Publisher's Message
O
n June 19th in many places across America, African American Blacks celebrate Juneteenth, which signaled the end of slavery of Black Africans in Texas; but also the end of the forced and harsh enslavement of our people in the U.S. with the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. A little known fact about Juneteenth includes the many legends were told in regards to why it took so long for the slaves in Texas to be informed about the end of the war. According to Erica Taylor during an interview with Tom Joyner, Taylor shared that “…Some say that the messenger who was to deliver word that the Confederate lost the war was killed along the way. Others believed the plantation Pubisher/Editor-In-Chief owners withheld the information, waiting for the next cotton harvest before saying a word. Unfortunately, there were written witness accounts of slaves who immediately tried to flee their plantations after receiving the news and were killed on sight or hung. Some slaves continued to work in servitude, undergoing the same punishments prior to the Emancipation Proclamation’s issuance or their knowledge of the decree.” Today, people all over the country celebrate Juneteenth with rodeos, fishing, barbecues and picnics with an emphasis on education and selfimprovement.
Black Business News Group
Black artists have and continue to revolutionize the music industry. Black American’s contribution to music has a very rich history, so much so, that unfortunately many Black artists had their music stolen from them by mainstream, repackaged and promoted by White artists, and seldom giving credit, and no monetary (l-r) Earl “Skip” Cooper II and Siedah Garrett Photo by Gloria Zuurveen compensation for their work. This is one of the reasons why the Black Business Association (BBA), headquartered in Southern California sponsors an annual “Salute to Black Music.” Just as the Emancipation Proclamation was to free Blacks from the bondages of forced slavery, for many years (and even today) the residual “sharecropping” system is unfortunately alive and well, with few Blacks being key stakeholder
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About
ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS NEWS GROUP‌ The mission of The Black Business News (BBN) is to inspire and inform public and private sector industry representatives on the importance of smart small business growth. As a versatile source of socioeconomic development activity news, the publications of the Black Business News Group (a division of the Black Business Association) impart current local, national and international industry and social trends and news aecting small businesses across the United States of America (USA), providing guides to greater access to ďŹ nancial capital, management eďŹƒciencies, business education, mentorship opportunities and social media networks. The goals of the Black Business News Group include: •
promoting USA-based black-owned business enterprises to a world wide audience.
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Contents
Black Business News…June 2018 3
Publisher's Message
Government 6 7 8 11 12
17 18 19
Stacey Abrams won the Democratic Primary for Governor in Georgia London Breed Becomes the First AfricanAmerican Woman to be Elected San Francisco's Mayor Trump Signs Veterans Health Bill as White House Works Against Bipartisan Plan to Fund It Parkland Students, Activists Registering Voters in Chicago California Moves to Require Solar Panels on all New Homes CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month 58 WHO to Announce ‘Gaming Disorder’ as a Mental Health Condition Trump is Directing Pentagon to Create a "Space Force"
Entertainment 22 28
BBN Show Biz Buzz BBN Remembers Some of the Musicians who Passed in 2017
Editorials/Perspectives 15 32
'Be the Legacy' and Make Every Day a Mandela Day! John Legend and Rashad Robinson: End Money Bail Now (opinion)
Business 30 34 38 42
Mellody Hopson Becomes Starbucks Vice Chair The Obamas Signed a Multi-Year Deal With Netflix Nine Ways for Enterprises to Prosper in the Face of GDPR What's the Mindset that Defines the Most Successful People? It's What Most of Us Are Missing
46 48 51 52 54 56 58 60 66 68 69
"THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIPPI" BBA’s 2018 "Salute to Black Music" Honors Siedah Garrett Dr. Patricia Harris Named President of American Medical Association Microsoft is Developing a Tool to Help Engineers Catch Bias in Algorithms Mary Meeker’s 2018 Internet Trends Report: All the Slides, plus Analysis Rainbow PUSH 47th Annual International Convention Sorry, White People: Black Women are not Trying to Save You Fired up by Trump, Dozens of Obama Alums Run for Office TONL Co-founder Karen Okonkwo is Revolutionizing Stock Photography with Color and Culture 5 Early Signs Your Startup Will Succeed Instagram Offering Long Form Video Content with IGTV
Community/Public Interest 86 87
Michelle Obama Has New Book Coming Out in November At 87, this Baltimore Inventor has 250 Patents to his Name
Obituary/Memorials 89 90
Clarence Fountain, a Founder of Blind Boys of Alabama, Dies Bluesman Eddy Clearwater Dies of Heart Failure at Age 83
International 94 98
Investment Marketplace Coming to Africa North American Trio Beats Morocco to Host 2026 World Cup p
Columns 64 92
104 141
Take A Look! African Stock Exchanges Shopping Gallery Books to Consider...
145 BBA 2018 Master Planner 146 Resource Vault
5 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
11
Government
Stacey Abrams won the Democratic Primary for Governor in Georgia By Nathaniel Rakich
I
f all the chips fall Democrats’ way in November and beyond, Tuesday could be remembered as the day that launched some prominent political careers. In Georgia, former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams won the Democratic primary for governor, 76.5% to 23.5%, over former state Rep. Stacey Evans. While Abrams was expected to win, her margin far exceeded the average lead of 22 percentage points she held in the polls, and it’s likely to bolster her reputation as a rising Democratic star. Abrams admits that it’s her intention to run for president someday (just not until 2028 at the earliest). If elected in November, Abrams would make history as the first female African-American governor of any state. In addition to being a milestone in American history, that would be an important achievement for the Democratic Party. Few voting blocs are more loyal Democrats than black women (according to exit polls, 94 percent of them voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016), but Democrats have faced criticism for taking their support for granted and not having enough black female party leaders. Had Abrams lost, that criticism would have likely intensified. Abrams’s candidacy will also be a test of Georgia’s politics. While her primary opponent, Evans, promised to reach out to Republicans and independents, Abrams has staked her campaign
on maximizing minority turnout in the general election. Georgia has favorable demographics for such a strategy (it’s 47% non-white), but it’s a gamble. Georgia is still a red state. No Democrat has won a gubernatorial, U.S. Senate or presidential contest there since 2000. But Georgia has a lot of Republican voters who have at least partially soured on President Trump and could perhaps be persuaded to back a Democrat for governor. Theoretically, Abrams’s strategy can work: Democrat Jason Carter lost the 2014 gubernatorial race by 200,443 votes in a year when more than 1 million AfricanAmerican voters stayed home. And, in another departure from typical campaign strategy, Abrams has devoted the lion’s share of her campaign resources to a
massive field operation to identify and turn out those voters. Abrams enters the general election as the underdog. But any Democrat would be the underdog, and if nothing
else, it promises to be one of the
6 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government
London Breed Becomes the First African-American Woman to be Elected San Francisco's Mayor By Janie Har / AP
S
an Francisco Supervisor London Breed emerged victorious a week after Election Day to become the city’s first African-American woman elected mayor. Former State Sen. Mark Leno called Breed earlier Wednesday to congratulate her on the victory. The elections office continues to tally roughly 7,000 ballots, but there is no way Leno can make up the difference. On Wednesday, Breed was leading Leno by fewer than 2,200 votes of nearly 250,000 counted and had 50.49% of the vote. In a brief appearance before reporters and cheering supporters on the steps of City Hall on Wednesday, an exuberant Breed said she was humbled, honored and looking forward to serving as mayor. In particular, she relished the message her election sends to San Francisco’s youth, especially kids like herself who grew up poor. “No matter where you come from, no matter what you decide to do in life, you can do anything you most ambitious political-science experiments ever. (Abrams will face either Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle or state Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who finished first and second, respectively, in the GOP
Mayor-Elect London Breed want to do,” she said. “Never let your circumstances determine your outcome in life.” Breed vowed to be mayor for all of San Francisco, a message she repeated throughout her bid to lead a city that is economically thriving but mired in homelessness, congestion and unaffordable homes. She has vowed to rid the sidewalks of homeless tent camps within a year of taking office. Turnout exceeded 50% — unusually high for recent mayoral elections — in a contest that was placed on the June 5 ballot after the unexpected death of Mayor Ed Lee in December. Breed will fill the rest of Lee’s term, which ends in early 2020, and
will need to run in November 2019 for a full four-year term. The former executive director of the African American Art & Culture Complex grew up in the historically black Western Addition, raised by her grandmother in public housing. They drank powdered milk and ate meat from a can labeled “pork,” she said. She paid homage to her late grandmother and said she probably had a hand in her win. “She took care of the community, she took care of me even on days when I didn’t deserve it, and so being here in her honor means so much,” she said.
primary and will meet in a runoff in July to decide the nomination.)
book "Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change." (see page 143)
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/georgiatexas-kentucky-southern-primaries/
Learn from Stacey Abrams from her
http://time.com/5311813/sanfrancisco-mayor-london-breed/
www.amazon.com/dp/B0763SXC4V/ ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_ encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
7 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Veterans Health Services
Trump Signs Veterans Health Bill as White House Works Against Bipartisan Plan to Fund It By Erica Werner and Lisa Rein
P
resident Trump is fighting a bipartisan plan to fund the much-touted expansion of veterans health care he signed into law on Wednesday, as the White House argues against a boost in federal spending to fund the new initiative. “The VA Mission Act (www.
govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr5674)
authorizes and expansion of veterans’ access to private health care, but the bill does not reserve federal money to pay for it. A group of powerful Senate committee chairmen from both parties aims to remedy that by advancing a separate measure for the new $50 billion law, saying this is the best way to ensure the new programs give veterans access to medical care. But the White House has been lobbying Republicans to vote the plan down, instead asking Congress to pay for veterans programs by cutting spending elsewhere. The opposition to the funding plan is the latest demonstration of Trump’s variable approach to the longtime stated Republican goal of fiscal discipline. On some issues, most prominently last year’s $1.5 trillion tax bill or immigration measures such as the border wall, Trump has signed off on legislation projected to massively increase the federal deficit.
On others, such as the veterans bill and emergency legislation to support communities impacted by last year’s devastating hurricanes and the California wildfires, he has demanded offseting spending cuts. Without passage of the veterans funding bill soon, lawmakers and veterans groups warn that the Veterans Affairs will be forced to make difficult trade-offs about which veterans programs should be funded. “You shouldn’t have to ask Congress every year for money to take care of veterans,” said John Hoellwarth, communications director for AMVETS, one of the country’s major veterans groups. The current debate could be a preview of spending fights to come, with the next government shutdown deadline looming on Sept. 30, just ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump has already issued demands for more money for his border wall, something likely to meet resistance in the Senate, setting up the possibility of a shutdown showdown weeks before elections that will decide control of Congress. In a memo circulated privately
to Republican senators this week, White House officials slammed the leading veterans funding proposal as “anathema to responsible spending” and that predicts it would lead to ballooning costs and “virtually unlimited increases” in veterans’ spending on private health care. “Without subjecting the program to any budgetary constraint, there is no incentive to continue to serve veterans with innovative, streamlined and efficient quality of care,” the administration says in the memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post. Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, argued that if Congress does not ratify his proposal, the alternative could be to cut $10 billion a year for five years from existing programs, including initiatives within the Veterans Affairs Department.
8 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
“If we don’t get on it we’re going to have a hole of $10 billion in our approps,” Shelby said Tuesday, predicting “some real trouble.” Shelby is joined in his effort by the top Appropriations Committee Democrat, Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), as well as the leaders of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Their coalition reflects a renewed commitment in the Senate to completing spending bills on a bipartisan basis after years of budget dysfunction. Their effort has run into stringent opposition from a White House still reeling from conservative backlash to the $1.3 trillion government-wide spending bill Trump signed in March.
The deal broke through previous spending caps with huge increases in domestic spending Democrats demanded in exchange for military spending sought by Republicans. Conservatives, including close Trump allies, publicly slammed the spending package and criticized Trump for signing it, and the administration has subsequently dug in against new spending and worked to claw existing spending back. Trump frequently touts his support of veterans and members of the armed services, promising during the campaign to fix VA and give more veterans access to private health care. Aiming to keep those promises, veterans programs are one of the few areas aside from the military where Trump has
encouraged new spending. But the White House says it won’t accept new spending on the veterans bill above the overall domestic spending levels already negotiated with Congress, arguing enough money can be found to fund it within existing budget limits. “The President’s 2019 Budget supports a new, consolidated community care program for veterans and all of VA health care within the discretionary caps already in place. We have a responsibility to provide our Veterans with the care they deserve, while also being good stewards of the taxpayer dollar,” the administration said in a statement. The VA spending fight could come to a head as soon as this
9 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
see page 10
Veterans Health Bill from page 9
week, as lawmakers prepare to take up a military construction and VA appropriations bill that the bipartisan group of chairmen want to use to fund the VA Mission Act’s program. The tension over how to pay for the legislation is part of a larger debate over private care for veterans. The Mission Act revamps a private-care program Congress approved in 2014 after a scandal over fudged
patient wait lists for medical appointments. The new, bipartisan measure consolidates numerous private-care programs that were fragmented and inefficient and drew support from disparate veterans groups that often disagree. It also expands stipends for a popular program that pays family caregivers of veterans who served in Vietnam and later wars, for example, a priority for advocates. Funding questions dogged the bill during its debate in the House, where Democrats had sounded an alarm on what they called the legislation's unsustainable costs. Rep. Tim Walz (Minn.), the House Veterans' Affairs Committee's ranking Democrat, described a "stark picture of a VA forced to cannibalize itself in order to pay for private care," with potential funding
cuts to investments in buildings, direct patient care, suicide prevention, medical research and job training. The legislation’s biggest costs, though, will come in new doctor’s appointments outside the VA system, which now sends roughly a third of veterans to private doctors. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the increase at 640,000 veterans each year, particularly with new authorization for VA to negotiate a contract for care at private walk-in clinics. But the shift to greater outsourcing — arguably the top White House priority for veterans — has been controversial. It was a key reason the president fired VA Secretary David Shulkin in March after the White House suspected that he was not pushing “choice” aggressively enough. Many Democrats, traditional veterans service organizations and federal employee unions adamantly oppose the goal of giving veterans unfettered options to choose private doctors, arguing that such a change would starve VA’s vast system of government health care, the country’s largest. Another sticking point is cost. There is no reliable estimate and little research to determine how much taxpayers pay for a private medical appointment versus one inside VA’s system of 1,300 clinics and hospitals. Conservatives and liberals agree that outsourcing tends to cost more because VA care has economies of scale, but how much more is a question that will affect the spending debate between the senators and the White House. “The Congressional Budget Office has not done a good job projecting how much private care costs because VA doesn’t share its data and often doesn’t collect it, so you can’t make an accurate prediction,” acknowledged Dan
Caldwell, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America (https://cv4a.org), a White House-allied group backed by the conservative industrialists Charles and David Koch that has led the push for veterans to decide where to get their medical care and from whom. Caldwell said, however, that the White House is right to oppose lifting the budget caps to cover the Mission Act. He said that consolidating the multiple private care programs that exist now should control the new bill’s costs. “I think they can pay for this program without raising the caps,” Caldwell said. Traditional veterans groups such as Hoellwarth’s AMVETS are suspicious of what they see as a White House strategy to privatize VA. Any they were adamant that if the spending caps aren’t raised, the agency could be forced to take money from other valuable veterans’ benefits to ensure that veterans have access to health care. Phillip Carter, a senior researcher at the Rand Corp., a nonprofit think tank, said the bill creates another unanswered question on cost: It could push up the demand for medical care at VA hospitals as the pressure on them eases with more outside appointments. “When the agency agrees to fund new programs as it has done here, there is potential for far more veterans to use the system, whether it’s inside VA or outside,” Carter said. “That’s what the White House and Congress have to reconcile themselves to, demand going up overall and costing more.” www.washingtonpost.com/ business/economy/trump-to-signveterans-heath-bill-as-whitehouse-works-against-plan-to-fundit/2018/06/06/1763ac70-68d911e8-bf8c-f9ed2e672adf_story. html?utm_term=.8622e6eaf68b
10 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Activism
Parkland Students, Activists Registering Voters in Chicago By Brian Slodysko and Annie Rice
C
hicago anti-violence activists and a group of Florida high school shooting survivors fanned out across the city's South Side, knocking on doors and registering people to vote in a bid to build support for changing the nation's gun laws. Ryan Deitsch, 18, from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people died on Feb. 14, said the tragedy has afforded the survivors a national spotlight they are now using to try and build a groundswell of support. Their goal is to reach "anybody who lives here and is tired of the status quo." "We need to be able to live out the American dream and if were just being gunned down at 21 or younger we can't," he said. "It's killing the future of this country." Chicago is the first location on more than 25stop tour Parkland students are taking this summer, targeting communities rocked by gun violence, or where lawmakers supported by the National Rifle Association are seeking office. They plan on holding rallies, town halls and registering people to vote. Later Saturday, the group was holding
a town hall in Naperville, an upscale suburb where Republican congressman Peter Roskam has been a consistent supporter of gun rights and has received donations from the NRA. "They should be speaking to their own people to realize what the problems are," Deitsch said. "Politicians become so detached from the situation that the people they represent aren't represented." In addition to knocking on doors and talking to people on the South Side, which activists believe is unfairly portrayed in news stories about Chicago violence, the group is hosting a cookout in an area park where they will also be signing people up to vote. On Friday, a joint rally was held at an area church. The event featured Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was gravely wounded in a 2011 shooting. She told the crowd to vote on Election Day to effect the change they want. Entertainers Jennifer Hudson, Chance the Rapper and will.i.am also appeared. "We need to vote people in who will speak for us, or take them out if they are not," said activist Ke'Shon Newman, 16, of Chicago. Deitsch said strengthening state gun laws is good, but ultimately a federal effort will be required to tamp down gun violence. www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/ articles/2018-06-16/parkland-students-activists-registeringvoters-in-chicago
11 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Energy/Environment
California Moves to Require Solar Panels on all New Homes By Associated Press
wisegeek.com Jumping out ahead of the rest of the country, California has moved to require solar panels on all new homes and low-rise apartment buildings starting in 2020. The new building standard — unanimously approved by the five-member California Energy Commission — would be the first such statewide mandate in the nation. It represents the state's latest step to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Robert Raymer, technical director for the California Building Industry Association, called it a "quantum leap." "You can bet every other of the 49 states will be watching closely to see what happens," he said. The commission endorsed the requirement after representatives
of builders, utilities and solar manufacturers voiced support. It needs final approval from California's Building Standards Commission, which typically adopts the energy panel's recommendations when updating the state's building codes. The requirement would apply only to newly constructed homes, although many homeowners are choosing to install rooftop solar panels with the help of rebate programs. Adding solar panels would boost construction costs by $9,500 for a single-family home but save owners about $19,000 in energy and other expenses over 30 years, the Energy Commission estimated. The price of solar has dropped dramatically in recent years.
The minimum amount of solar power required by the new standards wouldn't be enough to meet all the needs of most homes. They would still have to draw some of their electricity from the power grid. California, the most populous state, with nearly 40 million people, has positioned itself as the nationwide leader on clean energy, pushing for more electric vehicles on the roads and lower emissions from homes and commercial buildings. "This is a very bold and visionary step that we're taking," said David Hochschild, a member of the Energy Commission. Representatives of the construction, utility and solar industries all helped develop the new standard, and no industry groups spoke in opposition Wednesday. But Republican legislative leaders argue Californians cannot afford to pay any more for housing in what is already an extremely expensive market. "That's just going to drive the cost up and make California, once again, not affordable to live," Assemblyman Brian Dahle, the chamber's GOP leader, said Tuesday. About 117,000 new single-family homes and 48,000 multi-family units will be built in 2020, the commission estimates. The regulations include exceptions for when solar panels aren't cost-effective or feasible, such as on a home shrouded in shade. Community-shared solar
12 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
generation equipment will also be an option. California is already the nation's No. 1 market for solar installation. More than 5 million homes in the state use solar power, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. California has set a goal of all
residential buildings being "zero net energy," meaning they produce as much energy as they consume. "This is a step, a very important step, in a long trajectory that we have been planning for and telling the world," said Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister. "This is not a radical departure
— it's a step in the right direction to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and improve our air, which for many, many decades California has been doing better and better each time." https://newsok.com/article/feed/2175734/ california-may-require-solar-panels-onnew-homes-in-2020
13 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
'Be the Legacy' and Make Every Day a Mandela Day!
F
rom comrade to leader, prisoner to negotiator, head statesmen to global peace champion, this July 18th sees us celebrating what would have been Mandela's 100th birthday, an extraordinary milestone for South Africa and the world. Mandela Day is a global call to action, with the realization that every individual has the power to make a positive difference. The Centenary celebrations aim to commemorate Madiba's universal message of forgiveness and the ethos of Ubuntu, which he helped cultivate. The term Ubuntu is taken from a Zulu word, loosely defined as ‘humanity’. It has affectionately become a South African term for ‘giving’ and has often been translated to mean, “I am because we are”. Ubuntu is a cultural state of being, a unifying force, irrespective of race, creed or orientation, transcending this sentiment into many other countries in the world. Locally, Madiba Fridays, a Cape Town initiative is one such example of giving back. On the last Friday of every month, all schools, faiths and sectors are encouraged to join hands and actively participate in being of service to those in need. It is our wish at South African Airways (SAA) that the spirit of Ubuntu speaks loudly this July, from our organization into every airport, home, business and public sector, as we endeavor to connect Africa to the world, and the world to Africa. Spear-heading the Centenary celebrations is The Nelson Mandela Foundation (www.nelsonmandela. org/index.php), which has invited every South African to play their part, encouraging every individual to “Be the Legacy” this year. The Foundation will be participating in at least 50 projects to celebrate Mandela’s Centenary, no small feat, but in the words of the great Madiba: “It always seems impossible, until it’s done.”
Mr. Sello Hatang, CEO of The Nelson Mandela Foundation was quoted as saying: “It is important that we use the capabilities we have, wherever we are stationed in life, in a way that dismantles the unequal structures of power and protects the most vulnerable. All of us must commit to continuing Madiba’s work; fight poverty and inequality; strive to eradicate the growing scourge of racism; and reckon with the history of oppression”. Both The Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Obama Foundation (www.obama.org) have announced that former President Barack Obama will be delivering the 16th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture under the theme “Renewing the Mandela Legacy and Promoting Active Citizenship in a Changing World” in Johannesburg at the Ellis Park Arena on the 17th of July 2018. SAA joins the charge to ‘Live the Legacy’ this Mandela Day. So from our shores to the near and far corners of the globe, we encourage all our valued customers, to be the change they want to see in the world and thank you for being a part of the ever-evolving tradition of Ubuntu. www.flysaa.com/documents/51855150/89492609/SAA+Newsletter+-+July+2018/3d939014-a688-4ca0-8fd0dbb6e1c86db5 15 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
16 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
THE WHITE HOUSE
Caribbean-American Heritage Month, 2018 -------
By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
D
uring Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we honor America’s long-shared history with our neighbors in the Caribbean and celebrate the Caribbean Americans who have enriched our Nation. Caribbean Americans embody the American spirit, with their talents and hard work contributing greatly to America’s economy. They protect our citizens as law enforcement officers, serve our communities as public officials, and mentor our Jean Baptiste du Sable, piwilimagazine.com country’s young people as educators. Through their tremendous athleticism and determination, they have brought pride to the hearts of the American people as members of numerous U.S. Olympic teams. Their leadership and resolve have made incredible contributions to our society. As trailblazers, Americans with Caribbean roots have sewn their own unique thread into the fabric of our Nation. Dr. William Thornton, a native of the British Virgin Islands, designed the United States Capitol and is generally considered the first “Architect of the Capitol”. Jean Baptiste du Sable, the first permanent resident of Chicago, was born in Haiti. Widely recognized as the “Founder of Chicago,” his prosperous trade settlement has become one of the most iconic cities in the world. This month, we acknowledge the numerous contributions of Caribbean Americans to our Nation, including those of the more than 4 million Dr. William Thornton Caribbean Americans who live in the United States today. We are also deeply grateful to the many Caribbean Americans who have served or are currently serving our country as members of our Armed Forces. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2018 as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. I encourage all Americans to join in celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Caribbean Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second. DONALD J. TRUMP
17 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - WHO Classifies New Disease
World Health Organization to Announce ‘Gaming Disorder’ as a Mental Health Condition By Ben Lovejoy
A
t a time when there’s increasing focus on ‘digital health’ – ensuring that usage of devices like smartphones doesn’t take over our lives – gaming addiction is to be officially classified as a disease … CNN reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) is today announcing that ‘gaming disorder’ will be the official term for the condition, which is likened to substance abuse. The WHO is set to announce “ g a m i n g disorder” as a new mental health condition to be included in the 11th edition of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), set to release Monday. The ICD is the definitive listing of diseases, disorders, injuries and other health conditions, used by researchers and doctors – and often by health insurers to determine whether treatment is covered. The WHO’s Dr. Vladimir Poznyak said that there were three main characteristics required for a diagnosis. “One is that the gaming behavior takes precedence over other activities to the extent that
other activities are taken to the periphery,” he said. The second feature is “impaired control of these behaviors,” Poznyak said. “Even when the negative consequences occur, this behavior continues or escalates.” A diagnosis of gaming disorder, then, means that a “persistent or recurrent” behavior pattern of “sufficient severity” has emerged, according to the ICD. as people suffering from gaming disorder,” Poznyak said, adding that the overall prevalence of this condition is “very low.” In general, the negative impact must be sustained for at least a year before a diagnosis would be made. Not all health professionals support the classification. Some believe that those who might appear to be A third feature is that the addicted are using gaming as a condition leads to significant coping mechanism for anxiety or distress and impairment depression, and that treating the in personal, family, social, underlying condition is the most educational or occupational appropriate response. One approach being taken by functioning, Poznyak said. some Google Pixel 2 owners to WHO was careful to stress that this is not a casual term that would tackle excessive smartphone use is be applied to anyone who spends a to enable greyscale mode. lot of time gaming. https://flipboard.com/@ “Millions of gamers around the flipboard/-world-healthworld, even when it comes to the organization-to-announce-g/fintense gaming, would never qualify d39bb5951b%2F9to5google.com
18 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - New Military Division
Trump is Directing Pentagon to Create a "Space Force" By Shanon Vavre, Andrew Freedman
President Trump, Vice President Pence upi.com
P
resident Donald Trump said today that he is "directing" the Pentagon “establish a space force as the sixth branch of the Armed Forces,” to be called the “Space Force.” Why it matters: If a Space Force is created, it would be the 6th branch of the Armed Forces, and its duties are as yet unclear. Trump said he would be "honored" if General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would direct it. Dunford, who was present at the ceremony, expressed support for the announcement when Trump said he wanted him to lead it. Trump: "We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force. Separate but equal. It is going to be something so important...General Dunford,
if you would carry that assignment out I would be very greatly honored also. Where is General Dunford? General? Got it?” Gen. Dunford: "We got you." Trump: “Let’s go get it, General.” "It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space," Trump said. "We must have American dominance in space," Trump said at a meeting of the U.S. Space Council. Details: Trump did not go into detail about what such a force would do or how it would overlap with existing space-oriented branches of the Air Force, such as the Air Force Space Command. However, this is not the first time that Trump has mentioned the idea for such an entity. The Air
Force did not have a statement on a Space Force, and a spokesman said he could not comment on whether the Pentagon has received a directive from the White House. Confirmation: The White House, however, did confirm Trump's action. "Today at the National Space Council meeting, the President directed the Department of Defense to immediate[ly] begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces," Raj Shah, principal deputy White House press secretary, told Axios in a statement. "The President’s National Strategy for Space calls for American leadership, preeminence, and freedom of action in space, and he sees a separate service focused on space as a critical piece of that end state. The National Space Council and other White House offices will work closely with the Department of Defense on successful implementation of the President’s direction." — Raj Shah www.axios.com/trump-directspentagon-to-create-a-spaceforce-e458ce3e-7a95-43c9-9361615112d50f58.html
19 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
BBN Show Biz Buzz
with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail after he killed a member of the High Table. John Wick: Chapter 3 opens in theaters on May 17, 2019.
By Linda Ware Laurence Fishbourne
BET Awards Air June 24th
T
he BET Awards ill air live on June 24th and check out the complete list of nominees for the 2018 BET Awards at www.msn.com/en-us/ music/awards/the-2018-bet-awards-nominees-are/arAAxmbp9?ocid=spartandhp. https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/awards/ the-2018-bet-awards-nominees-are/arAAxmbp9?ocid=spartandhp
Halle Berry in 'John Wick: Chapter 3'
S
omehow, the John Wick franchise just got more badass. Halle Berry is set to join Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 3, Lionsgate announced. The Oscar-winning actress, who will star in the action franchise as Sofia, reacted to her new role on Instagram, writing, “It’s a date” alongside a message for Wick. In addition to Berry, Lionsgate revealed that Laurence Fishbourne (blackish) has also come onboard director Chad Stahelski’s film, joining Reeves. Halle Berry Picking up where the © Christopher Polk/Getty Images 2017 sequel concluded, the third film will find the titular super-assassin (Reeves)
starschanges.com
www.msn.com/en-us/ movies/news/halle-berryjoins-keanu-reeves-injohn-wick-chapter-3/arAAxAMRM?ocid=spartandhp
Mohamed Mbougar Sarr Wins World Literature Prize
M
ohamed Mbougar Sarr is a young Senegalese writer who is making huge strides in the francophone literary world. Earlier this year he was awarded the French Voices Awards for his debut novel Terre Ceinte (Earth Girdle). He has been awarded the 2018 World Literature Prize for his book Silence of the Heart, becoming the prize's youngest winner. Mohamed Mbougar (28), is the youngest winner of the 2018 World Literature Prize. The Senegalese writer was awarded the prize for his book Silence of the Heart which was published by Présence Africaine. The French Development Agency (AFD) created the World Literature Prize and the International World Literature Prize in 2014. The award comes
with a €3,000 cash prize. Icelandic writer Einar Mar Gudmundsson won the International World Literature Prize for his novel The Kings of Iceland. http://allafrica.com/stories/201805220812.html
22 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Kendrick Lamar Accepts His Pulitzer Prize: 'It's an Honor'
K
endrick Lamar made history Wednesday when he accepted a Pulitzer Prize for Music for his groundbreaking album DAMN. The best-selling rapper attended the Pulitzer ceremony at Columbia University in New York City, and received a standing ovation when he came up to accept the prestigious award. Upon winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music back in April, Lamar became the first hip-hop artist, and the first non-classic or jazz artist, to ever receive the lauded honor. While the "Humble" rapper didn't make any remarks while accepting the award, he did briefly address the momentous occasion during the award's Facebook Live video. "It's an honor," Lamar shared. "Been writing my whole life, so to get this type of recognition is beautiful." During the ceremony, Lamar sat at a table with CBS This Morning co-anchor Gayle King and smiled for selfies with CNN anchor Don Lemon.
André Leon Talley poppaganda.net
A Kendrick Lamar © Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Along with the historic distinction, Lamar will receive $15,000, along with the prize. The special honor has previously gone to artists like Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Hank Williams. www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/kendrick-lamar-acceptshis-pulitzer-prize-its-an-honor/ar-AAy2T7l?ocid=spartanntp
Documentary on the Extraordianry Life of André
Leon Talley Released
ndré Leon Talley has been a fixture in the world of fashion for so long that it’s difficult to imagine a time when he wasn’t defining the boundaries of great style. Kate Novack’s intimate portrait, The Gospel According to André takes viewers on an emotional journey from André’s roots growing up in the segregated Jim Crow South to become one of the most influential tastemakers and fashion curators of our times. Novack’s film draws fascinating, heretofore unexplored connections, between the elegance of André’s beloved grandmother and the Black Church of his youth and his later iconic, barrier-breaking work at publications like Women’s Wear Daily, W and Vogue. Weaving together a wealth of archival footage from the most glamorous moments in fashion history with André’s poignant reflections on his life and career, The Gospel According to André is a cinematic monument to one of the most unique figures of 20th Century American culture. www.thegospelaccordingtoandre.com/synopsis/
23 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
see page 24
BBN Show Biz Buzz from BBN Show Biz Buzz on page 23
Netflix's 'Luke Cage' Season 2 is Black and Beautiful, Bolder and Better
L
uke Cage had to come correct in 2018. The previous title holder of the blackest thing Marvel had ever done when it premiered back in 2016, "Luke Cage" enters its second season on Netflix (it begins streaming on June 22) following the hype of the black cultural phenomenon that was "Black Panther." The game changed once the world discovered Wakanda - the expectations for comic book-inspired black excellence have been raised. Marvel's bulletproof black man is up for the challenge. Season 2 of
Misty Knight (Simone Missick) is looking more like her comic book self as well. Shades (Theo Rossi) is now a crime boss equal to Black Mariah (Alfre Woodard). Woodward's Black Mariah comes in and steals the show with the transformation from reluctantly corrupt politician to queen of Harlem crime is Season 2's outstanding breakaway performance. There is no Netflix/Marvel villain more ruthless, not even the Kingpin over at "Daredevil." Season 2 newcomer Mustafa Shakir brings a little Erik Killmonger/angry son of the African diaspora style to his enjoyable role as Bushmaster. www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-lukecage-season-2-review-20180615-story.html
Apple Signs Oprah Winfrey
A
pple said Friday it has signed a multiyear deal with Oprah Winfrey to create original programming. p "Together, Winfrey and Apple w will create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to e cconnect with audiences around the world," Apple said in a statement. w The partnership with Winfrey, Alf d d expertcomics.com Alfre W Woodard 64, regarded as one of the most "Luke Cage" is influential people in the entertainment business, is the spectacular, full biggest original content deal struck by Apple so far. Under the deal, Winfrey will remain chief executive of of unforgettable p e r f o r m a n c e s , cable channel OWN where in December her contract
wegothiscovered.com and has not one but two top-notch villains battling each other and Cage for the heart of Harlem. Mike Colter returns to the role of Luke Cage, ever the charismatic protagonist who finally begins to embrace the hero-for-hire mentality of his comic book roots when he realizes invulnerability doesn't shield him from financial restraints.
Oprah Winfrey
money.cnn.com
24 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
was extended with OWN through 2025. Under her contract with OWN, Winfrey can appear on camera on other platforms on a limited basis. Known in the United States by millions on first-name basis, Winfrey rose to fame as the host of her own television talk show, using it to build a media empire that spans magazine publishing, movie and television production, cable TV and satellite radio. Born into poverty, she is now one of the world's wealthiest women. www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/applesigns-oprah-winfrey-to-multiyear-program-deal/arAAyHFy8?ocid=spartandhp
Jay-Z, Beyonce Release Album 'Everything Is Love'
J
ay-Z and Beyonce droped a surprise album before anyone knew it was coming. The couple released a joint album that touches on the rapper's disgust at this year's Grammy Awards and features a shout out from their daughter Blue Ivy to her siblings. The nine-track album "Everything Is Love" dropped on the Tidal music streaming service that Jay-Z partially owns. The album features Beyonce rapping on songs more than she has done on previous releases. Blue Ivy ends the song "BOSS" with a shout-out to her 1-year-old brother and sister, Rumi and Sir. http://realitybox.co.uk/get-away-murder-renewedseason-5-abc/#ixzz5FQec3b8f
It's Creed vs. Drago Once Again in First Creed II
C
reed II, Michael B. Jordan returns as Adonis Creed, whose latest opponent is a blast from the Rocky past. Creed is set to take on Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), who killed Creed’s Michael B. Jodan as Creed MGM father during a match in Rocky IV. “I don’t got a choice,” declares Creed, to which his trainer and uncle Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) responds, “That’s the same thing your father said and he died right here in my hands.” Stallone, who won a Golden Globe for Creed and wrote Creed II, is back for his eighth go-around as Balboa, while Tessa Thompson returns as Creed’s love interest Bianca. Wood Harris and Phylicia Rashad also star. Creed II is in theaters Thanksgiving. www.msn.com/en-us/movies/ news/its-creed-vs-drago-onceagain-in-first-creed-ii-trailer/arAAyUb3D?ocid=spartandhp
Television Adaptation of "Dawn," an Octavia Beyonce 25 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
see page 26
BBN Show Biz Buzz from BBN Show Biz Buzz on page 25
L
Butler Book Coming
ast year, it was announced that Ava DuVernay, who recently directed A Wrinkle In Time, would be adapting Octavia Butler’s book, Dawn, into a television series. It is not clear
Octavia Butler
Ava DuVernay
thesource.com
npr,org
what network will pick up the show just yet. In the book, the protagonist — a black female — wakes up 250 years after a nuclear holocaust, to find that humans have been rescued by aliens with three genders. In return, the aliens want to interbreed with humans to create a hybrid species.
http://time.com/5319643/octavia-butler-googledoodle/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_ medium=social&utm_campaign=social-button-sharing
26 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
In Focus - Black Music Month
BBN Remembers Some of the Musicians who Passed in 2017 Della Reese (Jul 6, 1931Nov 19, 2017), an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades.
Della Reese
Fats Domino (Feb 26, 1928Oct 24, 2017) was an American pianist and singer-songwriter. One of the iconic pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records.
Rafiki in The Lion King. His career spanned more than 50 years on stage, television and film. He was nominated for a Tony Award and twice won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of the character Benson DuBois. He also won a Grammy Award in 1995 for his spoken word performance of an audiobook version of The Lion King.
Prodigy (Nov. 2, 1974 - June 20, 2017) was an American rapper, actor and author who was one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep with Havoc. His given name was Albert Johnson.
Prodigy
Cuba Gooding Sr. (April 27, 1944 - April 20, 2017), was an American singer and actor. He was the most successful lead singer of the soul group The Main Ingredient. Robert Guillaume ravepad.com
Christopher "Big Black" Boykin (Jan. 13, 1972 - May 9, 2017), was an American television personality and musician best known for his role on the MTV reality television series Rob & Big.
Cuba Gooding, Sr. ballerstatus.com
Fats Domino youtube.com
Robert Guillaume
(Nov. 30, 1927 - Oct. 24, 2017), known for his role as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night and as Benson on the TV series Soap and the spin-off, Benson, as well as for voicing the baboon
Christopher Boykin
Lee "Q" O'Danat lacklivingtoday.com
28 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Lee “Q” O’Denat (Nov. 2, 1973 - Jan. 23, 2017) was a producer and actor, known for Untitled World Star Hip Hop Project, All That Matters and The Dead.
Fresh Kid Ice (May 29, 1964 July 13, 2017) also known as The Chinaman, was an American hip hop and Miami b a s s recording artist, a founding member of the rap group 2 Live Crew and first prominent Asian rapper.
Al Jarreau
nydailynews.com
Robert Knight (April 24, 1945 - Nov. 5, 2017) was an American singer, best known for the 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love".
Chuck Berry
(Oct. 18, 1926 March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive. His music style and showmanship was a major influence on subsequent rock music.
Robert Knight
soulwalking.co.uk
Charles Bradley (Nov. 5, 1948 - Sept. 23, 2017) the acclaimed soul singer known as the "Screaming Eagle of Soul," blended heartfelt ballads of love, longing and remorse with raucous tracks celebrating joy and the survival of a hardscrabble life.
Chuck Berry theguitarlesson.com
Al Jarreau
(March 12, 1940 Feb. 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. He received a total of seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen more. Jarreau is perhaps best known for his 1981 album Breakin' Away.
Charles Bradley
shaidysworld.com
29 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - New Post
Mellody Hopson Becomes Starbucks Vice Chair From Adedamola Agboola, TBTNEWS UPDATE
M
ellody Hobson, one of the most respected and knowledgeable business leaders, will move up to the role of Vice Chair at Starbucks when longtime chairman Howard Schultz steps down at the end of the month. After Starbucks’ tumultuous year, marked with the scandal of the arrest of two black men at one of its Philadelphia stores, Schultz recently announced that he will be relinquishing his role as chairman at the company he has run for the past three decades. Hobson, who has been a director on the board, will now take over the role of vice chair, making her one of the very few African Americans in history to occupy such a role at a Fortune 500 company. Hobson, 49, joined Ariel Investments, LLC, the largest African American-owned money manager in the United States as an intern in 1999. She rose through the ranks, becoming the president of the investment firm with $13 billion asset under management. Under her leadership, Ariel Investments was named No.1 on the BE Asset Managers list in 2003. “She has a grace and graciousness about her that is singular,” Jeffrey Katzenberg, the former CEO of DreamWorks Animation, who had worked with Hobson. “She is remarkably unique. She’s a stunning
Mellody Hobson person. I get a little nervous talking about her because the words are so flowery. But it’s truly how I feel about her.” Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who credits a comment Hobson made with inspiring her to write her best-seller, Lean In, recalled her saying, “she wanted to be unapologetically black and unapologetically a woman.” Beyond her work at Ariel Investments, Hobson is a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and investor education. She has been a financial contributor on Good Morning America, the featured consumer finance expert on Tom Joyner’s Money Mondays
indiewire.com
r a d i o program, and a regular columnist for Black Enterprise. Hobson has also been a director at a number of public companies and institutions. She was the first African American woman to head The Economic Club of Chicago. And she was elected to JP Morgan Chase’s board of directors in March. Born in Chicago, Hobson graduated from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
30 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
ALL ANCESTRY TEST KITS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL Don't be fooled by other ancestry test kits pushing highly discounted prices this holiday season. Over the years, countless people have called us disappointed with the lack of specificity from other ancestry test kits. Get the results you want, the first time. Order today! Get the results you want, the first time. Order at https://shop.africanancestry. com
Sincerely, Gina Paige President, African Ancestry Maternal Country of Ancestry: Nigeria Maternal Tribe of Ancestry: Fulani
Business - Opinion
John Legend and Rashad Robinson: End Money Bail Now (opinion) By John Legend and Rashad Robinson
N
o one should have to stay in jail because they lack the money to buy their freedom. Yet every night, according to the Justice Department's statistics, nearly 450,000 people who have not been convicted of a crime sit in jail, a large number trapped there simply because they don't have enough money to post bail. For many, even a relatively modest bail amount is out of reach. Moreover, research shows (www.princeton.edu/~wdobbie/ files/racialbias.pdf) that on average, black people are assigned higher bail amounts than other defendants arrested for the same offenses. Simply put, it is wrong to be forced by poverty to face an extensive stay in jail while awaiting a court date -separated from children, family and home, and running the risk of losing employment. If you believe TV crime shows, you might think that commercial money bail emerged as a solution to a problem of justice: a service that reasonably aided people in paying bail — the deposit that defendants leave with the court as collateral for their promise to appear at trial. The actual history: the first commercial
John Legend © jambaze.co bail bond business started in 1898 in San Francisco and functioned as a corrupt payoff racket among crime bosses, judges, lawyers and police. This history is consistent with the reality of money bail today. If you are wealthy, you can post the bail amount and walk free, whether or not you pose a threat to society. But if you don't have the money, regardless of how small the alleged crime, giving in to the commercial money bail industry may be your only option to avoid a months-long wait behind bars. Recently, momentum to reform the unjust bail system has gained steam. In January 2018, a California appellate court declared that no one can be jailed because they're too
poor to pay their way to freedom. It also places stringent requirements on judges to demonstrate why someone should be held in jail rather than remain home with their family as they defend their case. Even district attorneys, who have historically been some of the biggest advocates for money bail, have been stepping up. Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, Manhattan DA Cy Vance, Chicago's State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Philadelphia's newly-elected DA Larry Krasner have all eliminated money bail for certain low-level offenses to end the system's reliance on unnecessary and harmful pretrial detention. However, these successes don't fully mitigate the destruction caused by the commercial bail
32 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Rashad Robinson, Executive Director, Color of Change © Heather Weston
bond industry -- how it preys upon low-income communities and people of color, among many others -- or address the urgent need to dismantle it entirely. The for-profit commercial bail bonds industry is built on predatory business practices. With bail bond agents working as proxies for large insurance corporations, they exploit poor communities, particularly black communities.
How It Works In exchange for a nonrefundable fee from defendants, a bail bond agent will secure a person's release from jail, often without having to deposit any money with the court themselves. When families cannot pay bond agents in cash, they may be forced to put up their car or home as collateral, which they can easily lose entirely if they do not make each and every payment installment. With the potential threat of physical harm in jail looming, as well as the consequences of not returning to their lives, people often sign contracts filled with egregious terms that put their entire family at risk. These can include unannounced,
armed home searches, vehicle tracking, body monitoring and phone surveillance — all conducted by private, poorly regulated bail bond agents. Unbelievably, even when the charges are dropped, the case is dismissed or a defendant is found innocent by the court, families remain on the hook to pay the full amount of exorbitant fees demanded by these agents. The commercial bail industry generates nearly $2 billion each year. Last year, in New York City alone, there were 12,000 bonds secured through commercial bail bond companies for an aggregate amount of $280 million. Premiums, fees and illegally retained collateral from these products may have exceeded $25 million -- nearly all of it coming from low-income communities of color who are hit hardest by mass incarceration, the war on drugs, and other public policies that disproportionately target them. Many, including the New York City Comptroller, have called for an eradication of the industry.
Taking On The Challenge Dismantling the commercial bail
industry is a steep hill to climb. In recent negotiations over bail reform in New York State, for example, the aggressive influence of the bail bond industry won the lobbying contest, while justice for our communities lost out. But the fight is not over and there is hope. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo can make good on his own professed vision for reform by supporting new and improved bail reform legislation during the regular session this year. With so much happening in the shadows, Cuomo and other elected officials should push for followup investigation to an initial report from Color Of Change (https:// nomoneybail.org) exposing the true ills of the commercial bail industry. Cuomo recently sent a tweet announcing an investigation in response to a campaign by Color Of Change (www.colorofchange.org) and our partners. But he needs to move quickly to implement it, as New Yorkers are still subject to the abuses of the bail industry. Prosecutors, mayors, legislators and governors across the country are responding t o the communityled movement for bail reform and reconsidering the role of money bail in our justice system. We must all add our voices to the call to #EndMoneyBail if we are going to finally put an end to the corrupt, destructive, and unnecessary industry that is commercial bail. www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ john-legend-and-rashad-robinsonend-money-bail-now-opinion/arAAxDhZL?ocid=spartandhp
33 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Become a Media Company
The Obamas Signed a Multi-Year Deal With Netflix, and Every Entrepreneur Should Learn This 1 Lesson From It By Sonia Thompson
The people, brands, and companies that are embracing their role as a media company are increasing their platforms and winning new audiences
N
etflix (www.netflix.com) has announced a multiyear agreement with former President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama. In a statement on Twitter, Netflix said the Obamas would produce original content in the form of films and series. Netflix US (@netflix ) President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have entered into a multi-year agreement to produce films and series for Netflix, potentially including scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features. May 21, 2018 The Obama's who will produce the content via their newly formed production company, Higher Ground Productions, say their goal with the deal is to give a worldwide platform to individuals and storytellers that promote the greater good. In a statement, President Obama noted why they are taking on this project: One of the simple joys of
our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience. That's why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix -- we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world. Netflix, along with Amazon, Apple, and countless other businesses of all sizes are betting big on producing original content as a way to grow. Gwyneth Paltrow's company Goop (https://goop.com) credits producing content as the primary reason why they were able to triple their growth last year. There's plenty of data that backs up why producing content is such a smart strategy. One of my favorites is that for every dollar invested in email marketing, it gives back $44. Data like that helps to explain why one report showed that marketing leaders intend to spend upwards of 75% of their marketing budget on digital marketing rather than traditional marketing. The people, brands, and companies that are embracing
their role as a media company are increasing their platforms and winning new audiences. You can do the same, no matter your size or your budget. And if not knowing what kind of content has been a barrier for you getting started, here are three angles you can take to produce the kind of material your audience will be eager to devour.
1. Make your customer the hero. You are in the transformation business. As you work to help your customers solve a particular problem, give them the inspiration, tools, and support needed to do it, then document their quest to reach a particular goal. When your customers see themselves in the people you showcase, who are accomplishing feats they aspire to achieve, you show them what is possible. I used to work at a company that made insulin pumps for people with diabetes. Whenever we could, we would create programs and materials that highlighted people living with type 1 diabetes who were doing things many in our audience thought was impossible to them, such as running marathons, becoming award-winning singers, or even becoming a mom. Don't limit yourself to having to use
34 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
former President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama. Getty Images
real stories either. While unscripted content works well, scripted stories can accomplish the same goal.
watching shows like Cake Boss, or shows documenting the journies of people I admire about how they rose to the top, or Serena Williams' Instagram stories (www.instagram. com/SerenaWilliams) of her and her family getting ready to attend the royal wedding over the weekend. You don't have to be a celebrity, or a network TV show to create this type of content that will interest your audience. Alex Bloomberg launched Gimlet Media, his podcasting company with the first season of the hit Startup podcast. That season chronicled Alex in almost every aspect of building his company, from naming, to getting funding, to candid conversations with his wife.
2. Solve a pressing problem. Utility is always a value add. Thus if you're able to produce material that shows your audience how to do solve a pesky problem, they will gladly turn to you as a trusted resource the next time they have a related issue. Did you hear the story of the woman who delivered her own baby in a hotel room in Germany with the help of YouTube tutorials? Increasingly, people turn to the Internet first to get answers to even their most pressing concerns. When you publish content that gives your customers the know-how needed to be great, your company will benefit as well.
3. Tell the story of your product and your company. People like watching behind the
Serena Williams at Royal Wedding thegossipers.com
scenes stories. They like feeling like insiders. That's why I've spent way more time than I care to admit
You too can grow your business with original content. The barrier to entry is lower than ever. And the opportunity, as evidenced by the Obama's deal is ripe. https://flipboard.com/@flipboard/-theobamas-signed-a-multi-year-deal-wit/fd0873c8bc3%2Finc.com
35 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
37 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - GDPR Privacy Compliance Guidelines
Nine Ways for Enterprises to Prosper in the Face of GDPR By Chris Preimesberger
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ith the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) now in full effect, the way companies do business with European Union citizens has been changed big time. However, the ramifications of the regulation reach far beyond the borders of the EU’s 28 member nations. An Ovum survey has revealed that 70% of global IT decision-makers expect to increase spending to meet data protection requirements to avoid the hefty fines of 20 million euros (or 4% of total global revenue) and other possible implications for noncompliance. These would include damage to brand reputation and consumer trust. The investment for compliance is only a part of the cost of doing business if brands want a share of the $4 trillion-plus global ecommerce sales predicted by 2020. Chris Rence, Digital River’s Data Protection Officer, indicated recently to eWEEK that he believes that the compliance landscape is getting significantly more complicated and that protecting consumer data and maintaining compliance in an ever-changing e-commerce environment is essential to global success. In the following series of data points, Rence explained what e-commerce enterprises need to understand about their compliance standards and the steps they must take to protect their customers’ data.
to make necessary changes to comply with the regulation.
Step No. 2: Define your data controller or processor status This is one of the most critical early steps you will take on your GDPR compliance journey. Your business will have varying obligations depending on whether you are a data controller (independent data controller or joint data controller), data processor or any combination thereof. Once there is a common understanding on your GDPR designation, you should outline each obligation that applies to you.
Step No. 3: The rise of the Data Protection Officer In some cases, GDPR designates that it is mandatory for businesses to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), including when processing activities require regular monitoring of data subjects on a large scale. A DPO can inform, advise or train employees, act as the contact person for supervisory authorities, and otherwise guide your business on GDPR matters. Regardless of your requirements under GDPR, a strong business practice is to appoint a DPO–their
Step No. 1: Know how you process and store consumer data One of the key purposes of GDPR is to give consumers more control over their data. This includes things such as understanding the purpose for processing their personal data, transparency on how long it will be stored, and details about when and where their data is shared with third parties. Without a complete understanding of your company’s current practices, it will be impossible 38 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
hands will be full as the data protection environment promises to grow in complexity.
and processors need to work together to ensure each consumer request is honored.
Step No. 4: Assess your reasons for processing data
Step No. 7: Update privacy, security and incident response policies
Your business must have a lawful reason for each data storing and processing activity–such as but not limited to consent, legitimate interest or contractual necessity. Complete an assessment of each of your data processing activities. Where you intend to rely on legitimate interest, a formal “legitimate interest assessment” should be completed and approved by a senior and/or executive leader.
Update your company’s external privacy policy that it utilizes with its end-consumers as well as the company’s internal privacy policy that addresses how employees of the company handle personal information of the end consumer. Align these with the requirements of GDPR. Both need to be updated, not just one.
Step No. 5: Be ready to respond to a data breach Under GDPR, it’s mandatory in certain situations to detect and notify a “supervisory authority” within 72 hours of a data breach. This could be challenging as a recent Ponemon Institute report showed 69 percent of information security and compliance professionals believed their organizations would have trouble meeting GDPR’s time limitations. Being able to detect and communicate a breach this quickly is a big leap for many companies, but is something that must be planned for.
Step No. 6: Develop or purchase a tool for handling consumer access requests GDPR is intended to make it easier for consumers to send companies “access requests,” including right to access, erase, edit, export, restrict, or object to the processing of their data. Each request needs to be evaluated individually for proper handling. Consider a “privacy tracker” tool that can capture requests, log actions and potentially allow businesses to respond to consumers. This is one area where data controllers
Step No. 8: Train employees from the mailroom to the boardroom Complying with GDPR should be a partnership across your company from the mailroom to the boardroom. Provide internal training and ample opportunity for employees to ask questions they may have regarding the regulation and speak to how it may influence the way they interact with and handle personal data as part of their day-to-day responsibilities.
Step No. 9: Stay one step ahead of other regulations GDPR complements other incoming regulations from across the globe related to consumer protection obligations, the current and upcoming “cookies” law, the network and information security directive, contract law, and payment card industry requirements, among others. Coming soon will be other big data privacy directives in Japan and China that must be adhered to for the continued success of your global ecommerce business. www.eweek.com/security/nine-ways-forenterprises-to-prosper-in-the-face-of-gdpr?utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=EWK_NL_ EP_20180605_STR3L2&dni=448138292&r ni=25652266
39 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
SPRINT - T-MOBILE MERGER Dear Sprint Customers, As you may have seen, Sprint has announced plans to combine with T-Mobile, and I’m most excited about what this means for you, our customers. Separately, we are two great companies. But we realized that together, we could form one of the best partnerships in the world! We’re absolutely thrilled to supercharge the wireless industry with innovation, disruption and an obsession for making our customers feel special. When we combine our incredible assets with T-Mobile’s our competitors better watch out! We are going to raise the bar for the customer experience, especially when it comes to increasing our network coverage, speed and capacity – and building a super-connected 5G world. Think about the past 10 years of innovation that completely changed the way we live. Most of us couldn’t get by today without our favorite brands and apps such as Uber, Google and Amazon, all of which are fueled by 4G networks. Now imagine how 5G will revolutionize everything in our lives. Speeds 100 times faster than today, driverless cars, incredibly smart robots and smart city technologies will be powered by an always-connected 5G network. And only our new company is equipped to deliver a faster, more reliable network at lower prices and with better value. Sprint and T-Mobile have good network coverage on their own, but together we will deliver an amazing and seamless experience in busy city areas, rural towns and everywhere in between. We will create the best nationwide mobile 5G network and fuel a giant wave of innovation and disruption throughout the entire marketplace. This step up to 5G will be like the step up from black and white TV to color TV. It’s a gamechanger! We also plan to create thousands of new U.S. jobs in the coming years that will drive the economy and strengthen America’s competiveness. Our announcement is just the first step in a long process. We expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2019. Until then, we’re investing billions to build out our network so your service will keep getting better and better. And we’ll continue to offer the best value to our customers. I know many of you have questions about the transaction, so I encourage you to visit https://allfor5g.com/ for more information. Thank you for choosing Sprint. I can’t wait to deliver you better network service and better products at an amazing value! Marcelo Claure CEO, Sprint
T
The Obama Presidency
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Business - About Success/Commentary
What's the Mindset that Defines the Most Successful People? It's What Most of Us Are Missing By Marcel Schwantes
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obody likes to fail. Yet failure is the secret to success. If you haven't been rejected a number of times, the current mantra goes, you just haven't experienced success. Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, swears by this premise. At Virgin, they encourage and even celebrate failure. There's an underlying theme there that, without trying something new and failing, it's virtually impossible to innovate and grow. Branson says, "Do not be embarrassed by your failures. Learn from them and start again. Making mistakes and experiencing setbacks is part of the DNA of every successful entrepreneur, and I am no exception." Wherever you are on your career path, it's time to acknowledge that failing is common, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. But here's the thing. There's one superhuman quality -- a mindset -- every person needs to master on their journey of failing forward. Without it, you may as well toss in the towel now and never try again. I speak of resilience.
The science of resilience and how to cope well with failure We all face challenges and unexpected events in our lives. The
key is how well we are able to cope with life's surprises. In resilience, we adjust to changes and challenges as well as develop the ability to "spring back" emotionally after dealing with a stressful period. Research on resilience suggests a number of traits to help us following difficult and stressful life events. These characteristics for building resilience can be divided into three major themes: Attitude: Providing the outlook, focus, and psychological support that can lead to personal growth Resilience skill development: Learning and applying techniques for problem solving: changing your perception, empathic listening, and communicating effectively with others Healthy lifestyle: Supporting the physical and emotional energy needed to recharge Psychologist Rick Hanson, the New York Times best-selling author of Resilient, says one of every human being's basic needs is satisfaction (the other two needs are safety and connection). When this need for satisfaction -- whether at work, starting a business, or pursuing your dream of choice -is met by drawing from these four mental resources, we become resilient. Mindfulness: Staying present in the moment as it is, rather than
daydreaming, ruminating, or being distracted Gratitude: Appreciating and feeling good about what already exists Motivation: Pursuing opportunities in the face of challenges Aspiration: Reaching for and achieving results that are important to us
Practicing resilience in the pursuit of your dreams If you're an entrepreneur, setbacks will occur, you can bet on that. This is why your success is wholly dependent on your ability to bounce back and look at each failure as a learning experience, and a part of your failing forward journey. Marcos Andres Antil, CEO of XumaK, a provider of end-to-end services in the digital marketing and e-commerce space, has an inspiring story of resilience. Migrating as a child from a small town in Guatemala to the vast metropolis of Los Angeles, and having to learn English and integrate into a new education system were some of the first challenges he had to face and overcome. But it did pave the way for his success later in life. "Being resilient to different circumstances
42 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
and learning to be persistent and humble in the face of challenges has been the base for everything that I do," said Antil in an email. "Entering the field of computer science at the university -- without knowledge of programming, and then applying these acquired skills to create XumaK required will and persistence," he said. XumaK (an ancient Mayan word that means "to bloom") survived the brutal 2008 financial crisis with fewer than 20 employees, and now thrives with more than 150 employees implementing dozens of digital marketing solutions around the world.
"We continue evolving [while] following XumaK's true values -always going the extra mile, [and] always seeking excellence in all that we do," said Antil.
The opposite of a resilient mind Having a coping mechanism when facing hurdles or getting crushed is key to bouncing back. Wrong ways to cope with failure include "freezing in place" or "running around chaotically," says psychologist Steven Hayes, Nevada Foundation Professor in the behavior analysis program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Other behaviors shown to be
counterproductive include avoiding your emotions, harshly judging your thoughts, rehashing the past, fearfully anticipating the future, and acting impulsively. The right way to cope, says Hayes, is to accept your thoughts and feelings and view them with curiosity. At the same time, think consciously about what you really care about in life, and how you want to be in the world. Then, says Hayes, organize your behavior around those values you've identified as near and dear to you. https://flipboard.com/@flipboard/whats-the-mindset-that-defines-themost/f-d693810305%2Finc.com
43 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Adarrius Joseph www.facebook.com/swift.bitness 45 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Call For Investors
"THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIPPI"
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he Aventures of Philippi is a unique and exciting action adventure comedy film written by first time independent film maker/comic actor, Toney Riley. You may remember Toney from the hit Fox television show ‘In Living Color.’ Toney, who was in the pilot series, is most remembered for the sketch “Get it your damn self!” He also appeared on the famous television show, ‘Soul Train’ and the HBO series ‘Dream On.’ Toney resides in Los Angeles, but has found himself spending more time in the Bay Area seeking locations and a film crew for his latest project, THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIPPI. This film will feature an all African American cast to tell the story based in the 16th century that magically teleports into present 21st century San Francisco. The main character Philippi Benjamin, is a village rouge and rebel that is named after the city of Philippi from the bible’s New Testament, “The Book of Philippians.” Summoned by the King to seek out his stolen family gold by one of the King’s former royal guards, Philippi has no option but to help his King who once spared his life. Philippi sets out on his new adventure and finds a young 10 year old boy along the way. Philippi and the boy create a beautiful father and son relationship through tackling all obstacles together. To experience the rest of the story one will have to see the film. I can assure you, you will be entertained! As you may already know, independent films have to raise their own money. Toney Riley has already secured an investor and is currently seeking other investors to help assist in beginning production. Toney has done his research and has noted the success in black films. The black community is very supportive of box office African American films. Toney and his team believe this film will do well on its return. Contact: Malijah Productions, Toney Riley, malijah2@hotmail.com. Toney Riley 46 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
BBA - Black Music Awards
BBA’s 2018 "Salute to Black Music" Honors Siedah Garrett By Gloria Zurveen, Editor-in-Chief
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he Black Business Association (BBA) held its annual 2018 Salute To Black Music Awards Dinner in recognition of Black Music Month on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at the California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles. It was a night to celebrate not only Juneteenth,
known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day which is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of
slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States, but it was also a night for the celebration of the “Business Behind the Music”, a creation of Earl “Skip” Cooper, II, the President and CEO of the BBA. For over 50 years, Cooper sole focus has been about the uplifting of African Americans in business. Siedah Garrett, the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient acknowledged Cooper for his work recognizing the business of music.” Cooper has always encouraged small business owners by procuring there services in a collaborative effort to help increase their bottom line. The idea of focusing on awarding those making it happened behind the scene are not always acknowledged and he has creatively found away to honor those who deserves such recognition. Cooper said, “The Business Behind the Music” serves to recognize African Americans who have made significant contribution to the world of music and entertainment.” He said, “It is always a good time to pay tribute to our heroes and legends, particularly as we continue to face extremely challenging times in our nation’s history. More than ever the BBA and our partners must gird ourselves in the righteousness of our beliefs, in the fight to realize the best vision of our future. Occasions such as this Award Dinner allow us to reflect and lift up our champions so that we do not forget all the sacrifices and strides that have been and continue to be made on our behalf.” Siedah, the Grammywinning and Academy Award nominated singer/ songwriter, who is a native of Los Angeles and who started her career at age 15 when she realized that she could make money in music after she surprisingly received a check for her work, has gone on to write songs for many others with famous names like Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. As a collaborator and band member of Jackson,
48 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Siedah is most famous for co-writing the King of Pop’s mega hit, “Man in the Mirror” from his charttoppin1987 album, “Bad”, and as his duet partner on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, that album’s first single. Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Siedah Garrett Honored with BBA’s 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Earth Wind & Fire, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Will.i.am, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Toto, Sheena Easton, Natalie Cole, Barry White, Pointer Sisters, Donna Summer, Di- onne Warwick, Patti Austin, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, have one thing in common, they are all artists who have recorded on Siedah’s songs. Siedah is also known for the classic duet she performed with ex-Temptation Dennis Edward, “Don’t Look Any Further” She was humbled by the BBA’s honor. She said in her closing remarks, “Quincy Jones taught me that whenever and wherever someone is willing to honor you for what you do. You show up and be grateful and I am.” Quincy Jones was the 2017 BBA Awards Dinner Honorary Chair. Special recognition
(l-r) Earl “Skip” Cooper II and Siedah Garrett Photo by Gloria Zuurveen
Photo by Gloria Zuurveen Zipporah Robinsona singing "Man in the Mirror" which was co-written by Siedah Garrett and made popular by The King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
awards were also presented to Valerie Ervin, President, Ray Charles Foundation; John Acosta, President, American Federation of Musicians Local 47 and Mike Davis, President Pro Tempore, City of Los Angeles, Board of Public Works Commissioners. Davis during his tenure in the California State Assembly, Commissioner Davis was Chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee as well as past member of the Select Committee on the Preservation of the Entertainment Industry. Entertainment for the evening was provided by Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Ellis Hall, “The Ambassador of Soul” and talented vocalist Zipporah Robinson, who is the 13-year-old 8th grade Honor Roll student from Oakland, CA and the great niece of Cooper. She wowed the audience with a rendition of “Man in the Mirror”. Kim Anthony-Morrow, National Director, Urban Philanthropy Institute, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening, transportation was provided by Norman Lewis Limousine, catering by Chef Marilyn’s and special thanks was given to Capitol Music Group and Motown Records for their support of the 2018 Salute To Black Music Awards Dinner in recognition of Black Music Month. For information about joining the BBA call (323) 2919334.
49 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
goafricaonline.com
picstopin.com
Business - Milestones
Dr. Patricia Harris Named President of American Medical Association By Joe Severino
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r. Patrice Harris is a Bluefield, WV native, a West Virginia University graduate, and she is now the first AfricanAmerican woman elected as president of the American Medical Association. Harris will become the 174th president of the AMA in June 2019, and is now serving as presidentelect. She practices psychiatry in Atlanta. She was inspired to go into the health profession for her love of children, her desire to help her community and, notably, by TV family physician Marcus Welby, from the show “Marcus Welby, M.D.” “I was inspired because Marcus Welby not only took an interest in his patients’ lives inside the exam room, but he also cared about their lives outside the exam room,” Harris said. “I recall some episodes where he was involved in community-wide issues and that inspired me. “I knew that physicians were well-respected members of the community,” Harris continued, “and therefore would have a platform to address broader community issues that affect patients’ health.” “The brain was just fascinating to me, and when I went to my thirdyear psychiatry clerkship I felt at home, and I then decided that I could merge my love for working with children and adolescents with psychiatry.” But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for her. She had her doubters when
she arrived at medical school. “At some points in my journey, there wasn’t as much encouragement, and in fact, some discouragement,” Harris said. “I recall early on I had been advised to perhaps go into nursing and not medicine. Dr. Patricia Harris painnewsnetwork.org Nursing is a very noble career and noble profession, but it that opioid prescriptions across wasn’t what I wanted to do. She graduated WVU’s medical the country have continued to drop school in 1992, and began practicing for the fifth year in a row, doctors and serving in organized medicine. across the country accessed She served on the American state prescription drug monitoring Psychiatric Association board programs at a 122% higher rate and was later named by the APA as than the previous year and the overdose-reversing medication a delegate to the AMA. Harris was elected to the AMA naloxone, or Narcan, is now highly board of trustees in June 2011, more accessible. In her vision for the AMA, Harris and has and will continue to chair the AMA’s opioid task force. She said she wants to improve the has also chaired the AMA Council education of up and coming medical on Legislation and co-chaired the professionals. With all the accolades and honors, Women Physicians Congress. As head of the opioids task force Harris said she is glad to have a and being from Southern West diverse background and hopes to Virginia, Harris has been able to apply it to her new position and see firsthand the challenges the future policies. “Every detour I have taken on area faces. But she also recognizes there are different fixes to the my journey I appreciate because I opioid epidemic in each area of the learn and have learned from every detour, every challenge, and I think country. “The solutions to this are local, its just all gone together to get me there is no one-size-fits-all solution to where I am today,” Harris said. that will work everywhere,” Harris www.wvgazettemail.com/news/wv-nativeto-become-first-black-woman-presidentsaid, “and so, what will work in West of-ama/article_302ba89a-a04a-5445-81bfVirginia may not work in Georgia.” f9cf99ddd9f8.html The task force reported May 31
51 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Edited by the BBN
Business - Technology/Fixing AI
Microsoft is Developing a Tool to Help Engineers Catch Bias in Algorithms By Kyle Wiggers
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icrosoft (www.microsoft.com) is developing a tool that can detect bias in artificial intelligence algorithms with the goal of helping businesses use AI without running the risk of discriminating against certain people. Rich Caruana, a senior researcher on the biasdetection tool at Microsoft, described it as a “dashboard” that engineers can apply to trained AI models. “Things like transparency, intelligibility, and explanation are new enough to the field that few of us have sufficient experience to know everything we should look for and all the ways that bias might lurk in our models,” he told MIT Technology Review. Bias in algorithms is an issue increasingly coming to the fore. At the Re-Work Deep Learning Summit in Boston this week, Gabriele Fariello, a Harvard instructor in machine learning and chief information officer at the University of Rhode Island, said that there are “significant … problems” in the AI field’s treatment of ethics and bias today. “There are real decisions being made in health care, in the judicial system, and elsewhere that affect your life directly,” he said. The list of algorithmic bias run amok seems to grow by the year. Northpointe’s Compas software, which uses machine learning to predict whether a defendant will commit future crimes, was found to judge black defendants more harshly than white defendants. Research from Boston University and Microsoft shows that the data sets used to teach AI programs contain sexist semantic connections, for example considering the word “programmer” closer to the word “man” than “woman.” And a study conducted by MIT’s Media Lab shows that facial recognition algorithms are up to 12% more likely to misidentify dark-skinned males than lightskinned males. “The most important thing companies can do right
now is educate their workforce so that they’re aware of the myriad ways in which bias can arise and manifest itself and create tools to make models easier to understand and bias easier to detect,” Caruana said. Microsoft isn’t the only one attempting to tamp down algorithmic bias. In May, Facebook announced Fairness Flow, which automatically
warns if an algorithm is making an unfair judgment about a person based on his or her race, gender, or age. Recent studies from IBM’s Watson and Cloud Platforms group have also focused on mitigating bias in AI models, specifically as it relates to facial detection. https://venturebeat.com/2018/05/25/microsoft-isdeveloping-a-tool-to-help-engineers-catch-bias-inalgorithms/
52 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
U
Price: $50 Plus $7 Shipping Within the USA www.amipnewsonline.org/store.html
nited States and Africa Relations: The Obama Presidency is a creative
chronicle and compilation of history between The United States of America and Africa, with a special focus on the Obama Administration’s eight-year engagement with the continent’s leaders and peoples. The narrative of this 300-plus-page book is primarily based on the 4 Pillars of the Administration’s strategy toward engagement with sub-Saharan Africa that was signed and issued by President Obama in June 2012 - Strengthen Democratic Institutions; Spur Economic Growth, Trade and Investment; Advance Peace and Security; and Promote Opportunity and Development. The book highlights key initiatives and US-Africa partnerships through important presidential and governmental statements, speeches, White House Fact Sheets, historic photographs, and follows the trajectory of bilateral and multilateral relations wherever it leads. The uniqueness of United States and Africa Relations: The Obama Presidency lies in its simplicity in sharing information on bilateral and multilateral relations intertwined with the Barack Obama historic presidency. It was jointly published in 2017 by AMIP News and The Africa Society. For inquiries call 1-202-460-3912 or 1-202-460-3906
BREAUX Capital (www.breauxcapital.com), is a financial savings and financial education company meant to improve the financial welfare of Generation Y’s and young Black entrepreneurs. The founders, three Morehouse graduates, believe the first step to financial wellness is through saving. BREAUX Capital offers an online automated savings platform, where users can decide how much money they would like to be set aside and allows members to build their savings over time. There are three tiers in the BREAUX community: BREAUX 20, BREAUX 50 and BREAUX 100 all of which gives members access to automated savings as well as access to the “wealth building forum.” The company creates a community for Black, male millennials with similar financial aspirations and provides them with a platform to connect with one another. Attend BreauxComing and TechGrove events and watch out for Little BREAUX.
www.breauxcapital.com p
Business - Technology Trends ti Watch
Mary Meeker’s 2018 Internet Trends Report: All the Slides, plus Analysis By Rani Molla
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t’s that time of year again, when Mary Meeker unloads her highly anticipated internet trends report for the Code Conference (https://events.recode.net/ events/code-conference-2018) crowd in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. This year, the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (www.kpcb.com) partner released 294 slides in rapid succession, covering everything from smartphone behavior in the U.S. to tech company competition in China.
Here are some takeaways: • 2017 was the first year in which smartphone unit shipments didn’t grow at all. As more of the world become smartphone owners, growth has been harder and harder to come by. The same goes for internet user growth, which rose 7% in 2017, down from 12% the year before. With more than half the world online, there are fewer people left to connect. • People, however, are still increasing the amount of time they spend online. U.S. adults spent 5.9 hours per day on digital media in 2017, up from 5.6 hours the year before. Some 3.3 of those hours were spent on mobile, which is responsible for overall growth in digital media consumption. • Despite the high-profile releases of $1,000 iPhones and Samsung Galaxy Notes, the global average selling price of smartphones is continuing to decline. Lower costs help drive smartphone adoption in lessdeveloped markets. • Mobile payments are becoming easier to complete. China continues to lead the rest of the world in mobile payment adoption, with over 500 million active mobile payment users in 2017.
consumer experiences and violating consumer privacy. • Tech companies are becoming a larger part of U.S. business. In April, they accounted for 25% of U.S. market capitalization. They are also responsible for a growing share of corporate R&D and capital spending. • E-commerce sales growth is continuing to accelerate. It grew 16% in the U.S. in 2017, up from 14% in 2016. Amazon is taking a bigger share of those sales at 28% last year. Conversely, physical retail sales are continuing to decline. • Big tech is competing on more fronts. Google is expanding from an ads platform to a commerce platform via Google Home Ordering. Meanwhile, e-commerce giant Amazon is moving into advertising.
• Voice-controlled products like Amazon Echo are taking off. The Echo’s installed base in the U.S. grew from 20 million in the third quarter of 2017 to more than 30 million in the fourth quarter.
• People are spending more on health care, meaning they might have to be more focused on value. Meeker asks: “Will market forces finally come to health care and drive prices lower for consumers?” Expect health care companies to offer more modern retail experiences, with convenient offices, digitized transactions and on-demand pharmacy services.
• Tech companies are facing a “privacy paradox.” They’re caught between using data to provide better
• The speed of technological disruption is accelerating. It took about 80 years for Americans
54 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
to adopt the dishwasher. The consumer internet became commonplace in less than a decade. • Expect technology to also disrupt the way we work. Just as Americans moved from agriculture to services in the 1900s, employment types will again be in flux. This time, expect more on-demand and internet-related jobs to predominate. • Internet leaders like Google and Amazon will offer more artificial intelligence service platforms as AI becomes a bigger part of enterprise spending. • China is catching up as a hub to the world’s biggest internet companies. Currently, China is home to nine of the world’s 20 biggest internet companies by market cap while the U.S. has 11. Five years ago, China had two and the U.S. had nine. • Immigration remains important for U.S. tech companies. More than half of the most highly valued tech companies in the U.S. are founded by first- or second-generation immigrants. Uber, Tesla, WeWork and Wish all have first-generation founders.
Here are all the slides: The Black Business News suggests that owners and workers review the points shown here and view 'all' of the slides at the address shown below. Why? The few items shown in this article should have let you know that the economic world is changing and changing rapidly. If you are the buiness owner this forecast and analysis can aid you as you work to continue being successful in business (more people shopping via the Internet for instance). If you are a "worker" you may better organize and enhance your skill set as you go out to find your next job or offer to help the company you work for continue to thrive. www.recode.net/2018/5/30/17385116/mary-meeker-slidesinternet-trends-code-conference-2018
55 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - RPC Annual Convention
Rainbow PUSH 47th Annual International Convention
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he Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) in conjunction with the Citizenship Education Fund presented its 47th Annual International Convention, titled "Make America Fair and Equal: 2018 Global Agenda". This year’s convention featured Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (https://eji.org). The Convention held June 13-16th, primarily at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, convened prominent leaders and voices across generations for meaningful discussion and to push forward a new global agenda and a plan to attract African American investors to Africa. “We are convening at a dangerous yet hopeful time for the country and the world,” says Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Founder & President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. RPC also hosted its Annual Rev. Clay Evans Gospel Concert. The Concert was held on Wednesday, June 13th at Apostolic Faith Church, located at 3823 S. Indiana Ave. Grammy award-winning artist, BeBe Winans, headlined the Concert joined by famed gospel singer, Kim Stratton; mass choir director, Darius Brooks; Sr. Pastor, Fellowship Chicago, Rev. Charles Jenkins; and classical artist, Audrey DuBois-Harris. Other featured artists included Elder Eric Thomas, Rev. Ray Berryhill, Maurice Mahon, Christopher Hodges, GMAC, and the LDR Traditional Choir. The event was co-hosted by singer, political commentator, and television show host, Santita Jackson and pastor, gospel artist, and radio personality, DeAndre Patterson. The Convention zeroed in on key topics such as urban reconstruction, supplier diversity, equity in the private sector, work justice, global business, and voter rights and registration. The Convention also featured a Construction Summit, Business Breakfast, Healthcare Breakfast, Women in Business & Leadership Luncheon, Clergy Luncheon, Labor Achievement Dinner, Education & Sports Gala, RPC Breakfast & Rally, and RPC Love Fest & Family Reunion. Key individuals that attended this year’s events included civil rights legend, Rev. Al Sharpton, actor and activist, Danny Glover, Judge Greg Mathis, and Clayola Brown. A Millennial election training on voting and a forum
AGCC is honored to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) with the Progressive Business Forum South Africa during the 47th Annual International Convention hosted by the Rainbow PUSH Coaliation and the Citizenship Education Fund. The goal of this collaboration is to strengthen trade and investment relations between USA and South African business people. As the first step in actualizing this MOC, the two organizations have agreed to have USA investors travel to South Africa in March 2019 led by the Africa Global Chamber of Commerce (info@ africangcc.org). The details about the trade mission will be provided very soon!!!
Mr. Olivier Kamanzi, Co-Founder, President/CEO of AGCC and Mr. Daryl Swanepoel, Convener, ANC Progressive Business Forum, South Africa sign MOC.
on Global Politics for students & young adults (GOTV Project) were held ending with an outdoor (50th & Drexel) the Family Reunion Concert and voter registration drive featuring Marshall Thompson and the Chi-Lites and others. For additional information, contact Deborah O. Farmer at deboraho@brownfarmermedia.com or 1-773.310.7701 or Chinta Strausberg at cstrausberg@ rainbowpush.org or 1-312-371-7730 or Alanna Ford at aford@rainbowpush.org or 1-773-575-1945.
56 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
www.rainbowpush.org
Opinion
Sorry, White People: Black Women are not Trying to Save You By Amari Pollard
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hen Stacey Abrams became the first black woman to win a major party gubernatorial nomination in Georgia on Tuesday, it was a sign of things to come. There are 603 black women candidates running in 2018 (http://database. blackwomeninpolitics.com), and while it's impossible to say whether that's a record, it certainly feels like one. In 2018, it's clear that black women are done being ignored and they’re done looking to save White America come election time. They're looking to save themselves. In the special elections following President Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential contest, black voters have repeatedly delivered for the Democrats, crushing turnout numbers in Virginia and, most notably, Alabama. As a result, liberals across the country have sung their praises, thanking black women for delivering them from further Republican dominance.
"Let me be clear: We won in Alabama and Virginia because #BlackWomen led us to victory," Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez tweeted after Democrats upset the GOP in Alabama. Yet black women's turnout this year was really no surprise. Long the foundation of the Democratic Party, black women routinely vote at the highest rate of any gender or racial subgroup in the American electorate. During the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, for example, 95% of black women turned in ballots for Barack Obama. In 2012, more than 70% of black women voted, outvoting black men (61.4%), white men (62.6%), and white women (65.6%) by large margins. And while their raw turnout numbers may have dipped slightly in 2016, they still overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party by giving 95% of their votes to Hillary Clinton. In fact, since President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law in 1964, black
58 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Americans have never given Democrats less than 80 % of their vote. But what has come of this unwavering support? Underrepresentation and presumptions. At 7.3 percent of the U.S. population, black women amount to less than 5 percent of officeholders in Congress. That underrepresentation also belies an even worse situation both up and down the ballot. Only five mayors of the nation's 100 most populous cities are black women, just 12 black women have ever held statewide elected executive offices, zero black women have ever been elected governor, and there’s only one black woman in the Senate. This underrepresentation has resulted in policy choices that routinely fail black women. As my colleague Ryan Cooper pointed out, Democrats' thanks has simply not translated into actual policy, even this year. The black community, especially black women, continue to be disproportionately affected by poor access to health care — just look up how many black mothers die during childbirth compared to white mothers — police violence, sexual violence, and an educational system in which they receive excessive discipline. Yet when the polls close and the politicians head to D.C., policies to address these crises always seem to be sidelined for fear of alienating white voters. Even Alabama's new Democratic Sen. Doug Jones
was last spotted helping to roll back regulations aimed at preventing racial discrimination in real estate. This is why black women are taking matters into her own hands this year. Before her groundbreaking victory in the Georgia primary, Stacey Abrams persistently spoke of expanding Medicaid, addressing Georgia’s extreme birth mortality rate, reforming the criminal justice system, and fully funding public education. And while that's not a novel platform for a Democrat, when she says it, you can tell she means to follow through. Abrams might be one of the more notable candidates for the midterm elections, but there are several other black female congressional candidates running in Mississippi, Florida, Colorado, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. They’re all perfectly viable options — intelligent and compassionate black women looking to change the political landscape. The pattern of policymakers wooing black voters, thanking the black community after they win, and then doing little to make their grievances a priority is not good enough. Black women deserve real support. That’s why they're coming for those seats in Congress. http://theweek.com/articles/753977/sorry-whitepeople-black-women-are-not-trying-save
44th President of the United States Barack H. Obama soraspy.com
59 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Running For Office
Fired up by Trump, Dozens of Obama Alums Run for Office
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ivil rights attorney Colin Allred left his job at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2017 deeply concerned about the incoming Trump administration. Back home in the Dallas-area district where he grew up, he decided to heed the words of the president he had served: If you're unhappy with your elected officials, run for office yourself. Allred, w h o launched his bid to challenge Republican Rep. Pete Sessions in April 2017, is one of at least 64 of President B a r a c k Colin Allred © Provided by NBCU News Group, a division of NBCUniversal Media LLC Obama's f o r m e r staffers running for federal, state, llor local elective office this year, according to the Obama Alumni Association (www.obamaalumniassociation.org), a group run by former members of his two administrations. More could announce bids in the coming weeks as filing deadlines for candidates near in states that have yet to hold their primaries. The group also expects the tally to grow as more Obama-affiliated candidates get in touch to add their name to the list.
Some are running for city council, others for governor. At least 28 are running for the House of Representatives, including Allred in Texas' 32nd Congressional District. He won a primary run-off last week, defeating another Obama alum, Lillian Salerno. (Four other alums have won their House primaries so far, while one other has lost.) The groundswell of Democratic candidates with ties to the former president — channeling their former boss's demeanor and politics, tapping into an extensive alumni network for fundraising and volunteers, and levying significant political muscle ahead of the 2018 midterm elections — could fill state and federal legislatures with likeminded allies, many of whom are young or diverse or both. Many Obama alums are fired up to push back against President Donald Trump, a figure who rose to political prominence with racially-charged accusations about Obama's citizenship. "Looking back on last year, it was the effort to take down the Affordable Care Act with no viable replacement. It was the Muslim ban, and attacks on immigrants, it was the tearing up of alliances and commitments internationally. It was the taking down of environmental protections, it was refusing to invest in infrastructure as Trump had promised," said Tom Malinowski, 52, the former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor now running for Congress in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. "And the silence and active complicity of Republicans, particularly in the House of Republicans," he added. Malinowski decided that flipping control of the House of Representatives would help right the course of the nation. If he wins the Democratic primary on June 5, he'll attempt to unseat Republican Rep. Leonard Lance. Other alums felt as Allred did — personally inspired by Obama's farewell. "A lot of us Obama babies were inspired by the president's call to action when he retired," Ammar Campa-Najjar said. Campa-Najjar, 29, was a deputy regional field director for southern California on Obama's 2012 campaign before moving to Washington for stints at the White
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for Lieutenant Governor before she successfully ran for state party chair. "I think about him every single day." If she wins her June 5 primary and is elected in November, Haaland, 57, would the country's first Native American congresswoman. Ties to Obama's network come with political perks, as well. Haaland was endorsed by top Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, and Allred was endorsed by his former boss at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Julián Castro. Former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Elissa Slotkin, an Obama alum now running to represent Michigan's 8th Congressional District. The Obama Alumni Association
Ammar Campa-Najjar © Provided by NBCU News Group, a division of NBCUniversal Media LLC
House and Department of Labor. He's now a candidate in California's 50th Congressional District, which will have its primary on June 5, as well. Many of his volunteers previously volunteered for Obama, and he met his now-field director when she was an intern on Obama's re-election campaign. "I kind of inherited the enthusiasm that Obama created in my area in 2012 and 2008," he told NBC News. Deb Haaland, a Democrat running to represent New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, credits Obama with helping her find the courage to run. She was his New Mexico Native American vote director in 2012 and a full-time volunteer in 2008. Many of her volunteers date back to those campaigns, and her office is still decorated with old Obama signs, she said. "I feel like if I hadn't worked for the president, I would never have had the courage or the wherewithal to run," she said, recounting an unsuccessful 2014 bid
Deb Haaland © Provided by NBCU News Group, a division of NBCUniversal Media LLC
offers resources to members looking to run, helping candidates tap a network of more than 15,000 alums from the former president's administration and Senate and White House campaigns for fundraising and volunteers. While the candidates interviewed by NBC News expressed differences from Obama, all said they were guided by the former president's values or political style. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/politics/fired-upby-trump-dozens-of-obama-alums-run-for-office/arAAxRHvW
61 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
From: NAACP It’s a day for celebration. Ruling on an NAACP-filed lawsuit, a federal court in Washington, D.C. rejected the Trump Administration’s bid to terminate the DACA program. Federal Judge John Bates said the decision by the Trump administration to rescind DACA was “virtually unexplained” and as such “unlawful.” He granted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 90 days to provide a legally sufficient explanation, and, if they fail to do so, DHS will be required to maintain the program. Judge Bates’ ruling marks the first time that any court has reached a decision that may enable new enrollees to participate in DACA since it was terminated. Our lawsuit was filed last fall against President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, DHS Secretary Elaine Duke, and several departments within the administration. Two of the nation’s largest unions – the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) – as well as Princeton University and Microsoft Corporation joined us in this fight to defend people of color eligible for the DACA program. This administration attempted to renege on a promise that our nation made to undocumented young immigrants. The NAACP has protected that promise and seen justice prevail. Sign up to stay informed about the legal battles to protect our lives, our rights, and our future. In Solidarity, Derrick Johnson NAACP President & CEO www.naacp.org
63 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Technology Technology:
Take A Look! by LaSandra Stratton
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heck out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.
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Service May Benefit Business Travelers
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yft (www.lyft.com) recently announced it was rolling out a waitlist for its new subscription service. If you get an email from them, you're eligible to request an All-Access Plan that benefits frequent riders and business that fit their needs. There’s also no commitment on your behalf. This is a free tool to help you take care of your guests.
Find The Best Travel Deals
kyscanner.com compares millions of flights to find you the cheapest deal, fast. We also compare and find the cheapest hotels and car rental for your next trip. Skyscanner is free! - When you find your flights and click to book,
we link you through directly to the airline or travel agent. No hidden charges, no added fees. So you get the best deals every time! We’re on Facebook - Join us on Facebook and Twitter for travel chat, hot deals and giveaways. Get travel tips & cheap flights sent to you! - Sign up now for our weekly newsletter to get flight deals, travel tips and inspiration sent to you. www.skyscanner.com/
Lyft's Subscription
travelers who are constantly pulling up the app. Here's the math: For $200 up front (and every month after), you get 30 free rides up to $15 each. You pay the difference and full fares after that, but the discount helps you save about $250 each month (you can cancel anytime—it's not an annual fee). Now that Lyft is in more than 350 cities, this has the potential to change the way business travelers hitch a ride for good. www.lyft.com/business
AirBnb for Events
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irBnb has launched a booking tool especially for event planners. With Airbnb for Events (www.airbnb.com/events), people attending your event will have a broad range of options—from workfriendly to fun and funky. With more than 4 million listings in over 65,000 cities, Airbnb has you covered. There’s no cost to you, Airbnb for Events helps you connect your guests to great accommodations
How it works 1)Tell us a little bit about your event—what, when, and where. 2) We’ll use the info you provide to create a custom event page and an embeddable Airbnb widget for your website. 3) Share your event page or embed the Airbnb widget right on your website to help people attending your event find a place to stay. For more information or to ask questions, email us at myevent@ airbnb.com, we’re excited to hear from you.
WhatApps Offers New Group Chat Features
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essaging service WhatsApp (www.whatsapp.com) has rolled out new group-chat features, including more controls for administrators as well as regular group members. Users can now leave a group permanently to avoid being repeatedly added back after they have left, Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp said in a blog post. Administrators can no longer be removed from a group they created and users can now quickly locate messages that mention them in a
64 July 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
group conversation. Groups on WhatsApp have taken a central role in the messaging service that has more than 1 billion users, helping connect people with similar interests across the globe. Keep in touch with the groups of people that matter the most, like your family or coworkers. With group chats, you can share messages, photos, and videos with up to 256 people at once. You can also name your group, mute or customize notifications, and more. WhatsApp Business is an Android app which is free to download, and was built with the small business owner in mind. With the app, businesses can interact with customers easily by using tools to automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages. Speak Freely suppots voice calls, you can talk to your friends and family for free*, even if they're in another country. And with free* video calls, you can have face-toface conversations for when voice or text just isn't enough. WhatsApp voice and video calls use your phone's Internet connection, instead of your cell plan's voice minutes, so you don't have to worry
about expensive calling charges. Photos and Videos lets you send photos and videos on WhatsApp instantly. You can even capture the moments that matter to you most with a built-in camera. With WhatsApp, photos and videos send
quickly even if you're on a slow connection.
Fin, an On Demand Assistant
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in (www.fin.com) mixes the best of human and machine intelligence to give you an entire team of assistants that feels like a single person. Learns and remembers your
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ntrepreneur (www.entrepreneur. com) offers a four-session primer to help ecommerce website operators increase sales exponentially. For the first video in the weekly series $0 to $1,000 ( w w w. e n t r e p r e n e u r. c o m / t o p i c / 0 to-1-000), ecommerce expert Trevor
Chapman chats about the type of site you need, the basics you must have before you launch and how to use email the right way to build an ecommerce business that could make you millions. www.entrepreneur.com/topic/0to-1-000
preferences - Like the best EA, Fin remembers people you interact with and integrates with your email and calendar. Automate workflows with humans in the loop - Fin keeps track of recurring tasks, important dates, and gets things done for you. Pay only for what you use - Fin is available 24x7x365 and seamlessly scales up (or down) based on your needs. A team of assistants at your fingertips - Fin can do things like make phone calls, remember logins, or send emails for you. Zero management overhead - Don’t spend time recruiting, training, and managing people. Let Fin do that. Clarify Preferences - Fin asks you clarifying questions if needed and remembers your responses for the future. www.fin.com
"$0 to $1,000 In A Day" Video Series
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Manage Your Libraries
ibraryThing (www.librarything. com) offers powerful tools for cataloging and tracking your books, music, AND movies, with access to the Library of Congress, six national Amazon sites, and more than 2,200 libraries worldwide. Edit your information, search and sort it, "tag" books with your own subjects, and use various classification systems to organize your collection. Use the LibraryThing iOS App to scan books to your library from the palm of your hand. LibraryThing is also a great social networking space. You can check out other peoples' libraries, see whose library is most similar to yours, swap reading suggestions, and more. Sign up to win free books through our Early Reviewers and Member Giveaways programs. Or, find the best book recommendations for your next reads, based on the collective intelligence of the other libraries.
65 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Technology Meets History
TONL Co-founder Karen Okonkwo is Revolutionizing Stock Photography with Color and Culture By Mekishana Pierre
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e've all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what are those pictures really worth when they only show the same type of people, over and over? When we think of stock photography, we often think bland (and often ridiculously staged) images that are meant to depict everyday life. They're supposed to be relatable. Everyone is supposed to be able to see themselves carrying out the ordinary tasks portrayed. But the fact remains that stock images are overwhelmingly white in a world that's definitely not. And in our society, the media's lack of positive representation of people of color is not only frustrating, but it can also be dangerous. It was that realization that spurred the launch of TONL (https://tonl. co) in August 2017. As stated on its website, TONL's mission is to "transform the idea of stock photography by displaying images of diverse people and their stories around the world." That's obvious once you take a look through any of the seven collections available to those with a subscription; models of all ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, body types, sexual orientations, genders, and ages are featured in various stunning shoots. It's completely different from other established stock photography companies, and it's breathing new life into the industry. Co-Founder Karen Okonkwo, a 29-year-old Seattle-based
"serial entrepreneur," was struck by the problem of diversity in the stock photography business while working on one of her earlier projects. As a creator of content being seen by people with various backgrounds, she realized that she wasn't able to present any sort of diversity in her work because it was such a struggle to find images that showcased it. So, Okonkwo joined forces with Joshua Kissi (http://streetetiquette.com), a New York-based photographer and the co-founder of the creative agency Street Etiquette. Once they found the right timing and decided to launch TONL together, it was full steam ahead. I was able to chat with Okonkwo
via video call, and the passion and conviction she spoke with made it easy to see how she was able to take such a straightforward idea and turn it into a revolutionary enterprise. Here, interwoven with images from TONL's diverse collections, Okonkwo reveals the inspiring story behind the birth of TONL, why it almost never happened, and what kind of legacy she hopes to leave behind (www.popsugar. com/career/photo-gallery/44504677/ image/44513048/Mekishana-PierreHow-did-you-first-get-entrepreneurial).
www.popsugar.com/career/ TONL-Cofounder-KarenOkonkwo-POPSUGAR-InterviewFeb-2018-44504677
66 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Start Up Series
5 Early Signs Your Startup Will Succeed By Miles Jennings
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f you’ve managed to get through the earliest phases of startup, and definitely don’t show signs of failing anytime soon, you still may wonder, “but are we on our way?” While we agree with Mark Cuban that it’s always important to visualize the competition right on your heels, it’s also important to be grounded in reality and recognize signs of success for what they are, and to double down on the strategies that produced that success. In this article, we’ll examine five signs your startup is well on the way to long-term success.
marketplace guide you.
2. Consumers found you first. We often hear about new products and services from our friends, and they may even take the time to send us stories and links, or stand next to us as we download an app they can’t stop talking about. The recommendation often comes with a guided tour. If you got a lot of early traction from your users, not just from an excited press, that’s an excellent sign of marketplace validation. The
Vasyl Dolmatov | Getty Images
1. Clear strategy. A lot of people rewrite histories of companies based on hindsight bias -- we can’t avoid what we know in the present tense. Often a “genius idea” was not exactly that in the first place. Most people know Uber as the app that allows you to summon a ride at a push of a button, but the very first iteration of the company was as just another black car service in San Francisco, with a technology twist called UberCab. Airbnb is taken for granted as an idea now -- why not sell unused short-term “inventory” like spare rooms -- but the original idea is still preserved in its name: Airbed and Breakfast. Today very few Airbnb users expect either air mattresses or breakfasts to be part of their experience -- and haven’t for years. Airbnb took that early feedback to iterate and pivot to what made sense, not what their “original idea” was. This takes vision, but it also takes humility. Let the wisdom of the
marketplace doesn’t always know what it wants, but it knows what it likes when it sees it, and social media makes the spreading of good ideas and companies easier every day. Part of any successful launch is consistently thinking in the frame of the end user and getting your product or service into their world as quickly as possible.
3. Positive cash flow. Shows like Shark Tank and Planet of the Apps have introduced terms like “burn rate” into the popular vernacular, yet on those same shows a low burn rate is always second fiddle to profitability. Indeed, Cuban and Daymond John have often said on Shark Tank that “sales cure all.” If you’ve found an early solution to the old problem of spending less than you take in, you’re in the position to grow responsibly from a position of strength instead of irresponsibly from a position of
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desperation. Don’t allow the distortion field of recent startup strategy -- acquire users now, worry about profitability later -- take away from the mathematics of tried-and-true business.
4. Great team in place. High turnover is a sure sign that your company is in trouble. Which is why its opposite, great retention, in part due to having the right people in the right positions, is a sign that your company is thriving. Engaged employees don’t leave companies, and that engagement and excitement is contagious, especially in early days. That engagement is fed and nourished by transparency and communication, not just in the message-based tech tools you use on a daily basis, but by regularly meeting with all the members of your team. Share your victories, and be honest about defeats, while continuing to ask and listen. Iteration is an external and an internal process. As your company grows and develops, so will the desires and ambitions of your team. Make sure that you’re paying at least as much attention to them as you are to your customers, if not more. If you don’t have the right team, you
Instagram Offering Long Form Video Content with IGTV By Kevin Systrom, Co-Founder & CEO
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nstagram has announced our most exciting feature to date: IGTV, a new app for watching longform, vertical video from your favorite Instagram creators. While there’s a stand-alone IGTV app, you’ll also be able to watch from within the Instagram app so the entire community of one billion can use it from the very start. IGTV is different in a few ways. First, it’s built for how you actually use your phone, so videos are full screen and vertical. Also, unlike on Instagram, videos aren’t limited to one minute. Instead, each video can be up to an hour long. We’ve made it simple, too. Just like turning on the TV, IGTV starts playing as soon as you open the app. You don’t have to search to start watching content from people you already follow on Instagram and others
won’t have the ability to get customers.
5. Focused on why. Thanks to people like Simon Sinek, asking about a company’s "why" is no longer reserved for the ivory tower of visionaries, but is a common question asked by everyone from VCs to customers standing in line, examining a label and reading a story about your firm. Anyone can engage in a "what," and many can help with "how," but it is those companies that clearly articulate their "why," and show that "why" through every level of the company, that capture the imagination of their clients and customers. An alignment of why also helps keep your team on track in the other signs discussed above. If there’s a clear why, a strategy naturally follows -- hopefully one aligned with profitability. While any one of these signs is a positive, if you are lacking in any of them, particularly in cash flow and your team, it’s important to make attaining superiority in those areas a high priority. Success builds on itself through intentionality. https://flipboard.com/@flipboard/-5-early-signs-yourstartup-will-succeed/f-2a01377a2d%2Fentrepreneur. com you might like based on your interests. You can swipe up to discover more — switch between “For You,” “Following,” “Popular” and “ C o n t i n u e Watching.” You can also like, comment and send videos to friends in Direct. Also like TV, IGTV has channels. But, in IGTV, the creators are the channels. When you follow a creator on Instagram, their IGTV channel will show up for you to watch. Anyone can be a creator — you can upload your own IGTV videos in the app or on the web to start your own channel. Instagram has always been a place to connect with the people who inspire, educate and entertain you every day. IGTV will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks on Android and iOS. You can learn more by visiting the Instagram Help Center (https://help. instagram.com/381435875695118). https://instagram-press.com/blog/2018/06/20/ welcome-to-igtv/
69 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
A
re you a Small Business interested in selling your product or services to Metro or to Prime Contractors that do business with Metro? Would you like to learn how to win contracts as a Prime Contractor through SB Prime, Metro's exciting set-aside initiative? If so, we invite you to come grow with us and learn about Metro Connect. Start now and register for a How to Do Business with Metro Workshop. Metro staff will show you how to take advantage of the vast array of products, services and transportation related opportunities projected over the coming weeks, months and year. As an added bonus, Metro's procurement staff will host informal interviews with firms before the workshop, starting at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 2018 8:30 a.m.: Registration 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. One-on-One with Contract Administrators and Continental Breakfast 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Program
Metro Headquarters 3rd Floor, Board Room, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Topics: Highway Project Update, Procurement Update, Certification Update, Small Business Prime Update, LA SAFE/511 Next Generation Update To learn more about how Metro Connect's Small and Disadvantaged Business Certifications can help open the door to contracting opportunities with Metro visit Metro Vendor Portal. For further questions, please contact Marisela Villar at VillarM@metro.net or via phone at 213.922.2235.
Business Publisher's Message from page 3
business owners. Annually, the BBA highlights the contributions and successes of Blacks in the music industry. This annual salute mirrors the Juneteenth celebration in our need to never forget the struggle that our forefathers endured that has resulted in the prosperity of the descendants of slave owners, and along with the Civil Rights Movement, Blacks and others working collectively together to end the Jim Crow system, voting rights and making discrimination because of one’s ethnicity illegal. This year’s “Salute to Black Music” was held on June 19th, a.k.a. Juneteenth, to continue our celebration and to never forget
the struggle, our music, and the sweet sound of the accomplishments and successes we as Black people have achieved in the music industry. Salutes like this provide us the opportunity to honor our champions; and among the hall of fame of Black music greats, is Siedah Garret, who was presented with the BBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Read Siedah's story in the article on the "Salute to Black Music" on page 48
The world will be celebrating the life and legacy of N Nelson Mandela in July and a throughout 2018. From F comrade to leader, prisoner p to negotiator, h head statesmen to global p peace champion, this July 18th 1 sees us celebrating what w would have been Mandela's M 100th birthday, an a extraordinary milestone for f South Africa and the world. Mandela Day is w a global call to action, with w the realization that every e individual has the power p to make a positive difference. The Centenary d celebrations c aim to commemorate c Madiba's universal u message of forgiveness f and the ethos of o Ubuntu, which he helped cultivate. h On page 15 you will find an announcement f regarding r celebrating Mandela Day. Please seek M o and participate in the out
global call to action in your own neighborhood. For more insight into the life and work of Nelson Mandela, please take a look at the BBN's Commemorative publication on Mr. Mandela at https://issuu. com/blackbusinessnews/docs/ mandelacommemorative. As the Publisher of Black Business News, and President & CEO of the Black Business Association, I have witnessed in my lifetime the many opportunities that have been created for Blacks to continue to move towards sustainable economic empowerment, and will continue to promote and advocate for procurement and contracting opportunities for Black-owned businesses. We have much work to do, especially in the area of access to capital to grow our businesses and create employment opportunities for us and the future generations coming behind us. Thank you for your continued support of Black Business News. Let us continue to lift every voice and sing the music of supporting each other, working together to bring about stronger families, communities, and businesses.
77 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
www.bbala.org
80 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Travel Alert! by Barbara Scofidio
Welcome to More.
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ew TSA rules mean tougher scrutiny and possibly more time at the X-ray machine. Here’s what to look out for. Powders Starting June 30, the TSA began limiting the amount of powders in carry-on bags of travelers entering the U.S. on international flights. The definition of “powders” includes everything from makeup to protein shakes or meal replacements, even spices. Passengers are restricted to only 12 ounces per carry-on, or the equivalent of the contents of an average soda can. This policy was the result of a failed plot to blow up an Etihad plane in Australia using a device filled with explosive powder. Clutter Travelers may now also be asked to separate items from carry-on bags that can obscure clear X-ray images, such as power cords for electronic devices. according to Washington’s Top News. Electronics Travelers must place all personal electronics larger than a cell phone in bins, from tablets to e-readers to handheld game consoles. No items are allowed on top of or below the personal electronics to allow for clear screening.
Open the door to a hotel you don’t just visit. You own it. Choice Hotels® is committed to achieving more diversity in hospitality with exclusive incentive programs designed to reduce up front costs and provide more support to minority hotel developers. And our commitment doesn’t stop there. Choice Hotels promotes and pursues diversity at all levels, ranging from our workforce to our hotel guests, from our suppliers to entrepreneurs looking to create wealth. Like you. Open the door to hotel ownership opportunities with Choice Hotels. Because you’re not in business for less. You’re in it for more. www.choicehotelsdevelopment.com/#&panel1-2
Snack Bags Though it’s not policy, the practice of removing everything from salty snacks to homemade food items from carry-on luggage—or having to open the bags to show the contents— appears to be moving rapidly into the territory of de-facto protocol, according to a recent article in the Washington Post. https://prevuemeetings.com/resources/ news/industry-news/skip-the-snacks-newtsa-rules-will-make-harder-attendees/?utm_ source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=extra&utm_campaign=prevue-extra-jul-032018&utm_content=Head
82 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
FOR
Father's Day
OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION
Community/Public Interest
Michelle Obama Has New Book Coming Out in November By Claudia Fisher
former First Lady Michelle Obama © Ryan Emberley/Getty Images
M
ichelle Obama (www.instagram.com/ michelleobama/?utm_source=ig_embed) is giving us an inside look into her private life with beautiful photos from her new book. A few days ago, Michelle Obama shared a photo from her upcoming memoir, "Becoming," to her over 20 million Instagram followers. The former first lady explained that over the following days, she would be posting pictures and memories from the new book, giving the public inside glimpses at her private life and upbringing. Obama's most recent share is of the anticipated book's cover, which was shot by celebrity portrait photographer Miller Mobley. In the glamorous portrait, the 54-year-old wears a white shirt that hangs off one of her shoulders, which is notable considering the criticism she received during her time in the White House about her sleeveless dresses and how they showed off her arms. It's a confident pose and a statement to these critics that she's either not listening or she doesn't care what they have to say about her appearance. Her photos emphasize the importance she places on things like family, partnership in her marriage, hard work, honesty, and believing in yourself through difficult situations. After growing up on the South Side of Chicago,
Obama encountered new challenges as a firstgeneration African American college student joining a predominately white, affluent Princeton class. The photos she shared this week, along with her captions, give us a peak at the inspirational stories and life lessons we'll most likely encounter in her new book. Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming," is set for release on November 13, 2018, but you can preorder copies now (https://becomingmichelleobama.com) on sites like Amazon (from $14.99), Target ($22.75 in hardcover), and Barnes & Noble (from $14.99). http://thesource.com/2018/03/20/roc-nationannounces-investment-in-anti-incarceration-program/
86 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
At 87, this Baltimore Inventor has 250 Patents to his Name — and He's Still at it By Brittany Britto
B
efore becoming a lauded inventor of one of the most pivotal technological devices of our time, James "Jim" E. West said, his journey started simply — with curiosity. Gadgets with screws or nuts — including his grandfather's pocket watch — were often endangered because West wanted to learn their inner workings, and with pliers or screwdriver in hand, he would take them apart. If it was broken, "it was mine to do whatever I wanted with it," said West, an acoustician and professor of engineering at the Johns Hopkins University. "Curiosity has always been my motivation." Today, the curiosity of the 87-year-old award-winning inventor, with more than 250 patents to his name, remains as fervent as ever, but instead of breaking things, West said, he is dedicated to fixing them and inventing technology that makes human life better, while also ensuring that STEM industries represent our diverse world. The National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee, who lives in Fells Point, got his start at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J., where he and his then-business partner, Gerhard M. Sessler, created and patented the foil-electret microphone in 1962. The device, which took around four years to create, is now in 90% of devices that feature microphones, including hearing aids, baby monitors, audio recording devices, and a majority of smartphones and telephones. But West, who is African-American, said growing up with hopes of being a scientist wasn't easy. There weren't many black men or women to whom he could look as role models. The disparities still exist today, he said. According to the National Science Foundation's
Professor James "Jim" E. West engineering.jhu.edu
Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, about 7% of employed scientists and engineers in the U.S. were black or African-American in 2015, compared to about 13% of the population reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2015. "There's a fundamental problem in this country that many of us are very concerned about, and there is concrete proof that diversity in STEM and science is really important," West said. In fact, a 2014 Harvard University study found that research papers written by diverse groups were published in "higher-impact journals" and received more citations than those written by people of the same ethnic group, leading the study's researchers to infer that diversity often "leads to greater contributions to science." "My main interest is to teach the importance of STEM to our youth, because that's the only way it's going to change," said West. "We all know that role models are the real reason we do anything." Growing up in Farmville, Va., West's parents raised him in hopes he'd become a doctor. When he showed a preference for the physical sciences over biology, it made his father uneasy, he said. "At the time, the only opportunities for black people were a preacher, teacher, lawyer or a doctor. If you weren't one of those, forget it," West said. "It's very understandable that my father thought I was going the long route to working in the post office." But after graduating from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1957 with a degree in physics, West fielded multiple job offers and chose Bell Labs because of the company's diversity, a rarity in the field. "I met people who looked like me, who I wanted to be
87 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
like when I grew up," he said. There, he worked his way from technical aide to a high-ranking Bell Labs Fellow. When he and Sessler created the electret microphone it was assumed that the partners would quit their jobs and create a business mass-producing the microphones for companies around the world, but West wasn't interested. "Why would we go off and make microphones, when we're like a 12-year-old kid in a sandbox with every toy he could ever imagine to play with?" West remembers thinking. By the late 1960s, the microphone was in mass production, with companies like Sony on board. "I wanted to keep doing what I was doing. ... I've never done anything for money. I do what I love to do." Decades later, West's 31-year-old daughter, Ellington, wants to make sure he doesn't miss that opportunity again. West went on in 2001 to become a professor and faculty member at Johns Hopkins, where he leads research and assists students and other scientists in major projects, including a digital stethoscope that will help detect a diseased lung within 10 seconds. "When he was telling me about the programmable digital stethoscope, I thought, 'This is amazing. ... We cannot repeat what happened the first time,' " Ellington West said. She urged her father: "Take this to market and do something with it." She's now the CEO of Sonavi Labs (www.sonavilabs. com), which helped design and patent the stethoscope.
They plan to put the device on the market in August and develop additional medical products. The device will alert the user about whether further testing is needed with a red or green light, which would be especially helpful in developing countries, where accessing a doctor can be difficult and diseases like pneumonia — a leading cause of death of children under the age of 5 — are more common. "If we can reduce the number of deaths by 50%, that's around a half-million people, and that means something to me," West said. (UNICEF reported that 880,000 children under the age of 5 died of pneumonia in 2016.) Young people have long been a focus for the award-winning inventor, who serves on the board of directors for The Ingenuity Project, a nonprofit that offers courses and real-world research opportunities in labs for local middle and high school students. He also assists with Camp Invention, a summer program
that encourages interest in STEM among children in kindergarten through sixth grade. "I'm like Lebron James when I walk in," he said with a laugh. "I get this feeling from the kids, because they are really excited about technology, excited about meeting people who are making a change, and they want to know how and why." Lisette Morris, executive director of the Ingenuity Project, said that West has helped expand the number of students served and diversity within the program. "He's found a lot of talent that doesn't always meet traditional standards, so we've been really pushed with his thinking on that," she said. He's also well liked among his students, according to Hopkins graduate research assistant Ian McLane, 24. "He's not going to tell us how to approach the problem. ... We're offered the freedom to do it," said McLane, who has worked with West for more than six years. "That's one of the reasons I stayed on with him as a graduate student. ... He gives me a lot of space, and I'll come back two weeks later, and hopefully I have the answers." McLane, who is gay, said he has also seen West's devotion to engaging underrepresented groups in STEM spill over into their lab, which is composed of a diverse cohort that also mentors visiting students of color from the city. It's West's hope to foster longlasting relationships with the children, so that they can confidently pursue and stay in STEM, McLane said. "He's a champion for diversity, and he's trying to lead by example," McLane said. West's daughter calls him a "Black Panther type" with a quiet and unassuming eloquence. "He's like this social justice renegade. He's allowed in these places where they think he has this complacent attitude," she said, but he shakes things up. Ilene Busch-Vishniac, 63, an engineering consultant and former dean of Hopkins' engineering school who later became West's mentor, said witnessing West's accomplishments has been a marvelous experience. "I've never met someone who has better physical intuition than he has," she said. "Once he understands an issue and thinks about it, he'll pretty much always come in with an idea of how to address a challenge. He's not right 100% of the time, but while mere mortals might be right around 15% of the time, he's right 85 %." At 87, West is still looking to show himself up. The electret microphone, which is used by millions of people daily, "raises a challenge" for the inventor. "Quite frankly, I want to put it out of business." www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/at-87-this-baltimoreinventor-has-250-patents-to-his-name-—-and-hes-still-at-it/arAAxMya0?ocid=spartandhp
88 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial
Clarence Fountain, a Founder of Blind Boys of Alabama, Dies Associated Press
From left, Bobby Butler, George Scott, Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter and Joey Williams of Blind Boys of Alabama performing at Bottom Line on Tuesday night, May 8, 2001.(Photo by Hiroyuki Ito/ Getty Images) Clarence Fountain
Clarence Fountain in 2005 © (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/ NBC/NBCU
A
founding member of the Grammy-winning gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama has died. Manager Charles Driebe says in an email that Clarence Fountain died Sunday in a hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fountain was 88. Fountain and friends started their first group as students at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind in Talladega. They left school in 1944 while in their teens.
The group won four Grammys, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, and were members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. A news release from Driebe's Blind Ambition Management says Fountain stopped touring with the group in 2007 because of complications from diabetes, but sang on their 2017 album, "Almost Home." www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/clarence-fountain-a-founder-of-blind-boys-ofalabama-dies/ar-AAydlHc?ocid=spartanntp
89 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial
Bluesman Eddy Clearwater Dies of Heart Failure at Age 83 Associated Press
C
hicago bluesman Eddy Clearwater, lauded for his guitar playing and flamboyant showmanship, has died of heart failure. Alligator Records announced Clearwater, 83, died Friday in Skokie, Illinois. Known as "The Chief," Clearwater was born Edward Harrington in Macon, Mississippi. A self-taught guitarist (left-handed and upside down), he began his career in Birmingham, performing with gospel music groups, including the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. After moving to Chicago in 1950, Clearwater drifted into the blues, making a name for himself as Guitar Eddy. According to Alligator Records, after Clearwater added a rock and roll element to his guitar playing, his then manager came up with the name Clear Waters as a play on blues legend Muddy Waters. The name eventually evolved into Eddy Clearwater. Between his slashing left-handed guitar work, his room-filling vocals, his self-defined "rock-a-blues" style (a forceful mix of blues, rock, rockabilly, country and gospel), his boundless energy and even his signature
Eddy Clearwater
eddyclearwater.com
Indian headdress, Clearwater is among the very finest practitioners of the West Side blues. The blues world recognized his talent by giving him the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year in 2001. His 2003 album, "Rock 'N' Roll City," was nominated for a Grammy Award as best traditional blues album. Clearwater is survived by his wife, Renee, and six children. Read more about Eddy Clearwater at www. eddyclearwater.com. www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bluesman-eddy-clearwater-diesof-heart-failure-at-age-83/ar-AAy87xs?ocid=spartandhp www.eddyclearwater.com
Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater
illinoisentertainer.com
90 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
Africa Innovation Summit
June 6-8, 2018 Convention Center Kigali, Rwanda Information: www.AfricaInnovationSummit.com
The AIS is an Africa-wide and home grown initiative aimed at harnessing the innovation potential of the continent. It aims to mobilize the people and, especially those with the ‘power to act’, including investors, the people with the ideas, the policy makers, the researchers and academics, the business community, the youth, as well as innovators and thinkers into a coalition for collective action to promote and build an enabling environment for innovation in Africa. The goal is to engage as many people as possible in order to build a broad constituency in support of innovation in Africa. The basic fact is that Africa cannot outsource its development.
91 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
African Stock Exchanges • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bond Exchange of South Africa - www.bondexchange. co.za • Botswana Stock Exchange www.bse.co.bw • Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres - UEMOA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) - www.brvm.org • Casablanca Stock Exchange (Morocco) - www.casablancabourse.com/bourseweb/index. aspx • Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz • Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www.douala-stockexchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www.
• • • • •
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egx.com.eg/English/homepage. aspx Ethiopia Commodity Exchange - www.ecx.com.et Ghana Stock Exchange - www. gse.com.gh Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa) - www. jse.co.za/Home.aspx Khartoum Stock Exchange (Sudan, in Arabic) - www.kse. com.sd Libyan Stock Market - www. lsm.ly/_layouts/membership/ login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fEnglis h%2fPages%2fdefault.aspx Lusaka Stock Exchange (Zambia) - www.luse.co.zm Nairobi Stock Exchange (Kenya) - www.luse.co.zm Malawi Stock Exchange - www. mse.co.mw
• Mozambique Stock Exchange (in Portuguese) - www. bolsadevalores.co.mz • Namibian Stock Exchange www.nsx.com.na • Nigerian Stock Exchange www.nse.com.ng/Pages/default. aspx • Stock Exchange of Mauritius www.stockexchangeofmauritius. com • Swaziland Stock Exchange www.ssx.org.sz • Tunisia Stock Exchange - www. bvmt.com.tn • Uganda Securities Exchange www.use.or.ug Read the lastest issue of The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html
92 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
http://usafricayes.com
93 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
Investment Marketplace Coming to Africa By Karen Mwendera and Methil Renuka Forbes Africa
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rom November 7-9, 2018 Africa Inc. will convene in South Africa’s Gauteng Province, the continent’s seventh largest economy, for the inaugural Africa Investment Forum (AIF) (http:// africainvestmentforum.com). An initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB), it was announced in May in Johannesburg by AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina with Gauteng premier David Makhura. “It will be the continent’s first-ever investment market place,” said Adesina, formerly Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture. “South Africa is open for business again, and as Gauteng, we are ready to host the forum on behalf of not only South Africa, but for Africa,” said Makhura, calling the forum “the Davos of Africa.” A platform to close the investment gap, Adesina called it a gamechanging initiative. “It cannot be business as usual, it must be business unusual,” he said. With Africa’s population set to be two billion by 2050, its development needs will require an estimated $600$700 billion per annum. So accelerated development will be the forum’s focus. “The forum will be 100% transactional. There will be no political speeches. The only thing allowed will be transactions, transactions and transactions,” said Adesina. In attendance in November will also be African heads of state who will be present as the CEOs of their countries. In a sit-down interview with FORBES AFRICA, the AfDB president shared more about new investments, and the bread baskets and Silicon Valleys of Africa: How will AIF take Afro-optimism and the African growth story further? African economies have been growing relatively well in a very difficult global environment. Despite the global economic downturn, in 2016, they grew at roughly 2.2%; in 2017, they grew at 3.6%. In 2018, they are projected to grow at 4.1%. And that’s still above the global average. So Africa’s head is above the water. But it’s more than about keeping your head above the water that matters, it is about how fast you can swim. I think Africa needs to swim fast and needs a lot of oxygen to do that. And
that means a lot of firepower in terms of capital to close the infrastructure gap. To be able to drive millions of people out of poverty, Africa should be growing at double digits. To be able to do that we have to deal with the problem of lack of electricity, make sure there is a lot more investment to allow trade to happen. Africa could contribute a lot more be it is rail, ports, national highways or aviation. It has to change lives on the ground and quiet honestly when people ask if I am an Afro-optimist, I am a very proud African. Africa is a beautiful place and has tremendous potential so we shouldn’t always just talk about the potential because nobody eats potential. We have to unlock that potential. So that is what the Africa Investment Forum is all about. Be it oil, gas, minerals or agricultural commodities, Africa is awash with rich resources. The question is how to turn them into real dividends with significant amounts of revenue that allows a better quality of life for the people. For that, you need to deal with the infrastructure deficit. We used to say it is about $15 billion. But that has changed. The AfDB recently released the African Economic Outlook (www.afdb. org/en/knowledge/publications/african-economic-outlook)
report and the deficit is anywhere between $67 billion to $107 billion every year, so which means we must do a faster job pulling capital together because the rest of the world is not waiting. How long will it take to close that gap? I think within the next decade. But it’s going to take a lot of work… What about the youth dividend; what are the future industries? Africa is at the very top in fintech and mobile money… but as we look at new types of industries, we have to look at them in the context of the fourth industrial revolution… I get excited when I see the youth in Africa well-educated, they are all on social media, know how to use apps, which means they already have a leg up. So the key is how to re-tool them to operate in that kind of a new economy. The AfDB is doing that in three ways already. First is we
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sector. Agriculture is a business and Africa needs to fully unlock that potential. If you look at the amount of arable land left to feed nine billion people in the world by 2050, it is not in Europe, Latin America, Asia, or the US, it’s in Africa – 65% is right here. What Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food for the world.
afdb.org
signed up a joint program with Google and Microsoft to help develop young talented Africans in computer technology. We as a bank are already investing in technology parks in Cape Verde, Angola, Kenya, Senegal, Rwanda. These are technology parks where you can have the ICT industries emerge; almost like trying to create the Silicon Valleys of Africa. When it comes to the new economy, you have to start early. We have a program trying to create 250 coding centers in Africa where you get people with computational knowledge to do coding services that can help in this new world we are moving towards. We are also investing in universities for science and technology across Africa to create this new scientific human capital…We need to give African youth the skills they need for the jobs of the future, not for the jobs of yesterday. What then are the new wealth generators? If you look at where the money is going in Africa, it’s not actually going into oil, gas and natural resources. Most of the foreign direct investment (FDI) is going into the service industry, at least 64%, and also the financial services sector; maybe about 27% goes into the manufacturing sector. So these are the big sectors where you see a lot of FDI. But there are two sectors very important for me. One is ICT, because this is going to be the driver of the economy. It’s very important for countries to invest heavily in the ICT industry to give their countries the platforms they need in the knowledge economy. The second is the food and agriculture industry. Africa has a lot of oil and gas, but nobody drinks oil, nobody smokes the gas. Food is the future. The size of the food and agriculture industry in Africa is going to be $1 trillion by 2030 in Africa. This is where the wealth is supposed to come from. Unfortunately, in Africa, we always walk past gold. Just imagine you are seeing gold, and you see it as dirt and don’t recognize it. That’s the power agriculture has… The food business is the biggest business. Agriculture is not a development sector, it’s not a social sector, it’s a wealth-creating
How will Africa’s billionaires and capitalists help achieve these goals? If you look at the high-networth-individuals in Africa, the majority of them make their money on this continent, and that’s already a strong signal. Aliko Dangote makes his money in Africa. So we are going to get them involved on the Africa Investment Forum because it is trying to send a message to the world that we have African businesses that are viable businesses making money and doing well on the continent; so putting capital to help them expand can help them become global multi-national companies… And investing in African entrepreneurs? The issue for entrepreneurs is finding them, nurturing them and then putting the financial backing behind them to thrive. Africa has a lot of young people. Every day, I wake up I read about a young person doing so well. So the best investment that Africa can make is to put its capital at risk on behalf of its young people. Because when you see a young person walk into a financial institution, all you see is risk, risk, risk. We have to change that and try and see creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. So that way we can put your money at risk to make them more creative, more innovative and unleash their entrepreneurship capacity. That is why at AfDB, we have a program helping to invest in the early-stage businesses of young people. Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates didn’t just get there, somebody had to believe in them. We have a program set up with the European Union called Boost Africa to invest in young people. The other thing we are doing is helping unleash entrepreneurship in the food and agriculture industry. The bank has a program targeted at getting young graduates, medical doctors, engineers… who are all going to agriculture as a business. Last year, AfDB invested over $860 million in that program for about eight countries. Going forward, we expect to invest $1.5 billion dollars every year in that program for the next 10 years. I really think unless we change the mindset, the labor composition of the agricultural sector and create a new dynamic group of entrepreneurs in the food industry, we only will have old people left. Every university in Africa has to make entrepreneurship compulsory. www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2018/06/05/investmentmarketplace-coming-to-africa/
95 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
T
he Africa-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pleased to announce that the 8th Annual Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference will be conducted from September 27-29, 2018 at California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA. and the Leimert Park Village in Los Angeles, CA. Additional information about our upcoming trade conference activities and can be obtained at our conference website www.panafricanglobaltradeconference.com or by calling our conference coordinator, Al Washington, at 1-626.243.3614.
https://vc4a.com/aesis/africa-early-stage-investor-summit-2018/
ROOTS AND RECONNECTION Annual Cameroon Trip & Bimbia Pilgrimage (CTP) 2018-2019 Contact: rootsreconnection@gmail.com The 2018 trip and pilgrimage offers two (2) options: Option 1: includes a 2-day, 2-night stay in Brussels, Belgium enroute to Cameroon to experience Global African presence in Brussels, and to connect with other Diasporans who live in Europe. The dates for this option are December 26, 2018-January 7, 2019. Option 2: does not include a stay in Brussels. This option takes you to Cameroon via a short transit. In Cameroon, you will join those who choose to make the stop in Brussels. The dates for Option 2 are December 28, 2018-- January 7, 2019. Everyone will arrive in Douala, Cameroon on December 29, 2018 and will depart on the evening/night of January 7, 2018 from Douala, Cameroon* ITINERARY: December 29, 2018-January 7, 2019 Africa-Diaspora Roots and Reconnection Activities in various places in Cameroon, including Kwanzaa and other New Year’s Eve Celebration. SOME MAJOR FEATURES OF THIS TRIP AND RELATED ACTIVITIES 1) The Pilgimage to Bimbia, major site of the Maafa (conventionally and erroneously called “slave trade”) is a central highlight of our trip. Bimbia is the first site of Transatlantic enslavement to be located and recognized in Cameroon. Bimbia was declared a national historic and heritage site by the Cameroon government in May 2013. 2) Several days and nights of cultural, educational, and other related activities immersing us into African traditions, cultures, arts, history and more, as we move toward the Global African Renaissance. The activities will take us to many parts of Cameroon. Please see some youtube links and other links referenced below. These will give you a view of what former Roots and Reconnection groups have done. PREPARE TO JOIN THE JOURNEY
Contact rootsreconnection@gmail.com to request a tour package and to submit any questions you may have (dates, requirements, costs, etc.) Please use the YouTube and other links to get a view of what former Roots and Reconnection groups have done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv9hY8jQtSI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeCWTEUWS7E (Scroll to 9 minutes 20 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovmr6_NO06I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0deCi45SHw http://exposingbimbia.blogspot.com/p/photos.html
Welcome to Cameroon ! 97 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
North American Trio Beats Morocco to Host 2026 World Cup By Associated Press
N
orth America will host the 2026 World Cup after FIFA voters overwhelmingly opted for the financial and logistical certainty of a United States-led bid over a risky Moroccan proposal for the first 48-team tournament. The soccer showpiece will return to the U.S.A. for the first time since 1994 after gaining 134 votes, while Morocco got 65 at the FIFA Congress in Moscow on Wednesday. The vote by football federations was public, in contrast to secrecy surrounding the ballot by FIFA's elected board members for the 2018 and 2022 hosts, Russia and Qatar, in 2010. The U.S. proposed staging 60 out of the 80 games in 2026, when 16 teams will be added to the finals, leaving Canada and Mexico with ten fixtures each. The U.S. is set to host all games from the quarterfinals onward. An optimistic promise of delivering $14 billion in revenue helped sway voters, along with the lack of major construction work required on the 16 planned stadiums, all of which already exist. By contrast, Morocco appeared too hazardous as a potential host when all 14 venues had to be built or renovated as part of a $16 billion investment in new infrastructure.
The vote leaves Morocco reeling from a fifth failure in a World Cup hosting vote, with the continent's sole tournament coming in 2010 in South Africa. While Morocco's combined tickets and hospitality revenue would be $1.07 billion, according to FIFA analysis, North America would generate $2 billion additional income. Canada will host men's World Cup matches for the first time, while Mexico gets its first taste of the event since staging the entire event in 1986. The 87,000-capacity MetLife Stadium outside New York is proposed for the final. It's just miles from where federal prosecutors spearheaded an ongoing investigation into FIFA corruption. More than 40 soccer officials and businesses indicted, convicted or pleaded guilty. The bribery scandal put the governing body on the brink, FIFA President Gianni Infantino told the congress ahead of Wednesday's vote. "FIFA was clinically dead as an organization," Infantino said, reflecting on his election in 2016. "Two years later, FIFA is alive and well, full of joy and passion and with a vision for its future." The North American victory
suggests football officials are ready to gather for a World Cup in a country whose government has demonstrated its willingness to jail corrupt sports leaders through undercover investigations. The North America bid also had to overcome concerns about the impact of policies from the Trump administration, including attempts to implement a ban on travel by residents of six majority-Muslim countries. The main intervention by President Donald Trump was a warning in a White House news conference, discussing the FIFA vote, that he would be "watching very closely." It was a veiled threat to withhold U.S. support from countries opposing the bid.
98 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Delegates attend the FIFA congress on the eve of the opener of the 2018 soccer World Cup in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 13, 2018. The congress in Moscow is set to choose the host or hosts for the 2026 World Cup. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
FIFA now has the final say on which cities are selected to host games and whether all three countries are guaranteed a place at the tournament. Victor Montagliani, the Canadian who leads CONCACAF, wants them to take three of the six
qualification slots reserved for the region. There is also a chance to send a seventh team via an intercontinental playoff. North America will host the six-team playoff tournament in November 2025 to
decide the last two places in the 48team lineup. www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/northamerican-trio-beats-morocco-to-host-2026world-cup/ar-AAyzupe?ocid=spartandhp#i mage=AAyzupe_1|2
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COMING TO YOUR E-MAIL BOX. Business/Government Contract Opportunities Business In Africa Commentaries/Editorials Financial Management Tech Tools for Growth Mobilization Africa Travel for Business & Pleasure
Read the Back Issues of our Digital Publications at: https://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews
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International
One Africa:
J
Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!
oin with and support the United Africa Organization’s campaign to petition the U.S. Department of State to include the whole African continent under its Bureau of African Affairs.
Why? The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, led by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, currently excludes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara from its agenda. Instead, the aforementioned countries are grouped with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, together with Iran, Iraq, Israel and others. This artificial distinction between North Africa and the rest of Africa
negatively impacts US foreign policy relations throughout the entire continent of Africa. We unequivocally reject the argument that North African countries are outside the scope of African affairs. North Africa is geographically and historically part of the African continent, and all fifty-three (53) independent African states, including North African countries, are represented in the African Union (AU). It would be far more productive for the State Department to engage with the entire continent of Africa, including North Africa, under its Bureau of African Affairs. We are one Africa, from the Cape to Cairo, indivisible and bound together! Therefore, no square inch of African
land should be excluded from African affairs.
Sign The Petition!!! Go to www.change.org/petitions/ one-africa-tell-us-state-departmentthat-north-africa-is-part-of-africa and sign the online petition to support this important proposition. Next tell everyone you know to sign.
www.uniteafricans.org
Shopping Gallery
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Zumo Learning System with Tablet The Zumo Learning System provides an accessible learning environment for children of all abilities. Zumo helps children fall in love with STEM. • Includes a 7 Tablet, Math Games and a Wireless Smart Toy, named Zumo • Unique technology maps physical movements to touch screen gestures • A suite of apps are included that are specially designed to enable tactile-based learning • Designed for K-3rd graders for learning in the home or classroom • Apps are customizable to the special needs of each child • Zumo offers many different play experiences through apps already available on iTunes www.zyrobotics.com info@zyrobotics.com
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OXOSI
is an online platform for the best contemporary brands from Africa and around the world. The Studio: 73 Spring St, Suite 203, NYC Email: usa@oxosi.com to shop with a member of our styling team. email: ask@oxosi.com phone: +1 646 661 7732
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Find your perfect match in bras up to a USA I-cup & everyday intimates featuring the bodysuit, slip & camisole! We're super excited to be able to offer our products through such a great retailer & we hope you enjoy shopping with them as much as we do! Be sure to check them out, we know you want to...
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The Economic Turn Around in the USA is in Our Hands •Buy Products Made or Assembled in the USA •Hire One New Employee •Eat an Extra Meal Out Each Week •Start/Grow a Business to Generate Wealth & Jobs
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This magnificent handcrafted concert grand is a "Best of" in terms of sound, new technology, beauty, and construction. Massively well-built to withstand the rigors of intense concert performances without compromise, the SHADD Concert Grand is a coveted treasure for pianists and collectors. With a rich voluminous sound that performs true to all genres of music, this phenomenal instrument has a rare diversified ability to play from the softest whisper with pure clear sound to a major roar with a bass section exuding an abundance of power and resounding singing sensations.
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Baron's Painting & Decorating Service Baron Williams 30 Years of Experience in the Greater Los Angeles Area Specializing in Exterior and Interior Painting, Tiling, Linoleum Flooring,
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Experience our exciting array of products from Cards to Cupcakes, African Masks, Asian Teacups, Healthy Herbal Teas, Gourd Purses, Candles, to Furniture Hope to see you soon!!! In the meantime visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/CulturalInteriors-West/140688362658236
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50 Restaurants, 50 States: The Best Black-Owned Restaurants In America By Shontel Horne, Travel Noire
O
wning a restaurant is tough. It can be expensive just to get started and most
generations ago and many that have opened recently. The restaurants included were selected based on a variety of factors, including historical significance, consistency and quality of the food, the impact the Yo’ Mama’s Restaurant – Birmingham restaurant has had on restaurants fail within the first year. its neighborhood and the Black-owned restaurateurs face value for the price, but the even greater challenges like lack goal of this list is to serve as of funding and resistance in certain a reminder that black people neighborhoods, so when one does are working hard across become successful, it deserves to the United States to share be celebrated. their legacy and culture I’ve set out to find the best through food. Whether it’s black-owned restaurants in every through flavors rooted in the state across America, including American south, cooking restaurants that were founded techniques from Ethiopia and Jamaica, or new culinary concepts, these black-owned restaurants have all earned Rodney Scott’s BBQ – Charleston support and recognition, and they’ve done so by patronizing the Black-owned one plate at a time. Visit all 50 restaurants, food wagons, bakeries, Restaurants, 50 caterers, wineries, breweries, etal States using the link in your town, city and state. below but, strengthen https://travelnoire.com/theand support the Black best-black-owned-restaurants-inCulinary Industry america-shontel-horne/ SoCo – Brooklyn 124 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Shop for all of the NoMu products at: https://shop.nomu.co.za and www.amazon.com
21720 Avalon Blvd. Suite 102B Carson, California 90745 1-424-570-0531 www.darrowsNewOrleansgrill.com
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Open 7 days a week • 11am - 11pm
Parker House Sausage
(www.parkerhousesausage.com) was started by Chicago entrepreneur, Judge H. Parker who came to Chicago from Montgomery County, Tennessee with little more than the conviction that there was a potential market for homemade sausage products prepared according to his mother’s recipes. By 1919 Judge Parker began selling his unique blend of herbs and spices mixed with flavorful, savory sausage from a horse drawn cart on a retail basis. Recognized as one of the oldest family owned businesses in the U.S. In 2014 Parker House expanded its product line to include chicken products including breakfast sausage, hot links, and smoked sausage.
LOOK FOR US IN THE FROZEN FOODS SECTION!
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We invite you to browse through our store and shop with confidence. Need a dinner idea. Go to the Recipe Page on our website. Thanks for visiting!
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ince people from all walks of life really enjoy Down South cooking, NFL Pro Reggie Kelly thought, why not bring a piece of the South to their homes. Reggie and his wife founded KYVAN® FOODS. KYVAN® Foods is a supplier to great customers like Kroger, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Firehouse Subs, Performance Foodservice, Hot Shots Distributing and more. As stated by Reggie, “It’s my goal to pass down to my kids (Kyla & Kavan) and to everyone the gift passed down to me… An Appreciation Of Good Food.” Thanks and God Bless! Website: http://kyvan82.com Shop Online: http://kyvan82.com/store Store Locator: http://kyvan82.com/storelocator
Delicious Southern Flavors At Home!
Whether you’re north or south of the Mason-Dixon line, east or west of the Mississippi, Grandma Maud’s gives you a taste of the South in your own kitchen.
Try our Recipes: //grandmamauds. com/recipes
You’ll find our Bean Meals, Southern Seasonings and Pie Fixin’s in supermarkets throughout the U.S.A. (Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, Safeway and Kroger Stores) – and online at: (h ps://eyelevellink.com/collec ons/ vendors?q=Grandma%20Mauds) or call us at: 1-773-493-5353! 131 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Not Just Cookies NJC is a cookie company providing, natural desserts superior in quality and taste. Our cookies and pies are made with the finest ingredients. We offer select gluten free and vegan desserts that are rich in taste. Not Just Cookies is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) founded by Johnathon Bush.
W
e can cater for any event or party. We offer custom packaging for all of our cookies and pies to suit any need. Cookie platters also available. Corporate gifts, company parties, restaurants looking to outsource pastries, we're here for you. The menu: Turtle Cookies, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal, Butter Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin, Brownies, Snickerdoodle, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Ginger Cookies, Vegan Brownies, Gluten Free Chocolate Chip, Sweet Potato Pie, and Fruit Pies (apple, cherry, blueberry or peach). Visit www.notjustcookies.com for online shopping, store locations, shipping and catering details. Talk to us by calling: 1-800-833-4541 or send NJC an inquiry at: info@ notjustcookies.net. 132 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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Now available at Whole Foods!
Ma's Best is a bakery specializing in the production of home-style yeast rolls and baked products. www.facebook.com/masbestrolls/#!/masbestrolls/?tab=page_info#!/masbestrolls/info
Try all 3 flavors!
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136 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
www.wosa.us www.winetalkwithmarcia.com
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Eso Won Books
African American Books 4327 Degnan Boulevard, Leimert Park, Los Angeles
Give the Gift of Books and Music Come see our unsurpassed collection of books, music, videos, children’s books, and games!
1-323-294-0324
www.esowonbookstore.com //esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events
139 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Books to Consider
Books to Consider...
Searching for Cloves and Lilies: The Wine Edition
W
by Regine T Rousseau
hen Regine T. Rousseau asked her family and friends, “What is your favorite body part?” she was surprised by the answers she elicited. Some acquaintances could immediately give her an answer. Others preferred to remain coyly silent. Rousseau uses the wide variety of responses as inspiration for her poetry collection Searching for Cloves and Lilies. In the lines of her work, she introduces you to old lovers and new friends and honors the people who shaped her life, including her beloved mother and respected pastor. She shares the lessons a barber and hairstylist taught her about love and provides a touching ode to her father. Other poems ponder important moments in Rousseau’s life, including a devastating incident with her cousin and a shocking heartbreak. Poetry isn’t the only passion in Rousseau’s life. The only thing she loves more than discovering amazing new wines Regine Rousseau
is introducing friends to some of her favorites. In this edition, she pairs each poem with a cherished wine and explains why these concoctions can be fun and flirty or poignant and lingering. This unique collection lays out which wine to pair with heartache and which best represents the state of modern relationships. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1978379382
Can't Nothing Bring Me Down: Chasing Myself in the Race against Time
C
by Ida Keeling
an’t Nothing Bring Me Down is the memoir of 101-year-old, world-record-holding runner Ida Keeling. Miss Ida, as she’s known throughout her Bronx community, isn’t your typical runner. Her fierce independence helped her through the Depression and the Civil Rights movement. But her greatest trials were yet to come. Ida’s two sons were brutally murdered. Justice was never found. Ida felt like she didn’t have the strength to carry on and she couldn’t hope anymore. But encouraged by her daughter, Ida put on her first pair of running shoes at the age of sixty-seven and began to chase the paralyzing sorrow from her heart. Running gave light and new energy to Ida, and since her first race nearly thirty-five years ago, she’s kept running and never looked back. Holding the world record for the fastest time in the 60-meter dash for the 95-99 age group, Ida isn’t slowing down. Now she gives us a clear picture of what it means to overcome obstacles. Ida Keeling shares her inspirational story about growing up as a child of immigrants during the Depression and later raising four children as a single mother. She offers time-tested truths gathered from a lifetime of watching
141 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Books to Consider a nation change and from a lifelong faith in Jesus. “Every night, I thank him for my many blessings, for his guidance, for his protection,” Ida says, “And every Miss Ida night he tells me, 'Miss Ida, you just keep on, because I ain't done with you yet."
black lives. Zach Mills' lively and powerful biography, The Last Blues Preacher, brings the life and work of Reverend Evans into our time and examines how current national conversations on r a c e , religion, politics, a n d popular culture Rev. Clay Evans c a n and should inform contemporary activism.
www.amazon.com/dp/B072TP3649/ref=dp-kindleredirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
www.amazon.com/dp/ B07CSGX1P4/ref=dp-kindleredirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
The Last Blues Preacher: Reverend
Clay Evans, Black Lives, and the Faith that Woke the Nation
B
by Zach Mills
orn in 1925 into a life of sharecropping in Brownsville, Tennessee, Clay Evans was desperate to escape life working for the descendants of plantation owners. At night, he listened to jazz musicians like Cab Calloway and Guy Lombardo on the radio and imagined one day singing o on a secular stage. But a greater calling drew E Evans into ministry, and h he soon stood upon a u unique stage as one of A America's most famous g gospel singers, civil rrights heroes, and the g godfather of Chicago's b black preachers. From tthis stage Clay sought tto rescue his family ffrom poverty and inspire a city and a nation to ssee, hear, and witness tthe dignity and value of
Zach Mills
Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change
L
by Stacey Abrams eadership is hard. Convincing others—and often yourself—that you possess the answers and are capable of world-affecting change requires confidence, insight, and sheer bravado. Minority Leader is the handbook for outsiders, written with the awareness of the experiences and challenges that hinder anyone who exists beyond the structure of traditional white male power— women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and millennials ready to make a difference.
142 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
In Minority Leader, Stacey Abrams argues that knowing your own passion is the key to success, regardless of the scale or target. From launching a company, to starting a day care center for homeless teen moms, to running a successful political campaign, finding what you want to fight for is as critical as knowing how to turn thought into action. Stacey uses her experience and hard-won insights to break down how ambition, fear, money, and failure function in leadership, while offering personal stories that illuminate practical strategies. Stacey includes exercises to help you hone your skills and realize your aspirations. She discusses candidly what she has learned over the course of her impressive career: that differences in race, gender, and class are surmountable. With direction and dedication, being in the minority actually provides unique and vital strength, which we can employ to rise to the top and make real change. www.amazon.com/dp/B0763SXC4V/ref=dp-kindleredirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
The Heritage: Black
Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism
I
by Howard Bryant
t used to be that politics and sports were as separate from one another as church and state. The ballfield was an escape from the world's worst problems, top athletes were treated like heroes, and cheering for the home team was as easy and innocent as hot dogs and beer. “No news on the sports page” was a governing principle in newsrooms. That was then. Today, sports arenas have been transformed into staging grounds for American patriotism and the hero worship of law enforcement. Teams wear camouflage jerseys to honor those who serve; police officers throw out first pitches; soldiers surprise their families with homecomings at halftime. Sports Howard Bryant
and politics are decidedly entwined. But as journalist Howard Bryant reveals, this has always been more complicated for black athletes, who from the start, were committing a political act simply by being on the field. In fact, among all black employees in twentiethcentury America, perhaps no other group had more outsized influence and power than ballplayers. The immense social responsibilities that came with the role is part of the black athletic heritage. It is a heritage built by the influence of the superstardom and radical politics of Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos through the 1960s; undermined by apolitical, corporate-friendly “transcenders of race,” O. J. Simpson, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods in the following decades; and reclaimed today by the likes of LeBron James, Colin Kaepernick, and Carmelo Anthony. The Heritage is the story of the rise, fall, and fervent return of the athlete-activist. Through deep research and interviews with some of sports' best-known stars—including Kaepernick, David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, and Chris Webber—as well as members of law enforcement and the military, Bryant details the collision of post-9/11 sports in America and the politically engaged post-Ferguson black athlete. www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSGX1P4/ref=dp-kindleredirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
What Truth Sounds Like:
Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished
143 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Books to Consider
Conversation About Race in America
hardly began with Clinton. An electrifying and traumatic encounter in the sixties crystallized these furious disputes. In 1963 Attorney General Robert Kennedy sought out James Baldwin to explain the rage that by Michael Eric Dyson threatened to engulf black America. Baldwin brought arry Belafonte says: “Dyson has finally written along some friends, including playwright Lorraine the book I always wanted to read. I had the Hansberry, psychologist Kenneth Clark, and a valiant privilege of attending the meeting he has activist, Jerome Smith. It was Smith’s relentless, insightfully written about, and it’s as if he were a fly unfiltered fury that set Kennedy on his heels, reducing on the wall...a tour de force...a poetically written work him to sullen silence. Kennedy walked away from the nearly three-hour that calls on all of us to get back in that room and to resolve the racial crises we confronted more than fifty meeting angry – that the black folk assembled didn’t years ago.” Joy-Ann Reid says: A work of searing understand politics, and that they weren’t as easy prose and seminal to talk to as Martin Luther King. But especially that brilliance... Dyson they were more interested in witness than policy. takes that once But Kennedy’s anger quickly gave way to empathy, in a lifetime especially for Smith. “I guess if I were in his shoes…I c o n v e r s a t i o n might feel differently about this country.” Kennedy set about changing policy – the meeting between black having transformed his thinking in fundamental ways. excellence and pain and the white There was more: every big argument about race that heroic narrative, persists to this day got a hearing in that room. Smith and drives it right declaring that he’d never fight for his country given its into the heart of racist tendencies, and Kennedy being appalled at such our current politics lack of patriotism, tracks the disdain for black dissent in and culture, our own time. His belief that black folk were ungrateful leaving the reader for the Kennedys’ efforts to make things better shows reeling and up in our day as the charge that black folk wallow in the reckoning." Robin politics of ingratitude and victimhood. The contributions of black queer folk to racial progress still cause a stir. Black Lives Matter has been accused of harboring a covert queer agenda. The immigrant experience, D. G. Kelley says: “Dyson like that of Kennedy – versus the masterfully refracts our present racial experience of Baldwin – is racial conflagration through a a cudgel to excoriate black folk subtle reading of one of the for lacking hustle and ingenuity. most consequential meetings The questioning of whether folk about race to ever take place. who are interracially partnered can In so doing, he reminds us that authentically communicate black Black artists and intellectuals interests persists. And we grapple bear an awesome responsibility still with the responsibility of black to speak truth to power." Michael Eric Dyson intellectuals and artists to bring President Barack Obama says: "Everybody who speaks after Michael Eric Dyson pales about social change. What Truth Sounds Like exists at the tense in comparison.” In 2015 BLM activist Julius Jones intersection of the conflict between politics and prophecy confronted Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with an urgent query: “What in your heart has changed – of whether we embrace political resolution or moral that’s going to change the direction of this country?” “I redemption to fix our fractured racial landscape. The don’t believe you just change hearts,” she protested. “I future of race and democracy hang in the balance. believe you change laws.” www.amazon.com/What-Truth-Sounds-Like-Conversation-ebook/ dp/B076ZRB4CG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528152840&sr=8The fraught conflict between conscience and politics – between morality and power – in addressing race 1&keywords=Michael+Eric+Dyson%27s+%22What+Truth+Sound
H
s+Like%22
144 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
BBA 2018 Master Planner June Annual Salute to Black Music "The Business Behind the Music" African-American Music Appreciation Month is a
onstrates the enduring impact African Americans have worldwide. We invite you to join us in honoring those who make black music happen, grow and thrive as a global brand. Past Honorees include: Clarence Avant | Berry Gordy, Jr. | Smokey Robinson | Jheryl Busby | Janet Jackson | Michael Bivins
commemoration that takes place annually in the For particiation and sponsorship information visit United States, throughout the month of June. www.bbala.org and/or call 1-323-291-9334. Black music is a vital facet of American life and commerce, it touches all communities, and it dem-
145 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Resource Vault Media/Information APO (Africa Wire®/MENA Wire®) -- www.apo-opa.com Africa Interactive Multimedia Press/Content Agency in Africa -- www.africa-interactive.com Africa is a Country -- www.africasacountry.com Africa News & Stories -- http://africatodaytv.com Africa Newsroom -- www.africa-newsroom.com Africa World Now Project -- www.africaworldnowproject.org Africa World Press Books -- www.africaworldpressbooks.com African Trade Magazine -- www.africantrademagazine. com African Vibes Magazine -- www.africanvibes.com The Africapitalist -- www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/ africapitalisminstitute/africapitalist-magazine AfricaFocus -- www.africafocus.org Africast TV -- www.africast.tv The African World -- www.theafricanworld.tv Afritorial -- www.afritorial.com www.facebook.com/Afritorial AllAfrica (news) -- http://allafrica.com Black Wall Street Times -- http://bwstimes.com Black Business News Group -- www.issuu.com/blackbusinessnews Black Children's Books and Authors -- http://blackchildrensbooksandauthors.tumblr.com BlackPast.org -- www.blackpost.org Black Press USA -- www.blackpressusa.com Black Then -- https://blackthen.com Blavity Inc. -- www.blavity.com BridesNoir -- www.bridesnoir.com Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart -- https://itunes.apple. com/us/podcast/cape-up-with-jonathan-capehart/ id1143265842?mt=2 The Chocolate Voice -- www.thechocolatevoice.com CuisineNoir -- www.cuisinenoirmag.com Cybrary -- www.cybrary.it DiasporaVoice -- www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice Face2Face Africa -- https://face2faceafrica.com How Africa, The Rise of Africa -- http://howafrica.com KweliTV -- www.facebook.com/kwelitv Macauhub -- www.facebook.com/Macauhub Publish Africa -- http://wow.gm/publishafrica Red Media Africa -- www.facebook.com/RedMediaAfrica Rock Me Africa -- //rockmeafrica.com TONL -- https://tonl.co/ YouTube Educational Channels -- http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know United Nations -- http://webtv.un.org WikiHow -- www.wikihow.com World Library -- www.worldlibrary.org
Culture/Arts Cultural Events/Content -- www.okayafrica.com Hungry Black Man -- https://thehungryblackman.com Travel Noire -- https://travelnoire.com Shadow & Act -- //shadowandact.com/about-us
Commerce/Entrepreneurship #IAMWANDA -- www.facebook.com/IamWANDAorg African Success Stories -- www.risingafrica.org African Technology Foundation -- www.thea25n.com Black Female Founders -- www.blackfemalefounders. org Nigeria (Africa) financial news -- //nairametrics.com She Leads Africa -- http://sheleadsafrica.org
Organizations African Leadership Forum -- http://afrialeadership.org African Union -- www.au.int/en Black Business Association -- www.bbala.org Black Emergency Managers Association International -- www.blackemergmanagersassociation.org CauseCast -- www.causecast.com www.causecastfornonprofits.com Color of Change -- www.colorofchange.org Community Healing Network -- www. communityhealingnet.org Pan African Film Festival -- www.paff.org StayWoke -- www.staywoke.org United African Organization -- http://uniteafricans.org Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce -- www.zambiausachamber.org
Investment/Development Africa Reports -- www.africareports.com African Development Bank -- www.afdb.org African Export-Import Bank -- //afreximbank.com/ afrexim/en
146 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Resource Vault AfrigadgetTV -- www.afrigadget.com Breaux Capital -- www.breauxcapital.com Disrupt Africa -- http://disrupt-africa.com/ The Exchange Magazine -- www.nse.co.ke Harlem Capital -- http://harlem.capital Silicon Harlem -- http://event.siliconharlem.net Ventures -- www.ventures-africa.com
U.S. Government Commerce Department -- www.doc.gov International Trade Administration -- http://trade.gov Minority Business Development Agency -- www.mbda. gov Power Africa -- www.usaid.gov/powerafrica Small Business Administration -- www.sba.gov State Department -- www.dos.gov Trade Africa -- www.usaid.gov/tradeafrica White House -- www.whitehouse.gov
147 June 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819