YOUR LINK TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNERS A MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION
$2.50 APRIL 2019
Our Economic Survival Strategy Dr. King's Sacrifice NAACP Going to Ghana Business Lost and Found
FINAL EDITION
Publisher's Message “SMALL BUSINESS WEEK VIRTUAL CONFERENCE IN MAY”
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virtual conference facility has been added to the 2019 National Small Business Week conferences and celebrations. The virtual conference will allow Earl “Skip” Cooper, II business owners across the Pubisher/Editor-In-Chief nation to attend segments of the Small Business Week offerings from their desktops. Hear and see political and business
Business owners need to become each other's customers using local lawyers, accountants, barbers, banks, restaurants, delivery services, trainers, landscapers, printers, graphic designers, florists, etal. As members of our communities we must also rethink how we spend our dollars. Remembering to do business with the neighborhood cleaners and the downtown cleaners, for instance. Business owners, educators and congregations may coalese to counter the school-to-prison pipeline with school-to-business pipeline programs
leaders discuss issues regarding economic and technology trends along with the needs of the nation. Being well-versed in the challenges to success placed in the path of minority-owned businesses, we bring a deeper understanding of what it can take to build and sustain a "small" business. There can be an advantage to participating in the virtual conference - what's good for the goose may be worth even more for the gander.
that redefine the Gig Economy so that more young people may 'earn' money rather than 'steal' money.
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mall businesses are still the economic engine of our national economy. These businesses tend to employ from their surrounding communities contributing to the economic vitality of their neighborhoods. Most of us don't even think about this key fact. Most of us don't recognize our roles in making (keeping) these businesses successful.
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his issue of the Black Business News is full of articles highlighting very young entrepreneurs (page 24) to profiling young women growing businesses in aviation, learning modalities and communications. There is also a story reminding us that new businesses are being founded every day. So, we have the additional responsibility to keep scanning the horizon for new enterprises and supporting those that we can. Read about Kivu noir, the new coffee company offering product grown by women farmers in Rwanda. The coffee is roasted fresh in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and flown to Florida. Order the coffee and give it a try using the link found on page 87.
2 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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nfortunately, we also have to report on the demise of a venerable black business - Johnson Publishing Company (page 62). The upside of this news is that though one enterprise has gone down, there are now black-owned publications, print and digital, flourishing across the globe. These enterprises, like all others, require our participation to thrive and succeed. Businesses and organizations MUST advertise and the rest of us must subscribe or follow. The proposition remains the same, recycling black dollars and black people are two key pillars of our success and forward mobility as a people in this nation.
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emember to think on and celebrate our success as a people in the USA. During this year in which we all commemorate the 400 years since the initiation of the institution of slavery. - 1619-2019. Study the past, honor and mimic our heroes and heroines, plan for our continued success in the future. Check out the NAACP's memorial tour to Ghana described on page 72 and prepare for the local and national elections that are coming up. Finance then vote for the African American candidates from dogcatcher to president (page 8). We have come a long way in these 400 years - virtually and in reality. Be present.
Black Business News Group P.O. Box 43159 Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA 1-323-291-7819
www.bbala.org PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Harris, Dean L. Jones, Phyllis Dixon
ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR Kim Anthony
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Linda Ware
PRODUCTION MANAGER Narishima Osei
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bene Uche Linda Ware Ralph D. Sutton Timothy Lester, Jr. Veronica Hendrix Giavanna Foster Ryan Jackson P. Yvette Thomas Aman Williams LaSandra Stratton
GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris Tia Robinson
GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris Tia Robinson
STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg Jennifer Marie Hamilton
PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx Sabir Narishima Osei
www.bbala.org
CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR La Sandra Stratton
LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2019 by Black Business News All Rights Reserved. The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein. Cover image: commemoration400.org. kappamapgroup.com
3 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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.
•
oering business growth enhancing information on education, exhibitioning, international trading, technology, industry trends, and more.
•
exploring major public and private sector contracting methods to educate s. black-owned and operated enterprises. MŴŴZ ՗� ª€ŸŴŴ G @@
•
or providing an aďŹƒrmative inuence for nemerging entrepreneurs by sharing inal novative design and creative cultural content that exposes them to the his-tory of black enterprises and urgess them to participate in the USA’s fu-ture.
•
advocating and promoting on behalf of black-owned businesses by promoting the need for expanding an economic foundation that supports an unfettered and self-sustained urban society with USA job creation and economic opportunity, where blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.
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2019 Black Business Association Events Salute to Black Music June 18th
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Contents
Black Business News…April 2019 3
Publisher's Message
Government 6 8
9
10 10 11 12 13
Cory Booker Introduces Senate Bill on Slavery Reparations Cory Booker Launches Presidential Campaign in Newark New Small Business Administration Chief SBA Administrator Honors Nation’s Top Small Businesses 20 National SBIR Road Tour 2019 California's CROWN Act Seeks to End Racial Discrimination Based on Hairstyles White House to Unveil Latest 5G Push and Rural Broadband Initiative
Entertainment 16 22
BBN Show Biz Buzz So ... Does American TV Ever Mention Africa?
Editorials/Perspectives 44 66
King, Memphis and the Morality of Sacrifice: Dangerous Unselfishness and Righteous Struggle Donald Trump’s Big Lie About Health Care
Business 24 26 27 28 30 33
Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: Entrepreneur Training for Youth How 'People Glasses' Can Help Startup Founders Find Their Place United Airlines Will Soon Fly Nonstop To Cape Town, South Africa Meet Rexy Rolle, VP of Black-Owned Western Air Interview: Advice From a Female Leader on Making it in the Business World In One Tweet, Netflix Shows How Generosity Can Be a Marketing Magnet
36 40 62
Save Thousands of Dollars-Work With Your Energy Utility Why Marketers Should Tap Into the Potential of Bing Ads It’s All Over For Johnson Publishing Company
Community/Public Interest 72 72 74
400th Commemoration Year of Enslavement 1619-2019 Jamestown to Jamestown Memorial Trip to Ghana to Commemorate 400 years of African Diaspora Uncovering the Tragic History of “Racial Homicide” in America
Obituary/Memorials 78 80 81
Nipsey Hussle, Grammy-Nominated Rapper And Philanthropist, Shot And Killed Okwui Enwezor (1963-2019): Anambra’s Gift to The World of Art Civic and Spiritual Leader Dr. Kwame Porter Has Passed
International 82 86 88 90 91
US Revokes ICC Prosecutor's Visa Over Afghanistan Inquiry U.S. Travelers Will Be Able To Visit Brazil Visa-Free Starting in June 2019 AFRICA OUR BELOVED JEWEL Jack Ma Foundation Accepting Funding Applications From African Entrepreneurs African Union Signs MOU with Africa 24 News Network
Columns 52 84
97 153 159 160
Take A Look! African Stock Exchanges Shopping Gallery Books to Consider... BBA 2019 Master Planner Resource Vault
5 January 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
82
Cory Booker Introduces Senate Bill on Slavery Reparations By Paul Steinhauser President Barack Obama & Senator Cory Booker politico.com
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enator Cory Booker has introduced a bill that would study the possibility of reparations for descendants of slaves, embracing a push that recently has caught the interest of fellow 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. The senator from New Jersey said that “this bill is a way of addressing head-on the persistence of racism, white supremacy, and implicit racial bias in our country. It will bring together the best minds to study the issue and propose solutions that will finally begin to right the economic scales of past harms and make sure we are a country where all dignity and humanity is affirmed.” The measure is a Senate companion to a bill introduced in the House of Representatives in January by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, which if passed into law would set up a commission to study the impact of slavery and continued discrimination against black Americans and make recommendations on reparation proposals for the descendants of slaves. The legislation was first introduced 30 years ago by then-Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. “Since slavery in this country, we have had overt policies fueled by white supremacy and racism that have oppressed African-Americans economically for generations,” Booker added. “Many of our bedrock domestic policies that have ushered millions of Americans into the middle class have systematically excluded blacks through practices like GI Bill discrimination and redlining.” Besides Booker, the idea of slavery reparations for black Americans is at least partially backed by at least eight other Democratic presidential contenders. They are Sen. Kamala Harris of California; Sen. Elizabeth
Warren of Massachusetts; Sen. Bernie Sanders of V e r m o n t ; former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who served as Housing S e c r e t a r y under President Barack Obama; South Bend, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee scvnews. com Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; and businessman and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Several of them were asked specifically about Jackson Lee's reparations bill during a conference of Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. The push by the Democratic White House hopefuls points to the further importance of race and identity issues within the party. Yet while supporters say reparations are needed to address slavery and racist aspects of American history, critics claim such a move could cost several trillion dollars without solving the issue of racism. www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/cory-bookerintroduces-senate-bill-on-slavery-reparations/arBBVJLeN?ocid=spartandhp
6 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Presidential Campaign
Cory Booker Launches Presidential Campaign in Newark By Hunter Walker
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ory Booker delivered a message of love and unity at his campaign’s “hometown kickoff”. The event was the launch of a two-week “Justice for All” tour in the city where he served as mayor from 2006 until 2013. Booker has framed his campaign around an emotional and optimistic pitch to voters. He maintained that tone as he outlined some of his core policies, including lowering the age of Medicare eligibility and establishing a “baby bonds” program to provide low-income children with a nest egg when they reach adulthood. “We’re here today to seek justice. We’re here today because we are impatient for that justice and our sense of moral urgency, our impatience comes from the most demanding of all values — it comes from love, love of our families, love of our communities, love of our country, and love of each other,” Booker said. Democratic presidential contender Cory Booker promised on Saturday to “bring a fight” to the National Rifle Association (NRA), calling for a range of gun control reforms as part of a hometown launch for a national campaign tour. “We won’t wait for more thoughts and prayers for communities that have been shattered by gun violence from Pittsburgh to Parkland to Charleston,” he told the crowd in Newark, where he served as mayor for seven years before becoming a senator. “We will pass universal background checks, we will ban assault weapons and close loopholes that allow people who never should have a gun to get one.” “And folks, we will bring a fight to the NRA like they have never, ever seen before -- and we will win,” he said. On Saturday, Booker led the rallying cry “We can’t wait” as he listed his policy goals, including fighting climate change, enacting comprehensive immigration reform ending “mass incarcerations” and facilitating federal legalization of marijuana. He also made a call for national unity and for Democrats to fight “from higher ground” in an increasingly partisan and frequently toxic political environment. "Critics will tell us that a campaign powered by grace
Sen. Cory Booker in Newark, N.J., for his campaign launch. (Photo: Andrew Kelly/Reuters) and love and a deep faith in each other" cannot prevail, Booker said. "But I say it's the only way we win. The president wants a race to the gutter and to fight us in the gutter. To win, we have to fight from higher ground in order to bring this country to higher ground." https://news.yahoo.com/cory-booker-2020newark-200213952.html www.foxnews.com/politics/cory-booker-promises-to-bringa-fight-to-the-nra-at-launch-of-national-campaign-tour
8 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Health Services
Orange Book Transparency Act By James Lewis TBTNEWS
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he House Energy, and Commerce Committee advanced Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s Orange Book Transparency Act (H.R. 1503) to the full House of Representatives for consideration and action. Introduced in March, the Orange Book Transparency Act would increase access to lower cost generic drugs and bolster competition in the marketplace to drive down prescription drug costs for American families. “No one should be forced to choose between lifesaving medicine and putting food on the table. Sadly, this is the everyday reality of too many people,” said Congresswoman Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, “There is more we can and should do to lower drug costs for American families. This bill will increase access to and competition from generic drugs. The result will be lower out-of-pocket costs for families – a major promise of Democrats’ For the People agenda.” Congresswoman Kelly’s legislation would make
several s m a l l technical changes to the FDA’s drug product listing, the O r a n g e Book, and its submission process to create greater clarity for doctors, pharmacists, and generic drug manufacturers. Changes have been requested by experts, medical professionals and advocates for years. The Orange Book is used by doctors and pharmacists for information on generic drug approvals and availability. It is also used by generic drug manufacturers to make critical R&D decisions.
New Small Business Administration Chief By Reuters
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resident Donald Trump will nominate U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza to lead the Small Business Administration. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Carranza will replace Linda McMahon, who announced last week she was stepping down as SBA administrator. "Jovita was a great Treasurer of the United States – and I look forward to her joining my
Cabinet!" Trump said in a tweet announcing her nomination. Carranza served as SBA deputy administrator from 2006 to 2009. Prior to that she worked at United Parcel Service, rising from box handler to president of its Latin America and Caribbean operations. https://news.yahoo.com/ trump-names-small-businessadministration-chief-005803087. html
9 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - SBA Small Business Week
SBA Administrator Honors Nation’s Top Small Businesses
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dministrator Linda McMahon, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced the 2019 Small Business Persons of the Year winners from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Each of the winners have been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C. on May 5-6 where they will be honored with their individual award. During the ceremonies, SBA will announce the 2019 National Small Business Person of the Year from the 53 winners from across the U.S. and territories. “I am delighted to recognize the 53 winners from across the country as they gather in our nation’s capital,” McMahon said. “Entrepreneurs are the innovators who take risks on ideas, invest in their
communities, and create jobs. Their skills and creativity not only support their own families, but they also make our neighborhoods and cities vibrant places to live and work, fueling our overall economic strength. These small business owners best represent the nation’s 30 million small businesses and I look forward to welcoming the winners to Washington, D.C. in May when they are officially honored for their accomplishments.” National Small Business Week will be observed May 5-11 with events around the country. SBA Administrator Linda McMahon will be making stops in Washington, D.C., Florida, Texas, and Utah. www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releasesmedia-advisories/sba-administrator-honors-nations-topsmall-businesses-02
Visit www.sba.gov for detailed information 10 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - SBIR
National SBIR Road Tour 2019
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he U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a 16-stop road tour connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early stage funding – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Also known as America’s Seed Fund, the SBIR/STTR programs focus on next generation research & development (R&D) and is led by the SBA with 11 participating federal agencies. “Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story. We are committed to supporting America’s small businesses owners wherever they are,” SBA Administrator Linda McMahon said. “This tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBA’s resources to help them reach that goal.” The SBIR Road Tour plays an important role in increasing engagement with entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country and building out greater networks to support the creation of small businesses focusing on high-impact research. Each SBIR Road Tour stop will be hosted by a local organization involved in supporting
entrepreneurs in next generation R&D. Program managers from the participating federal agencies will conduct one-on-one meetings with attendees, take part in targeted panels, discuss technology areas, and share insights into how the agencies make funding decisions. The SBIR/STTR programs provide over $3 billion in early stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense. The SBIR/STTR programs execute over 4,000 new awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.
NATIONAL SBIR ROAD TOUR SCHEDULE 2019: The Central Plains Tour will run from May 20-24, with stops in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Kansas City, Kansas; Des Moines, Iowa; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Fargo, North Dakota. The Southwest Tour will run from August 12-16, with stops in Tucson, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Boulder, Colorado. The Eastern Tour will run from September 16-20, with stops in Burlington, Vermont; Albany, New York; New Brunswick, New Jersey; State College, Pennsylvania; and College Park, Maryland.
Finally, the SBIR Road Tour will stop in Miami, Florida on November 13 and in Puerto Rico on November 15. Small technology firms, innovators, scientists or researchers seeking more information on the SBIR Road Tour, including a schedule of stops and participating agencies should visit: www. sbirroadtour.com. For more information about SBIR/ STTR programs, please visit www. sbir.gov. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and is a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses, and recover from disasters. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. To learn more about SBA, visit www. sba.gov. www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/pressreleases-media-advisories/sba-announcesnational-sbir-road-tour-engage-smallbusinesses-working-high-tech-high-impact-ideas
11 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Discrimination Challenge
California's CROWN Act Seeks to End Racial Discrimination Based on Hairstyles By Kristin Lam
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alifornia legislators on Monday moved forward a bill that would protect students and employees from discrimination based on natural hairstyles including afros, braids and twists. Passed by the Senate, the CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) seeks to add hair textures and styles associated with race to state anti-discrimination laws. The House will consider the measure next. Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, the bill's author, said dress codes banning kinky hair punish African Americans for their natural appearance. For centuries, the Los Angeles Democrat said black people had to use expensive, chemicallyharsh treatments to fit Eurocentric standards of professional hair. "There are still far too many cases of black employees and applicants denied employment or promotion — even terminated — because of the way they choose to wear their hair," she said on the floor Monday. "I have heard far too many reports of black children humiliated and sent home from school because their natural hair
was deemed unruly or a distraction to others." Federal and California law prohibit discrimination based on religious hairstyle and head The referee was banned from officiating meets while the New Jersey State Interscholastic Association and New Jersey Division of Civil Rights investigate the incident. New York City in February outlawed discrimination against black hair, including cornrows and Bantu knots. The law protects against bias in public spaces from restaurants and nightclubs in addition to schools and workplaces. “This is big,” Noliwe Rooks, professor of Africana studies at Cornell University, told USA TODAY at the time. “Hair is connected to civil rights … and needs to be protected.”. coverings, but Mitchell said the measures aren't enough. Last year, a referee who forced a 16-year-old athlete named Andrew Johnson to cut his locks or forfeit a wrestling match sparked national outrage from civil rights advocates.
www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ californias-crown-act-seeksto-end-racial-discriminationbased-on-hairstyles/arBBWedQL?ocid=spartandhp Image credits: rattlesandheels. com, haircutssalon.website
12 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
https://onlinexperiences.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10 100&ShowUUID=2642B218-6A61-45B1-9C4C-AA3FFC96BC68&AffiliateD ata=ChapterSM
White House to Unveil Latest 5G Push and Rural Broadband Initiative By Makena Kelly
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resident Trump and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai are expected to announce the administration’s latest plans to ensure US leadership in 5G and expand high-speed broadband access to rural areas across the country. The FCC announced a new plan to roll out high-speed broadband to rural communities through the creation of the commission’s new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. According to the FCC, the fund will “inject” $20.4 billion into broadband networks to connect up to 4 million rural homes and businesses with high-speed broadband over the next decade. “This is a critical tool towards
closing the digital divide and will provide some of the critical infrastructure to connecting rural Americans with 5G technologies,” Pai said. According to the FCC, the money for this new program will come from a “repurposing” of the Universal Service Fund, a system of subsidies intended to promote access to telecom services in underserved areas in the US. “It will be $2 billion approximately each year over the next decade to allocate ... this funding to rural carriers for the purpose of building out the broadband networks,” Pai said. The specific details as to how this will work are unclear, but Pai said the commission intends to
nail those down as the plan moves through the traditional rule-making process later this year. Democratic commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel wasn’t as optimistic as her Republican counterpart. “So far, this Administration’s interventions on 5G have done more harm than good,” Rosenworcel said in a statement. “From imposing tariffs on 5G equipment to alienating allies on 5G security to falling behind the rest of the world on critical midband spectrum, the White House has yet to offer a workable plan for US leadership.” “I hope today’s announcement offers better because our global leadership is at stake,” Rosenworcel continued. Officials will also be unveiling the FCC’s next big 5G push, announcing the “largest spectrum auction in American history,” according to Pai. The FCC will be auctioning off three different bands of spectrum at the same time on December 10th. “Overall, the story of 5G is a success story, an American success story, and we still need to do more and we will,” Pai said. www.theverge.com/2019/4/12/18307771/whitehouse-5g-push-rural-broadband-initiative-fccfunding
13 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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sĞŶƵĞ͗ zŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ Žƌ ŽĨĨŝĐĞ ĐŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶ ĞĂĚůŝŶĞ͗ Ɖƌŝů ϭϵ͕ ϮϬϭϵ ŽƐƚ͗ h^ΨϮϱ ƉĂƌƚŝĐŝƉĂƚŝŽŶ ĨĞĞ &Žƌ DŽƌĞ /ŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ͗ ^ƵnjĞƩĞ EŝĐŬůĞ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů dƌĂĚĞ ^ƉĞĐŝĂůŝƐƚ h͘^͘ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ dĞů͗ ;ϯϬϯͿ ϴϰϰͲϱϲϱϱ ^ƵnjĞƩĞ͘EŝĐŬůĞΛƚƌĂĚĞ͘ŐŽǀ ^ŚĂŶ ^ŚĂŶ dƐĂŝ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů ŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚŽƌ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ /ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ ŝŶ dĂŝǁĂŶ dĞů͗ нϴϴϲ Ϯ ϮϳϮϬ ϭϱϱϬ džϯϭϲ ƐŚĂŶƐŚĂŶ͘ƚƐĂŝΛƚƌĂĚĞ͘ŐŽǀ
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15 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
BBN Show Biz Buzz By Linda Ware
Burial of Kojo and Lionheart Streaming on Netflix
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he over 100 million subscribers to entertainment streaming platform Netflix, will from March 31, 2019 have the opportunity to watch The Burial of Kojo, the first-ever Ghanaian produced film to show on the platform. The relationship between Ghana and Netflix has entered another phase with Blitz Bazawule’s directorial debut. The Burial of Kojo which was co-produced by award-winning actress Ama K. Abebrese. The film was released in 2018 but the rights to distribution was bought by popular American director and producer, Ava Duvernay, for her film company Array. Duvernay directed the award-winning Selma and A Wrinkle in Time. The Burial of Kojo will be the second African-made film that will stream on Netflix. Nollywood’s Genevieve Nnaji led the way earlier this year with Lionheart. On his part, writer and director of The Burial of Kojo, Blitz Bazawule has expressed satisfaction with the reviews the film is getting both home and abroad. He is also thankful for Duvernay’s push onto Netflix. https://yen.com.gh/123645-the-burial-kojo-ghanaian-filmshow-netflix.html#123645
World Number One Naomi Osaka Signs with Nike
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orld number one Naomi Osaka has agreed a deal with Nike, the sports apparel giant has announced. Osaka, who had previously been tied to rival Adidas, will first wear Nike gear at the Stuttgart Grand Prix later this month, the U.S. sportswear maker said on its website. "I'm proud to become a member of the Nike family and excited about getting involved in all of the opportunities Nike has to offer," said Osaka in the statement. "Nike has a legendary track record of writing history Naomi Osaka lunionsuite.com and I look forward to being a part of those moments for many years to come." Osaka has won the last two Grand Slams, having become the first ever Japanese player to win one of the four majors when she overcame Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in September. "Naomi is an incredible talent to add to our roster and help drive our commitment to inspiring a new generation of female athletes," Nike VP Amy Montagne added in the statement. "We are thrilled to have her join our team." www.msn. com/en-us/
sports/tennis/world-number-one-osaka-signs-with-nike/arBBVDKnm?ocid=spartandhp
CBS Sports and BIG3 Agree To Exclusive Television Deal
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IG3 (https://big3.com) and CBS Sports announced today that the professional 3-on3 basketball league, founded by producer, actor, and music legend Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, have agreed to terms that will bring live basketball to CBS and CBS Sports Network. The 2019 season will open on the CBS Television Network in primetime on Saturday, June 22. During the 11-week season, games will air live on CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network on both Saturday and Sunday, with a champion crowned live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 1 (3:00 PM, ET). CBS Sports Network will also air the BIG3 Draft live on Wednesday, May 1 (10:00 PM, ET) when 120 professional players will vie for only 31 open roster spots on 12 teams, expanded from eight the first two seasons. BIG3 has also signed major sponsorship agreements with global brands adidas and Toyota which will roll out activations throughout the league's 2019 season. Teams will be coached by some of the top legends
in the game, including Julius 'Dr. J' Erving, Gary Payton, Nancy Lieberman, Rick Barry, Lisa Leslie, and George 'The Iceman' Gervin. In addition to Ice Cube and Kwatinetz, the league will continue to be guided by Chairman Amy Trask and Commissioner Clyde Drexler. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cbs-sports-and-big3agree-to-exclusive-television-deal-300824500.html
Help 'Hawi', Ethiopian Superhero, Get Published
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tan Comics Universe is producing HAWI, a historical fantasy story set in present day Ethiopia. When a mysterious stranger kidnaps
the mother of 20 year old Ement Legesse on their first trip back to Ethiopia, she must embark on a life-altering adventure embedded with historical conflict. HAWI is inspired by the story of a 10th century AD Ethiopian Queen, Yodit Gudit. Issue #1 is 100% scripted and art production is 20% complete. With your support, we will be able to cover the remaining cost for production (i.e. pay our talented African artists) and fund an initial print run for our book! Funds raised above and beyond our target will go into fulfilling stretch goal rewards for our backers and be invested back into future series of our books. Visit our Kickstarter site at: www.kickstarter.com/ projects/795984369/hawi-1-historical-fantasyfeaturing-an-african-sup?ref=creator_nav. We tell these stories because there aren’t that many mainstream African fantasy stories; the limited content available is mostly produced by non-Africans so the stories miss out on the complexities of African characters, the depth and dimension of each culture and rich history; and we aspire to inspire that one girl to dream bigger, to see herself as a powerful and important member of society. It is to break stereotypes
17 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
see page 17
BBN Show Biz Buzz from BBN Show Biz Buzz on page 18
and to make the world a slightly better place than we found it. https://etancomics.com
'Cape Up' Podcase Offers "Voices of the Movement" Series
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tarting April 4, ‘Cape Up’ will be presenting a special series highlighting the voices of civil rights leaders. Some you know and some you may not. For the next two months, we’re going to hear their voices. Listen to their stories. And try to understand. https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/ Cape-UP-Podcast-p919883/
NAACP Image Awards 2019
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he winners of the 50th NAACP Image Awards are listed here: • Beyoncé - NAACP Entertainer of the Year • Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter” - President’s Award • Congresswoman Maxine Waters - NAACP Chairman’s Award • Tom Joyner - Vanguard Award • NE-YO - Black & Positively Golden Music Honor • "black-ish" (ABC) - Outstanding Comedy Series • Anthony Anderson "black-ish" (ABC) Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series • Tracee Ellis Ross, "black-ish" (ABC) Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series • "Power" (Starz) - Outstanding Drama Series • Omari Hardwick, "Power" (Starz) - Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series • Taraji P. Henson, "Empire" (FOX) - Outstanding
Beyonce B eyonce and d Shawn Sh "Jay-z" "Jay z"" Carter "J Carter t justjared.com
• • • • •
Actress in a Drama Series Ella Mai" - Ella Mai (10 Summers/Interscope Records) - Outstanding Album Chadwick Boseman - "Black Panther" (Marvel Studios) - Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Amandla Stenberg - The Hate U Give" (20th Century Fox) - Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Letitia Wright - "Black Panther" (Marvel Studios) - Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture "Black Panther" (Marvel Studios - Outstanding Motion Picture
Murphy and Hall Reunite for the Coming to America Sequel: 'It's Official!'
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ddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reunited during a costume fitting for Coming 2 America, the sequel to their hit 1988 film. Legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who won the Oscar earlier this year for her work on Black
18 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Panther, shared a photo of Murphy, 58, and Hall, 63, on her Instagram account. In the film, Murphy portrayed Prince Akeem of Zamunda, a fictional African nation, who grows weary of his pampered lifestyle and decides to find a bride in America with his best friend and personal aide, Semmi (Hall). It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best C o s t u m e Design (by D e b o r a h Nadoolman) and Best Makeup (Rich Baker). Coming to America also Designer Ruth Carter with Eddie starred James Earl Jones, Murphy and Arsenio Hall Shari Headley and John Amos. While the plot for the sequel is unknown, Jones, 88, is listed as a part of the returning cast on IMDb. Murphy, who created the story, is also listed as one of the screenwriters. A release date has been set for August 2020. www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/eddie-murphy-andarsenio-hall-reunite-for-the-coming-to-america-sequel-itsofficial/ar-BBVK0eY?ocid=spartandhp
Idris Elba as Brixton Lore, Suicide Squad
Where's Idris?
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ou can find Idris Elba in the film Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw portraying the villain Brixton Lore this August. Idris will play a new character in the Suicide Squad film reboot that will be out in 2021. Viola Davis will return as Amanda Waller. Idris is in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Cats playing the villain Macavity. He can also be seen this year starring in Season 5 of the hit BBC series Luther, which he also executive produces. He can be seen starring this spring in the Netflix comedy series Turn Up Charlie, which he also cocreated and executive produced. https://deadline.com/2018/10/cats-idris-elba-joins-cast-andrewlloyd-webber-musical-film-1202484208/
Disney Plus Challenges Netflix
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isney Plus will launch Nov. 12 in the US for $7 a month, or $70 a year if you get an annual subscription. Disney revealed the launch date and price on April 11th, while talking up the streaming service's exclusive shows, including new Marvel and Star Wars adventures -- and every episode of The Simpsons. Its price undercuts Netflix's $13 monthly fee for its most popular plan in the US, which lets you stream to two different devices simultaneously in high definition. Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine M. McCarthy hinted that Disney Plus pricing may rise as the service advances, calling the $7 monthly fee an "initial" price. The company also said it's likely to bundle Disney Plus with Hulu and ESPN Plus, offering a discount if you subscribe to two or three of its streaming options. Disney predicted it would reach 60 million to 90 million subscribers by the end of its 2024 fiscal year -- Netflix already has swollen to nearly 140 million. And Disney predicted that its content spending would jump from $1 billion in its first year to $2 billion four years later. Netflix, by comparison, will spend an estimated $12 billion on content this year. www.cnet.com/news/disney-plus-will-cost-7-a-month-andlaunch-nov-12/
19 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
BBN Show Biz Buzz from BBN Show Biz Buzz on page 20
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Tiger Wins!!!
e weren’t sure we’d ever say this again. But Tiger Woods is your 2019 Masters Champion. It was his fifth Green Jacket, 15th major, 81st win, and quite frankly, one of the greatest moments in the history of the sport. The 2019 Masters is in the books. The week at Augusta yielded plenty of winners and losers. Tiger is obviously the only champion from the 2019 Masters. Two years ago, the idea of Tiger winning another major was beyond outlandish. We weren’t even sure if we’d ever see him play again. But that way of thinking has gone the way of the dodo bird. Tiger didn’t play flawless golf this week. But he stayed patient through his mistakes and remained remarkably steady. And much like we saw more than a decade ago when Tiger became a factor late on Sunday, the best players in the world wilted. The comeback may not be quite what Jack Nicklaus did in 1986. But this is the best we’ve seen since that day 33 years ago.
Tiger Woods © Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Tiger Woods
© Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Woods now trails Jack Nicklaus in the green-jacket department by just one, six to five, and by three in the all-time major victory count, 18 to 15. “I felt for a long time he was going to win again," Nicklaus said. So, you know, he’s got me shaking in my boots, guys.” Michael Dixon, Sportsnaut www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/winnersand-losers-from-the-2019-masters/arBBVW2hi?ocid=spartandhp www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/jack-ontigers-15th-major-hes-got-me-shaking-inmy-boots/ar-BBVW4oZ?ocid=spartanntp
20 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Beyoncé Drops 'Homecoming' album, Netflix 'Homecoming' Documentary Now Streaming
Beyoncé performs during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, April 14, 2018. (Kyle Grillot/AFP/ Getty Images)
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he Holodome is a simulation machine developed by Vulcan, a private company started by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The device offers three virtual experiences at this time: climb atop Mount Everest, a peek inside paintings by Claude Monet, and a frightening journey into the center of a black hole. Vulcan's director of business development, Cooper Moo, said the commercial version of the Holodome has been in development for close to five years and premied for the first time at TED 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. Vulcan is now looking for partners to help scale the project. The black hole simulation, narrated by actress Viola Davis, begins with a burst of blue light. The Holodom structure contains four projectors and 16 speakers, along with fiber acoustics that allow you to feel the vibrations when a star explodes.
Produce A Holodome Experience
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eyoncé has dropped a surprise 40-track companion album of her “Homecoming” 2018 Coachella performance to accompany the Netflix documentary about the event. The album includes two bonus cuts near the end: "Before I Let Go" and "I Been On." The former is a cover of a Frankie Beverly & Maze classic featured in the documentary's closing credits, while the latter is an updated version of a song that was uploaded to SoundCloud back in 2013; "Bow Down" was included on the singer's self-titled album that year. By Variety www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-entbeyonce-homecoming-album-0417-story.html
Viola Davis Narrates Holodome Black Hole Experience
Vulcan Holodome Aria Bendix/Business Insider
Visit the Holodome website (https://holodome360. com) and click on the "Create" button to learn about producing your own Experience. www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-inside-black-holeholodome-2019-4?
So ... Does American TV Ever Mention Africa? by Alexander Wooley
Answer: In March 2018, it was the fourth-most theafricanarrative.org), a project that aims to "engage the mentioned African country on American television, world in new stories of Africa." after Egypt, South Africa and Kenya. "No," she says. "But still, when you look at these Question: What is Wakanda? numbers, collectively, it's really stark. Of the 32 cultural topics we tracked, only three — history, music and his year, the University of Southern California sports — had more positive mentions than negative. (USC) released new research (https://learcenter. And of the 25 major storylines about Africa, 14 involved org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/africainthemedia. crime or violence." pdf) showing Africa is mostly invisible to American Many of the mentions in scripted entertainment television viewers. But while the rulers of Black Panther's mythical homeland intentionally shield Wakanda from the outside world, Hollywood extends a veil of obscurity to the entire continent. Combing through 700,000 hours of U.S. television news and entertainment programming and commercials for an entire month, the USC researchers found that Africa and Africans rarely get star billing. On scripted shows, there were just 25 major storylines about Africa during that period. Across entertainment programs, news and advertising, the total number of mentions of Africa or one of the 50-plus African countries was much higher at 134,000. But there were 7 times as many references to Europe or European countries. were in shows like Law & Order: SVU and the NCIS Meanwhile, 20% of all unscripted entertainment franchises, covering topics like modern-day slavery, mentions of the continent came courtesy of the game honor killings, blood diamonds and terrorism. show Jeopardy! Stylés Akira is an entertainment brand strategist. Funded by the Ford Foundation, the research-driven "People in the U.S. have no idea what Africa really initiative is based at USC's Norman Lear Center looks like," says Akira. "They only picture jungle and (named for legendary producer Lear, driving force savannah, starving people, child soldier." behind groundbreaking sitcoms like All in the Family.) Johanna Blakley, the Lear Center's managing director "Were we shocked by the findings?" asks Michelle and lead author of the research, believes this study is van Gilder, founder of The Africa Narrative (www. likely a first. "We reviewed academic research on the
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22 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF AFRICA ONE STORY AT A TIME
topic and could not find any significant quantitative research studies that addressed Africa in American media – especially entertainment media." Blakley's team analyzed content broadcast on each national TV network, in local TV markets and across basic cable TV programming — 916 stations in total – for the month of March 2018.
Not A lot of dialogue And what of African characters, when they do manage to make it on to American TV screens? Only 13% of entertainment storylines that mentioned Africa actually included an African character. When African characters did appear, 46% spoke ten words or fewer. Only 31% were women. But things might be changing, on the entertainment front at least. A number of Africans are making inroads to the American consciousness in TV and other media — Daily Show host Trevor Noah is South African, the writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is from Nigeria, Lupita Nyong'o, raised in Kenya and Mexico, is being hailed for her performance in the film Us and choreographer Sherrie Silver, who devised the moves seen in Childish Gambino's award-winning "This is America" music video, is Rwandan.
But which country ...? Geography isn't being taught by TV either. The researchers found 44% of TV shows and movies that do mention "Africa" do not refer to a particular country.
As example, the USC report notes that in the film Mean Girls the lead character, Cady Heron, mentions her upbringing in Africa several times but never refers to a specific country. And from its TV survey, the researchers found that the fifthmost mentioned country on U.S. TV is "Congo" – with no effort to distinguish between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo, two separate nations. "The singular view of the continent as a homogeneous entity is an additional factor contributing to the absence of African peoples in the news except, of course, for crisis situations," says Augustine Agwuele, a linguist at Texas State University who studies how cultural content and worldviews are exchanged within groups, and who has worked extensively in Africa.
Netflix Coming this month As a next step, The Africa Narrative will encourage more news coverage of Africa — and more African stories in the entertainment industry. "The U.S. entertainment industry needs to look at the rich storytelling that is Africa-themed or originating in Africa," says van Gilder. She points to Netflix as a possible pioneer in this space. Its first original African series, Queen Sono, about a crime-fighting South African woman, will debut this year. And on March 31 it will stream the Ghanaian film The Burial of Kojo, lauded by The New York Times as a "dazzling modern fable." That's on the heels of its deal to distribute the 2018 Nigerian movie Lionheart -- about a daughter who steps up to run her father's company when he faces health problems https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/ npr/708014789/so-does-american-tv-ever-mention-africa Image crredit: tk Image: Olivia Sun and Noah Fortson/NPR and bgblue/Getty Image
23 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Young Entrepreneur Profile
Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: Entrepreneur Training for Youth By Angel Schaffer, M.D.
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he phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” is quoted by countless parents to their children. However, how often does that phrase seemingly fall on deaf ears as our children repeatedly beg for nonessential things? What if there was a way to teach our children exactly how money grows! Realizing the importance of creating a strong financial future for my 13 yearold daughter, I invested in the Paparazzi business to cultivate her entrepreneurial
skills. Paparazzi is a company which provides quality fashion-forward jewelry for the low price of just $5! As an independent Paparazzi mom/daughter business owner, my daughter Kelsey is gaining valuable handson training in financial literacy. Kelsey’s dedication, leadership skills and excitement for our family business is infectious. She has inspired
other young girls to dream big! Through their mother’s guidance, we now have a team of young entrepreneurs between the ages of 7 to 22 that are learning exactly how money grows. Our mother/ d a u g h t e r t e a m s , collectively named Purposed Jewelz, has a mission to empower young entrepreneurs to live with purpose, building financially strong leaders and compassionate philanthropists. Recognizing the importance of “paying it forward,” our Purposed Jewelz team is committed to giving back locally through partnerships and globally through mission trips. Our Purposed Jewelz team has gained invaluable hands-on financial training not taught in schools. Our business model includes 50% reinvesting, 10% giving, 20% savings, and 20% spending. Equipped to succeed, our team is learning firsthand the monetary benefits of creating multiple streams of income. Living in a society which emphasizes consumerism, I encourage all families to change their mindset. How often do we spend money at trendy stores for our daughter’s jewelry without the potential of earning income? Invest in a family business and gift a child with a gift that keeps on giving; a $5 Paparrazi jewelry business that’s changing lives.
Be The Difference in Young Lives I invite you to contact me, Dr. Angel Schaffer, to obtain more information about Paparazzi, join our team, host a party or offer a vendor opportunity for Purposed Jewelz. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please email us at girlsluvjewelz@gmail.com. To find amazing and affordable jewelry, please visit our website: www.girlsluvjewelz.com.
24 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
400th Commemoration Year of Enslavement 1619-2019 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 www.facebook.com/africanancestry/videos/363773494403533/
Sincerely, Gina Paige President, African Ancestry Maternal Country of Ancestry: Nigeria Maternal Tribe of Ancestry: Fulani
www.africanancestry.com
Business - Young Entrepreneur Tips
How 'People Glasses' Can Help Startup Founders Find Their Place By Sweta Patel for YEC Women CommunityVoice
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s an entrepreneur, you have likely experienced the feeling of not knowing where you belong, what your contribution to the world will be and how you can share your gift. During many phases of your journey, you may feel insignificant and out of touch with others. So, what can you do to regain your momentum and find your place? One way to discover your contribution to the world is to look through the lenses of other people — even if your vision is already 20/20. Start by looking through the eyes of those surrounding you. For example, in the workplace, everyone has different personalities and points of view. When you take the time to understand each and every one of them, you’re better able to find your place by understanding where you can have the most significant impact. As a startup founder, had I not looked at situations from the perspectives of my team members, I would have felt very alone. Here are a few of my top tips on how to look through your “people glasses” when you need to regain momentum in your own startup journey. Remember that different perspectives open new doors. When you understand where your team members stand and how they operate, you gain a better idea of how to best communicate with them to optimize your effectiveness as a leader and manager. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is learn about every person on your team and study them inside and out. For example, at one company, I remember every time I entered the office there was a young woman who was constantly working her tail off to reach the company’s
goals. I sat down with her one day to learn more about her style of doing things. After she explained her work process, I was able to deliver exactly what she wanted and how she wanted it done. She was very meticulous about the tasks at hand, which led me to triple check everything. Her perspective helped me become a more detail-oriented person and also led to me earning her trust. The truth is, as entrepreneurs, we cannot do it all alone — no matter how hard we try. In my experience, any time we try to do things completely on our own, we end up becoming consumed. This is why it is vital to learn about people and their perspectives to understand how you fit in the picture and where you can be most effective within your company. Travel as much as possible. Sometimes it can feel like we have all the significance of an ant, especially when we look at the huge spectrum of our world as a whole. But I find that, in most cases, our significance does not come from within ourselves. It comes from learning and experiencing new things. Nothing has conditioned me to learn about new perspectives more than traveling. When I traveled to twelve different countries within one year, I gained new insights on problems I wanted to solve and how I could contribute to the world in both big and small ways. When I traveled to Egypt, I met people who believed that mastery isn’t about the end goal of becoming an “expert” but instead about continuously learning and improving. This inspired my own mindset in many ways. While in Romania, I experienced its startup and tech culture, which opened the door to growth opportunities based on my experiences in Silicon Valley. When I traveled to Istanbul, I discovered a plethora of products I would never have found in the USA that sparked unique business ideas. Don’t be afraid to open the door to travel. I prefer traveling alone because it allows me to discover more
26 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - New Air Route
United Airlines Will Soon Fly Nonstop To Cape Town, South Africa By DeAnna Taylor
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lying to the Motherland is about to get much easier. United Airlines recently announced its plans to launch a nonstop service from Newark, New Jersey to Cape Town, South Africa in December. This announcement makes United the first airline to offer this particular route. It is also United’s first route to Africa in three years. In 2018, Kenya Airways announced its nonstop service from New York to Nairobi, but no other airline has offered a nonstop route to Cape Town. Typically if you fly from the States to Cape Town, you will have at least one layover abroad. I had two layovers in order to get to Cape Town from New York City — one stop in Ghana and then another stop to change planes in Johannesburg. The nonstop service will take place aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This will allow passengers to reach Cape Town in about 14.5 hours. The return flight will take a little longer, around 16 hours. A sample itinerary would have the flight leaving Newark at 8:30 pm and arrive in Cape Town at 6 pm the next day. Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of international network, said the airline is adding Cape Town because
about myself and other people with whom I cross paths. paths But whether you are alone or with others, at the end of the day, it is about sharing your gift with the world. One way to learn how to do that effectively — and to get out and actually do it — is through travel. Focus on building uplifting relationships and providing value. Have you ever known someone who everyone loves to be around because they bring out the best in others? This is the person who I aim to become. In reality, the person who has the most influence wins. And the best way to build influence is by contributing value to others. If someone feels like you are contributing to their life and that you genuinely care about understanding their wants and needs, they will want you to be involved. Consider the earlier example about the hard-working young woman with whom I worked; by seeing things from her perspective and offering value based on her
it’s the largest unserved destination between North America and Africa. “We’re focused on creating unique opportunities for our passengers,” he said. “If it does well, we will grow it to year round, much like we did in Tahiti.” As of now, United plans to offer the route three times a week between December and March. Prices for the flights have not been announced as of yet. Tickets will go on sale sometime in May, once the airline receives final approval from regulation authorities. This route will definitely be clutch for those that need to visit South Africa frequently for business or other reasons. https://legacy.travelnoire.com/united-airlines-flynonstop-cape-town-south-africa/ methods, I was able to win her trust. preferred methods trust The next time you are struggling to find your significance or build a vision, put on a pair of people glasses with team members, friends and family and even strangers across the globe. You may be surprised at the clarity it brings.
YEC Women: CommunityVoice Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invitationonly, fee-based organization comprised of the world's most successful entrepreneurs 45 and younger. Request an invitation at https://yec.co. www.forbes.com/sites/yec/2019/03/26/how-peopleglasses-can-help-startup-founders-find-theirplace/?utm_medium=40digest.7days3.20190326. carousel&utm_source=email&utm_content=&utm_ campaign=campaign#58299f95735e Image credit snupdesign.com
27 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Young Entrepreneur Profile
Meet Rexy Rolle, VP of Black-Owned Western Air By DeAnna Taylor
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exy Rolle, 30, is from Andros, Bahamas. She is the current Vice President of Operations and General Counsel for Western Air, a Bahamian airline. Rexy has worked in the aviation industry since she was 12, and has served in her current role for the last four years. We spoke with Rexy about her start in aviation and learned more about Western Air.
Travel Noire: How did you get into the aviation industry? Rexy: I have memories as early as I can remember being in a cockpit. My Dad is a private pilot by trade, and I got into the aviation industry as a result of my parent’s passion and interest in it. It also was a part of the island culture in a way. Flying on small charter aircraft was a popular means of travel on my island. Residents were used to hopping on a 5-6 seater aircraft to go on a 15 mins flight into the city of Nassau, especially if the larger air carrier never showed up. It becomes a way of life when the things and places you need to get to are separated by water.
TN: Tell us about Western Air. Rexy: Western Air is a commercial airline based in the Bahamas offering daily, scheduled flights throughout the major destinations in the Bahamas like Nassau, Grand Bahama, Bimini, San Andros, Congo Town, Cat Island, etc., as well as on-demand charters throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline is a family owned and operated airline and was founded by my parents Rex and Shandrice Rolle in 2000. My parents and I were living in Florida at the time when my mom and I went to the Bahamas for my great grandmother’s funeral. When we tried to return we were stuck at the airport for almost an entire day. I was 12 years old at the time and we kept saying to each other, that there must be another way to get to the city. It wasn’t difficult to convince my dad, an aviation enthusiast, on the idea of starting a small airline to service our community at the time. We searched for one aircraft to finance and the aircraft broker introduced us to an aircraft financier who was intrigued by the business idea and offered us a three aircraft package deal, zero down. It was a blessing and it’s one of the reasons we call Western Air a company created by God! Fast forward, 18 years later, Western Air is the largest privately owned airline in the Bahamas with two passenger terminals and full-
service maintenance facilities located in Freeport, Grand Bahama and San Andros, Bahamas.
TN: What is your role within the company? Rexy: As VP of Operations & General Counsel, my role is expansive. On the operational side, I oversee the daily structure of the flights, crew, and movement of passengers to ensure we are operating the aircraft
28 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
and servicing our routes in a way that is most efficient to passengers, but also to time and costs. As General Counsel, I’m responsible for all major contracts, negotiations, acquisition/ financial agreements and transactions, large purchases, certifications and regulatory compliance with Aviation Authorities, as well as advising and prepping external counsel for any legal matters about the airline.
TN: What does this airline mean for Bahamian aviation? Rexy: Western Air has contributed a lot of “firsts” to the Bahamian aviation industry. In 2001, Western Air was the first airline to be approved to operate under the Flight Standards Inspectorate which was formed in 2001 as well. In the Bahamas it was the first airline to operate the Metro IIIs, the first airline to operate the Saab 340As, the first airline in the Caribbean to operate the Embraer 145 jets. Western Air also has the first and only (thus far) passenger terminal facility inclusive of its own security screening which operates independently from the airport. Being the first at things comes with many challenges because it is often a fight with the status quo, but I genuinely feel as if our growth is growth for the Bahamian aviation industry at large. We have seen major progress in the Bahamian aviation industry over the years and I like to believe that Western Air has aided that progression.
TN: Can you tell us about any plans for the company? Rexy: Absolutely! We plan on offering scheduled flights between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica. There will be more opportunity to island hop in a unique way! The new jets have allowed us to expand our range for private charters as well and we are looking forward to adding more international routes early 2019. We also are often requested to begin scheduled flights between the Bahamas and southern US destinations, which we are preparing for.
TN: Where can we find you and Wester Air on social media? Rexy: Find Western Air: www.westernairbahamas. com, www.facebook.com/westernairltd, and @ westernairltd. Find Rexy Rolle at www.rexyrolle.com or on Instagram @rexyrolle. https://legacy.travelnoire.com/meet-the-face-blackowned-bahamian-airline-rexy-rolle/ Image credits: Photo courtesy of Rexy Rolle, Photo courtesy of Western Air
29 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Young Entrepreneur Profile
Interview: Advice From a Female Leader on Making it in the Business World By April Giarla
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nsuring that women have the essential tools they need to flourish in the workplace and rise to leadership positions requires efforts from every aspect of society, from their personal networks to the organizations that employ them. We’ve asked Barbara Thompson (www.linkedin. com/in/barbarathompson1), a Learning Experience Architect at GP Strategies (www.gpstrategies.com), and a woman who has made remarkable strides within the domain of learning & development, to share her personal career experience and tips on how women can succeed and become effective leaders .
Can you describe your current role? I work in the field of Learning Innovation & Transformation which in practical terms means a combination of strategic and operational activities. I work with clients to analyze and improve the impact and performance of their learning ecosystem with specific interventions. Talent Development is an area that apparently gives CEOs sleepless nights, wondering if they have the right people in the organization to deliver against the business strategy. There is clearly more work for my industry to raise the bar of our own capabilities and contributing towards business outcomes.
What achievement are you most proud of in your career? I wouldn't say there’s one big thing, but a continuous activity of development that I’ve undertaken to operate as a modern learning practitioner. Recognizing that learners are now savvier than ever, I endeavor to implement a design mindset in my work. I also lead multi-disciplined project teams, including technical and creative agencies, and am constantly out of my comfort zone which allows me to continue to learn on a day-to-day basis.
Was there a key event or moment that catapulted you into your role? Funnily enough, my former manager made a very sensible decision several years ago to change my title to Learning & Performance Consultant. This positioned me as a business partner, reinforcing my role as an advisor who analyzes needs. That was a
game changer as I personally shifted my tone and developed influencing skills to have greater gravitas.
Was there an inspiring role model or mentor that helped guide you in your career? If so, how did this person help you? I’ve benefited from a variety over the years and the constant has been my Mum because I saw someone with fabulous resilience in a number of situations which would challenge most people. She also changed her career in her 40’s once her children were grown and I’m so proud of her bravery to reinvent herself. Specifically, I could call out 2 more, one a male former manager who told me not to dim my light and hide for fear of people not liking it. Such wise words! Also, he encouraged me to join key senior meetings he attended to get a sense of the dynamics in those meetings and over time for me to contribute which raised my profile. Another is a fabulous lady who interviewed me for a position and midway said, “this isn't the job for you, you are far more talented than this” and was able to create a position for me.
30 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Do you mentor other women? If so, how? Yes I do (as well as men) through a variety of ways including people at my company. I’m also a mentor on a site called ‘Connect Mentors’ (www.linkedin.com/ company/connect-mentors) and via personal request. I’m currently mentoring a young lady who is early in her career, thematically we are currently discussing authenticity and how to effectively network inside and outside of her organisation. In order to be flexible with our availability, we meet via Skype every 6 weeks, however, the initial ‘contracting’ was done face-to-face. For me, mentoring is such a necessary development tool, I am a mentee as well as a mentor and get to wear both hats. The value I get from being mentored is the focus around goals in a safe conversation and crucially from someone who has walked a path that I’m considering/trying. Having a sounding board helps with perspective taking and in some cases, I get access to my mentors’ networks. Put simply, the value of mentoring is immeasurable.
Was there a specific obstacle that you encountered in your career? If so, how did you overcome it? I remember being in a room where I so happened to be the only female. That didn’t bother me, but when I gave a point of view about something that wasn't the main view it was suggested that it was my time of the month so that’s why I’m being argumentative by not agreeing. I paused for what seemed like ages and replied, “no, that’s next week but thank you for your concern, can we get back to discussing points of view in an adult way, I’ll tell you why I believe X needs some more thought.”
What do you think holds women back from getting promoted to leadership? A combination of two things that I’ve observed: 1) A bias that [she] is likely to “go off and have a baby” and therefore disrupt the team. 2) Impostor syndrome can get in the way. Without perpetuating gender differences, it is widely acknowledged that women are less likely to apply for roles if we don't tick most or all of the elements on a job specification. We obviously don't need everything on the list and welcome a role stretch.
What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace? I can’t believe that in 2019 pay inequality is even a thing! Also, expectations about how women should and shouldn't behave ranks highly. Everyone seems to have a view about how we should conduct ourselves. Whilst I’m not a mother myself, I’d like to see better examples of integrating women who return from
maternity leave and realistic perceptions of part-time working. In many respects, some of the challenges we have are the same in wider society.
How can organizations ensure that their female talent has the needed tools to become leaders? As I craft solutions which are based on humancentered design approaches, I would have to say that we need to have dialogue around that, ask questions! Ask people what the barriers are, understand context from both sides of the fence so that tools can help with system-wide behavior change. Each organization will have their unique characteristics and culture so there’s not a one size fits all in terms of tools needed to navigate being a leader in organizations.
What advice would you give other women aspiring to take on leadership positions? First, be clear about why you want the position. Leadership can be hugely rewarding but don't just step into it because it’s offered to you or you feel it’s the right move. If you haven't already got a mentor, get one! Also find a ‘sponsor’ in your business, someone who is your advocate and can open doors, support your brand when you are not in the room.Surround yourself with good people who give you valuable and constructive feedback and not ‘yes-men.’ It’s also important to connect with people who have different perspectives to your own. Develop skills in emotional intelligence and influencing skills. I’ve found that even when women are functionally strong, we sometimes have to work harder to influence! When you have challenging situations, write down what happened in a journal and how that made you feel. Monitor the narrative for consistencies and have more awareness of the situations where these manifest. Often, unless you have the data to appreciate what’s happening, then you can't do anything to remediate. It could be speaking to an individual, it could be personal development, and in extreme circumstances it could be removing yourself from toxic environments. Lastly, speak with confidence. Women can sometimes struggle with this and tend to present assertions as questions by inflecting at the end of their sentences (also known as uptalk). Unfortunately, that diminishes our credibility! www.stratxcorporate.com/industry-insights/ how-to-rise-the-ranks-advice-from-afemale-leader-on-making-it-to-the-top?utm_ campaign=Newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_ medium=email&utm_content=71232624&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-Lbc8067VXczHxNJJzBbueNBVDXw-9EJkuX4qh_ gOTAriGjaGp3uYK1y-ugG1pP9rxIn_4H3BDoVSFymVbvsaBUF6hA&_hsmi=71232624
31 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Buiness - Young Entretreneur Profile
Melody Trice TV Host of Popular Cable Daytime Show “The Melody Trice Show.”
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elody has impacted over 1.9 million viewers with her televised talk show for over 2 years. Melody has interviewed celebrity guests on her talk show from Omar Gooding, Paula Jai Parker and more. What’s interesting about Melody Trice she can easily communicate and engage with Hollywood’s biggest celebrities in the studio or on the Red Carpet. Melody’s energetic personality is proof of that, which has given her opportunities on the red carpet to interview "A" list celebrities from Mark Wahlberg, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Debbie Allen, Niecy Nash, Nick Cannon, and the list goes on. In addition, Melody is also an inspirational speaker, her charisma can captivate any audience. Recently she was the guest speaker for a Women’s Luncheon. Her transparent message left the audience in tears, they left knowing that life has more to give. She shares her life stories by hitting topics from • Self Discipline • Mindset Mastery • Entrepreneurship • Women Empowerment • Health & Wellness. However, Melody has now added Lifestyle Influencer to her brand
“Unlimited Life with Melody Trice.” Melody Trice continues to influence others by becoming the example to follow. Her message is to impact change in one's mind, to live life unlimited. Recently, Melody lost over 50 lbs which improved her health. By using a full body cleanse, changing her mindset towards food and routine exercises. She was seen on NBC “Steve Harvey Show” revealing her impressive body transformation. Her long struggle with weight loss, losing over a total of 100
lbs throughout her journey. She expresses her change from the inside out. Melody no longer takes high blood pressure medicine, nor is she pre-diabetic any longer, an issue. She is definitely the example to follow. Melody’s brand has already caught the eyes of various brands as such Dherbs, Bougie Gurlz Boutique, and The Boss Babe Store to name a few. Melody Trice's journey is definitely one you should follow. Life is unlimited with Melody Trice.
32 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Buiness - Marketing
In 1 Tweet, Netflix Shows How Generosity Can Be a Marketing Magnet By Erik Sherman
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ou don’t want to assume the world always splits neatly into two categories. But there is a broad contingent of people in business who think markets are utterly zero sum and that the only way to get ahead is for competitors to do worse. That is often a mistake. In a mature commodity industry, in which everyone is selling equivalent products into a completely fixed market, that could be true. Or you might sell an array of products that engender loyalty among customers. But those examples are rarer than they might seem. Most industries can involve innovation or even personal preferences. Some people might only buy clothing from one label, but they are unusual. Would you eat solely at one restaurant when dining out? Unlikely. The same dynamic is particularly true in media. Who would refuse to watch any movie or television show that didn’t come from one particular source? People are loyal to the products, not to the particular producers. There is a secondary dynamic as well. Sometimes having strong competitors helps establish and justify a given market. When people see a set of businesses, they take them all more seriously, particularly
as each will probably appeal to a different segment of customers. Netflix (www.netflix.com) did something smart--you could even call it emotionally intelligent. The company, or at least the social media team, acknowledged what is reportedly a fine piece of work, demonstrating its collective taste and engagement with industry developments. When someone asked about where to view the series, Netflix pointed to a competitor, Hulu (www.hulu.com), which had won the bid for Killing Eve. With that, Netflix showed itself to be more interested in quality material and the interests of its customers than in shutting out competitors or finding a way to grind out another nickel. Engendering a lot of good will, it also put Hulu and other streaming companies that want to compete in the position of having to occasionally point to Netflix as a source of entertainment. It’s like the scene in the movie Miracle on 34th Street (www.imdb. com/title/tt0039628) when Santa tells a mother where to buy a toy the store was sold out of. It becomes a big PR hit that brings in profits and costs nothing. It’s not like people would suddenly run away from the old Macy’s ( w w w. m a c y s . com).
No one is going to drop
THE TWEET Netflix US @netflix every single one of you reading this right now needs to make time in your life to watch Killing Eve. It’s a true masterclass in writing, directing, and acting. Oh goodness ... the acting! What Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer do in this show is NEXT. LEVEL. PERFECTION. Watch it 35.3K 9:25 PM - Jan 6, 2019
THE REASON With her win as best drama actress at the Golden Globes last night, Korean-Canadian actor Sandra Oh became the first Asian performer to get more than one of the trophies. It was a big night for her and the series Killing Eve. And a big night for Hulu and Netflix. The former because it’s streaming the first season of the show. And for the latter, because it applauded the win, even though it seemed to gain nothing from the act.
a Netflix subscription as a result. The company might even pick up a number. Consider whether your industry and company are potentially able to make use of some common courtesy and putting a customer’s interests ahead of your own. www.inc.com/erik-sherman/netflixpulls-a-famous-marketing-move-froma-classic-movie.html
33 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
(323) 868-2621
Business - Energy Efficiency
Save Thousands of Dollars-Work With Your Energy Utility by Mark Henderson, Chief Utility Solutions Officer of Ecova a
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mall and medium businesses represent 90% of all businesses, and consume 40% to 50% of the nation’s energy. One in 10 small business owners states that energy is his or her single greatest cost -- more than wages, salaries, materials and supplies. Another 25% say that energy is their second or third largest business cost. But, often, small businesses struggle to reduce their energy bills through improved efficiency. Why aren’t more small businesses going green? For business owners who work around the clock, energy improvement often takes a backseat to other time-sensitive priorities. This constraint is especially difficult to overcome for organizations that don’t have dedicated energy managers on staff. Many small businesses and startups are also hesitant to invest capital in energy-efficient equipment when the non-efficient versions are working properly, such as a new fryer in a restaurant kitchen or standard office equipment for employees. Misconceptions about energyefficient products create more barriers for businesses. Many retail, hospitality and grocery organizations believe that these products aren’t able to create the same desired environment preferred by their customers. Forty years ago, that may have been true. Since then, however, technology has evolved and improved, with an increasing variety of products that often improve the customer experience and employee productivity.
Overcoming these challenges has never been more achievable. A key step in this process is to partner with your local utility -- the very same company that sells you energy in the first place. Most utilities have better energy-efficient programs and support for small business than ever before. Yet, only 2% of small businesses participate in these programs each year. The time is now for small businesses to seek ways to reduce their energy costs, and there are four easy strategies to do so: 1. Think of your utility company as a trusted energy advisor. It’s no surprise that utilities understand how to manage energy, but they are often an undervalued resource. Utilities can make unbiased, comprehensive recommendations by evaluating the top sources of energy consumption and operational considerations for a customer -- such as business hours, temperature requirements and supply chain schedules -- and help improve how businesses operate. Utilities understand that small businesses have diverse needs, and they can analyze data from their energy meters to develop a unique solution that works for any organization. Data analytics provide significant value for organizations when it comes to managing energy resources. One of our customers, Shari’s Café & Pies, found that the dipper wells used to clean ice cream scoops were wasting 8 million gallons of water each year with their perpetual flow systems -- so the company switched to a new system
that instead adds water in regular increments. This shift reduced water usage by an average of 35% and reduced natural gas by 15% to 20%. 2. Tap into utility incentives. Many organizations are unaware that their utility providers subsidize the cost of implementing energyefficient technology, which can dramatically increase their return on investment. The average small business that operates around 50 light bulbs can save more than $500 each year simply by switching to LEDs, which also last 25-50 times longer than standard light bulbs. Businesses can work directly with their local energy management contractors or distributors to install the latest high-efficiency products and appliances in their facility. When Mitchell's Ice Cream in Ohio partnered with COSE for its Energy Assessment Program to conduct an energy audit and identify the most efficient light bulbs, insulation and thermostats, the small business saved thousands and became more sustainable. 3. Review financing options. For small businesses looking to begin their sustainability journey and cut down on energy costs, green financing options are
36 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Cyberseccurity
How Spear Phishing Email Is Becoming a Growing Threat By Sean Michael Kerner
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mail security is top of mind for many organizations, with one of the primary threats coming from a type of attack known as spear phishing. Phishing is a well-understood type of email threat where attackers send unsolicited email with some kind of hook to attract and trick a victim into clicking a link that can lead to a malware infection. While phishing in general is not targeted but instead is a broad-based
attack, spear phishing is a very targeted attack, with attackers aiming the lure at specific individuals within organizations. A new Barracuda Networks report released March 19, based on an evaluation of more than 360,000 spear phishing emails analyzed over a three-month period, provides new insight into how the attack works. In this eWEEK Data Points article, we look at some of the
increasingly available through financial organizations, utility providers and state agencies. It’s now possible to pay loans back through the energy bill, whether it’s a loan for a full efficiency transformation with new smart and connected equipment or just to purchase new lighting.
Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge for LED upgrades that reduced electricity use by over 40% and lowered heating loads, which reduced HVAC tonnage by 20%. Small businesses that inform their utility company of their energy efficiency achievements can also increase their visibility as a spokesperson for sustainability with the local community. By embracing energy efficiency, small businesses can significantly save money and improve their customer engagement. New connected technology, from lighting controls to smart thermostats and energy management systems, can cut energy costs and reduce maintenance headaches for years to come. Beyond operational efficiencies and savings, sustainable initiatives help businesses build stronger relationships with environmentally focused customers and create more jobs for a rapidly growing energy management market.
4. Market the success. Energy management not only saves money, but also can help bring in more business by appealing to customers that increasingly identify with sustainable businesses and products. Marketing successful initiatives once they’ve been completed will help engage customers that consider a business’s environmental impact in their purchase decisions. A recent international study revealed that one-third of consumers now choose to buy from brands they believe are doing social or environmental good. Furniture retailer Haverty’s, benefited from this green trend after it was prominently recognized by the U.S.
see page 37
www.entrepreneur.com/article/299594
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from page 38 key findings and recommendations from the report.
Data Point No. 1: Sextortion blackmail scams are growing In a sextortion scam, an attacker attempts to trick a spear phishing target with the threat of some kind of knowledge about potentially inappropriate behavior. "A few months ago, this type of attack didn't even exist, and now it is one of the most popular techniques, accounting for one in 10 of all spear-phishing emails," Asaf Cidon, vice president of content security at Barracuda, told eWEEK. "The rapid increase indicates that this method is highly successful; otherwise, the attackers wouldn't be spending so much time on it."
Data Point No. 2: Tuesday is the most popular day While spam and general phishing attacks can and do occur any day of the week, attackers in spear phishing campaigns generally focus on business users during the workweek. Barracuda found that peak spear phishing activity occurs Tuesday through Thursday, with Tuesday being the busiest day, accounting for 20% of all spear phishing email deliveries.
By impersonating the well-known technology vendors, attackers aim to trick victims into giving up information and potentially enabling account takeover.
Data Point No. 5: "Request" is the top Business Email Compromise subject line Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a form of spear phishing where an attacker attempts to trick a victim into paying a fraudulent invoice. Barracuda found that the top subject line used in BEC spear phishing emails included the word "request," which was in 36% of BEC email subject lines. The second most popular was "follow up" at 14% and then "Urgent/ important" at 12%.
Data Point No. 6: Limiting the risk from spear phishing involves multiple technologies There is no one technology approach that effectively blocks allll ttypes off spear phishing hi hi attacks. tt Rather than simply relying on traditional reputationbased approaches for email security, Barracuda recommends organizations consider the use of account-takeover protection, DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Report and Conformance) authentication and awareness training.
Data Point No. 3: Brand impersonation Data Point No. 7: New attacks are emails bypass traditional email security coming 83% of spear phishing emails impersonated a wellknown brand, with 20% impersonating a financial institution. According to Barracuda, the brand impersonation emails are able to bypass some traditional email security systems as they appear to originate from highreputation senders.
Data Point No. 4: Impersonating Microsoft is a common technique The single most impersonated brand in spear phishing campaigns according to Barracuda is Microsoft, which accounted for 32% of emails. Not far behind is Apple at 21%.
Given the success of spear phishing attacks, it's likely that over the course of 2019 and beyond email attack vectors will change in different and unknown ways. "It is very hard to anticipate, since attackers are always looking for creative ways to bypass security systems," Cidon said. "I can definitely anticipate that we will see new types of unanticipated attacks." www.eweek.com/security/how-spear-phishing-email-isbecoming-a-growing-threat?utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=EWK_NL_EP_20190321_STR5L2&dni=464724 981&rni=459115572 Image credit: navylive.dodlive.mil, theregister.co.uk
38 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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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, May 9, 2019 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 - Marketing
Why Marketers Should Tap Into the Potential of Bing Ads By Monika Doyle
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arketers shouldn’t overlook the dark horse that is Bing Ads (https://bingads.microsoft. com). With the introduction of the Microsoft Audience Network (MSAN), enhanced AI capabilities and increased partnerships within the last 12 months, Bing is becoming an even more advanced channel that should be tapped to effectively reach the right audience at key moments.
Partnerships and AI The long-standing partnership between Microsoft, AOL and Yahoo continues to evolve; starting in March 2019, Bing began exclusively servicing Yahoo Search traffic, which included traffic currently acquired from Oath Ad Platforms (previously known as Yahoo Gemini) and other search platforms. With Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn came the ability to target LinkedIn users based on job function and title, an exceptionally important development for those in the B2B sector, and a feature that Google simply cannot match. A few key placements and sites unique to Bing that marketers should consider adding to their advertising efforts include the trifecta of MSN, Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Edge. This trifecta enables marketers to deliver high-quality native ad placements across devices regardless of audience, while benefiting from Bing’s promise never to show ads next to sensitive categories such as tragic current events to help protect brands. Bing offers two layouts for native ad formats: image-based ads and feed-based ads. Imaged-based ads are highly visual and appear across multiple types of platforms. Plus, a big bonus to marketers is the ability to import their current assets from what they’re already running on the Google Display Network (GDN) or Facebook. Feed-based ads are product-based and require the use of product audiences which retarget customers on products they’ve already viewed or even added to cart but didn’t finish the check-out process.
Chatbots offer another great way to provide ondemand answers to customers, and Microsoft and Bing stand are at the forefront. This real-time ad extension format can inspire users to purchase an item or answer specific questions to help better service their needs. In fact, Bing projects that 95% of customer interactions will be powered by AI bots by 2025. This is something that Bing has been testing for some time now, but Google has barely set in motion.
The MSAN Factor for Bing Ads There’s been a lot of talk about keywords becoming a thing of the past and looking toward audiences as the means to effectively reach consumers in the future, causing a ripple effect across the industry. In fact, Google AdWords dropped ‘Words’ from its name last June (announced at Google Marketing Live 2018), as the company transitions its focus to the ads themselves. But what does Bing have going for it in this aspect that Google doesn’t? The MSAN component. MSAN is powered by AI and machine learning known as the Microsoft Graph. This intelligent tool contains search and web activity and helps isolate trends to help reach a marketer’s target audience. Bing does not allow for commercial data contained in the Graph to be used for targeting ads; any data is privately stored, owned and anonymized by Bing — a critical factor in a world where privacy is at the forefront of both consumers’ and marketers’ minds. MSAN and Google Ads’ audience network have similarities like remarketing, in-market, custom audiences and product audiences. Additionally, advertisers can target by age, gender, location and device. But the real shining star of MSAN and Bing Ads is LinkedIn profile targeting. This unique feature allows advertisers to apply LinkedIn targeting to campaign and ad group levels and target by industry (with up
40 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
to 145 unique industries), by company name (over 80,000) and by job function (26). Marketers can apply these targeting settings for text ads, shopping and dynamic search ads.
Artificial Intelligence Ethics Marketers are not the only ones watching Microsoft’s next move. In a surprising revelation, the Vatican is teaming-up with Microsoft for a prize to “promote ethics in artificial intelligence.” Pope Francis even met with Microsoft’s President Brad Smith on Feb. 13 to discuss the Catholic church’s position on AI. The person who best defends their dissertation on ethical concerns involving AI will win a trip to the Microsoft headquarters and a prize of 6,000 Euros.
With all the recent talk around privacy concerns and the role tech giants play, it’s a smart move for Microsoft to approach the apprehensions head-on. It’s particularly timely since President Trump announced an executive order earlier this month outlining a plan on how the country will get ahead of AI and how the government can work directly with AI companies. However, with the public scrutiny of Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica data leak scandal and Google’s share of privacy concerns, Microsoft is proving its reputation with no major incidents top-of-mind. The Microsoft Graph provides another layer to help reassure their commitment to protecting consumer data. If marketers have been on the fence about tapping into Bing Ads’ potential, there is no greater time to start acting on it than now. Bing’s increased partnerships, addition of MSAN and intelligent solutions, and commitment to ethical responsibilities shouldn’t be underestimated. The odds may not have favored Microsoft products like Bing in the past, but these innovations mean marketers’ investments now will pay high dividends in the future.s in this data-driven age we live in today. Best of luck. https://www.targetmarketingmag.com/post/why-marketersshould-tap-into-bing-ads/#ne=4a21b9167bf658408191e7c4 9140a9aa&utm_source=today-%40-target-marketing&utm_ medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=2019-03-28
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 41 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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Commentary
King, Memphis and the Morality of Sacrifice: Dangerous Unselfishness and Righteous Struggle By Dr. Maulana Karenga
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n this month, we rightly turn toward Memphis and the martyrdom of Dr. Martin Luther King and again towards the enduring message and meaning of his life. Indeed, we turn to Memphis because it is the site of the martyrdom of Dr. King, one of the tallest trees in our forest of freedom fighters and a constant reminder we must continue the struggle and keep the faith. And we turn to Memphis because it is a microcosm, mirror and reminder of conditions we still must change in this country and the world, and of the work we must do and the struggle we must wage and win to accomplish this. Martin and Memphis are essential and instructive parts of our history as a people, as an African people, as African Americans. And to understand Dr. King and the city that became the site of his ultimate sacrifice and assassination, we must always place King in the context of his people and in the context of the history, culture and the Black Freedom Struggle of his people that called him into being. It is his people’s ancient and ongoing social justice tradition he embraced and in which he grounds himself and it is a tradition which makes morally imperative witness to truth, service to the people and selfconscious sacrifice in the ongoing righteous and relentless struggle to bring and sustain good in the world. The message of Dr. King’s life and his teachings, like all great messages of the world, are both particular and universal. They are particular in that they rise out of and speak first to a particular people, but it also universal in that it speaks to universal principles and practices which resonate with other peoples of the world, for it speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human
in the world. It is good we gather to remember, raise up and pay rightful homage to Dr. King on April 4th, his Day of Sacrifice. We say Day of Sacrifice here rather than day of assassination, not because we don’t acknowledge he was assassinated. But we want to shift the emphasis from assassination, which is what his enemies and the enemies of human freedom and justice did, to sacrifice which is what Dr. King did. That is to say, he refused to back down, surrender or be seduced by the system, but rather put his life on the line, demonstrating what he called on us to practice, i.e., a dangerous unselfishness. In his prophetic speech in Memphis, his last message to his people, the country and the world, he marked out paths we must follow if we are to be successful in our righteous and relentless struggle for freedom, justice, equality, civil rights, and rightful recognition and respect as persons and a people. Thus, he left us lessons of life and struggle we, in rightfully paying homage to his life, struggle and awesome sacrifice, should raise up, reflect on and put into practice. First, King, an astute reader of the signs of history, asked us to read those same signs and see the time we live in as a gift and good, a time for test and righteous and relentless struggle. He said he was glad to live in this great time of turning in human history when the struggle and cry everywhere is for freedom, justice, and recognition and respect of humans and human
44 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
rights. “Something is happening in the world” he said, “The masses of people are rising.” And we are and must continue to be a powerful and assertive part of this revolution in the struggle for human rights and freedom. Secondly, Dr. King tells us that if we are to honor the invitation of history that is offered us, “it means we’ve got to stay together and maintain unity.” And that unity must be an active operational unity in the interests and advancement of our people. We can have coalitions and alliances with others, but without unity ourselves, we don’t enter the battlefield or meeting room from a position of power rooted in the unified strength of our people. Thirdly, King tells us “we must keep the issues where they are,” i.e., clear and in the forefront and not let others divert us or decide the focus of our struggle. He states that “The issue is injustice” and justice, the need for racial, social and economic justice. It is a justice that is sensitive to and actively strives to end suffering, hunger, homelessness, lack of healthcare, police violence, mass and unjust incarceration, unemployment and undeserved and needless deaths of all kinds. King also tells us we must audaciously challenge America to live up to its best ideals and even go beyond them in the interest of a wider and more inclusive concept of freedom, justice and equity. And “we’ve got to say to the nation,” he says, “It will be resolved;” and we will overcome, regardless of unjust and irrational resistance. For he says, “when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” Indeed, he says, these people, as history has taught, have “a certain kind of fire that no water can put out;” a fire of freedom, justice and the constant quest for good in and for the world. Certainly, giving this speech in the midst of the Black sanitation workers’ strike and struggle in Memphis in 1968, King speaks of the need for economic power through economic withdrawal, economic discipline, institution building and support, pooling resources and supporting workers in their rightful struggle for fair treatment, a living wage, safe and just working conditions, and the right to unionize. Dr. King also calls on us to support and maintain a “relevant ministry,” a body of preachers and priests that are deeply rooted in our social justice tradition, not in a gospel of prosperity; a gospel that “deals with the problems of the poor;” refers repeatedly to heaven but is self-consciously engaged with issues of earth. He wants to reaffirm the faith tradition that brings good news to the poor, proclaims freedom for the prisoner
“Let us rise up in greater readiness and let us stand up with greater de termina on. And let us mov e on in these powerful days of challenge to make Americ a what it ought to be” a nd to remake the world. Dr. Mar n Luth er King, Jr. and oppressed, and care and empowerment of the vulnerable. Furthermore, King tells us, we must develop a morality of sacrifice, a “dangerous unselfishness” which asks the question not what will happen to me if I act to help persons in need and vulnerable, but rather what will happen to them if I don’t? He says, “We’ve got to give ourselves to the struggle until the end…we’ve got to see it through” regardless of the costs. “Be concerned about your brother” and sister, he counsels. “You might not be on strike,” or fired or harassed or killed by police violence, but we are all affected. For freedom and justice are indivisible. And thus, he says, “we either go up together or go down” together. Dr. King ends his speech by giving thanks for being able to serve in his century and expressing joy in witnessing students standing up for freedom and justice and Black people in Albany, Birmingham and elsewhere in defiant and righteous resistance; deciding to straighten their backs and actively resist, knowing that the oppressor “can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.” Closing, He reaffirms his faith in us, as a people, and prophesizes our ultimate victory and passing into a promise land, a land of freedom, justice, truth and righteousness that we have forged in righteous and relentless struggle. And thus, he ends saying, “Let us rise up in greater readiness and let us stand up with greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days of challenge to make America what it ought to be” and to remake the world. For as he said in his first speech to the Movement in Montgomery, “this is our task and overwhelming responsibility.” www.MaulanaKarenga.org Los Angeles Sentinel, 04-04-19, p.A6 DR. MAULANA KARENGA
45 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Grant Opportunity
Amazon-NSF Offer $10 Million Grants to Accelerate Fairness in AI Research
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ith the increasing use of AI in everyday life, fairness in artificial intelligence is a topic of increasing importance across academia, government, and industry. Here at Amazon, the fairness of the machine learning systems we build to support our businesses is critical to establishing and maintaining our customers’ trust. Today (March 25, 2019) we are excited to announce that we are working with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to commit up to $10 million each in research grants over the next three years focused on fairness in AI. AI technologies are contributing to economic growth and have the potential to improve the world around us. To ensure that these positive benefits are realized, we believe we must work closely with academic researchers to develop innovative solutions that address issues of fairness, transparency, and accountability and to ensure that biases in data don’t get embedded in the systems we create. NSF and Amazon are working together to support computational research focused on fairness in AI, with the goal of contributing to trustworthy AI systems that are readily accepted and deployed to tackle grand challenges facing society. Specific topics of interest include but are not limited to transparency, explainability, accountability, potential adverse biases and effects, mitigation strategies, validation of fairness, and considerations of inclusivity. Funded projects will help to enable broadened acceptance of AI systems, helping the U.S. further capitalize on the potential of AI technologies. Although Amazon provides partial funding for this program, NSF will make award determinations independently and in accordance with NSF’s merit review process. “We are excited to announce this new collaboration with Amazon to fund research focused on fairness in AI,” said Jim Kurose, NSF’s head for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. “This program will support research related to the development and implementation of trustworthy AI systems that incorporate transparency, fairness, and accountability into the design from the beginning.” Moving forward, NSF and Amazon intend to continue the program with calls for additional proposals in 2020 and 2021. Researchers can find more information on the program and review the call for proposals on NSF.gov. Letters of Intent must be submitted by May 10, 2019, for consideration. Research funded under the joint Amazon-NSF fairness program is expected to result in open-source tools, publicly available datasets, and publications that are widely accessible. https://developer.amazon.com/blogs/alexa/post/1786ea03-2e55-4a93-9029-5df88c200ac1/amazon-and-nsf-collaborate-toaccelerate-fairness-in-ai-research
46 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Jane e Reese-Wilkins s & Associates s e Black k Business s Association n Memberr off the Will assist you with your FREE Covered California Enrollment for No Cost! We assist with the quote, plan selection and enrollment. Depending on your situation, you may receive Premium Assistance. Dental and vision coverage is available at the time of enrollment. We represent the following plans:
Please call for your NO COST consultation, (626) 372-9097 janereesewilkins@yahoo.com www.coveredcaliforniamedicare.com #0C54211
47 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Foods/Hospitality
WeWork Labs Launches WeWork Food Labs By Shayne Benowitz
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n the heels of a successful inaugural year, this spring WeWork Labs (www.wework. com/labs)—The We Company’s platform supporting early-stage startups in 49 locations across 32 global cities—is launching WeWork Food Labs (www.wework.com/promos/food-labs), which provides dedicated space, community, and programming to entrepreneurs working to address the biggest challenges in food today. The platform will support a community of startups in industries from hospitality, consumer goods, and kitchen appliances to supply chain management, agricultural technology, distribution software, robotics, and beyond. It’s the second innovation lab developed by WeWork Labs, following one devoted to new advances in mining in Brazil. For Roee Adler, global head of WeWork Labs, the ethos behind WeWork Food Labs is a natural extension of the company’s commitment to sustainability and early-stage entrepreneurs. “Those ideas intersect at Food Labs,” he says. “How we approach food and sustainability today will have an impact on us for generations to come.” With growing greenhouse gas emission rates, a rising global population, and environmental concerns around food waste, the food industry is ripe for innovation. This presents The We Company with a unique opportunity to disrupt the space and leverage a dynamic community of entrepreneurs on a global scale, despite the challenges normally associated with the industry. “In a way, building a food startup is much more difficult than building startups in other areas,” says Adler. “Facilities can be expensive, equipment is required, [and] procurement of customer pipelines can be difficult.” The WeWork Food Labs flagship location is slated to open in late 2019 at WeWork 511 W. 25th St in New York (www.wework.com/buildings/511-w-25th-st--
new-york-city--NY),
adjacent to the High Line in West Chelsea. It will provide members with a custom R&D space, pantry, private dining room, merchandising area, and indoor-outdoor event space. An inspiring workspace will include dedicated desks, private offices, conference rooms, phone booths, a photo studio, and a podcast studio. Members will have subsidized access to farm space, commercial kitchens, and maker spaces. The lab will support a general Food Labs program, accessible through paid membership, and the Food Labs Accelerator, which will follow a traditional accelerator model. The first participants will follow a structured curriculum over five months, starting in October. WeWork will seed $1 million in equity investments. “The companies we’re looking for are innovators,” said Adler. “They will bring the future and the new ideas. We will provide them with the tools and resources they need to create sustainable solutions that address challenges both within our own community and on a global scale.” The accelerator is accepting applications through May 15 (www.wework.com/promos/food-labs). Food-tech veteran Menacham Katz, who was tapped to head WeWork Food Labs, is aiming to build a community of policymakers, venture capitalists, and university partners to help bring members’ ideas to life. “We’re in a unique position to provide an environment to collaborate and grow,” Katz says. Some of these partner companies include The Spoon, as well as global investment firm Unovis Partners and its VC fund New Crop Capital. The latter will join the space to assess WeWork Food Labs startups for potential future investments in
50 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
A rendering of the WeWork Food Labs space.
sustainable and plant-based solutions. “We believe the broken global food system is ripe for innovation and large-scale disruption, and fixing it poses a vital economic and ethical imperative of our time,” said Dan Altschuler Malek, senior venture partner at New Crop Capital. “We are thrilled to partner with WeWork Food Labs and join their mission in powering the future of food.” WeWork Food Labs is also forming an advisory board of policymakers, educators, chefs, and industry experts, including Samantha Wasser, founder of vegan fastcasual chain by CHLOE, and food scholar and New York University professor Marion Nestle. “We thought that if
we could bring the best and the brightest food startups into one physical community and provide the facilities that they need, then something really interesting could happen,” says Adler. www.wework.com/newsroom/posts/wework-labslaunches-wework-food-labs
51 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - Technology / Take A Look! Technology:
Take A Look!
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For the Gig Worker (and others) Savings, investment, and insurance
he new Catch app (www.catch.co) opens the door to getting covered when your "employer" does not provide the benefits package you need and want. 1) Take the Benefits Checkup - Answer a few questions about where you're at and what your goals are. We'll craft some custom recommendations to help you get what you need now and learn about what could help later. 2) Link your bank - Connect Catch to the account where you normally receive your paychecks. Catch won’t touch your money unless you give us the thumbs up. We just act like your own personal HR department, helping you save when you get paid. 3) Build your Plan - Get started with Tax Withholding, Time Off, or Retirement. We’ll help you figure out how much money you should be setting aside for each. From there, we’re here to help you manage each account but you’ll always remain the owner of your funds. 4) Kick back and relax - We’ll check in with you when to confirm paychecks and let you know if anything needs your attention. No spamming your inbox, no unnecessary push notifications.
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LinkedIn Offers More Social Media Marketing Tools
inkedIn has launched Matched Audiences, a tool for customized targeting of lookalike audiences on the LinkedIn platform. Matched Audiences enables marketers to view members who visited a target website, and define target audiences and deliver relevant ad content. LinkedIn also updated Campaign Manager with interest targeting based on a combination of an audience’s professional interests on LinkedIn, and the professional topics and content that audience engages with through Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Lastly, Audience Templates give marketers a selection of more than 20 predefined B2B audiences as a template to launch new campaigns. www.cabinetm.com
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How to Schedule Emails With Gmail's New Feature
nbox for Gmail might be dead (https:// gizmodo.com/google-is-killing-inboxhere-are-some-alternatives-1829355678#_ g a = 2 . 2 5 8 6 7 2 7 1 8 . 5 1 0 9 0 7 7 4 8 . 1 5 5 4 2 11 5 7 0 1816763524.1501204252), but Google is at least making an effort to make the core Gmail experience better, and
www.catch.co
52 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
as of Google’s most recent update to the email service, you’ll no longer have to rely on third-party Chrome extensions to schedule out your messages. Prior to this feature, Gmail users had to rely on third-party apps or extensions such as Boomerang or IFTTT to schedule their messages for later, though recent changes removed IFTTT support. Thankfully, Gmail’s native scheduling feature is easier than having to install a third party extension—and is integrated more elegantly into the Gmail interface. Gmail has also recently added other features once unique to extensions like Boomerang, including the ability to snooze conversations or set up automatic follow-up reminders, though Boomerang still has useful additions like the ability to pause your inbox or incorporate message tracking. Hopefully, more of these features will be added to Gmail in the future. In the meantime, here’s how to schedule emails whether you’re using the web client or the Gmail mobile app.
How To Schedule Emails • First you’ll need to wait for the feature to roll out to your device, which may take some time. If you’re using the Gmail app, double check for any pending updates waiting to be installed.
on Google Search and Maps. Reach beyond just your followers—give everyone searching for your business a reason to come in by posting updates and offers directly to your Business Profile on Google. Give customers more reasons to come back by posting daily specials or seasonal updates to your Business Profile. • Create a post: Quickly create custom posts from Google My Business on your phone, tablet or computer. • Publish your post on Google: Posts appear right in your Business Profile on Search and Maps. • See what’s working: Get insights about your posts from the Google My Business dashboard.
Let Customers Make Appointments When people find your business on Google, they can make a booking right from your Business Profile. To enable the Booking Button, sign in to your Google My Business account and pick one of our scheduling partners. Then, you can easily track all the bookings that come from your Business Profile on Google.
• Once the feature is available, draft your message as usual. When you’re ready to schedule, click the arrow next to the blue “Send” button on PC and click “schedule send.” A pop-up down menu will appear with preset scheduling options, such as “tomorrow morning,” though you can also set a specific date and times as well. • On mobile, tap the three stacked dots “more” icon next to the send arrow, then tap “schedule send.” A new menu will appear that lets you choose when you’d like to send the message. • You can edit a scheduled message’s delivery time by opening the message and following the above steps to change the date and/or time.recorded is something you want transmitted elsewhere. Brendan Hesse https://lifehacker.com/how-to-schedule-emails-with-gmailsnew-feature-1833717623
Google My Business
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oogle My Business (www.google.com/business) makes it easy to create and update your Business Profile—so you can stand out, and bring customers in. Your Business Profile appears right when people are searching for your business or businesses like yours
mockingbird.marketing
Gather Customer Insights Learn how customers are interacting with your Business Profile. How did people find you? Where are they coming from? Check out customer views and actions to learn how you’re doing—and how to set yourself apart. Find out which of your photos are getting the most attention, and how you’re doing compared to similar businesses. Discover where people are coming from to better target your customers—and to bring in new ones. Insights lets you review clicks, calls, Business Profile views, and more. With Google My Business, the answers are right here.
Build A Website Using Your Business Profile With Google My Business, you can build a free
53 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
see page 53
Business - Technology / Take A Look! from page 54
website that looks great in under ten minutes. The free website builder makes it easy to create and edit your site from your computer and phone. Create: Your website automatically generates with info from your Business Profile. Edit: Customize your site with text, photos, and design themes. Publish: Choose a domain and set your site live. It will look great on every screen. it includes powerful features designed to help drive more customers to your business. www.google.com/business
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Movies Anywhere
ovies Anywhere (ttps://moviesanywhere. com/welcome) is a digital locker and over-thetop streaming platform operated by The Walt Disney Company. The service allows users to stream and download purchased movies, including digital copies redeemed from codes found in home media releases from Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, as well as digital purchases from participating services. The service's associated app also allows users. The system utilizes an internal platform known as KeyChest, which synchronizes content licenses from digital distribution platforms linked to a central user account. 1. Create a free account with Movies Anywhere. You only pay for the movies you purchase. 2. Connect your digital retail accounts to import your movies from iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Xfinity, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV and FandangoNOW. 3. Watch your favorite movies come together. https://moviesanywhere.com
Make Your Own How-to Videos
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umprope (https://jumprope.com) empowers you to discover how to do anything. We all learn new things, pursue passions, and develop hacks that we want to share. Jumprope makes it simpler and faster to share in an intuitive format. It is also easy to find a video sharing the information or entertainment that you are seeking. Everyone can share Each of us has a skill, hack, tip, or trick to share with the world. Now you can create a howto from your kitchen counter, b a t h r o o m mirror, or gym with just your mobile phone. We put the tools to capture, edit, and personalize your how-to at your fingertips. Once you’re How To done creating, A QUICK GUIDE TO AN we do the EVERYDAY MAKEUP formatting for you so you can LOOK easily export videos to each of your social platforms. A format just for how-to’s Looking to learn something right now or browsing for entertainment and inspiration, roam through the Jumprope video library. Jumprope How-to videos stop and start when you need them to, and they get right to the point in a step-by-step format that you can tap through at your own pace. The best way to discover how to do it. Both a tool and a platform The Jumprope team is focused on being the best place for anyone to create a how-to and export it to every social platform. As a result, we’re building the best library of how-to content in Jumprope’s step-bystep format. As the depth of our content grows, more and more people will come to our platform to view howto’s and engage in our community. https://jumprope.com
Curatted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.
54 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
55 February 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Sign This Petition to Demand Transparency
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ecently, Attorney General William Barr released a four-page letter to Congress that raises more questions than answers. Congress and the American people deserve to see the full report and findings from the investigation, not just a summary from Trump’s hand-picked Attorney General. It is absolutely imperative that we have full access to the Mueller Report and all the underlying evidence to learn the facts surrounding Donald Trump’s actions and potential attacks on the integrity of our democracy. We are entitled to know everything about Russia’s brazen attacks on our political system. This includes how Russia manipulated voters in the United States, fomented racial division among voters through social media and other means, and targeted the AfricanAmerican community in extraordinary fashion to suppress voter turnout. The NAACP calls on Congress to exercise its power under the Constitution to rigorously and exhaustively investigate these harmful attacks on our democracy. Unlike Special Counsel’s Mueller’s charge,
this investigation will not be limited in scope. We implore the House and the Senate to do the job we entrusted to our elected representatives to protect the rule of law. Guarding our democracy is not partisan. It is a Congressional duty. Congress must take all available action to ensure a vital and fully functioning democracy. The American people deserve no less. Use this link to sign this petition to demand transparency: https://support.naacp.org/ onlineactions/jguvUmxoYkCcunXUhFOEHA2. Join us today in calling on Congress to release the Mueller report in its entirety. Anything short of complete transparency is unacceptable. Fighting forward, Derrick Johnson @DerrickNAACP President & CEO NAACP
58 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Government - Trade
TRADE MISSION: USA Trade Fair Conference and Exhibition 2019 May 21-23, 2019 Venue - Eko Convention Center Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria We are excited to announce the Commercial Service Nigeria’s first ever USA Trade Fair Conference and Exhibition, May 21-23, 2019 in Lagos, Nigeria. Get access to Africa’s largest and most dynamic market over an intense 3-day period. The USA Fair, which will include exhibitions, company promotions, diplomatic events and targeted one-on-one business meetings, provides U.S. companies with unique opportunities to engage Nigeria’s most qualified buyers and partners. Did you know that by 2050 Nigeria is predicted to be the third most populous country in the world (behind only India and China) and has the largest economy on the African continent, 17th largest in the world? Demand is growing across the agriculture, infrastructure, IT/digital economy sectors, in addition to the traditional sectors such as energy (oil and gas, power), transportation, construction and environmental technologies. For detailed information about the USA Fair, including activities, fees and logistics. Don’t hesitate to reach out to benedicta.nkwoh@trade.gov and ambrose. thomas@trade.gov. Also contact Africa Business Portal at: 1-800-573-6105 or info@africabsp.com. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to grow your business in Africa’s largest and most dynamic market. We will be pleased to arrange a conference call with you to discuss your product or in case you have any further concerns or questions about USA Fair 2019. For details on the Republic of Nigeria visit: https://2016.export.gov/nigeria
60 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Business - End of An Era
It’s All Over For Johnson Publishing Compan by MG MEDIA
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reating shockwaves throughout the African American community, Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Co., the once-iconic publishing company that for years had been one of the nation’s largest black-owned business, filed for bankruptcy yesterday. After years of trying to remake the former BE 100s company that launched such brands as Ebony and Jet magazines, it succumbed after failing to find new funding sources. The liquidation of its assets marks the end of an era. According to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, filed in the Northern District of Illinois, JPC has between 200 and 999 creditors, as well as between $10 million and $50 million in both assets and liabilities. In making the announcement, the company said in a press release that it was “caught in a tidal wave of marketplace changes and business issues which, despite exhaustive efforts, could not be overcome.”
Over the years, financial troubles forced the firm to sell major assets. In 2016, the company sold Ebony and Jet magazines to a private equity firm in Texas and sold its headquarters in 2010. The company, which still owns the Fashion Fair cosmetics business as well as an expansive archive of about 4 million images and thousands of videos, will place those properties on the auction block.
The Legacy of John H. Johnson For close to 50 years, BLACK ENTERPRISE has covered the company, founded in 1942 by John H. Johnson, who was named one of the most important African Americans in business. Under Johnson’s stewardship, JPC’s publications touched the lives of millions of African Americans in every facet of life, sharing with the world their talents and potential, exposing injustice and racism, and shattering social and commercial
barriers. BE named Johnson its Entrepreneur of the Decade in 1987 for building JPC into a global powerhouse, chronicled as one of the greatest moments in black business in 2017. That article noted that the founder, chairman, and publisher of the storied enterprise served as an inspirational force for generations of African American entrepreneurs: As an eager young man, Johnson got his start when his mother used her furniture as collateral for a $500 loan to start his first publication, Negro Digest, in 1942, which served as the launching pad for him to create the largest African American publishing company in the world. Seemingly, there wasn’t a single African American household in late 20th century America in which you could not find a copy of Ebony or Jet on the coffee table. And to share the impact his publications had, one can point to a
62 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
ny
John H. Johnson powerful example that predates his inclusion on the BE 100s by roughly two decades that BE shared in our October 2005 tribute on this legendary force: In September 1955, Johnson made a decision that forever shook the world. Not one to vacillate on any issue, he revealed to millions the mutilated corpse of Emmett Till, a Chicago youngster who had been bludgeoned and shot in Mississippi for reportedly whistling at a white woman. Readers found the heinous example of Jim Crowbrutality on the pages of Jet, Johnson’s 4-year-old weekly news digest. Shortly thereafter, other black
publications followed Jet’s lead in publishing the photos. It galvanized clusters of African Americans nationwide to protest such senseless acts of violence. In one bold move, the determined 37-yearold publisher helped launch the civil rights movement. That was but one example of Johnson’s power. For six decades, he made full use of his wealth and influence to shape American history, while using his publications— primarily Jet and his flagship, Ebony—to cover the battle for civil rights and chronicle every major event that depicted the trials and triumphs of African Americans. By 1987, when he was fittingly honored on the 15th anniversary of
the rankings of the nation’s largest black businesses at a gala in downtown Manhattan, this rugged individualist had built an empire that touched the lives of millions through publications, radio stations, television programs, fashion shows, and haircare and cosmetic products. He also owned Supreme Life Insurance Co., his former employer and one of the nation’s largest black financial services firms listed on the BE INSURANCE COMPANIES list. In addition to his collection of companies, Johnson held a 20% stake in another iconic BE 100s company: Essence Communications Inc., publisher of the black women’s magazine Essence. How did he do it? It took sweat, intellect, and moxie. When the company first appeared on our list in 1973, JPC grossed $23.1 million. In 1987, it had grown to an enterprise that grossed $173.5 million and employed 1,800 people. Despite its size and stature, it was still very much a family-owned business: His wife, Eunice, among other areas, ran the Fashion Fair cosmetics line, and his daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, rose through the ranks to eventually take its helm. In sharing his greatest inspiration as an entrepreneur, he said: In a broad sense, I admire any black man who succeeds. There are so many obstacles throughout life that I am surprised that black businessmen have done as well as they have. I guess I am inspired by every black man who meets payroll, every black man who continues to overcome barriers and beat the odds. www.blackenterprise.com/withbankruptcy-filing-an-end-of-an-era-atjohnson-publishing/ Image Credits: blackhistoryheroes. com, pinterest.com , short-sharp-shock. blogspot.com, thefamouspeople.com, chicagobusiness.com
63 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Commentary - Health Care
Donald Trump’s Big Lie About Health Care
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onald Trump’s madcap presidency is now seeking to strip 20 million Americans of their health care coverage. He has instructed the Justice Department to join the lawsuit seeking to declare the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. He then proclaimed that Republicans would offer a far better alternative, tweeting they’ll become the “Party of Great Health Care.” Only there is no plan. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader, wants nothing to do with trying to develop one. Confusion reigns. This grotesque misrule might be funny were it not putting millions of people at risk. Trump has taken his animus against all things Obama to new heights in his obsessive drive to repeal or disembowel the Affordable Care Act. After the Republican Senate rejected repeal — feeding Trump’s disdain for Sen. John McCain, who cast the determining vote — Trump’s administration has sought to undermine the act administratively. Seven million fewer people now have health care coverage since Trump was elected. Now he hopes to have the courts repeal the act.
That would end the expansion of Medicaid, which covers more than 10 million low-wage workers and their families. It would repeal the requirement that insurance companies cover those with preexisting conditions — putting anyone who is ill now covered under the act at risk. It would repeal the provision allowing the young to be covered under their parents plan to age 26. Once more, insurance companies would be free to enforce lifetime limits on coverage, putting the most vulnerable at risk. Trump adds insult to this injury by proclaiming the big lie: that Republicans have or will have a plan that will cover more and be less expensive. But there is no plan. Trump aides say it will be developed in the Senate. McConnell, who rules Senate Republicans with a tight fist, says, “I look forward to seeing what the president is proposing and what he can work out with the speaker.” When asked if the two committees tasked with overseeing health care would come up with a plan, Sen. Charles Grassley responded tersely with a “no.” Scrambling to put a cover on his barefaced lie, Trump announced that Sen. Rick Scott, Republican
of Florida, would join with a couple of other senators to come up with a “spectacular” plan. This is like naming Al Capone to design the tax code. In the 1990s, Scott was the CEO of Columbia/ HCA. He resigned in 1997, the same year the FBI announced an investigation of the company for massive Medicare fraud. In the end, Columbia/HCA pled guilty to systematic fraud — featuring false billing of Medicare on a breathtaking scale. The company pled guilty to 14 corporate felonies and paid out some $1.7 billion in criminal fines and penalties in what the Justice Department called the “largest health care fraud case in U.S. history.” No doubt, if Scott were to come with a plan, it would be “spectacular” for the money guys, and savage for those in need of care. On health care, Trump’s lies are dangerous to life. The U.S. is the only advanced industrial country that does not provide universal health care as a right. We are paying almost twice per capita as other countries with worse health care results. U.S. life expectancy has declined for three years, in part because of the opioid crisis, in part because of the absence of
66 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
adequate health care. Meanwhile, the insurance companies and the drug companies and the private hospital complexes rake in fortunes. What should be done is clear. The U.S. government should negotiate with drug companies to force lower prices for prescription drugs. Medicare should be strengthened and then extended to cover more people in stages. Cover those up to 30 and those 55 and over in the first stage. And then over years, perfect and extend the program to cover all. Pay for it by requiring the rich and the corporations pay their fair share of taxes. We’d end up paying less
and getting better coverage. That rational solution runs into the strongest of entrenched interests — the drug companies and the insurance companies and their legions of lobbyists. They are prepared to spend billions to protect their profits. They buy ads to scare the hell out of people, pay for politicians, and blanket congress with lobbyists. Now they have Trump fronting for them. It will take an aroused public to overcome that resistance. Trump believes that if you tell a big lie over and over and over again, pretty soon people will begin to believe. His political debut was
the big lie about Obama’s birth certificate. He’s done the same with his racist rants on immigrants and the border wall. Now he plans the same big lie technique on health care: slandering what is, claiming to have a better plan when there is no plan, posturing as a champion of the people when he’s defending big money interests. The real deal is clear: the rich get a tax cut; the poor get a health care cut. The rich are living longer in splendor. The poor are dying earlier in distress. The only thing “spectacular” about the Trump health care lie is his audacity to believe that he can sell it. www.rainbowpush.org
67 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
FOR
Easter Celebrations OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION
70 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
400th Commemoration Year of Enslavement 1619-2019
Jamestown to Jamestown Memorial Trip to Ghana to Commemorate 400 years of African Diaspora By NAACP
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he Jamestown to Jamestown Memorial Trip to Ghana, an official event of Ghana’s Year of Return, was announced at the 50th NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood, California by Diallo Sumbry, Ghana’s first Black American Tourism Ambassador, in partnership with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Sumbry attended the annual Awards ceremony in his official role where notable celebrities including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Taraji P. Henson were honoured and the formal announcement of Jamestown to Jamestown was made. Jamestown to Jamestown will provide an opportunity for NAACP leadership, members and the African American community to travel from Jamestown, Virginia, to mark 400 years since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans at this the landing site to the Jamestown section of Accra, Ghana a former port and slave market, for a memorial trip to honour both ancestors and the struggle for Black liberation in August. Participants of Jamestown to Jamestown (www. jamestown2jamestown.com/) will embark on August 18 from Washington, DC by bus to Jamestown, Virginia for a prayer vigil and candle lighting ceremony marking the African “Maafa,” a term describing the horrific suffering embedded in the past four centuries related to the enslavement process. A return trip back to DC for a special gathering at the National Museum of African American History and Culture designed by Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, will be followed by the departure to Ghana for 7 to 10 days of rich cultural, spiritual and cathartic experiences. “The NAACP has advocated for civil and human rights justice and equity of Black people since being founded in 1909. In my role as one of Ghana’s Tourism Ambassador, I am honoured to manifest partnerships with organizations such as the NAACP to be able to help push how Africa is represented and promoted to the Black diaspora and contribute to this movement in
Diallo Sumbry, Ghana’s first Black American Tourism Ambassador the milestone Year of Return. Jamestown to Jamestown is an effort to connect the Black Diaspora’s present to our African past in ways to empower and invigorate the continued struggle for full liberation and justice worldwide,” shares Diallo Sumbry, the founder of the Washington, D.C. based The Adinkra Group (http://theadinkragroup.com), an African Cultural Edutainment Resource and Consulting Company and organizer of the Back2Africa Festival and Tour.
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www.jamestown2jamestown.com “Jamestown to Jamestown represents one of the most powerful moments in the history of the Black Experience. We are now able to actualize the healing and collective unity so many generations have worked to achieve in ways which bring power to our communities in America, Africa and throughout our Diaspora,” adds Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. Jamestown to Jamestown is another event slated for the Year of Return, a year-long major landmark spiritual and birth-right journey inviting the Global African family, home and abroad, to mark 400 years of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia. Event partners include South African Airways, AfricanAncestry.com, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority, Diaspora Affairs-Office of the President, Sun Seekers Tour and The Adinkra Group.
Jamestown to Jamestown event includes: • Prayer Vigil at Jamestown, VA Settlement • Direct Chartered Flight to Ghana from Washington, DC • Ancestral Healing Ceremony at Jamestown, Accra • 4-5 star Hotel Accommodation • Business, Investment & Development Summit • Black Tie Gala • AfricanAncestry.com DNA Reveal Ceremony • Cape Coast and Elmina Castle Visit • Assin Manso Last Bath Slave River • Akwasidae Festival @ Manhyia Palace in Kumasi www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/ Jamestown-to-Jamestown-memorial-trip-to-Ghana-tocommemorate-400-years-of-African-diaspora-736769#
73 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
Uncovering the Tragic History of “Racial Homicide” in America F Founded d db by 2016 C Carnegie i ffellow ll M Margarett B Burnham, h the th Ci Civilil Ri Rights ht and Restorative Justice Project addresses harms resulting from anticivil rights violence though research and remediation. (Photo: Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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ne Saturday last August more than 100 people gathered in the Alabama heat to honor the memories of six black men, all from Mobile, who were killed by white people in the 1940s. Largely forgotten by all but a handful of descendants, these men were recognized 70 years after their deaths, owing mostly to the work of the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ), a law clinic and resource center housed at Northeastern University’s School of Law in Boston. The project’s founder and director is Margaret Burnham, a 2016 Andrew Carnegie fellow. Burnham’s work and the work of CRRJ extends the research done on lynchings in the late 19th and early 20th century to what Burnham calls “other forms of racial homicide,” occurring mostly in the
American South between 1930 and he invited a white man, Horace 1970. Burnham told the gathering Miller, to have a drink after work. in Mobile that state violence and Miller took offense that a black segregation went hand in hand: "The person would suggest such a ‘back of the bus’ was imposed and thing, prompting Davis to say that black people would soon enforced by guns. An attack could be “The ‘back o triggered by nothing ng f the bus’ w as imposed and at all, but certainly nly e n fo rc ed by guns. if you exerted your our An attack cou rights, as these se ld be triggere d by nothing at all, men did, you were re b u t certainly if yo subject to the risk sk u exerted your of violence." rights, as th ese men did, you w The story of e re s ubject to the Rayfield Davis, s, risk of violenc e.” one of the men n honored in Mobile,, — Margaret B urnham, Civil is emblematicc R ig h ts a nd Restorativ of many otherss e Justice whose cases the center has Project documented. Davis died after
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get equal rights. By Miller’s own account, he became so enraged that he beat Davis to death. “Davis died after asserting to a white man that President Truman would improve the lives of African Americans and make their lives better,” Burnham said. “That was a political statement. It was a statement of resistance. It was a statement of dignity and a call for respect. For that, the man to whom he made that statement killed him right there.” Burnham’s Carnegie project builds on hundreds of such accounts in the CRRJ database as well as on other materials to create a narrative about the way justice for
“Americans c are about his tory. It matters. But it is selective. O ur aim is to put this h istory front an d center so it can’t eve r be ignored.” — Margaret B urnham, Civil Rights and Restorati ve Justice Pro ject n Americans operated in midAfrican 20th-century America. For example, she says, one chapter will look at kidnapping and try to “dissect the question of why kidnapping was never punished when the victims of kidnapping during this time were
African American American.”” Burnham came to Northeastern after a long career as a civil rights attorney and judge; she was the first black woman judge in Massachusetts and has been honored as a Living Legend by the Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket. She feels fortunate to be able “to define a project like the database and be able to touch on an area and do some digging and create something that wasn’t there before. That’s a gift that scholars have and I’m enjoying it.” Burnham sees CRRJ’s work — and the efforts of others such as 2017 Carnegie fellow Monica Muñoz, who is documenting the killing of Mexican migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border — as serving several purposes. One, as the Mobile ceremony dramatized, is to “bring dignity to the lives of the victims and their families.” The center also tries to encourage discussion about the cases in the towns where the killings occurred. More broadly Burnham believes confronting our past will enrich our understanding of American history. “Americans care about history,” she says. “It matters. But it is selective. Our aim is to put this history front and center so it can’t ever be ignored.” www.carnegie.org/news/articles/ uncovering-tragic-history-racial-homicideamerica/
75 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest
Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial
Nicholas Watkin/Courtesy of Atlantic Records
Nipsey Hussle, Grammy-Nominated Rapper And Philanthropist, Shot And Killed By Rodney Carmichael
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rammy-nominated rap artist, entrepreneur and community philanthropist Ermias Asghedom, better known as Nipsey Hussle, was shot and killed Sunday. His death was announced on Twitter by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Nipsey Hussle was 33. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office confirmed Monday that he died of gunshot wounds of the head and torso. The shooting took place in South Los Angeles, outside The Marathon Clothing, a store he owned on West Slauson Avenue. Nipsey Hussle was widely respected in the hip-hop world, not
just for his musical contributions but for the hustle ethic personified in his chosen stage name. He overcame the obstacles of an unforgiving environment, made famous by generations of West Coast rap legends, to become one of the most beloved and inspirational figures within the culture. Raised in the gangland territory of South Central L.A., Nipsey Hussle came of age in the Rollin 60s, a notorious Crips neighborhood. Yet he rose to prominence by legitimizing his street hustle and using that entrepreneurial drive to create economic empowerment in his marginalized community. Forbes recently documented his rise as a real estate mogul, which
included buying the strip mall on West Slauson Avenue where his Marathon store is located. The purchase was a notable move to positively reinvest in his neighborhood and buy back the block where he'd hustled illegally as a youngster. As an artist, Nipsey Hussle was a noted trendsetter. He was born of Eritrean descent on his father's side, and his hip-hop dreams began in childhood. He released his first mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, in 2005. But real renown began when he employed a marketing move that put the stagnating music industry on notice. After his first label deal, with Epic Records, went sour in 2010, he independently released
78 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
hot97svg.com
his 2013 mixtape, Crenshaw, with an unprecedented price point. "The marketing for the mixtape was that we only made a thousand units and sold them for a hundred dollars apiece," Nipsey Hussle told GQ in February in a story about his relationship with his longtime girlfriend, actress Lauren London. "It was a scarcity model." And it worked. At a time when many artists were being told by the industry to give their music away for free, Nipsey Hussle went the other way. Jay-Z, one of many fans he won over with his music and marketing savvy, bought 100 copies. It became the model for his career as a self-starter. When he returned to a major label, it would be
in partnership with his independent label, All Money In. His 2018 album, Victory Lap, earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap album. The release — which featured artists including Puff Daddy, YG, Kendrick Lamar and Marsha Ambrosius — was his official major-label debut and a full circle moment for Nipsey Hussle. "Having strong enemies is a blessing," reads Nipsey Hussle's last message on Twitter, posted shortly before his death. But it was through his music — filled with stories about gang life, of rising above struggle through grit and economic uplift — that the rapper maintained his solidarity with the streets. In an interview with
NPR Music last year, he talked about why surviving the explicit reality of South Central made him an urban legend of sorts. "If you check the stats — the murder rates and incarceration rates in the years I was a teenager in L.A. — in my section of the Crenshaw District, in the Rollin 60s, none of my peers survived. None of my peers avoided prison. None of 'em. Everybody got bullet wounds and felonies and strikes. So to make it out mentally stable and not in prison and not on drugs, that's a win. That's a victory in itself. Then to be in the position I find myself in as an artist and entrepreneur who has respect around the world — that's legendary. And I say it in the most humble way," Nipsey Hussle said. "When I reflect on it, it's unbelievable. It's gotta be evidence of a divine presence, because it wasn't that I'm just the smartest dude or just wiggled my way through. It had to be a calling on my life." News of his death sparked an outpouring of messages on social media from such notable peers as Rihanna, Drake, Chance the Rapper, Meek Mill, LeBron James and many others. One message, from L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff, said that he and LAPD Chief Michel Moore had been scheduled to meet with Nipsey Hussle on what turned out to be the day after his death to discuss curbing gang violence: "We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I ) were meeting , at the request of @NipseyHussle with him and @ rocnation tomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids. I'm so very sad.". https://www.npr. org/2019/04/01/708675102/nipseyhussle-grammy-nominated-rapperand-philanthropist-shot-and-killed
79 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial
Okwui Enwezor (1963-2019): Anambra’s Gift to The World of Art By Adinuba, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment
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t is with the deepest grief that the Anambra State government received the news of the untimely passing away of our very own world-class curator, poet, educator and critic, Okwui Enwezor. The inimitable Okwui Enwezor, fondly known as simply “Okwui” in elite art circles all over the world, died of cancer in Munich, Germany, on Thursday, March 15, 2019. The 55-year old extraordinary artist hailed from Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government area of Anambra State. Enwezor’s transition was one death that sent volcanic shock waves across the continents. He was one of the foremost contributors to the mainstreaming of African art into the global art. He held large scale exhibitions in America, Asia, Africa and Europe, seizing global imagination. Enwezor may well be the proverbial prophet who was respected everywhere except his homeland because little was known about him in Nigeria, but he is widely recognised for his ability to globalise African art the way Professor Chinua Achebe took African literature to the global arena and Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike, another great Anambra son, took African history to the global scene. Enwezor was to African art was Professor Ben Enweonwu, yet another Anambra gift to the world, was to it. A quintessential Renaissance man, Enwezor was admitted to study at the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, but quickly left for the United States where he took a degree in political science at the Jersey City University. He was to serve as the director of the esteemed Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany, until his resignation in 2018, following his battle with cancer. He rose in 1998 to become the first African, and as yet the only nonEuropean Artistic Director, of the prestigious Documenta. Enwezor is reputedly the only curator, after Italy’s legendary Harald Szeeman to have directed both Documenta and the celebrated Venice Biennale. He was the curator in the Seville and Gwangju Biennials in 2006 and 2008 respectively, climaxing his career as the curator of the Paris Triennale in 2012. Earlier, in 1994, he collaborated with other artists in founding NKA: Journal of Contemporary African Art. He undertook the epochal exhibition In/Sight: African Photographers, 1940 to the Present, which he curated with Octavio Zaya at the Guggenheim Museum of New York. Enwezor’s oeuvre t is a grand testament to social engagement. He used his art and exhibitions to address colossal social issues, ranging from apartheid to Africa’s liberation movements to the significance of President Barrack Obama’s leadership of the United states. For him, it was not art for art’s sake but art in the service of humanity. Decorated with honorary doctoral
degrees from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and Harvard University, Enwezor was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2014 and the Hessichen Kulturpreis in 2015. Despite his global status, Enwezor was ever conscious of his West African roots. Even a week to his death, Enwezor was working on an exhibition entitled El Anatsui: Triumphant Scale, an extensive traveling exhibition of the work of Africa’s greatest living artist and emeritus professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, El Anatsui, which he co-curated with Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu of Princeton University. The exhibition opened at Haus der Kunst in Munich, Germany. The Anambra State Government is at once mourning Okwui Enwezor’s death and celebrating his rich life. The government will participate actively in his funeral ceremonies, in line with our tradition of honouring men and women who make extraordinary contributions to our state and humanity. www.thisdaylive.com/index. php/2019/03/31/okwui-enwezor-19632019-anambras-gift-to-the-world-of-art/
80 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial
Civic and Spiritual Leader Dr. Kwame Porter Has Passed MG Media
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ev. Kwame John R. Porter, Ph.D. was born on April 2, 1932 in Mineral Springs, Arkansas. In 1939, when Porter was eight years old, his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas. Porter received Associate Arts degree from Kansas Community College. After attending Drake University for one year, Porter enlisted in the U.S. Army, stationed in Ulm, Germany, before receiving an honorable discharge. In September of 1957, Porter returned to the U.S. and enrolled at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He graduated with his B.A. degree in Sociology and minors in Religion, Philosophy & Education. Following graduation, Porter was awarded a threeyear fellowship grant to explore the Christian ministry at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. In February of 1960, he coorganized the local CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) chapter. Under his leadership, the chapter protested Woolworth stores in support of the Southern Student Sit-In Movement. In 1961, Porter became the first African American elected as President of the Dempster League. In 1962, he received his M.A. degree in Divinity from Garrett Seminary. Following graduation, Porter was appointed as assistant pastor under Rev. Harry Connor at the
Normal Park United Methodist Church (UMC) in Englewood, and then as full-time pastor at the Christ UMC in that community. In August 1962, Porter joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and thousands of non-violent protesters at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) first mass anti-segregation demonstration in Albany, Georgia. Porter was jailed for six days following the event. In August 1963, Porter attended the March on Washington; and, in 1965, he assembled eighty Chicago residents to attend the Voting Rights March in Selma, Alabama. In the spring of 1964, Dr. King and the SCLC leadership gave Porter permission to launch SCLC’s first Chicago chapter. Porter mobilized ten thousand Englewood residents for Dr. King’s “Get Out the Vote Rally” on October 29, 1964. Porter’s church in Englewood served as one of the rallying points for a series of anti-segregation marches into all-white neighborhoods when the Chicago Freedom Movement invited Dr. King and his staff to spend summer of 1966 in Chicago. From 1968 to 1970, Porter taught as Adjunct Professor at Northeastern Illinois University’s Center for Inner City Studies.
In 1970, he taught an African American History course at George Williams College in Downers Grove, Illinois. From 1971 to 1974, Porter served as Dean of the Chicago Center for Black Religious Studies. He then served as Urban Vice President for Young Life International from 1974 until 1979. He also earned his Ph.D. degree in Interdisciplinary Sociology from Union Graduate School (now Union Institute & University) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1975. Kwame was interviewed by The HistoryMakers in 2003. Porter is the author of six books. He published his first book, The Dating Habits of Young Black Americans in 1979. His 500-plus page book, Autobiography of Black Male Violence is considered by many to be a classic legacy work. He also has received numerous honors for his commitment to social and racial justice. Mr. Porter's favorite quote: We Are Either Transformers Of The Society With Which We Live, Or We Are Transformed And Deformed By It. Porter and his wife, June, reside in Chicago’s Hyde Park community and have six children, thirteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Porter passed away on April 7, 2019.
81 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International - Justice
US Revokes ICC Prosecutor's Visa Over Afghanistan Inquiry By Patrick Wintour and Owen Bowcott in London and Julian Borger in Washington
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda would continue to pursue her duties ‘without fear or favour’, her office said. Photograph: Jerry Lampen/EPA
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he US has revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor in response to her intention to investigate potential war crimes by US soldiers in Afghanistan. A statement from the office of Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian national, said she would continue to pursue her duties for the court, in The Hague, “without fear or favour” and that she would continue to travel to the US. She has not been restricted from visiting the UN headquarters in New York. The US State Department does not provide details of individual visa cases but made clear it was implementing the threat last month from the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to impose restrictions on any ICC staff who investigated US or allied personnel. The move marked a hardening of America’s policy of non-
cooperation with the ICC, and a downgrading of the role of multilateralism. “The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people from unjust investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court,” a state department spokesperson said. They added that visas would be denied to “ICC officials who are determined to be directly responsible for any ICC effort to conduct a formal investigation of US or allied personnel without the relevant country’s consent”. The State Department said the US would not “interfere with travel to the UN for official UN purposes”. The US has refused to recognise the ICC since its inception in 2002, weakening the court’s authority and providing an excuse for other countries, most notably
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International Criminal Courg beverlytran.blogspot.com in Africa, to also pull their support. In 2017, Burundi became the first nation to leave the ICC. Pompeo’s move came as he delivered another snub to multilateralism by skipping a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France on Friday and sending his deputy, John Sullivan. Bensouda’s office said she had an “independent and impartial mandate” under the Rome statute governing the ICC. “The prosecutor and her office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favour,” it added. Bensouda makes regular trips to the UN in New York, where she gives briefings to the Security Council. The UN office is seen as covered by a form of diplomatic immunity. “It is our understanding that [the visa withdrawal] should not have an impact on the prosecutor’s travel to the US to meet her obligations to the UN,” a spokesperson for her office said. Bensouda asked ICC judges in November 2017 for authorisation to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan government forces and international forces, including US troops. The investigation is also expected to examine CIA activity in detention centres in Afghanistan. The court has not yet decided whether to launch a full-blown investigation that would cover events after 2002. Pompeo said on 15 March that the ICC was “attacking
America’s rule of law”, as he announced a policy of imposing visa restrictions on “individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel”. “If you’re responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan you should not assume that you still have, or will get, a visa or that you will permitted to enter the United States,” Pompeo said. Last September, the US national security adviser, John Bolton, launched a blistering attack on the ICC in a speech to the conservative Federalist Society in Washington, denouncing the court as invalid and “antithetical to our nation’s ideals”. “We will provide no assistance to the ICC,” Bolton said. “We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us.” Bolton threatened the ICC with sanctions and possible prosecution of its officials if it proceeded with investigations into alleged war crimes committed by US military and intelligence staff during the war in Afghanistan or investigated Israel or other US allies. In response, the UN-backed court said it would not be intimidated or dissuaded from its global mission. “The ICC, as a court of law, will continue to do its work undeterred, in accordance with those principles and the overarching idea of the rule of law,” it said. www.theguardian.com/law/2019/apr/05/us-revokesvisa-of-international-criminal-courts-top-prosecutor
83 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
African Stock Exchanges • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bolsa Valores de Mocambique - www. bolsadevalores.co.mz • 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. casablanca-bourse.com/bourseweb/index.aspx • Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz • Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www. douala-stock-exchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www.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=%2fEnglish%2fP ages%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 Namibian Stock Exchange - www.nsx.com.na Nigerian Stock Exchange - www.nse.com.ng/ Pages/default.aspx Rwanda Stock Exchange - www.rse.rw/ 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/e-communique/exchangemagazine/category/50-free-version.html
84 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International - Travel
U.S. Travelers Will Be Able To Visit Brazil Visa-Free Starting In June 2019 By Parker Diakite
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he message from Brazilian Tourism leaders is “Brazil is open for you!” after announcing that U.S. citizens will no longer have to apply for a tourist-visa. Starting June 17, U.S. citizens, along with citizens of Canada, Australia, and Japan will be able to stay in Brazil for 90 days, according to a statement on the Visit Brazil website (http://press.visitbrasil.com/en/ pressreleases/brazil-waives-entry-visa-requirements-for-uscitizens.html).
The change means that visitors can extend their vacations for an additional 90 days from their date of entry as long as the duration of travel does not exceed 180 days in a calendar year. “These developments come as part of a series of measures that Brazil has taken to facilitate visitor access to the country,” a statement reads. Until then, travelers will still need permission to gain entry into the country via its electronic system. The cost of an e-visa is $40, plus a $4.24 service charge. The changeover to the e-visa last year replaced a
process that many visitors found slow and expensive at $160, as reported in the LA Times. Brazil Tourism said the number of visas issued had increased by 35% in less than a year since implementing its e-visa program. “This is one of the most important achievements of the Brazilian tourism industry in the last 15 years and we are confident that it will be extremely beneficial to the country,” said Marcelo Alvaro Antônio, Minister of Tourism. “This decision of the Brazilian government proves that we are living a new moment and that tourism is being seen as a vector of economic and social growth of the entire nation. This is the first step; we still have much to celebrate.” The new measure is expected to boost tourism by 25%, according to Brazilian Tourism officials. https://legacy.travelnoire.com/u-s-travelers-will-beable-to-visit-brazil-visa-free-starting-in-june/
The Transform Africa Summit is the Smart Africa flagship event. Following four successful edi ons, the fi h summit will take place in kigali, Rwanda, from 7-10 May 2019. Under the theme "Boos ng Africa's Digital Economy", the Summit is expected to a ract 4,000 par cipants, including Heads of State and Governement, First Ladies, UN Broadband Commissioners, Regulators, Public & Private Sector, Interna onal Organiza ons, Industry Leaders, Investors, Entrepeneurs, Young Innovators, Civil Society and Academia. In addi on to the Leaders Summit, TAS 2019 will feature subject specific streams tackling current digital economy topics. Delegates will be able to a end insigh ul & engaging sessions in the Hubs, Plenaries, Networking Lounges as well as several customized sessions by our partners.
Kigali Conven on Center, Kimihurura Roundabout P.O. Box 6629, Kigali, Rwanda h ps://smartafrica.org/tas 86 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International - Coffee Buainess
Black-Owned Coffee Company Inspired by the Women in Rwanda By Parker Diakite
A
passion for the people of Rwanda is what prompted Kevin Mbundu and Nik Patel to start Kivu noir (https://kivunoir. coffee). Described as the “Worlds Freshest Coffee,” Kivu noir specializes in providing fresh coffee to consumers while supporting and empowering the local women who survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Grown at an altitude over 4,800 ft. above sea level along Lake Kivu in Rwanda, Kivu noir is a special blend of coffee made of the famed Red Bourbon Arabica bean variety. Rwanda is known worldwide for its fine coffees: a product of rich soils, high altitudes, plentiful equatorial sunshine and rainfall, and how the coffee is carefully processed. Travel Noire spoke to Mbundu to learn more about Kivu noir and how the company is working to help people in Rwanda: Travel Noire: Tell us what prompted you all to start Kivu noir? Kivu noir: We are passionate about our people and our coffee. The best way for us to empower Rwandans was to bring the farmers closer to the customers, and this in turn would give our customers the opportunity to experience the purest, freshest coffee. In the end, it was a win-win idea. TN: What makes Kivu Noir coffee beans unique? Kivu noir: So many things […] but what really sets us apart is
that Kivu noir is the world’s freshest coffee. Most coffee supply chains involve 11 steps that can take up to two or three years. That means from when the coffee is harvested to when it arrives at the roaster, it has been kept in warehouses and https://kivunoir.coffee/pages/buy-online has already lost 80% of its flavor. We eliminate this problem by We believe wholeheartedly in cutting out the middleman and doing business by Fair Practice owning the entire process from and ethical standards. We want harvest to roast. Our coffee is Kivu noir to benefit every single roasted in Kigali before it flies person involved in its production directly to Tampa, FL. Once sold, system. it is delivered to the doorsteps TN: It’s very rare to find coffee of customers across the US. companies that are black-owned. This means no waiting around What’s your reaction to breaking in warehouses. From the time of the mold and inspiring others who harvest, our coffee typically spends want to be in your shoes? only one month being roasted, Kivu noir: In Rwanda, blackpackaged, and shipped. owned businesses aren’t rare TN: Tell us more about how you are helping people in Rwanda? Kivu noir: Caferwa is our production company in Rwanda. Through Caferwa, we employ and empower thousands of women, many of them survivors of war and extreme poverty. Because of our shortened trade chain, we are able to dedicate more of the proceeds from coffee sales to nurseries, classrooms, and medical care. Our farmers are able to not only support themselves and their families, but are also up-skilled continuously [on] new methods of farming as well as accountability in the coffee supply chain.
of course, as black people form the majority of the population. Rwanda is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. But having lived in America, I do understand the hurdles that face African Americans. My advice to them would be to look to the African continent for inspiration and ideas. If possible, travel here and explore the wide range of opportunities. As consumers become more invested in supporting diverse, ethical businesses, the opportunities in America will grow. https://legacy.travelnoire.com/blackowned-coffee-company-inspired-bythe-women-in-rwanda/
87 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International - Tribute
Africa Our Beloved Jewell By Bene Uche
Africa! Africa! Africa! My Africa! Our Africa! You are the center of the world, divided in two naturally by the equator and crossed from north to south by the Greenwich Meridian. My Africa, you are the world’s second largest and second most-populous continent. My Africa you occupy some 30.3 million square kilometres and 6% of Earths total surface area and 20% of its land area with your people of over 1.2 billion people. Africa, you account for some 16% of the world’s human population. Your strength, your geological heritage and you are blessed with natural unlimited resources such as gold, diamonds, copper, uranium and oil among other mineral resources yet to be discovered! Your Climate, both hot and cold in your hemispheres. Africa, you are surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea towards the North, the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Africa you have the Madagascar and various archipelagos. Africa, there are 54 sovereign states/ countries, nine territories, two de facto independent states in you. Africa, Africa, My Africa! Your shape among the continents is elegant! And this is also reflected in the shapes of your people! Your beauty is seen in your features, the elegant flat plains, your shapely pointed mountains such as
the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Your eyes like the eye of the Sahara spirally shaped. Your freshness in the beautiful Lake of Tanzania, colors like fire, your fresh water falls and lakes like in Victoria Falls known as the largest water falls in the world. You gush and
pour forth the greatest rivers in the world like the Nile and Congo River! These rivers, water the ever green forests and the beautiful fauna of Africa. To show your blazing fire, just look at the active volcanoes in the continent. Your deserts....in its golden brown finely granite dust texture produces the oldest and the biggest deserts in the world. The Sahara and Namib are yours! Now then, the origin of man, Homo sapiens is believed to have come from you but then nature made it so! You are known to have been inhabited by humans far longer than any other place in the world. Man’s ancestors, the Great Apes existed millions of years ago and origins of the first man were over 200,000 years ago in Central Eastern Africa. By God’s grace you are known to have spread species of early man from Ethiopia to around the world. You are famous for the diverse languages and diverse ethnic groups. Your seeds are many and in different hues and colors. Your over 3000 tribes are such as in Zulu, Maasai, San Bushman, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Himba, Oromo, Xhosa, Kalenjin, Chagu among others. You have about 2,000 languages. My Africa! You have given rise to civilization and the beauty in arts and culture. This is seen in the Nok Culture which is about 3,500 years old, ancient Asante Kingdom of Ghana, the Pyramids
88 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
and Tebes Temples of Egypt, Olduvai Gorge of Tanzania, the Leptis Magna in Libia, Timbuktu in Mali, Meroe of Sudan, Rock Hewn churches of Lalibela and Great Zimbabwe, all these historical sites dating back to many centuries. Africa, of note is that Algeria is the largest African Country by area and Nigeria is your largest by population. You fed them and the world in food crops, exotic plants, trees that bear different exotic fruits and vegetables. This is seen in the pineapples, baobabs, dragon fruits, bananas, mangoes and much more! The lands are fertile and agriculture the food source of your people. Talk about the animals in your territories, they have also made you a source of attraction, as can be seen in the tourists that visit your lands just to catch a glimpse of these exotic animals. The lions that roam the lands as kings, the giant elephants, the giraffes, hippos, rhinoceros and then man’s closest relatives the Chimpanzees and Gorillas. Your many attractions also bring visitors to your shores. The North brings visitors to see the pyramids, the East and South to see your safaris and game reserves, and your famous festivals and sites of attraction such as Ethiopia’s Timkat Baptism of Jesus Christ Festival, East Africa’s film festival in Zanzibar, Morroco's Fes Festival of Sacred Music, Lake of Stars festival in Malawi, South Africa’s Cape Town’s International Jazz Festivals, Felabulation in Nigeria,, Bukina Faso’s International Festival of Masks and much more.
Your elegance is seen in your people with their rich cultural heritage, traditions, religions, tribal marks, masks, art works, dances and respect for the ancestors. In you Africa, are people with diverse religions; Christianity, traditional worship, Islam, animism mystics and worship of spirits of nature. Africa, the religions in the continent is a source of joy and sadly a source of conflict and crisis. Africa! Your people got rhythm, vibes, songs, folktales, acrobatic sports, unbelievable dance steps, amazing African poetry, literature as seen in the literary works of Chinua Achebe, Mariama Ba, Nadin Gordimer, Nurudin Farah, Alain Mabanckou, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Chimamanda Adichie, Ayi Kwei Armah, that tell your story and conflicts with colonialism. The films speak volumes and showcase your culture, traditions, African life styles African music and dance ancient and modern! The Union! The African Union! It brings the African nations to cooperate, having its headquarters in Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa. The deliberations, the conflicts, the resolutions, interventions, the agreements, history of heads of states in attendance, its founding fathers, its growth so far and how the youths that will take over years to come are in included in its affairs. Then what can be said about African politics? Topic for another vibrant discuss. Africa! You are blessed and beautiful, your children are all over the world. You are created for harmony, love, respect, joy unity growth, development, peace and progress. May your seeds, children keep it so wherever they are. Africa, Africa, Africa, My Africa, Our Africa, Our Jewel!
Image credits: wattsupwiththat.com, animalfactsencyclopedia.com, en.wikipedia.org, pinterest.com, wsimag.com
89 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Jack Ma Foundation Accepting Funding Applications From African Entrepreneurs
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he Jack Ma Foundation (JMF) is a charitable organisation founded in 2014 by Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group. The foundation’s aim is to promote human development in harmony with both society and the environment, while its mission is to work towards a world of bluer skies, cleaner water, healthier communities, and more open thinking. From education to environment, to public health and personnel development in philanthropic sector, the foundation intends to awaken social consciousness and responsibility to cultivate an innovative and sustainable model for a better world. The Africa Netpreneur was founded to meet somne of these objectives.
The Netpreneur Prize 2019 The Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) officially called for applications the 27th of March 2019. The ANPI is a US$10 million Prize competition for African entrepreneurs, founded by the Jack Ma Foundation. Each year for the next ten years, the Prize will host a pitch competition in Africa where ten finalists from across the continent will compete for US$1 million in total prize money. The Prize, which is supported by its continental partner Nailab, is focused on empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs, with a focus on small businesses, grassroots communities and womenfounded enterprises. “The Netpreneur Prize Initiative has brought together a strong ecosystem of players to support both technology-driven and traditional businesses. We look forward to unveiling the full slate of regional partners and to receiving applications from promising African entrepreneurs in the coming weeks,” said Sam Gichuru, Founder and CEO, Nailab. All ten finalists will receive grant funding from the Jack Ma Foundation, as well as access to the Netpreneur community of African business leaders to leverage the community’s shared expertise, best practices, and resources. “By 2030, we hope to identify and shine a spotlight on 100 African entrepreneur heroes who will inspire the continent. From day one, our approach has been community-based and focused on inclusiveness; to be truly for Africans and by Africans. To realize these goals, we are excited to work with Nailab as our implementing partner in Africa and multiple African partners across to
continent,” said Beth Yu, Executive Secretary-General, Jack Ma Foundation. Core values of the Prize will be reflected in the application criteria including: • Open to entrepreneurs who are nationals from any of the 54 African countries • Open to all industry sectors • Strongly encourage young people and female entrepreneurs to apply Key activities and dates for the prize are: • Applications Launch: 27th March 2019 • Deadline for applications: 30th June 2019 • Announcement of the top 50 regional finalists: August 2019 • Announcement of the final 10 finalists: October 2019 • Grand Finale pitch event: November 2019 For more information about the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative, please visit: www.netpreneur.africa.
90 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
International
African Union Signs MOU with Africa 24 News Network By Ike Dzokpo
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he African Union Commission, and Africa 24 GROUP have signed an MoU that will see the two institutions partner to develop and disseminate content aimed at promoting Africa’s image and its development narrative. The partnership with Africa 24 reflects the various ongoing initiatives by the African Union to connect better with its citizens, as well as partner with African private sector enterprises as called for in the ongoing AU Institutional Reforms. The partnership with Africa 24 also reiterates the intent of the African Union to work with partners who share the common objective to popularise Agenda 2063, Africa’s strategic framework for driving inclusive and sustainable development and growth and to build a positive narrative of Africa’s past, present and future potential to audiences both within the continent and globally. Ms. Leslie Richer, the Director of Information and Communication of the AU Commission, affirmed that working collaboratively with African media is key for the continental organization in its endeavour to create greater awareness of its mandate and programmes and to ensure that African media and other content providers generate locally produced knowledge that is relevant and supportive of the African development narrative and enhances Africa's influence and position on African and global issues. She reiterated that its only in partnership with African media who are themselves stakeholders in the continent’s development can traction and support be gained for Agenda 2063 initiatives which aim to promote regional integration and economic development such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Passport & Free Movement of Persons, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Mr. Constant Nemale, the Founder Africa 24 welcomed the partnership with the African Union which reinforces the Africa 24 ‘Believe in Africa’ Program which aims to promote African institutions and commercial enterprises and their efforts to promote growth and development on the continent.
Mr M emalle further furth ther asserted assertted d that thatt “we “we strongly sttrongly l believe belilieve Mr. N Nemale this innovative partnership with the African Union will drive our company to achieve its full potential and become one of the largest media group in Africa and a key network for the African Diaspora throughout the world. Africa 24 is the most watched network in French speaking Africa, a token to the demand of such content. By promoting AU vision, our goal is to become the most influential network for Africa and the African Diaspora worldwide, by launching Africa 24 in English, Arabic, Portuguese and various African languages” Mr. Nemale called on African policy makers, media houses and institutions to identify ways for working collaboratively through regional networks such as Africa 24 to promote a continental awareness and the developmental opportunities that exist for Africa’s people in their motherland. For further information visit the Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission, E-mail: dic@africa-union.org, Web Site: www.au.int, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ AfricanUnionCommission, Twitter: https://twitter.com/_ AfricanUnion and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ AUCommission. About Africa 24 Africa 24 is the first African owned global news channel and was launched in 2009. The network which is devoted to news about Africa, broadcasts 24-hoursa-day, 7-days-a-week to audiences in Africa, North America, the Middle East and Europe. Find out more by visiting www.africa24tv.com, Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/africa24tv, Twitter: https://twitter. com/AFRICA24TV and YouTube: https://www.youtube. com/Africa24. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190327/african-unionsigns-mou-africa-24-news-network
91 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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his is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another—from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. This is the perfect gift for mothers and daughters, baby showers, and graduation. We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it. www.amazon.com/I-Am-Enough-Grace-Byers/ dp/0062667122 www.amazon.com/I-Am-Enough-Grace-Byers/ dp/0062667122
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eaturing forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them. The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come. www.amazon.com/dp/B072V4QDCF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_ encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Turning Love Into Action A Father Creates and Markets Books for Children
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obert “Bo” Chaney has found that there is a misconception that no one cares about our youth. As a result of his personal experiences as well as the interactions that he has had with today’s young people, he has a passion to reach as many young people as he can. Throughout his adult life, Bo has successfully mentored many young, underserved, minority males, empowering them with the knowledge and skills to navigate school and the workplace. Bo has spent numerous hours developing curriculum that is customized to meet the needs of underserved youth. Through his dedication, he's found ways to prepare young people for the workforce, through strategic lessons and connections which “uncover the unknown.” One way Bo has approached d his passion is to prepare young people through his series of books focused on grade school kids - The Adventures of Rob & Rocky. The books expose children to career options, life choices, and cultural differences. These books are written using “sight words”, words children should know by sight
at the end of their grade level. The series starts when Rob and Rocky walk to school and discuss what they want to be when they grow up. Through basic conversation, they talk about a variety of career options that have been overlooked for years such as Fireighter, Mailman nd more . Check out the first book in the
series and share it with teachers and school systems in your area www.robandrocky.com. Hear and see Bo talk about the book series at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ot0ibLIXx9E&feature=you tu.be. The Adventures of Rob and Rocky will make a great Christmas gift for family members and friends.
Search for more toys, books and music for our young people.
Naomi Osaka, Yara Shahidi and Adwoa Aboah are New Barbie ‘Sheroes’ By Leslie
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s Women’s Equal Pay Day approaches on April 2, we’ll hear powerful research findings about the wage gap and other persistent disadvantages to women’s equality and earning power. But few are aware of the research that revealed the Dream Gap, which suggests girls can be affected by limiting self-beliefs at as young as five years old. In recent years, Mattel’s Barbie brand has been working diligently to combat the Dream Gap, launching its own global initiatives to raise awareness of the issue—including research via collaboration with NYU to fund a two-year post-doctoral fellowship, products, content, events and social media campaigns. Last fall, the toy brand also launched the Dream Gap Project, now followed by the Dream Gap Project Fund
(https://barbie.mattel.com/en-us/about/ dream-gap.html), which will donate
one dollar from every doll sold in the United States (up to $250,000) to organizations also devoted to closing the gap. “Barbie is the original girlempowerment brand,” a Mattel spokesperson told The Glow Up, via email. “For 60 years, Barbie has championed girls, inspired generations to believe through make believe and showed them that they have choices. But the playing field still isn’t equal. Research has shown that starting at age five, girls start doubting their potential… we knew we had to use our global platform to help close it.” But because Barbie is synonymous with dolls, there’s the brand’s Role Model line (https:// barbie.mattel.com/en-us/about/role-
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at the 2017 British Fashion Awards. An alternate look promotes Aboah’s Gurls Talk nonprofit, which provides a safe, creative and expressive
“Sheroes,” the collection builds upon the legendary Barbie mystique by immortalizing influential and innovative women to help inspire Yara Shaidi young dreamers to believe anything is possible. Past Barbie Naomi Osaka Role Models have included Adwoa Aboah filmmaker Ava Duvernay, gymnast Gabby Douglas, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson and Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. For Barbie’s 60th year, champion tennis star Naomi Osaka, actress and activist Yara Shahidi, and British supermodel and activist Adwoa Aboah have all been honored with their own Barbies, as well. The three icons of #blackgirlmagic join an international, age, size and ability-inclusive lineup, including singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini, cycling champion Kristina Vogel, NASA scientist platform for young women to Eleni Antoniadou, Chef Rosanna network with each other. Marziale, pioneering journalist Ita “I spent the majority of my Buttrose, artistic gymnast Dipa childhood wishing for blonde hair, Karmakar, ice skater Tessa Virtue, pining over Barbies light skin and Alpinist and author Karla Wheelock, blue eyes,” Aboah continued. “All entrepreneur Mariana Costa, TV those years ago and I didn’t feel personality Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, like I was represented anywhere. visual artist Chen Man, sports But today with my big toothy grin commentator Melodie Robinson, I feel so very proud to have been truck driver Iwona Blecharczyk, TV awarded this Shero doll for all the host Lyasan Utiasheva, surfer Maya hard work I have put into myself and Gabiera, and director Lisa Azuleos. @gurlstalk. All I hope is that some “My very own Barbie! It’s mad!! little girl out there sees this and Seeing my own doll that has my realises that her wildest dreams are skin colour, shaved head, freckles possible if she puts her mind to it. and my tattoo’s is beyond mad,” I hear you and see you, this doll is Aboah wrote in an Instagram post for you.” showing off her doll, which comes https://chicagocrusader.com/ dressed in the outfit she wore to naomi-osaka-yara-shahidi-andaccept her Model of the Year honor more-are-new-barbie-sheroes
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at McGrath Labs, the makeup line created by legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath, is now being valued at $1 billion. As Women's Wear Daily reports, the brand received a $60 million minority investment from Eurazeo Brands. Pat McGrath Labs was launched three years ago and is growing quickly, with retail sales expected to reach more than $60 million for 2018. The line debuted in 2015 with a $40 product called Gold 001. The multipurpose gold pigment came in a bag full of sequins, and it sold out all 1,000 units in just six minutes. Other products included Skin Fetish 003, a three-piece highlighting kit, and Lust 004, a sparkly lip kit. A broader, permanent collection debuted in 2017 with lipsticks, lip liners, eyeliners, mascara, and an eyeshadow palette in three color-ways. Most recently, the brand released Lip Fetish Astrals, a sparkly update of the Lip Fetish Lip Balm from earlier in the year. The products from Pat McGrath Labs, which are available on her website and at Sephora and Sephora.com, are often inspired by
McGrath's work as a makeup artist for runway shows, including Ve r s a c e , Balenciaga, and Gucci. In an interview with InStyle, M c G r a t h explained how she created her line. "My intention when I created Labs was that the people that used our products would be empowered to explore a fearless, daring attitude towards makeupâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that's why we always write 'Use Without Caution' on everything we make," she said. "I've always believed that the most extraordinary results occur only when one feels unbound by any notion of constraint or limitation." ď &#x192; www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/makeup/a22499334/patmcgrath-labs-worth-one-billion/
10 Women of Color-Owned Skincare Brands to Add to Your Routine
by founder She’Neil Johnson's own struggles with acne, the line includes a moisturizing facial "jelly" and body cream. www.basebutter.com
From www.shondaland.com/live/beauty/g22793939/ women-of-color-owned-skincare-brands/
6 Beija Flor Naturals This organic California-made skincare line was founded by Stevonne Ratliff, who created it out of a need to address her own hyper pigmentation and skin frustrations. Her botanical products include scrubs, lotions, and bar soaps all inspired by Brazil. http://beijaflornaturals.com
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n a beauty industry that too often fails to cater to women of color, many of those women have taken matters into their own hands by starting their own companies. There are so many great rising makeup brands to pay attention to — and now we're looking at skincare. The recent Project Beauty Expo in New York proved to be the perfect spot to get hip to several black-owned indie brands that create skincare with women of color in mind. Refresh your routine with some new some standouts, ahead. 1 Aba Love New York-based skincare brand Aba Love creates handcrafted, botanical products. It's perfect for the green beauty lover because the aromatic goods are free of synthetic fragrances and parabens — and instead boosted with seed, plant, and floral oils. www.abaloveapothecary.com 2 Kaike Kaike, pronounced "cake," has a whole collection of dessert-inspired skincare solutions. With product names like Lip Frosting lip balm, Chocolate Mask + Scrub, and Marshmallow Mask + Scrub, the plant-based, Chicago-made
multipurpose menus is irresistible. www.shopkaike.com 3 Anne's Apothecary Anne's Apothecary's philosophy is "what you put on your skin should be safe enough to eat" — so you better believe the ingredients are pure. The products, created in North Carolina, are handcrafted in small batches with a focus on herbs and essential oils. You can shop everything from body scrubs, to
cleansers, to deodorant. https://annesapothecary.com 4 Elle Johnson Elle Johnson is all about no-fuss, easy to follow botanical skincare starting with the "Clear 3," a skincare system of 1) cleansing lotion (yes, lotion), 2) toner, and 3) moisturizer. It doesn't hurt that Johnson, who used to work in branding, has gorgeous Instaready packaging. www.ellejohnson.co 5 Base Butter All-natural skincare line Base Butter is on a mission to challenge the depiction of black women in media. Partly inspired
7 Blade + Bloom Blade + Bloom's eco-conscious goods are handmade in Chicago with a focus on creating 100 percent plant-based skincare and candles with delicious scents (for example the "Charming I'm Sure" soap apparently smells like "the secret ingredient in your boyfriend's cologne"). The nononsense packaging is also recyclable. https://bladeandbloom.com 8 Elements of Aliel Elements of Aliel is all about minimalism and non-toxic skincare. The vegan face and body products range from serums to clay masks to balms. www.elementsofaliel.com 9 Jacqs This organic line promises to help you "slay, naturally." Cleansers, mists, masks, toners, and even "beauty boosters" contain tiny, concentrated doses of antioxidants and other good-for-skin ingredients. www.jacqsorganics.com 10 True Moringa True Moringa started as a project to explore alternatives to chemical hair relaxers and cosmetics, and has since expanded to skincare. The facial oils, scrubs, and balms contain moringa, a green plant rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and other skin quenching ingredients. https://truemoringa.com
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Introducing Serena, my ďŹ rst independent clothing line for all the ladies out there being awesome. My designs are inspired by strong, sexy, sophisticated, sassy, sure, smart, stylish, silly, and spontaneous women who are living their best lives, or making it up as they goâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;kinda like me.
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The Queen of Wearable Art
Queen Ahneva Ahneva now in Atlanta, GA USA
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Beyoncé's New Adidas Collection
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f you're in need of cool workout gear or comfy athleisure to lounge around in, who better to design it for you than the Queen B herself? Beyoncé and Adidas have announced that they're teaming up on a signature collection that includes footwear and apparel. The best news? Beyoncé will also be relaunching her athleisure line, Ivy Park, with the brand. According to a press release from Adidas, she will be a creative partner for the brand and work with them to design performance and lifestyle products. "This is the partnership of a lifetime for me," Beyoncé said in the press release. "Adidas has had tremendous success in pushing creative boundaries. We share a philosophy that puts creativity, growth and social responsibility at the forefront of business. I look forward to relaunching and expanding Ivy Park on a truly global scale with a proven, dynamic leader." Ivy Park was first introduced in 2016 and was previously sold at Topshop, but after allegations of sexual harassment and bullying surfaced against Topshop chairman Sir Philip Green, Beyoncé ended her partnership with the businessman and bought back her athleisure line from the brand. It's unclear if she did so because of the allegations, but either way, we're about to see Ivy Park in stores again soon. "Beyoncé is an iconic creator but also a proven business leader, and together, we have the ability to inspire change and empower the next generation of creators," Eric Liedtke, executive board member at Adidas, said in a statement. No word yet on when the collection is due to drop, but we'll be anxiously awaiting the arrival of Beyoncé x Adidas. www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/heres-whatwe-know-about-beyoncés-new-adidas-collection/arBVCQFl?ocid=spartandhp
IVY PARK WWW.IVYPARK.COM
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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Gallery Guichard Art That Touches The Soul 3521 S. King Drive Chicago, IL. 60653 Hours of Operation: By Appointment Only Andre Guichard andreguichardgallery@gmail.com 773-791-7003
Black-Owned Watch Brands You Should Make Your Brands MG Media, TBTNEWS
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hile timepieces or watches are usually a luxury for most, there are several Blackowned brands that create and market high-quality watches that won't break the bank... and they are definitely worth taking time to look at! Here are seven Black-owned watch brands that you should support:
Youngblood Timepieces: Launched in 2006, this brand of high-end signature watches continues to be one of the most sought-after Black-owned watch brands. Its co-founders Paul Youngblood and Patrick Martin created the brand to offer both accessory and apparel products for savvy shoppers who sought to maximize their value without compromising on quality. https://youngbloodworldwide.com/collections/menswristwatches
Talley & Twine: Started with just a few sketches and no previous knowledge of the watch industry, Robert Williams designed his first watch that eventually became a successful luxury watch brand. Since then, they aimed to create quality, detailed, attention-grabbing timepieces that are reasonably priced and resist the status quo.
Seventeenth Watches: Owned and operated by an army veteran, Chris Johnson, who is also Black, this brand creates watches that are a perfect union between simplicity and class. Their styles are usually unisex and minimalist that makes it a timeless piece that would seem to still be in trend even in the next decades. www.seventeenth-watches.com/ Benson Watch: Established on the principle that "time should be spent doing what you love," its founder, Marcel Benson, wanted to encourage people to take charge of their time and live life on their terms. Additionally, this brand produces exclusive collection watches that are available for limited time only and will not be replicated anymore. https://www.bensonwatch.com/ SPGBK Watches: Founded by two African-American fraternity brothers from Fayetteville, North Carolina, this brand aims to create original culturally-inspired watches that are inspired by diversity and inclusion. The name is an abbreviation of "Springbreak" as the two founders, who were both HBCU graduates, wanted the company to be collegethemed. www.springbreakwatches.com/
https://store.talleyandtwine.com/
Enbois by Maxim: Named after the French word which means "wooden," this brand's watches are designed with the finest sustainable materials. Also, an acronym for Each New Bead Offers Its Support, its founder Maxim Thuriere sought a way to give back to his country of heritage, Haiti, where a portion of each transaction is donated to help improve educational opportunities as well as reforest Haiti. http://enbois-originals.com/
Vitae London: Based in London, England, this brand features watches that are made of either a high-quality genuine leather band or a stainless steel mesh band with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass that are stylish, elegant, and built to last. What's more, for every watch sold, the company supports an underprivileged child in South Africa through education. https://vitaelondon.com/
SUED Watches Nairobi, Kenya @suedwatched h ps://sued.co.ke www.facebook.com/suedwatches
BRAVISSIMO! SHOP IN STORES AND ONLINE... We are excited to announce that you can now shop select Nubian Skin lingerie in store for the first time ever in the UK, and online at Bravissimo! The Fuller Bust Bras and Briefs can now be found in Oxford Circus, Manchester, Leeds, and Glasgow. So pop into a store and show some love!
Shop Now at our our USA site: www.bravissimo.com/us/products/naked-bra-cinnamonnu102cin/?goal=0_a8f0a62688-bc6913bd83-225252453&mc_ cid=bc6913bd83&mc_eid=a8a3b81440
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
Buy Black Save Black Invest Black 128 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Collection Bed, Bath & Beyond
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This magniďŹ cent 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 diversiďŹ ed 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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& Wall Paper
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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
VIRTUE RESTAURANT 1462 E 53rd St., Chicago, IL 60615 1-773-947-8831
www.virtuerestaurant.com Hospitality is a virtue! Kindness is a virtue! Service unlike servitude is a virtue! American Southern Cuisine Chef Erick Williams
Downtown Culver City: 9537 Culver Blvd. 310-202-5453 Open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm www.honeyskettle.com
Black Business. Black Culture. Black Thought. Black Love https://shoppeblack.us
Shaquille O’Neal Has a Big Comfort Food Restaurant in l.A. Live Los Angeles
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haquille’s is an upscale casual restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine and service with personality. The menu focuses on farm fresh produce and features his signature fried chicken. Shaquille’s c u r a t e d b e v e r a g e p r o g r a m includes a wine vault, local draft beers, and hand-crafted cocktails with an emphasis on bourbons and whiskeys. Situated in the heart of L.A. LIVE, the space features an enclosed private patio surrounding the main entrance with a modern, upbeat vibe that transforms guests’ experiences from day to night. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner with extended lounge hours.
Southern hospitality with modern flair Genuine warmth and hospitality, modern décor, great music, as well as amazing food and drink think fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, corn pudding, mac and cheese and banana pudding. Guests will always be welcomed by
a friendly and courteous staff whose goal is to create unique familystyle dining experiences in a contemporary setting.
Ambience No detail has been overlooked. Shaquille’s is proud to offer exclusive al fresco dining on our patio as well as swanky interior seating. Dynamic music and subdued lighting, paired with an open layout welcome all to be a part of the Shaquille’s experience.
Shaquille’s namesake Like the man himself, Shaquille’s is larger-than-life. Our goal is to offer the best in food, drink, and service to everyone who enters our Shaq-sized doors, while never forgetting to have fun! www.shaquilles.com/
L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Boulevard, Suite A150, Los Angeles, CA www.shaquilles.com ï&#x201A;³ 213-746-7427(SHAQ)
CHEF MARCUS SAMUELSSOM'S Black Panther Breakfast Recipe Makes 2-3 servings. Ingredients Gnocchi ( buy from your local grocery store) Hominy (canned ) Béchamel ¼ cup of unsalted butter ¼ cup of flour 1 qt of milk 1 tsp of salt Cheddar Cheese (shredded) Parmesan Cheese (shredded) Diced pork belly Minced habanero peppers Eggs Directions Cheese Sauce • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, once butter is melted stir in flour until it is smooth; continuing stirring until flour is light brown then lower the heat and continue to cook for five minutes. • In a separate pot bring milk to a simmer then add the hot milk to the roux while continuously stirring. • Allow to cook on low heat for about 15 mins or until you no longer taste flour • Then add your shredded cheese and stir until well blended Making the breakfast • In boiling salted water blanch off your gnocchi, for 30 secs or until they float • In a medium sauté pan, make sure your pan is hot, add a tsp of olive oil then render down your pork belly. Drain excess fat but leave some in the pan for flavor. • Next add in the diced habanero and the blanched gnocchi. Cook until the gnocchi is golden brown on each side. • Then add in your cheese sauce; add in veg stock if the consistency is too thick . • In a separate small frying pan, cook your eggs sunny side up • Assemble https://marcussamuelsson. n. com/recipe/black-panther-breakfast-recipe https://marcussamuelsson. n. com/
21720 Avalon Blvd. Suite 102B Carson, California 90745 1-424-570-0531 www.darrowsNewOrleansgrill.com
@DarrowsNewOrleansGrill Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks Eat-In, Take Out, Catering
Shop for all of the NoMu products at: https://shop.nomu.co.za and www.amazon.com
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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!
SHOP ONLINE! //shop.parkerhousesausage. com
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!
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.
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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.
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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!
In your local grocery store or shop online for syrups, recipes, and books. Learn about our special projects and join the recipe contest.
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Give the Gift of Books and Music Come see our unsurpassed collection of books, music, videos, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books, and games!
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Books to Consider
Books to Consider... What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays
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By Damon Young
or Damon Young, existing while Black is an extreme sport. The act of possessing black skin while searching for space to breathe in America is enough to induce a ceaseless state of angst where questions such as “How should I react here, as a professional black person?” and “Will this white person’s potato salad kill me?” are forever relevant. What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker chronicles Young’s efforts to survive while battling and making sense of the various neuroses his country has given him. It’s a condition that’s sometimes stretched to absurd limits, provoking the angst that made him question if he was any good at the “being straight” thing, as if his sexual orientation was something he could practice and get better at, like a crossover dribble move or knitting; creating the farce where, as a teen, he wished for a white person to call him a racial slur just so he could fight him and have a great story about it; and generating the surreality of watching gentrification transform his Pittsburgh
Damon Young newpittsburghcourieronline.com
neighborhood from predominantly Black to “Portlandia . . . but with Pierogies.” And, at its most devastating, it provides him reason to believe that his mother would be alive today if she were white. From one of our most respected cultural observers, What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker is a hilarious and honest debut that is both a celebration of the idiosyncrasies and distinctions of Blackness and a critique of white supremacy and how we define masculinity. https://www.amazon.com/What-Doesnt-Kill-Makes-Blacker/ dp/0062684302
The Purpose Path: A Guide to Pursuing Your Authentic Life's Work By Nicholas Pearce (Author), Parker J. Palmer (Foreword)
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any of the world's most beloved companies― Apple, Disney, Google―are not simply profitdriven, but purpose-driven. They let the reason for which they were created drive what they do every day. But what about us - how do we define our purpose, the why behind the work we do? How can we find the inspiration to pursue more than just a paycheck and ultimately fulfill our authentic life's work? In The Purpose Path, award-winning management expert Dr. Nicholas Pearce Dr. Nicholas Pearce invites readers to courageously embark upon the journey of aligning their daily work with their life's work. This one-of-its-kind guidebook is for anyone-at any level, age, or professional stage--seeking to have more than just a job or career, but a meaningful calling. Readers will go on a journey of self-discovery that's organized around five key questions: • What is success? • Who am I?
153 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Books to Consider • Why am I here? • Am I running the right race? • Am I running the race well? Drawing upon his years of experience as a global executive adviser, business school professor, and pastor, Pearce shows how people in a variety of fields have asked and answered these five questions as they launch, grow, or even completely change their careers. Inspiring, thought-provoking, and practical, The Purpose Path is an essential read for anyone longing to connect their soul with their role. www.amazon.com/Purpose-Path-Guide-PursuingAuthentic/dp/1250182174
The Children of Wasafa: A Message to Gang Bangers
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by Jacqueline Pitts
he Children of Wasafa: A Message to Gang Bangers, addresses the problem of gang violence in the African American community by using historical facts, archaeology and fiction to illustrate commonality. That is, who we think is our enemy or inconsequential to us, may be our relative. An embellished Chokwe symbol created by an Angolan man named Wasafa during the 17th Century reunites his diasporic descendants who happen to be members of rival street gangs in the year 2010 on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, New York. https://www.amazon.com/Children-Wasafa-MessageGang-Bangers/dp/149123668X?fbclid=IwAR3hjTQg
IT0-sD1EczCNquH4U9rLDE96pf_GzGChnx4A8fzK3u_ L85jugpc
The Power of Love: Sermons, reflections, and wisdom to uplift and inspire
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by Bishop Michael Curry "Love is the way. Love is the only way. Those who follow in my way follow in the way of unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love. And that kind of love can change the world."
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--Bishop Michael Curry
wo billion people watched Bishop Michael Curry deliver his sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex) at Windsor Castle. Here, he shares the full text of the sermon, plus an introduction and four of his favorite sermons on the themes of love and social justice. The world has met Bishop Curry and has been moved by his riveting, hopeful, and deceptively simple message: love and acceptance are what we need in these strange times. www.amazon.com/Power-Love-Sermons-reflectionsinspire/dp/0525542892/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=776530863123 01&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=the+power+ of+love+bishop+michael+curry&qid=1554302451&s=gatew ay&sr=8-1
154 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
The Wizenard Series: Training Camp by Wesley King (Author), Kobe Bryant (Creator) From the mind of basketball legend and Academy Award–winning storyteller Kobe Bryant comes this radically original portrait of five young basketball players, one enlightening coach, and the awesome transformative power of the game. Filled with insights about the mental stamina and emotional clarity that peak performance requires, this is an indispensable story for young athletes, coaches, educators, and anyone interested in the astonishing potential of team sports to unlock individual growth.
THE GAME WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
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agic doesn’t seem possible for the West Bottom Badgers. They’re the lowest-ranked basketball team in their league, and they live in the poorest neighborhood in Dren. Nobody expects them to succeed at anything. Plus, every kid on the team has secret struggles of his own. When a new coach named Professor Wizenard arrives on the first day of training camp, the Badgers can’t explain the magicalseeming things they see and hear. Every player experiences unique and strange visions―visions Kobe Bryant that challenge everything hollywoodreporter.com
they thought they knew about basketball, and about their lives and their secrets off the court. To survive the increasingly intense ordeals of training, the Badgers will need to take unimaginable risks, learn to trust their teammates, and confront the darkness within themselves. www.amazon.com/Wizenard-Training-Camp-Wesley-King/ dp/1949520013/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=%22The+ Wizenard+Series%3A+Training+Camp.%22&qid=1554924 365&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull
The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life's Direction and Purpose
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by Oprah Winfrey
veryone has a purpose. And, according to Oprah Winfrey, “Your real job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you are meant to be, and begin to honor your calling in the best way possible.” That journey starts right here. In her latest book, The Path Made Clear, Oprah shares what she sees as a guide for activating your deepest vision of yourself, offering the framework for creating not just a life of success, but one of significance. The book’s ten chapters are organized to help you recognize the important milestones along the road to selfdiscovery, laying out what you really need in order to achieve personal contentment, and what life’s detours are there to teach us. Oprah opens each chapter by sharing her own key lessons and the personal stories that helped set
155 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
Books to Consider the course for her best life. She then brings together wisdom and insights from luminaries in a wide array of fields, inspiring readers to consider what they’re meant to do in the world and how to pursue it with passion and focus. Renowned figures such as Eckhart Tolle, Brene Brown, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jay-Z, and Ellen DeGeneres share the greatest lessons from their own journeys toward a life filled with purpose. Paired with over 100 awe-inspiring photographs to help illuminate the wisdom of these messages, The Path Made Clear provides readers with a beautiful resource for achieving a life lived in service of your calling – whatever it may be. www.amazon.com/Path-Made-Clear-DiscoveringDirection/dp/1250307503
Make It Rain!: How to Use the Media to Revolutionize Your Business & Brand by Areva Martin What if you could get in front of millions of prospects with the avid endorsement of famous influencers--without spending a dime?
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t's happening right in front of you every day. Guest experts on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, and live streaming are getting local and national exposure for their business and brand that they could never have afforded to reach with ads. For a decade, Areva Martin has used the media to build a huge platform that expanded the influence and power of her brand exponentially. Media appearances on Dr. Phil, Anderson Cooper 360, The Doctors, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and more have virtually eliminated the
Areva Martin peoplecheck.de need of a marketing budget for her thriving law firm and non-profit organization, while securing her place as one of America's most sought after thought leaders. In Make It Rain! Areva breaks the silence to reveal what insiders know about the power of media appearances to revolutionize a business and brand and get your core message out to the people who need it most. You'll learn how to: • Match your brand to the right audience and media venues • Craft pitches producers can't resist • Jump on breaking news shows • Pivot and speak in soundbites like the pros • Amplify every interview with social media • Turn appearances into platform and become a rainmaker Never before have there been more ways to build a presence that matters. Whether you are the executive of a corporation, the author of an upcoming book, the owner of a rapidly growing small business, or the public face of a local nonprofit or association, if you have a business to build or people you want to help, nothing beats using the media to create the visibility, influence, and power you need. Are you ready to Make It Rain!? www.amazon.com/Make-Rain-Media-RevolutionizeBusiness/dp/1478989874
156 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
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Resource Vault Media/Information
APO (Africa Wire®/MENA Wire®) -www.apo-opa.com Africa Business Communities -https://africabusinesscommunities.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 Because Of Them We Can -- www.becauseofthem wecan.com Black Business Directory & Blog -www.blackbusiness.org Black Business News Group -www.issuu.com/blackbusinessnews BlackNews.com -- www.blacknews.com Black Wall Street Times -- http://bwstimes.com 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 The Chocolate Voice -www.thechocolatevoice.com CuisineNoir -- www.cuisinenoirmag.com Cybrary -- www.cybrary.it Dogon Village -- www.dogonvillage.com Elders (The) -- https://theelders.org Face2Face Africa -- https://face2faceafrica.com GhanaWeb -- www.ghanaweb.com How Africa, The Rise of Africa -http://howafrica.com iAfrica -- www.iafrica.com
Informaza - www.infomaza.com Macauhub -- www.facebook.com/Macauhub Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) -www.youtube.com/user/marquesbrownlee MahoganyBooks -http://blog.mahoganybooks.com/ New Black Magazine (The) -www.thenewblackmagazine.com NKA: Journal of Contemporary African Art -www.nkajournal.org Publish Africa -- http://wow.gm/publishafrica Red Media Africa -www.facebook.com/RedMedi aAfrica Rock Me Africa -- //rockmeafrica.com Second Opinion Publications Ltd (The) -- www. facebook.com/thesecondopinion TONL -- https://tonl.co/ United Nations -- http://webtv.un.org WikiHow -- www.wikihow.com World Library -- www.worldlibrary.org
Media/Podcasts, Streams
2 Dope Queens -- www.wnycstudios.org/shows/ dopequeens Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart -- https://itunes. apple.com/us/podcast/cape-up-with-jonathancapehart/id1143265842?mt=2 Demand Africa -- www.demandafrica.com DiasporaVoice -www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice KweliTV -- www.facebook.com/kwelitv UN Video -- https://videos.un.org/en YouTube Educational Channels -- http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know
Culture/Arts Asako Afrikan Combat Capoeira --
160 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
www.abibifahodie.com Africa Center (The) -- www.theafricacenter.org African Networks -http://afn.bibalex.org/MainPart/About_.aspx African Origins -- www.african-origins.org Almasi Arts -- www.almasiarts.org Cultural Events/Content -- www.okayafrica.com Digital Assets Repository -http://dar.bibalex.org/webpages/dar.jsf Fashion For All -- www.fashionforallnyc.org Freedom Park -- www.freedompark.co.za Hungry Black Man -https://thehungryblackman.com Infocus247 -- https://infocus247.com Information for Africa -http://bibalex.org/baifa/en/home/index Library of Alexandria -www.bibalex.org/en/default Pan African Film Festival -- www.paff.org Paradigm Grey -- www.paradigmgrey.com Shadow & Act -- //shadowandact.com/about-us Travel Noire -- https://travelnoire.com W.E.B. DuBois in Accra -https://webduboiscentreaccra.ghana-net.com
Commerce/Entrepreneurship
#IAMWANDA -- www.facebook.com/IamWANDAorg African Success Stories -- www.risingafrica.org African Technology Foundation -www.thea25n.com BBurb -- https://bburb.com Black Female Founders -www.blackfemalefounders.org Black Wall Street -- www.blackwallstreet.org iBuyBlack.org -- www.ibuyblack.org Jumia -- https://group.jumia.com www.jumia.com.ng Nigeria (Africa) financial news -- //nairametrics.com She Leads Africa -- http://sheleadsafrica.org Shoppe Black -- https://shoppeblack.us
Organizations Africa's Brain Bank -- www.facebook.com/ AFRICASBRAINBANK / African Leadership Forum -http://afrialeadership.org African Union -- www.au.int/en Africans in Boston (AiB) -- //africansinboston.org 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 Love Our Girls -- http://logpledge.org/ StayWoke -- www.staywoke.org TimesUp -- www.timesupnow.com 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 AfrigadgetTV -- www.afrigadget.com Breaux Capital -- www.breauxcapital.com Disrupt Africa -- http://disrupt-africa.com/ Exchange Magazine (The) -- www.nse.co.ke Harlem Capital -- http://harlem.capital Silicon Harlem -- http://event.siliconharlem.net Ventures -- www.ventures-africa.com
General Explore ideas -- https://ideas.ted.com Focus On Africa -- https://theafricachannel.com/ shows/bbc-focus-on-africa Quora -- www.quora.com The Undefeated -- https://theundefeated.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
161 April 2019 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
163 July 2018 Black Business News www.blackbbusinessnews.net 1-323-291-7819
NYSE trader/broker Lauren Simmons © CNBC Make It