Beauty Companies Are Stepping Up To Foster Diversity After Black Workers Voice Their Complaints
by Dana Givens

June 11, 2020

Beauty Companies Are Stepping Up To Foster Diversity After Black Workers Voice Their Complaints

The recent protests over racial violence and police brutality have inspired many others to create change within their own industries that are in need of diversifying their boardrooms and overall workforce. The beauty industry has long dealt with issues of race discrimination including who has access to lucrative cosmetic contracts. After numerous beauty influencers and insiders stepped forward to speak out against the racist behavior in several work environments, corporations now have to step up to make things right.

Estée Lauder plans to increase its hiring of black workers within corporate ranks and pledged $10 million to various organizations including the NAACP to fight against racial injustice. Bloomberg reported that the move came after a group of 100 employees spoke up with complaints about racist behavior in the workplace.

“Some of these actions will be immediate, others will take some time, but all will be impactful,” Executive Chairman William Lauder and Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda wrote in the memo to staff according to Bloomberg.

Sephora has also joined in and announced they will me joining fashion designer Aurora James’ 15% pledge initiative for corporations to commit to pledging 15% of their revenue or space to black-owned businesses. In a press statement, the company announces that 15% of its shelf space will be reserved for black-owned companies.

“We were inspired to make the 15% Pledge because we believe it’s the right thing to do, for our clients, our industry and for our community,” said Artemis Patrick, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer of Sephora, in a press statement.

“Ultimately, this commitment is about more than the prestige products on our shelves, it starts with a long-term plan diversifying our supply chain and building a system that creates a better platform for black-owned brands to grow, while ensuring black voices help shape our industry. We recognize we can do better and this pledge builds on our ongoing work to use our resources to drive meaningful and long-term change for Sephora and our industry.”

 

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 11, 2020

Entrepreneur Felicia Dortch Opens Up About Juggling a Day Job, a Business, and Four Children

Being a single mother of four is a job in itself, especially in today’s challenging times. But, somehow Felicia Dortch is managing motherhood with her many other titles, which include author, publisher, registered nurse, public speaker, model, and entrepreneur.

In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, the multi-hyphenated domestic abuse survivor talks about how she put her faith in God to find success.

BE: What motivates you to be an entrepreneur while managing your day job?

Dortch: The motivation stems from the lack of ability to have my own schedule and be there for my children when it really counts without having to request days off or hope to get paid for being off. I am a registered nurse so being off is difficult considering the need is so great. Also, the ability to control what I make. With the position that I have at this time, I receive a set amount of pay with no increase unless I receive a raise. I want the sky to be the limit as to what I can bring home, not what a company deems sufficient.

How do you find the time to run your own business?

I am very strategic and I schedule everything. I have a “family command center” at which I have my schedule and my children’s schedule. They understand that if it is not on the schedule, it will not be done or they will not go. I keep a calendar book and I utilize it to the fullest. I also block out family time to make sure I don’t neglect what’s most important to me.

Being a writer, how and where do you draw inspiration?

I’ve been writing since a very early age. I love creating stories, and my children, past hurts, and life experiences are where I draw my inspiration.

Why did you decide to start your own publishing company and what goals do you have for it?

I decided to start my company because I got very frustrated and felt like giving up. The companies I called felt so out of reach for me and my vision. So I prayed about it and honestly, the training and launch fell into my lap. My goal is to help those that feel the same way. The ones that have a story but can’t get it out. Those who have a story that needs to be told. I want to be accessible to those people.

With the current pandemic crisis taking over our lives, how has it affected you and how you work?

Actually, it has helped my business. On one hand, due to the type of nursing I do, which is a Nurse Analyst, I am able to work from home, therefore I have more time on my hands to work for my publishing company. On the other, people are bored and need something to do. So why not write. I gained 10 clients during this pandemic.

What would you suggest to anyone who is interested in starting their own business?

I would say do your research. Learn as much as you can about that business. Also, pray and make sure that it’s your destiny because if it’s not, the doors won’t open. Lastly, get a coach! Someone that REALLY knows what they are doing and has the receipts to prove it. Someone like Dave Anderson. He has been a Godsend. He pushes you beyond where you can even see.

What are your future business plans? Where do you want to see your business heading?

I want to continue to build and expand. I am currently in the process of launching my social media marketing firm. I am a model, and I also just signed a contract to co-write movies. I hope to become a household name per se, and most importantly, I want to continue to walk in the path set before me by God.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary To Change Definition Of Racism At Missouri Woman’s Request
by Dana Givens

June 11, 2020

Merriam-Webster Dictionary To Change Definition Of Racism At Missouri Woman’s Request

In the conversation about racism, there has been much debate about the how the word should be defined. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, racism is defined as a “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” One Missouri woman is looking to change that.

Twenty-two-year old Drake University graduate, Kennedy Mitchum, recently approached Merriam-Webster last month about her proposal to update the definition. According to CNN, Mitchum sent her email and got a reply from editor Alex Chambers the next morning.

“I kept having to tell them that definition is not representative of what is actually happening in the world,” she told CNN. “The way that racism occurs in real life is not just prejudice it’s the systemic racism that is happening for a lot of black Americans.”

After an email exchange, the editor agreed that the definition should be updated. A new one is currently being drafted. “This revision would not have been made without your persistence in contacting us about this problem,” Chambers said in the email, which was provided to CNN. “We sincerely thank you for repeatedly writing in and apologize for the harm and offense we have caused in failing to address this issue sooner.”
Peter Sokolowski, an editor at large at Merriam-Webster, also spoke with CNN that its entry also defines racism saying it was “a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles.”
“I think we can express this more clearly to bring the idea of an asymmetrical power structure into the language of this definition, but it’s there,” Sokolowski said. “The mission for [Noah] Webster himself, you know, back in his first dictionary in 1806, was to essentially present the current active vocabulary of American English and that’s still our mission today.”
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 11, 2020

DJ Scratch Has the Vision to Fuel his Entrepreneurial Spirit

The history of hip-hop is well-documented. It was created in the streets of New York City, lived in the parks, and then blossomed into the biggest genre of music in the world. One of the fortunate hip-hop artists who made a business from the natural talent he possessed is still creating music, living off his craft, and building his entrepreneurial spirit in the process.

Brooklyn’s own DJ Scratch was playing to the audience virtually years before other DJs started showcasing their craft on social media. With the advent of his signature company, Scratchvision, he continues to build the platform that also showcases other prominent DJs across the world.

In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, the three-time Grammy-nominated DJ and multi-platinum record producer, born as George Spivey, opened up about his business acumen.

BE: You were ahead of the game when you launched Scratchvision over 10 years ago. Why did you decide to create a platform like Scratchvision and what makes it unique?

DJ Scratch: I created ScratchVision because urban radio and music television vanished right before our eyes. Urban radio put an end to mix shows. The mix shows that started at 9 p.m. was the time of day that DJs could let loose and play what the people wanted to hear and break new records. But 2009 was the end of radio DJ’s having that freedom. Now, they have to add the same playlist of songs that are in rotation during the day into their nighttime mix shows.

Then music television vanished. MTV and BET music video shows were replaced with reality shows. The music and the history of music was taken away from this generation. So I wanted to fill that void, but in a more advanced way. So I created a social media website like Facebook, added a TV screen, a live chatroom, and a 24-hour radio station. Instead of listening to a DJ on the radio, you can watch the DJ spin and the audience watching can interact live with the DJ.

This was over 10 years ago, unheard of at that time. As the technology grew, so did ScratchVision.com. Now we have a mobile app that streams our live shows as well.

You’re known as the DJ for EPMD and producing many hits for a variety of artists. What advice would you give to anyone who wants to enter the entertainment industry and create something that will sustain their career?

Good relationships are most important.

Talent-wise, just be yourself. You can never be exposed being yourself.

Do not do business without paperwork; handshake deals don’t stand up in court.

What role does social media play in helping artists today?

Most artists haven’t figured out how to use social media to their advantage yet because they’re showing off their riches to their fans and not interacting with their fans. Social media is the greatest thing to happen for artists. Now you don’t have to kiss the radio DJ’s ass to get your song played so the masses can hear it. The artists now have direct access to their fans. (Because their fans are following them.) Social media cuts out the middle man to reach the people that buy and stream your records.

How are you able to sustain your business while still pursuing the creative aspects of your work?

I’m able to sustain my business while being creative because I created a business that serves music to the masses. Music makes the world go round, everyone loves music regardless of the genre.

Being involved in the business of hip-hop since the inception of the genre, how has your mindset changed from doing something you love for fun and now creating and maintaining an entity you own and operate?

My mindset changed because I really had to learn that business is business and you can’t take business personally. Most importantly, I wanted to create something musically for us by us. Everyone is eating off of hip-hop and black culture except black people. It’s time for black ownership in hip-hop where we can thrive. (Salute to Tidal and Revolt.) Respected hip-hop news websites are now gossiping instead of protecting the kings and queens of our culture. Black hop-hop media was originally created to give the positive news of our kings and queens. Now, black hip-hop media is only reporting the scandal of people in our culture just like white media.

Revolt Launches New “Black News” Show With Host Eboni K. Williams
by Dana Givens

June 11, 2020

Revolt Launches New “Black News” Show With Host Eboni K. Williams

With the growing desire for news relevant to black culture, attorney and television personality, Eboni K. Williams announced her latest gig as the host and executive producer of “Revolt Black News.”

Williams unveiled the news that she will be the permanent host of the Revolt TV news show twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. Williams also serves as the co-host to the network’s popular show “State of the Culture” along with rappers Joe Budden and Remy Ma.

“With everything going on in the news cycle right now, we need a space where black culture and critical analysis combine to advance the conversation,” said Williams in a press statement. “This increased role at REVOLT will allow me to serve my community in a meaningful way at a historic time.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the founder of the Revolt TV network, announced the new show back in April,  revealing that it would focus on reporting and issues impacting black people in addition to providing solutions.

“My legal experience, newsroom experience, and understanding of the issues uniquely position me for this role,” she continued. “I’m excited to help REVOLT elevate the dialogue and keep our audience educated and informed.”

Prior to joining Revolt, Williams worked as a political contributor on FOX News Channel (FNC) and HLN where she co-hosted The FOX News Specialists.

 

 

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🚨🚨 New Show Alert!!🚨🚨 ⁣ ⁣ I’m beyond excited to share a new phase of my work on behalf of our people✊🏾⁣ ⁣ Eboni K. Williams, has signed on to serve as Host and Executive Producer of ‘REVOLT BLACK NEWS’. ⁣ ⁣ In a media alert on Tuesday, REVOLT announced Williams will permanently host ‘REVOLT BLACK NEWS’ twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST starting on June 9, 2020. Williams is also a co-host on REVOLT’s ‘State of the Culture’.⁣ ⁣ “With everything going on in the news cycle right now, we need a space where Black culture and critical analysis combine to advance the conversation. This increased role at REVOLT will allow me to serve my community in a meaningful way at a historic time,” said Eboni K. Williams.⁣ ⁣ Williams is also a regular guest expert on the nationally syndicated radio show ‘The Breakfast Club’, which simulcasts on REVOLT, and she was previously named by ESSENCE Magazine as one of its ‘Woke 100’. Williams’ undergraduate degree is in African-American studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.⁣ ⁣ “My legal experience, newsroom experience, and understanding of the issues uniquely positions me for this role. I’m excited to help REVOLT elevate the dialogue and keep our audience educated and informed,” said Williams.⁣ ⁣ LETS GOOOOO!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 @revolttv @diddy @stateofthecultureshow

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Louisville Police Department Release Breonna Taylor’s Nearly Blank Police Report
by Dana Givens

June 10, 2020

Louisville Police Department Release Breonna Taylor’s Nearly Blank Police Report

The viral video of George Floyd has sparked protests around the country and around the world calling for justice not only him but others that have died at the hands of law enforcement officials. One of those victims is a 26-year old woman named Breonna Taylor.

The Louisville, Kentucky, resident was shot and killed by police officers who entered her home using a search warrant for another house. Nearly three months after the incident and after massive pressure from the public, the police department has finally released the police report to show what happened that night—and it’s virtually blank.

The Courier-Journal reported that the police department the four-page report lists the time, date, case number, incident location, and the victim’s full name. The report redacts Taylor’s street number, apartment number, and date of birth despite the fact the information was already made public. The report goes on to note that she was shot at least eight times and died on her hallway floor in a pool of blood. Outside of the names and ages of the officers and the listed charges, the rest of the report was blank.

“I read this report and have to ask the mayor, the police chief and the city’s lawyers: Are you kidding? This is what you consider being transparent to taxpayers and the public?” asked Richard A. Green, editor of The Courier-Journal. “At a time when so many are rightfully demanding to know more details about that tragic March evening, I fail to understand this lack of transparency. The public deserves more.”

Jon Fleischaker, counsel for The Courier-Journal, spoke out about the incident and demanded more be done to find out what happened with this case.

“Under the Fischer administration, there has been a consistent policy and practice of refusing to tell the public what is going on with the police, regardless of how inappropriate the officer conduct has been — even when it was criminal, as in the LMPD Explorer case,” Fleischaker said. “How can we even seriously debate police reform if the police won’t engage and the mayor won’t stand up to them?”

The Courier-Journal said they would be suing the police department and demand the immediate release of the department’s investigative file in Taylor’s shooting.

Black Lives Matter: Corporate America Has Pledged $1.678 Billion So Far
by William Michael Cunningham

June 10, 2020

Black Lives Matter: Corporate America Has Pledged $1.678 Billion So Far

The grassroots demonstrations concerning black racial justice, sparked by the death of George Floyd, have created an urgent, unprecedented response by CEOs and corporate leaders. Companies have made extraordinary pledges of support in the face of significant operational and financial challenges. Many have stepped up support for black workers and communities. These monetary commitments are designed to  facilitate and support “action for racial justice — to empower, support, and accelerate immediate solutions, as well as work towards long-term systematic transformation.”

What is surprising is the paucity of corporations and the stinginess of the donations. In a sense, this shows the true regard corporate America has for black people and is, in actuality, why marches and demonstrations were required in the first place. The corporations in our BLM response database list earned over $400 billion in 2019.  While we understand that the level of uncertainty in the economy warrants conservation of monetary resources, these institutions are the primary beneficiaries of the Fed’s corporate credit facility, a $6.7 trillion dollar expansion in the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet specifically designed to help these corporations.

Once the heat is off, how do we know corporations will make good on these pledges? Creative Investment has captured data on corporate responses so far. The data was compiled by Andrew Taber, Impact Investing Intern, Emory University. We note that this is the first step toward an effort to monitor corporate performance in this area.

 

 

Creative Investment has launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the development of a tracker. To donate to our effort, please contribute at paypal.me/cirm. To get a copy of our BLM response database, send an email to info@creativeinvest.com. Click here to send Bitcoin. (Our bitcoin address is: 3PHXciT7q2RJNXXsbykP7q53EcdKx8e5wk.)

 

This editorial originally appeared in the Creative Investment Research newsletter.

 

 

This is an opinion piece that does not necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Senate Confirms First Black Air Force Chief
by Derek Major

June 10, 2020

Senate Confirms First Black Air Force Chief

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the Air Force’s chief of staff, making Brown the first black man to hold the position.

According to The New York Times, Brown was approved by a vote of 98 to 0. President Trump celebrated the moment on Twitter and Vice President Mike Pence made a rare appearance on the Senate floor for the vote.

The appointment came a week after Brown released a video on YouTube speaking in starkly personal terms about his experience as a black man in America, his unequal treatment in the armed forces, and the protests that have shined a light on America’s racist history and present.

“I’m thinking about how full I am with emotion not just for George Floyd, but the many African Americans that have suffered the same fate as George Floyd,” Brown said in the video, an unusually public statement for a high-ranking military leader.

“I’m thinking about protests in my country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, the equality expressed in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution that I have sworn my adult life to support and defend. I’m thinking about a history of racial issues and my own experiences that didn’t always sing of liberty and equality.”

Brown graduated from the R.O.T.C. program at Texas Tech University and served as a command pilot with more than 2,900 flying hours, including 130 combat hours.

In his video, Brown discussed living between two worlds, the American values that he sacrificed his life for and the reality of being a black man who is essentially a second class citizen in his own country. Brown discussed climbing the Air Force ranks and being “often the only African American in my squadron” and as a senior officer, “the only African American in the room.”

Trump wasted little time throwing himself into the situation, tweeting to announce Brown was appointed before the vote took place. Trump also praised the Senate for approving “my decision” to name Brown.

Brown was formerly the commander of the Pacific Air Forces, responsible for 46,000 airmen and operations spread over half the globe, including Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam.

“I’m thinking about the African Americans who went before me to make this opportunity possible,” Brown said in the video. “I’m thinking about the immense expectations that come with this historic nomination, particularly through the lens of current events plaguing our nation.”

by Derek Major

June 10, 2020

Brandon Scott Wins Democratic Nomination for Baltimore Mayor

Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott has rode a campaign of youthful energy, progressive ideas, and experience to the Democratic nomination for Baltimore mayor.

According to Afro, the victory puts Scott in a strong position to be Baltimore’s next mayor as Democrats outnumber Republicans 10 to 1, and the last Republican to be mayor was elected in 1967.

Scott has been on the city council since 2011 and became the council president last year, coming out of a crowded field that included more than 20 Democrats. If Scott is elected, he will inherit a substandard public school system, crumbling low-income neighborhoods, a declining population, and a homicide rate that is on pace to match last year’s 348 killings despite stay-at-home directives prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our city stands at a crossroads. Baltimore will only move forward as a city united, not divided,” Scott said in a statement Tuesday. “It will take all of us to build a city that is safe, equitable, and accountable. As a son of Baltimore, I could not be more honored to lead our great city in this critical moment and carry the work forward with you.

Scott will also have to earn the trust of the public. Last year, Catherine Pugh resigned as mayor after an investigation into her self-published children’s book. Pugh was charged with 11 counts of tax evasion and fraud as a result of the investigstion. She pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to three years in prison in February.

“It’s an exciting time to see what Brandon and this new generation of leadership can do,” said Mileah Kromer, director of the political science program at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. “With the protests and demonstrations that are sweeping the country with this moment, Brandon was a leader back in 2015 when the focal point was Baltimore City, and I think that voice is going to be important now because those issues are certainly not solved in the city.”

Kromer added if elected, Scott’s tenure will be judged on how he addresses crime in the city, something previous mayor have not been able to get a handle on.

Several African American candidates have been riding the exposure of the protests stemming from George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Charles Booker, who is running against Amy McGrath to face Mitch McConnell, has seen a boost of money and endorsements in recent day.

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Says He Supports Black Lives Matter But Activists Say Otherwise
by Derek Major

June 10, 2020

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Says He Supports Black Lives Matter But Activists Say Otherwise

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos responded to a customer’s racist soliloquy on Instagram Monday saying he’s “happy to lose” customers over his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

According to Hypebeast, the customer said in the email he was withdrawing an order after hearing that Bezos supported the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I was placing an order with your company when I discovered your statement in support of Black Lives Matter,” the customer wrote. “Maintain your stance and we will watch your profits decline and laugh about it. My business relationship with you is over.”

Bezos responded, “this sort of hate shouldn’t be allowed to hide in the shadows. It’s important to make it visible. This is just one example of the problem. And, Dave, you’re the kind of customer I’m happy to lose.”

Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, pledged to donate $10 million to social justice organizations.

Another Instagram post showed an email from a woman who felt that the site having “black lives matter” on it was “offensive.” Bezos responded to that as well saying “I support this movement we see happening all around us, and my stance won’t change.”

The correspondence comes due to protests happening around the world for police reform and justice, which was sparked by the police killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Amazon’s Support of Police

Although Bezos says he supports the Black Lives Matters movement, The Guardian reported that Amazon has deep ties to policing.

“It is opportunistic of Amazon to use this moment to make empty and hypocritical statements when it is simultaneously building the backbone for many police departments across the country,” Jacinta Gonzalez of Mijente, a grassroots organizing group told The Guardian. “The company perpetuates policies and technologies that are clearly targeting and harming black and brown communities.”

According to The Guardian, the tech giant has sold its facial recognition software to police departments across the country. Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union ran a test on the software and found it incorrectly matched 28 members of Congress to photos of people arrested for a crime. It also disproportionately misidentified Congress members who are not white.

Activists have also called on local officials and lawmakers to prevent Amazon from partnering with law enforcement agencies. Amazon subsidiary Ring, which makes doorbell cameras, has partnered with 1,300 police departments across the country to use its footage to improve surveillance.

Amazon also sells web hosting services to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A group of employees known as We Won’t Build It has called on the company to discontinue those sales and stop selling facial recognition software to law enforcement.

Additionally, Amazon’s relationship with non-white employees is not positive. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a group of employee activists at the company, noted Chris Smalls was fired for organizing a protest against unsafe conditions during the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

“Actions speak louder than words,” the group said. “Amazon’s words mean nothing when they are firing black employees organizing for better working conditions, when leadership planned racist smears against Chris Smalls, calling him ‘not smart or articulate’, when they deny our call for racial equity assessments in their business decisions and eliminating the environmental racism of its pollution, when they supply facial recognition software and Ring surveillance video access to police departments that are killing black people with impunity.”

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