agency all the resources necessary to support minority entrepreneurs who face pervasive and historic barriers to business ownership.”
In May, Booker and Cardin presented a proposal to block underserved and small businesses from falling further behind during and after the COVID-19 economic crisis, Black Enterprise reported.
Trump: ‘More White People’ Are Killed by Police Than Black People
President Donald Trump, during a recent press briefing at the White House, stated that “more White people” die at the hands of police than Black people, according to CBS News.
During the interview, CBS News’ Catherine Herridge asked Trump to explain why Black Americans are “still dying at the hands of law enforcement in this country.”
He responded by saying, “So are White people. So are White people. What a terrible question to ask. So are White people. More White people, by the way. More White people.”
According to a study published in 2018, statistics have shown that Black men are roughly 3.5 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than their White counterparts. An additional study released last year found that 1 in 1,000 Black men in the U.S. can expect to die at the hands of police over the course of their lifetimes.
According to WUSA, American Civil Liberties Union’s Jeffery Robinson issued a harshly worded statement saying Trump’s response “not only ignores the fact that per capita Black and Brown people are disproportionately killed by police, it provides the foundation for the dangerous and unconstitutional police practices that result in the deaths of Black people with regularity.
“Trump’s racism is so absolute that he continues to refuse to give even a tacit acknowledgment to the epidemic of police violence against Black people in America,” Robinson stated, accusing Trump of “using the violence and suffering perpetrated against Black communities as a white-supremacist dog whistle ahead of the coming election.”
Trump also defended the Confederate flag and statues, which has a long history of being tied to racists and has been said to be appealing to White supremacists. Trump claimed in the interview that he believed the debate over the flag is a freedom of speech issue.
“Well, people love it and I don’t view — I know people that like the Confederate flag and they’re not thinking about slavery. I look at NASCAR — you go to NASCAR, you had those flags all over the place. They stopped it.”
“I just think it’s freedom of speech, whether it’s freedom of speech, whether it’s Confederate flags or Black Lives Matter or anything else you want to talk about. It’s freedom of speech.”
President Trump tells @CBS_Herridge where he stands on the Confederate flag: “All I say is freedom of speech. It’s very simple. My attitude is freedom of speech.” pic.twitter.com/3Sjd0upAK2
Black Leaders Call On NYPD To Bring Back Anti-Crime Unit
Black politicians and community leaders are calling on the New York Police Department (NYPD) to bring back the plainclothes anti-crime unit that was eliminated last month.
According to the National Review, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams criticized the decision to disband the NYPD unit as shootings and murders skyrocket across the city.
“I think that a total elimination is something we need to reevaluate,” Adams told CBS New York. “Right now, bad guys are saying if you don’t see a blue and white you can do whatever you want.”
Almost 600 plainclothes officers are being transferred to other assignments, including detective work and policing neighborhoods, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said a month ago. The unit was responsible for getting guns off the streets but was said to promote distrust in law enforcement in minority communities.
Tony Herbert, an activist in New York, blamed city officials for failing to address the situation.
“The guns keep going off and now we have a 1-year-old and the blood is on the hands of the mayor and the state Legislature,” Herbert told the Review.
“Anti-Crime’s mission was to protect New Yorkers by proactively preventing crime, especially gun violence,” Lynch said in a statement. “Shooting and murders are both climbing steadily upward, but our city leaders have decided that proactive policing isn’t a priority anymore. They chose this strategy. They will have to reckon with the consequences.”
The decision to disband the unit was part of the City Council’s plan to cut $1 billion from the NYPD’s $6 billion budget. More than $400 million slashed from the police department was earmarked for summer youth programs, education, and family and social services. Another $500 million will be shifted toward youth recreation centers while $87 million will be used to expand broadband in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) houses.
