Social Media Spurred This Black Millennial Scientist to Start Making Hand Sanitizer
When scientist Chinonye Akunne, who’s also the co-founder of a vegan and organic beauty company based in Detroit, first noticed how serious the spread of coronavirus was becoming, she got the idea to add a hand sanitizer to the company’s lineup of products.
But before she acted on it, she took the idea to the people who mattered—her customers—gauging their interest via social media.
The result: an affordable purifying hand spray that’s been flying off the virtual shelves. It contains 70% alcohol and is made with ingredients such as eucalyptus (an anti-bacterial that cleanses, purifies, and boosts immunity), rose water (a moisturizing agent to replenish skin cells), lavender, witch hazel, and vegetable glycerin.
Black Enterprise spoke with Akunne about how the product came to be:
How did you start your company?
I started ILERA Apothecary in 2015 out of the need of my youngest brother transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and needing a natural deodorant. My background is in chemistry; I have my Master’s in public health. So I was able to use a lot of my education knowledge as well as my past experience in making different skincare items. And I was able to help him with his natural deodorant.
I gave samples away to friends and family, and people started requesting it. So I decided to grow the business by offering other skincare items such as our body washes, our body butters, our mouthwash, and pretty much the grooming essentials that people use to get ready each day.
ILERA Apothecary Purifying Hand Spray
Why did you decide to add hand sanitizer to your offerings?
We were slated to go to SXSW in March, and I was seeing that companies like Facebook and Twitter were pulling out because of the scare of COVID-19. So I asked my customers on social media if I made a hand sanitizer, would people buy it? And everybody but one person said, yes, they would buy it. Those were 95 people who said yes, so I started making it.
I decided to release those hand sanitizers a week later, and I did pre-orders for them, and we sold out within the first weekend. Now we have been selling hand sanitizers like crazy, which is nice because we took a major hit by not being able to go to SXSW. So it’s nice that the community is rallying behind our brand during these really tough times.
How were you able to start producing it so quickly?
This is not something that was slated, that we would be developing this year. This is something that came right out of need.
Luckily, we already use a lot of the ingredients that come with the hand sanitizer. The rosewater that I use in it, we already make that in-house for our rose toner, as well as the witch hazel. Then the hydrogen peroxide, we use that in our mouthwash. So I had the ingredients and I did a test batch. I tested it on a petri dish to make sure that no microbes or bacteria were growing. After that cleared, that’s when I went ahead with the pre-orders.
You’re also donating hand sanitizer to those in need.
We have partnered with another company called the York Project. For a few years now, the York Project has been giving sanitary items such as toilet paper, socks, sometimes hats and gloves to the homeless. I saw that they were making masks. And I contacted the owner, who’s also a friend of mine. They’ll be making 250 masks so we’ll be also matching them with 250 hand sanitizers.
This is not the end of time. This is the time to really stay balanced, be present, and be more community-oriented. During this time, we have been able to increase our giving effort. So I will say that this period of slowness has helped us to be a better business overall.
New White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Brings Controversy With Her
New White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s hiring comes weeks after she publicly downplayed the coronavirus outbreak.
According to NewsOne, In February, McEnany was quoted on Fox News saying the coronavirus will not make its way to American shores, backing up claims made by President Trump. The coronavirus has since infected more than 300,000 people in the country, killing more than 14,000.
McEnany’s most controversial opinions, however, are against former President Barack Obama. McEnany’s Twitter feed is littered with her questioning Obama’s faith, asking for information on his birth certificate, and questioning his ability to run the country. McEnany’s hate for the former president is strong, at times seeming to blind her view of actual events.
One example is when she tried to blame the former president for allegedly not reacting as she would have liked a president to react after the Islamic State beheaded American journalist Daniel Pearl. The only problem with her claims was that Pearl died in 2002. At the time, Obama was a largely unknown state senator.
McEnany also has a controversial past with black journalists. In 2017, McEnany was called out for her microaggressions toward Charles Blow, an opinion writer at The New York Times.
However, since Trump likes to conduct his own press conferences, it is likely that the public will not see much of her. Trump’s last press secretary, who was replaced by McEnany, served for six months without participating in a single briefing.
McEnany will serve as the fourth press secretary to serve under Trump since he was elected. Stephane Grisham will return to her previous post as Melania Trump’s press secretary. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the first press secretary for Trump, served from May 5, 2017, to June 2019.
Michelle Obama Calls Out Wisconsin For Holding Election During Pandemic
The COVID-19, or novel coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc across the country causing a massive economic and political fallout and leaving millions without jobs or financial security. In the midst of this giant public health crisis, Wisconsin decided to go on with their presidential primary elections for the 2020 Presidential race despite an overwhelming blowback of criticism from residents who were concerned about going out to the polling booths due to health concerns.
Despite local and federal health officials’ warnings to Americans to practice social distancing and to avoid public gatherings of more than 10 people, Wisconsin polling locations saw a large turnout of voters waiting in long lines to cast their ballot.
Former first lady Michelle Obama has come out to speak against the state for the move. She shared her opinions on her Twitter page citing the current political climate in Wisconsin and how the state needed to do better by their citizens to ensure that the voting process puts no one in danger, especially during a public health pandemic.
Today, Wisconsin voters had to choose between making their voice heard and keeping themselves and their family safe. No American should ever have to make that choice.
We must do better to ensure voting is safe for all voters. The latest Wisconsin voting information is below. https://t.co/x1LwEb9H4N
According to the New York Times, as many as 15 other states and one U.S. territory have postponed their state primary elections to the summer months in response to the viral outbreak. In Milwaukee, only 5 out of 180 polling places were open on Tuesday with 1,282,762 people reported to request absentee ballots that were never received.
An executive order was issued to postpone Wisconsin’s primary election by Gov. Tony Evers but was overturned on Monday (April 6) by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Black Voters Respond to Bernie Sanders Dropping Out of the 2020 Presidential Race
News recently broke that Sen. Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race. And many are stunned. This time around, people were under the impression that Sanders would see his race for nomination as the Democratic nominee for president through to the very end.
Last night, during a virtual town hall on how COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting blacks in America, Sanders alluded to ending his campaign. “As I see the crisis gripping the nation, exacerbated by a president unwilling or unable to provide any kind of credible leadership, and the work that needs to be done to protect people in this most desperate hour, I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us.”
This morning in a tweet, Sanders wrote, “Today I am suspending my campaign. But while the campaign ends, the struggle for justice continues on.” He also tweeted, “Let us go forward together. The struggle continues.”
This news has sparked a lot of conversation online as people grapple with the fact that Sanders’ exit positions Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
As Americans continue to shelter in place due to the coronavirus health crisis, those vested in politics are raising the valid question as to what black voters’ participation will look like as the presidential race continues. Former first lady Michelle Obama recently called out Wisconsin for holding primary elections amid COVID-19. And others are uncertain about what the rest of the race will look like due to federal mandates.
As Americans cope with more than one new normal, people are weighing in on how Sanders’ exit is impacting them:
How People Are Reacting:
in these times, i scream in my mind. i ruminate. i get embarrassed/angry at missteps & missed opportunities.
i mourn.
but not for long.
this thing is bigger than elections. i’m a dream defender and i’m coming home 👀.
Thank you @iPhilSomething@ninaturner and the rest of the Black people on the Sanders campaign. Love y’all, respect y’all and looking forward to your continued leadership.
— Famous Luxury Communist (@StevenPargett) April 8, 2020
This is literally the opposite of leadership.
If he cared, he should’ve joined Bernie BEFORE the election in calling for it to be postponed. https://t.co/B0QVGA8ZgA
Bernie Sanders Is Suspending His Presidential Campaign
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced on Wednesday that he is suspending his 2020 presidential campaign and bowing out the race. This decision comes after the devastating fallout from COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, which has also disrupted the race for the Democratic nomination.
“I wish I could give you better news, but I think you know the truth. And that is that we are now some 300 delegates behind Vice President Biden, and the path toward victory is virtually impossible,” Sanders told supporters in a livestream to address his supporters held shortly after he gave the news. “I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful, and so today I am announcing the suspension of my campaign.”
Sanders said he had to make an “honest assessment of the prospects for victory.” calling it a painful, but necessary decision. He also added that he could not “in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour” during the coronavirus pandemic.
The viral outbreak has caused many states to close down all non-essential businesses to prevent further contamination; leaving the presidential candidates to hold virtual events to stay connected to their base. Sanders suspended his campaign after the recent primary elections held in Wisconsin. Despite mounting concerns about the public health risk around the coronavirus, the state decided to continue with the primary voting.
Prior to the viral outbreak, Joe Biden was already shaping up to be the next nominee for the Democratic Party as big wins on Super Tuesday gave him a huge lead in the race, leaving many uncertain about what it would mean for the Sanders campaign.
President Donald Trump also tweeted soon after Sanders’ announcement was made public.
Bernie Sanders is OUT! Thank you to Elizabeth Warren. If not for her, Bernie would have won almost every state on Super Tuesday! This ended just like the Democrats & the DNC wanted, same as the Crooked Hillary fiasco. The Bernie people should come to the Republican Party, TRADE!
50 Cent’s ‘Black Mafia Family’ Series Heading To Starz
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is flexing the power he has at the Starz network. The rapper-turned-television producer has gotten his series Black Mafia Family on the cable network.
As 50 Cent gears up to present his upcoming sequels to his very successful Power television series, the mercurial businessman has gotten his latest urban drama, Black Mafia Family the green light to start production. “This is a project Curtis has always been incredibly passionate about and we are excited to have him as our partner in bringing it to life,” said Jeffrey Hirsch, president, and CEO, Starz says in a written statement. ‘Black Mafia Family’ has all the hallmarks of a great drama, from the larger-than-life Flenory brothers to the deadly, high-stakes world they inhabited. This series is going to be an incredible ride for audiences around the world.”
Black Mafia Family is inspired by the true story of two brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in this country. Through “Big Meech’s” charismatic leadership and “Southwest T” business acumen and the fraternal partnership’s vision beyond the drug trade, the work they put in catapulted them into the world of Hip Hop would and made the brothers iconic on a global level. Their unwavering belief in family loyalty would be the cornerstone of their partnership and the crux of their eventual estrangement. Theirs is a story about love, family, and capitalism in the pursuit of the American dream.
“I told you ‘Black Mafia Family’ was coming and it’s going to be the biggest show on television,” adds Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. “Meech and Terry are legends and I am excited to bring their story to Starz.”
Black Mafia Family is being produced through Jackson’s G-Unit Film and Television in association with Starz and Lionsgate Television. Terri Kopp and Anthony Wilson will also serve as executive producers on the series. Senior Vice President of Original Programming Kathryn Tyus-Adair will be the executive overseeing Black Mafia Family on behalf of Starz.
More Than 700 Employees At A Detroit Hospital Tested Positive For Coronavirus
More than 700 employees at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit have tested positive for coronavirus, the hospital’s chief clinical officer said Monday.
According to International Business Times, 2,500 employees at the hospital have been tested for coronavirus and 734 tests came back positive. The number accounts for just over 2% of the hospitals 31,600 employees.
Dr. Adnan Munkarah, the chief clinical officer at the hospital, said further testing will likely lead to more positive cases among the employees.
“If we are to test the whole population, you are going to see large numbers of people who are testing positive,” Munkarah said in a press conference.“Testing positive is just a measure of how contagious this virus is.”
The hospital did not release who tested positive, their designation, how many of them are still working, how many are in quarantine or how many have died. Munkarah said privacy issues have halted the release of information.
“Our team members are our greatest asset and their health and safety is a top priority as we continue to respond to this pandemic,” Munkarah said. “We know we are not immune to potential exposure and we remain grateful for the courage and dedication of our entire team.”
The hospital has been overrun with cases in recent days as Michigan has moved to third in coronavirus cases behind New York and New Jersey. As many as 5,023 Detroit residents have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday, with 193 deaths. More than 17,000 Michigan residents in total have been infected with the coronavirus as of Monday and 727 have died, according to the data released by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases acknowledged Monday that the coronavirus is significantly affecting African Americans due to low-wage jobs, a lack of quality healthcare, and existing health disparities.
“We are very concerned about that. It is very sad. There is nothing we can do about it right now except to give them the best possible care to avoid complications,” Fauci said Monday.
Detroit’s population, which is 70% African American, currently has a higher death rate than New York City. African Americans are less likely to telecommute and more likely to work in low-wage positions forcing them outside daily.
New Bill Would Distribute $3 Billion to Support Minority Firms Affected By COVID-19
Minority firms—including black-owned businesses—could get a whopping $3 billion equity infusion to help deal with the fallout from the coronavirus crisis under a new proposed bill.
The funding is part of the U.S. House of Representative’s “Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act.” Consisting of many provisions, the $2.5 trillion bill introduced in late March by House Democrats addresses the impact of the coronavirus crisis on families, businesses, and communities. The bill is separate from the $2 trillion coronavirus economic stimulus package that became law in late March.
A section of the fresh House act calls for funding of the “Initiative to Build Growth Equity Funds for Minority Businesses.” The bill authorizes $3 billion in grants that would be administered to those firms through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). 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.
Grant recipients would have to issue a report to the MBDA every six months detailing how they used grant funds received and any other information MBDA requires.
The bill would require fund managers to annually report on their fund management activities, including providing information on such matters as fund performance; impacts of capital investments by industry and geography; and, racial, ethnic, and gender demographics of minority businesses receiving capital among them.
Black Enterprise was unable to get a comment from the MBDA on the proposed bill.
William Michael Cunningham, an economist and banking expert, says the MBDA deal has the potential to be very good for black-owned businesses. But he adds the $3 billion in capital needs to be allocated in a way that maximizes social return, not in a way that maximizes political gain for one side. If passed, the House bill would join other efforts to provide equity financing and investment for black and minority-owned firms.
In January 2020, the $150 million Citi Impact Fund was announced by the New York-based financial services giant. The support is largely intended to make equity investments in private American companies that have an upbeat effect on society.
Citi maintains it is actively pursuing opportunities to invest in businesses owned or run by minority and women entrepreneurs, including black firms. Mature minority-owned businesses can receive investments up to $10 million. Plus, early-stage companies can get seed investments.
In October 2019, the MBDA awarded a $1.4 million grant to the National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC), supporting a venture that will raise about $1 billion for new investment into minority-owned businesses. Calling itself the nation’s largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds, the NAIC’s goal is to start to deploy capital to MWBEs by this year.
Access to capital lingers as one of the biggest factors limiting the ability of many of the nation’s 11 million minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) to increase in scale. The $1.4 million grant recognizes the obstacles faced by minority asset managers and the prioritization toward addressing the many challenges faced by these businesses, officials say.
Ja Rule Launches His Own Face Masks Line During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Can’t stop the hustle! Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, also known as Ja Rule, has decided to help folks during the novel coronavirus pandemic. According to AllHipHop, the businessman, rapper, and actor has launched his own brand of face masks.
The products are a collaboration between Iconn, NY Stars, and the charitable organization Knock, Knock Give A Sock. Ja Rule claims the face masks are also certified Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, which purportedly tests for harmful substances. The masks are washable and adjustable.
The rapper said thousands of face masks will be donated. Also, a portion of each purchase goes toward the CDP COVID-19 response fund, which supports nonprofit organizations that cater to underserved communities, healthcare workers, and hygiene promotion activities.
In 2014, Ja Rule published his memoir, Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man (Amistad, $16.99), where he detailed his difficult adolescence, his breakout success, beefs, fatherhood, and his two-year prison sentence for tax evasion and gun possession. Currently, Ja Rule is part of the Growing Up Hip Hop: New York cast.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on April 8, 2020, to include the fact that Ja Rule’s company, Iconn, has also partnered with Knock, Knock Give A Sock to donate masks to the homeless.
Prominent Leaders and the Black Community Pay Tribute to Earl G. Graves Sr.
On Monday, Earl G. Graves Sr., founder and publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE, died at the age of 85. Yet, his legacy lives on as the company celebrates 50 years of uplifting the community and telling black stories about wealth and equity. His legacy is one that also lives throughout the black community.
Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has amplified the voices and told the stories of black businessmen and women who might otherwise not have been sought out by editors of other publications. Graves’ vision as a pioneer of black business reporting is what connected people all over the world. In addition to his philanthropy, he created culturally enriching events where professionals could connect as well as lifting others as he climbed.
In his passing, those whose stories were originally told by BE and others who have been impacted by his mission of creating wealth for life are paying tribute to his life well lived.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), chair of the House Financial Services Committee, remembers Graves as a devoted friend and a trailblazer.
“I am fortunate to have known Earl Graves, Sr. for many years, and I consider he and his late wife, Barbara Kydd Graves, dear friends. Together they founded the first and most successful magazine on African American entrepreneurship, Black Enterprise, which absolutely leveled the playing field for men and women of color in business. It is because of Black Enterprise that our community has had the ability to impart wisdom and share resources about wealth building, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship in this country, and we owe a debt of gratitude to Earl and Barbara for having the foresight and willingness to found and lead such an important publication that has thrived for 50 years.”
She went on to say, “However, Earl Graves’ willingness to serve and uplift his community was not limited to his magazine and multimedia company. He wrote the playbook for African American entrepreneurs and executives in his book, ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Being White.’ He leveraged his position on the boards of many large corporations to fight for increased contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses. He advocated for increased diversity in the c-suite. He uplifted the work of other African American entrepreneurs, and he was always willing to shine a light on the leadership of African American elected officials whose legislative work would otherwise have gone unrecognized.”
Paving the Way
Early in business, Graves decided to collaborate with other media founders and companies. In doing so, he made countless deep connections and inspired a generation of leaders in the industry.
Bob Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television and founder and chairman of The RLJ Cos. is one of those leaders.
In a statement released by Johnson, he shared his profound appreciation for Graves.
“It is with deep sadness that I say goodbye to my friend and mentor, Earl Graves, Sr. Every black entrepreneur and every black corporate executive who reached the pinnacles of leadership in corporate America owe a salute and tribute to Earl. Black Enterprise, under his founding leadership was, and still is, our bible; and its stories of our achievement are, in chapter and verse, our religion. His tireless advocacy of black businesses moved both the white and black business community to accept the fact that black enterprise deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with American enterprise.”
From ESSENCE:
Like ESSENCE, Black Enterprise has served at the forefront of Black business, news and entertainment for decades. Graves Sr., founded Black Enterprise in 1970 at a time when African Americans needed resources to survive and thrive on our own in this country. Black Enterprise was and is still considered to be the Bible for Black entrepreneurship, having inspired millions of Black Americans over the past 50 years to create companies and own their wealth.
Paying it Forward
Graves was a proud alumnus of Morgan State University who valued higher education and giving back to historically black colleges and universities. In fact, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine was known for being the business publication of choice on many HBCU campuses. For many students, the magazine gave them their first glimpse of entrepreneurship and a clear picture of black excellence before the term was coined.
(Image: Courtesy of Morgan State University)
For many students at Morgan State, skimming through the pages of the magazine was a close second to spending quality time with Mr. Graves on campus.
Morgan’s President, David K. Wilson, remembers Graves as a sage and servant leader who was invested in the future of the university. In a letter to the school’s community, he wrote;
During my time at Morgan, I’ve had the opportunity to develop a very special relationship with the Graves family. And, over the years, my appreciation for what Mr. Graves means to Morgan, and my understanding of what his success has represented for so many of our graduates, have grown substantially. Since matriculating at Morgan and graduating in 1957, Earl Graves embodied all of the values that we hold dear and true. He was one of ours: a quintessential Morganite held in the highest regard. Our hero!
And that love between alma mater and alumnus was not one-sided on. Earl Graves loved Morgan as much as Morgan loved him.
As I think fondly of the many positive interactions I had with Earl Graves, there is one that is always foremost among my memories. It occurred when I began my presidency at Morgan, during my inauguration ceremony. It is centered on a story he told of when each of his sons became of driving age and wanted to borrow the family car. He would advise each son that there were some things he needed to show him before he would agree to turn the keys over. One of those things was the full tank of gas, and the other was the absence of dents, as they inspected the vehicle. The expectation was that each would return the car in the same condition that he received it. To paraphrase what he said to me after sharing this anecdote, “Think of Morgan as being that car. And I’m turning this ‘car’ over to you with a full tank of gas, and no dents. Please take care of my alma mater.
In 2015, Morgan State University opened the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management (SBM).
(Image: Courtesy of Morgan State University)
Legends Live Forever
The impact that Graves had on the lives of many is felt near and far. As the world mourns his transition from this side of the earth, it is fair to say that the community and those committed to the advancement of black people will carry on his legacy.
Standing with the Graves family and @blackenterprise in honoring Earl Graves, Sr. He was an advocate for African-American entrepreneurship and wealth building. Thank you, sir, for your leadership! pic.twitter.com/QT1rf25kRm
A visual reflection honoring the esteemed MSU alumnus, Earl G. Graves, Sr. Accomplished businessman, entrepreneur & founding publisher of @blackenterprise, Graves c/o 1957 has long-championed MSU excellence through his many endeavors & business enterpriseshttps://t.co/Ir1Atzpwfdpic.twitter.com/W0jVutw5Qo
— Morgan State University (@MorganStateU) April 7, 2020
From The Smithsonian:
“Education is the primary tool of emancipation and liberation in our fight for true equality in this country.”
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Earl G. Graves Sr. built a career centered on sharing resources to aid African American businesses. pic.twitter.com/pAbxircyYI
Rest in power Mr. Earl Graves Sr 🙏🏽 founder of Black Enterprise magazine and a pillar for black businesses. Such an honor to be on the cover of @blackenterprise – I will forever be grateful for his contributions to our community. I send my deepest condolences to the Graves family pic.twitter.com/UptXAlGg3V
Jill and I send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Graves family. As the founder of Black Enterprise, Earl Graves Sr. was a trailblazer in his own right, a leader in the American business community, and paved the way for many Black entrepreneurs to realize their dreams.
A man who helped define and document the strides Black people in American business, Earl Graves, Sr. passed away at 85 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. A pioneer in business himself, @blackenterprise magazine is the Bible for business achievement for people of color. pic.twitter.com/R67HanniX3
The Museum mourns the loss of African American business juggernaut Earl Graves Sr., the founder of Black Enterprise, a magazine considered the “Black Business Bible.” A 2013 Freedom Award honoree, he carved a path for success & a landscape of possibilities for all Americans. pic.twitter.com/ATpOjjB3C1
I am profoundly saddened to hear about the passing of Earl Graves, founder of Black Enterprise. Mr. Graves was a true giant, one of the greatest visionaries America has ever seen. Sending love and healing to his beloved son Butch and the entire BE family. https://t.co/2PALJklRc6
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Earl Graves, Sr. This photo was taken sometime in the 80s. I was hosting a local program in Detroit. He was a trailblazer, mentor, and role model to many. He was the best of a great generation and will be missed. RIP, Mister Graves. pic.twitter.com/bY0mRpcFyC
