February 2019 Issue

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Publisher's Message

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“BLACK HISTORY MONTH”

hile it is important to celebrate Black History Month and the successes, accomplishments and achievements African Americans have made, it is even more important to educate all Americans about the depth of the accomplishments by us as a people, beyond and not limited to the world off entertainment. It resonatess of subtle stereotyping, implying and reinforcing that the only successful e African Americans can be the ones that entertain us.

Pubisher/Editor-In-Chief Ignored are the African Americans that contribute in other areas of life, such as business, medicine, healthcare, science, e technology, or politics. African Americans are more than just entertainment and athletics; we are ass diverse as the many shades of brown we come in.

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

In the world of film, television and movies, everyy now and then a prolific and historic movie is made.

A movie that shares a story about the good and bad about man’s behavior. A time where we see nobility, logic and hard work triumph over ignorance, hatred and bigotry during very volatile times in this nation as it relates to race relations. The Academy Award winning moving, “The Green Book” is one such movie. In this instance not only was it an important movie made about a very volatile time in America’s history, it chronicles the life of Dr. Donald “Don” Shirley, the famous African American classical and jazz pianist and composer. Those accomplishments are significant, however, there is more to Dr. Shirley than meets the eye, and that unfortunately, the movie failed to address.

Donald Walbridge Shirley, a.k.a. Don Shirley, was not only a famous African American classical and jazz pianist and composer, Shirley also earned a doctorate of Music, Psychology, and Liturgical Arts after temporarily giving up the piano.

By the time Shirley was 18 years old, he performed the Tchaikovsky B-flat minor concerto with the Boston Pops.

It would be not long after that, Shirley would begin to become more and more discouraged by the lack of opportunities for classical Black musicians.

Shirley did what many young and aspiring African Americans had to do, put his career aspirations on the backburner, and continued his educational pursuits while young, and studied psychology at the University of Chicago, and began work in Chicago as a trained and licensed psychologist.

The “Green Book” was written

Black Business News Group P.O. Box 43159 Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA 1-323-291-7819 Fax: 1-323-298-5064

www.blackbusinessnews.net 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 P. Yvette Thomas Aman Williams LaSandra Stratton

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris Tia RobinsonGRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris Tia Robinson

STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg Jennifer Marie Hamilton

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx Sabir Narishima Osei

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. 

see Publisher's Message on page 56 3  February 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 affecting small businesses across the United States of America (USA), providing guides to greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, 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.

•

offering business growth enhancing information on education, exhibitioning, international trading, technology, industry trends, and more.

•

exploring major public and private sector contracting methods to educate black-owned and operated enterprises.

•

providing an affirmative influence for emerging entrepreneurs by sharing innovative design and creative cultural content that exposes them to the history of black enterprises and urges them to participate in the USA’s future.

•

advocating and promoting on behalf of g black-owned businesses by promoting the need for expanding an economicc d foundation that supports an unfettered h and self-sustained urban society with USA job creation and economic op-portunity, where blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.

View back issues at: https://issuu.com/ blackbusinessnews Click on FOLLOW to receive notice of all new issues.

2019 Black Business Association Events Annual Awards Dinner February 28th

Salute to Black Women March 30th

Salute to Black Music June 18th

Veterans Procurement & Business Conference November 7th Black Business News Group Publications Black Business News Black Business News International Black Business News Travel Africa

Contents

Black Business News…February 2019 3

Publisher's Message

Government 8

12 13 16

18 19

Honoring the Honorable Barack Obama on President's Day 2019 Sen. Cory Booker Joins the 2020 Presidential Race California Governor Appoints First-ever Surgeon General Trump Signs Order Aimed at Boosting AI in Federal Agencies President Approves Lean Space Force France Will Have 12 to Change its Laws to Return its Looted African Art

Editorials/Perspectives 38

Excising America's Cancer of Racism: Turning Left From the Far Right Lane

78 79

Obituary/Memorials ition Opens

80

81 82 84 85 86

89

Business

90 91

27 30 32 40 41 44 46 51

BBN Show Biz Buzz Ray J Signs Deal to Sell His Line of Electric Scooters Racist Voter Suppression is Rampant – and Corporate Silence is Complicity How a New Generation of Black Entrepreneurs Built Atlanta's Hot Startup Scene Gucci and Adidas Apologize and Drop Products Called Racist I'm Done with Prada & Gucci!!!, Rips 'em for 'Coonery and Buffoonery' Meet Dani Arps, New York’s Go-To Designer for Start Ups Coca-Cola®Zero Sugar Keeping Pace with Consumer’s Health Demands Amazon Names Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer as Director

Community/Public Interest 76

400th Commemoration Year of Enslavement 1619-2019 Hannibal B.

"Young and Restless" Star Kristoff St. John Dead at 52.

Michelle King, Former Los Angeles Unified Superintendent, Dies at 57 Frank Robinson of Oakland Dies at 83 RnB Singer-Songwriter James Ingram Dies Aged 66 Julius Campbell, a Key Player from the T.C. Williams ‘Remember the Titans’ Team, Dies at 65 Dumisani Kumalo Dead at 71; Helped Turn Tide Against Apartheid

International

Entertainment 22

Johnson: 400 years of African American History Cannot be Unlived, but it should be Chronicled Bennett College Raised $8.2 Million in its Nationwide #StandWithBennett Campaign 2020-2021 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Co

92 93 94 96

The Single African Passport is Closer Than We Think Choosing to Change the System Egypt to Host African Space Agency's Headquarters Rwanda Set to Launch its First Telecoms Satellite This Year IFC, Jumia Partner to Boost Economic Opportunities for Women Commemorative Statue of Emperor Haile Selassie set to be unveiled at the AU Headquarters Ethiopian Airlines Wins 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

Columns 52 88

102 155 160 162

Take A Look African Stock Exchanges Shopping Gallery Books to Consider...

Resource Vault BBA 2019 Master Planner

90

5  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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Government - History

Honoring the Honorable Barack Obama on President's Day 2019

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he Black Business News Group is extending our appreciation of the service that former President Barack H. Obama, along with his family, gave to the people of the United States of America. More and more the high standards set by his administration and by his service to the nation following his term in service are to be admired. We invite you to use the links below to delve into the life and times of Barack Husein Obama, 44th President of the United States. Happy President's Day! ď &#x192; LINKS: https://barackobama.com https://twitter.com/barackobama https://www.facebook.com/barackobama www.obama.org/mbka/rising-live www.obama.org/the-center/ https://democraticredistricting.com https://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews/docs/bba_news_jan__09 https://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews/docs/13-jan https://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews/docs/18-jan_obama

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September 2009

In This Issue…

6

Middle Class Task Force National Broadband Plan 10 Health Care Reform 34 African & American Leaders Meet at UN 53 SBA ARRA Report 8

9  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government - International Trade

March 5-6, 2019  Four Points Sheraton 8110 Aero Drive, San Diego, California 92123 USA  1-858-810-5657 This two-day program is led by BIS's professional counseling staff and provides an indepth examination of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The program will cover the information exporters need to know to comply with U.S. export control requirements on commercial goods.

We will focus on what items and activities are subject to the EAR; steps to take to determine the export licensing requirements for your item; how to determine your export control classification number (ECCN); when you can export or reexport without applying for a license; export clearance procedures and record keeping requirements; Export Management Compliance Program (EMCP) concepts; and real life examples in applying this information.

Presenters will conduct a number of "hands-on" exercises that will prepare you to apply the regulations to your own company's export activities. This program is well suited for those who need a comprehensive understanding of their obligations under the EAR. The latest export control policy updates from the new administration will be addressed. A full lunch, continental breakfast and snack breaks are included.

Continuing legal education credit (MCLE) is available, and varies with the length of each seminar, for California State Bar members.

Payment Instructions: The event fee per participant is $495.00. If not registering on-line, please make checks payable to San Diego & Imperial District Export Council. Return your contact information with your payment by fax or mail to the San Diego & Imperial District Export Council, 9449 Balboa Ave., #111, San Diego, CA 92123. Fax: 858-467-7043. NO REFUNDS AFTER March 1, 2019. PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY March 1. 2019.

Because this is a catered event we will not be able to take payment at the door.

Contact Information: Kathy Bridges, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1-858-467-7042. Email: kathy.bridges@trade.gov

10  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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

11  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government - Candidate Profile

Sen. Cory Booker Joins the 2020 Presidential Race

By Chelsea Janes, David Weigel

S

en. Cory Booker of New Jersey said that he will seek the Democratic nomination for president, adding his name to a growing and increasingly diversified field of 2020 candidates intent on taking on President Trump.

Booker made his announcement via video. He also spread the news through a round of interviews and at an afternoon conference outside his house in Newark, where he reiterated his intention to run a campaign “not just to beat the Republicans but to unite Americans.”

His news conference, which he interrupted to call out “hermana” to a neighbor watching across the street, included numerous references to his efforts as mayor of Newark. It also included much of his signature rhetoric about the power of love to overcome society’s most troublesome issues.

“We used to be a people who could look at the sky, point at the moon and change it from a dream to a destiny,” Booker said. “There’s no Democratic or Republican way to get there.

You definitely don’t get there by fighting each other, tearing each other down or dividing people against each other.”

In a midday interview on ABC’s “The View,” Booker said his campaign would be distinguished

from other campaigns by his entrée into politics and his continued residence in Newark.

“They’re going to see a very different, not usual path,” he said of voters.

Booker also emphasized his past work to lessen incarceration rates and criticized the president’s border policy, particularly the decision to separate young children from their families “This is a moral vandalism on the ideals of our country,” he said.

Like many of his fellow Democratic candidates, Booker declared he will not accept corporate PAC money for his campaign.

Booker’s decision to run did not come as a surprise. He has been traveling to early-voting states for months, teasing his eventual entrance.

Booker played in to symbolism, joining the race on the first day of Black History Month, a fact he noted on “The View.”

Booker’s entry makes this the first nomination contest with at least two major African American contenders. Former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. is also considering a run.

Booker, 49, has been looked at as a potential presidential contender for most of his political life. In 2002, he made his first,

unsuccessful bid for mayor. Four years later, Booker ran again and won by a landslide.

From City Hall, Booker became one of the country’s best-known mayors, leveraging his fame into attention and lucrative investments for Newark. Months after taking office, the book-ontape start-up Audible moved its headquarters to Newark. Months after Booker won a second term, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg plowed $100 million into a fund to improve the city’s schools.

The mayor found plenty of critics, who argued that his effervescent Twitter presence and willingness to visit constituents at their homes masked persistent problems with public services.

But in 2013, when the death of Frank Lautenberg opened one of New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seats, Booker zoomed through a special election and won easily. Booker was the first black Democrat to join the chamber since Obama had left it, and he

12  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

quickly established himself as a business-friendly liberal.

After winning a full term in 2014, Booker began to make

moves on the left. He broke with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to back Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran and helped protect states that had legalized medical marijuana.

In 2016, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) quietly vetted Booker as a potential running mate. In 2017, Booker endorsed Sanders’s Medicare-for-all heath-care plan, as well as legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Booker is the rare bachelor to seek the presidency; none has been elected since 1856.

In his announcement video sent to supporters, Booker talked of his upbringing in New Jersey, one that he noted distinguishes him from the rest of the Senate — as well as his competitors in

the presidential race.

“When I was a baby, my parents tried to move us into a neighborhood with great public schools, but Realtors wouldn’t sell us a home because of the color of our skin,” he said. “A group of white lawyers, who had watched the courage of civil rights activists, were inspired to help black families in their own community, including mine. And they changed the course of my entire life. Because in America, courage is contagious.

“My dad told me, ‘Boy, never forget where you came from or how many people had to sacrifice to get you where you are.’  www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ sen-cory-booker-of-new-jerseyjoins-the-2020-presidential-race/arBBT2lLD?ocid=spartandhp

California Governor Appoints First-ever Surgeon General

By NBC News

G

overnor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced the appointment of a pediatrician as California’s first-ever surgeon general.

Newsom said in a news release that Dr. Nadine Burke Harris will focus on combating the root causes of serious health conditions and use her office to reach young families across the state.

Burke Harris is founder and chief

executive of the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco, which aims to improve the health of children exposed to toxic stress and trauma early in life.

Her annual salary will be $200,000. She is a Democrat.  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/ us/california-governor-appoints-

first-ever-surgeon-general/arBBSBq8k?ocid=spartandhp Image credit: darhosta.wordpress.com

13  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Cast Your Vote!

50th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS LIVE ON 'TV ONE' MARCH 30, 2019 Dolby Theatre in Hollywood

Beyoncé

T

Chawick Boseman

he 50th NAACP Image Awards will air LIVE on TV One, a division of Urban One, Inc., on March 30, 2019. For the first time ever, the telecast will take place from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California.

The NAACP Image Awards celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also honor individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

We are excited to get your input on one of the biggest awards of the night—Entertainer of the Year.

Cast your vote for this year’s NAACP Entertainer of the Year at: https://naacpimageawards.net/entertainer-of-the-year-voting.

The nominees are: Beyoncé, Chadwick Boseman, LeBron James, Regina King, and Ryan Coogler.

LeBron James

You are allowed to vote once, every 24 hours.

After you vote today, you can come back and vote again same time tomorrow.

After you cast your vote, make sure you mark your calendar to tune in on Saturday, March 30th. 

Regina King

In solidarity, Robin Harrison Acting Director, Hollywood Bureau @naacpimageaward NAACP

Ryan Coogler

14  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government - Technology

Trump Signs Order Aimed at Boosting AI in Fe By: Wayne Rash

P

resident Donald Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 11 intended to give backing to the role of the U.S. government in artificial intelligence development. The order, which is described in a fact sheet provided by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, lays out the American AI Initiative. The initiative contains five major steps in growing support for artificial intelligence research and development.

The first step is to direct the government to prioritize AI investments in their R&D missions.

It also directs agencies to strengthen and leverage existing AI efforts in their federal AI spending on ideas that can directly benefit the U.S. The second is to make federal data, models and computing resources more available to AI research and development. The effort is also required to maintain “safety, security, civil liberties, privacy and confidentiality protections.”

Thirdly, setting governance standards for AI is probably the most badly needed part of the initiative. Currently, the U.S., unlike most other countries working on AI, has no specific standards for how AI is developed and used. This part of the initiative calls for the

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to “lead the development of appropriate technical standards for reliable, robust, trustworthy, secure, portable and interoperable AI systems.”

Call for Workforce Development The fourth part of the initiative is a call for workforce development in which agencies are asked to prioritize AI-related skills development through a variety of means including fellowships, apprenticeships and other programs relating to computer science and other STEM fields.

Finally, the initiative calls for international engagement by promoting an environment that supports AI R&D. However, it also calls for protecting U.S. developments against strategic competitors and foreign adversaries.

The announcement of the EO has been positively received by many in technology industries.

However, it has been criticized for lack of specifics and lack of any funding. The situation with the U.S. government is that without funding, nothing can happen. Likewise, without specific directives to the relevant agencies, there’s little reason for those agencies to spend

much time or effort focusing on the initiative.

“Ensuring American leadership in artificial intelligence is critical for U.S. competitiveness,” said Daniel Castro, Director of the Center for Data Innovation, in a media advisory. “Accelerating the development and adoption of AI holds the potential to increase productivity, grow the economy and harness the many societal benefits the technology can bring.”

“The White House announcement today is a good step toward a national strategy for AI,” Mark MacCarthy, Software & Information Industry Association Senior VP for public policy, wrote in another advisory.

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ederal Agencies

“We especially praise the White House’s emphasis on open data, which requires maintaining incentives for private sector developed data in government data sets.”

Strategy with No Funding Backing It But the White House explanation of the EO in its briefing document makes it clear that there are some important steps missing, especially in regard to details about how the government should take on China, which has already stated its intent to spare no expense or effort in the development of AI in its own way.

While most of the official

statements about the EO are generally supportive, they don’t address the risks that go with the Chinese initiatives, especially given China’s relative lack of concern for privacy or human rights. Privately, AI advocates worry that because of the relative lack of constraints, China’s approach to AI will put personal privacy at risk.

“As an innovation leader in software and data applications for many years, it makes sense that the U.S. should lead in artificial intelligence as well,” Jamie Nafziger, a partner at the international law firm of Dorsey and Whitney, told eWEEK. “China’s significant focus on and investment in AI in the last few years has challenged the U.S. to do more,” she cautioned, adding: “It is excellent that the Trump Administration is raising the profile of this issue.”

Others think the initiative is a nice start, but that it doesn’t go far enough.

Initiative Will Need Its Own Funding, Not a Reprogramming of Existing Capital “If the administration wants its AI initiative to be transformative, it will need to do more than reprogram existing funds for AI research, skill development, and infrastructure

development,” Castro said. “Among these additional steps, it should ask Congress for significant funding increases to expand these research efforts; it should implement lighttouch regulation for AI, and resist calls to implement roadblocks or speed bumps for this technology, including export restrictions.”

Unfortunately, asking Congress for new funding in these days of dysfunction is unlikely to bear fruit, and expecting a bipartisan dialog that might support AI development is equally remote. In addition, some of the points of the initiative are less than totally realistic. One example is asking agencies to hire and train more AI specialists. One must ask which of those experts might be willing to put their career on hold so they can work in an environment with low pay and the certainty that their work will be interrupted by random shutdowns brought on by political squabbles.

At this point, the best that can be said about the EO is that it’s a nice start, but there needs to be some serious and realistic effort to take the next step.  www.eweek.com/big-data-andanalytics/potus-signs-order-aimed-atboosting-ai-in-federal-agencies?utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=EWK_ NL_EP_20190214_STR1L2&dni=463 083466&rni=459115572

17  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government - Space Force

President Approves Lean Space Force

By Jacqueline Klimas

P

resident Donald Trump signed a directive on Tuesday to establish a new branch of the military dedicated to space but instead of being a fully independent department it will remain part of the Air Force to assuage concerns in Congress, a senior administration official told POLITICO. The presidential directive, formally called Space Policy Directive 4, will set the groundwork for a subsequent legislative proposal for Congress, which will have the final say over what has been a signature military objective since Trump announced his intentions nearly a year ago.

The U.S. Space Force would be the first new military branch since the U.S. Air Force was established out of the Army Air Corps in 1947 — and it will be structured similarly to how the Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy.

The initial startup cost for the Space Force is expected to be less than $100 million, the official said.

It will include a four-star general as its chief of staff, who will also serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and its top civilian will be a new Undersecretary for Space.

The approach falls short of Trump's earlier claims that the Space Force would be co-equal with the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The official stressed, however, that the White House still hopes to achieve that goal.

"We didn’t see a way to go there in one step,” the official said. “The thought was to leverage the facilities and functions already within the Air Force since that’s where the bulk of space capabilities really are."

"We’re trying to moderate things and respond to some congressional concerns," added the official, who agreed to preview the directive on condition he not be identified.

The official predicted that a fullfledged Space Force won't become reality until at least sometime in a Trump second term — after lawmakers have seen the current model function for a couple years.

The administration maintains a Space Force will help counter threats in space from adversaries like Russia and China, which according to a recent report from the Defense Intelligence Agency is pursuing anti-satellite weapons.

“As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already. And the United States will not shrink from this challenge,” Vice President Mike Pence said at the Pentagon in August. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will meet it head on to defend our nation and build a peaceful future here on Earth and in space.”

Trump last June called for the Pentagon to stand up a military branch focused on space and has since made it a major applause line at his raucous rallies and other public events.

"We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force: separate but equal, it is going to be something

so important," Trump said in June.

But the forthcoming directive only orders the Secretary of Defense to periodically review whether a fully separate department is needed.

In the meantime, the president is calling for all military and civilian personnel now working on space operations to be folded into the new Space Force.

Excluded will be the National Reconnaissance Office, a joint agency run by the Pentagon and intelligence agencies that builds spy satellites, as well as civilian space agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NASA. What the Space Force's uniforms will look like is also still up for debate. "It’s probably not wings and squadrons or battalions and brigades,” the official said.

“Uniforms reflect ranks and ranks reflect structure. … It might look more like ship departments in the Navy.”

Yet it will ultimately be up to Congress to decide whether a new space service becomes reality and what it looks like.

Leading lawmakers like House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) have expressed concern about creating an expensive new bureaucracy without making military space operations more effective.

“We’ve heard them very clearly about what their concerns are,” said the official, describing recent informal conversations with congressional leaders about the proposed structure.

“They’re pleased we’re taking it seriously and that we’re flexible on this.”

But even if it is not everything Trump wanted initially, he added, he would still be achieving his biggest goal: "The president’s top priority was a separate armed service.".  https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/18/ trump-space-force-1182572

18  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government - 400 Hundred Year Commemoration

France Will Have to Change its Laws to Return its Looted African Art

By Lynsey Chutel

F

rance is set to make good on President Emmanuel Macron’s promise to return Africa’s stolen art and artifacts.

This week, a report will be released that outlines exactly why and how thousands of priceless objects should be returned to Africa. An early look at the report calls for a change in French law that would allow restitution through bilateral agreements between France and the affected African states.

Until now, French law refuses to cede property owned by the government, even if that property was acquired through looting. The authors of the report (link in French), Senegalese writer Felwine Sarr and French art historian Benedicte Savoy, called for a change to these “heritage laws” so that the “the criteria of consent can be invoked” on a case-by-case basis.

There are about 90,000 African artworks in French museums, most of them housed in the Quai Branly museum (www. quaibranly.fr/en/exhibitions-andevents/at-the-museum/exhibitions) ,

an ethnographic museum that also boasts a large collection of Asian art. It was created by former President Jacques Chirac, an avid collector of African and Asian art.

There has been a growing call from a new generation of African leaders, historians and art collectors for the repatriation of Africa’s artistic and cultural heritage. The most significant perhaps came from

Museum of Black Civilizations, Dakar, Senegal Benin’s President Patrice Talon, who directly asked Macron to return the treasures of the Kingdom of Dahomey (www.britannica.com/ place/Dahomey-historical-kingdomAfrica), which was invaded by

French troops at the end of the 19th century. This report is the result of a call made by Macron about a year ago during a visit to Burkina Faso.

“African heritage can’t just be in European private collections and museums,” he said during a speech at the University of Ouagadougou. The politically astute sentiment appealed to Africa’s young population, who are increasingly being wooed by others international powers like China and Russia.

While many, particularly in Africa, have welcomed the report, European art dealers are more skeptical. Some say repatriation could leave France’s museums nearly empty and question just who the art should be returned to since many of these kingdoms no

longer exist. Others fear collectors may even start moving the art out of France, fearing state seizure.

Simon Njami, the editor of th e Paris-based art journal Revue Noire (www.revuenoire.com/ journal), cynically called the move “a foolish promise” that would never materialize beyond rhetoric.

Still, France’s newfound motivation to restore looted artifacts may shame other European states into doing the same. Approximately 180,000 African artworks are held in Belgium’s Royal Museum for Central Africa, while 37,000 objects are in Austria’s Weltmuseum, according to AFP. The British Museum (https://qz.com/ africa/1054364/the-british-museumwill-return-bronze-sculptures-lootedfrom-benin-nearly-two-centuries-ago)

is also in talks to return the ancient Benin Kingdom’s bronze statues to Nigeria.  https://qz.com/africa/1473023/ france-should-return-lootedafrican-artifacts-says-report/

19  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

20  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

BBN Show Biz Buzz

By Linda Ware

NBA Champs Golden State Warriors Hold Secret Meeting

I

n Washington D.C., for a game against the Wizards, the Golden State Warriors had a pre-game visit with the President—the 44th U.S. president, to be exact.

The San Francisco Bay area team apparently decided to change things up after last year. That’s when, as 2017 National Basketball Association champions, they were disinvited by President Donald Trump for the traditional championship team visit to the White House.

This year, as the 2018 title winners, the Warriors chose to meet with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, before their eight-point win over the Wizards.

Some team members also met Trump rival Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who attended Thursday night’s game.

The standoff between the Warriors and Trump first

began last year after player Steph Curry criticized the president. When Trump rescinded their invitation, the team visited the National Museum of AfricanAmerican History and Culture with local Washington students instead.

This year, they evidently didn’t bother waiting for Trump’s invitation.  http://fortune.com/2019/01/25/warriors-players-meet-withobama/

'Black Panther' wins top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards

A

n Oscar season that has had no clear, sustained front-runner took another twist at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards, as Hollywood’s actors — representing the largest voting bloc of the motion picture academy — gave their highest honor to “Black Panther.”

The victory for the Marvel superhero smash, the highest-grossing film of the year, follows its landmark achievement earlier this month when it became the first comic book movie ever to land a best picture Oscar nomination.

Accepting the award, star Chadwick Boseman acknowledged the importance of the film — whose ensemble beat out the casts of “BlacKkKlansman,” “A Star Is Born,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Crazy Rich Asians” — as a milestone in Hollywood’s long, slow march toward greater inclusivity both in front of and

NBA Champion Golden State Warriors meet with former President Barack Obama (center)

Mem "Blac cast

mbers of the ck Panther" justjared.com

Mahershala Ali wins Supporting Actor Award la-croix.com

behind the camera.

“We all know what it’s like to be the tail but not the head,” Boseman said. “We know what it’s like to be beneath but not above. That’s what we went to work with every day. We knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world, that we could be full human beings in the roles we were

playing.”

Mahershala Ali won the supporting actor award for his role as virtuoso pianist Don Shirley in “Green Book.” In 2017, Ali used his acceptance speech for the drama “Moonlight” to plead for more tolerance in the wake of Donald Trump’s Muslim ban. Despite controversies that have swirled around “Green Book” in recent weeks, he steered clear of politics this year.  www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mnscreen-actors-guild-awards-winners-20190127-story. html

B

"The Best of Enemies" Coming in April

ased on a true story, THE BEST OF ENEMIES centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the racially-charged summer of 1971.

The Best of Enemies story offers a vivid portrait of a relationship that defied all odds. Their encounters were charged with hatred and suspicion. In an amazing set of transformations, however, each of them came to see how the other had been exploited by the South's rigid power structure, and they forged a friendship that see page 24

23  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

BBN Show Biz Buzz from BBN Show Biz Buzz on page 23

flourished against a backdrop of unrelenting bigotry. By placing this very personal story into broader context, Osha Gray Davidson demonstrates that race is intimately tied to issues of class, and that cooperation is possible--even in the most divisive situations--when people begin to listen to one another. The incredible events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.  www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_best_of_ enemies_2019 www.amazon.com/Best-Enemies-Race-RedemptionSouth/dp/0807858692

"Barracoon" Coming to TV

L

onnie “Common” Lynn has reportedly acquired the rights to Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon, the 2018 critically acclaimed account of the last slave ship to bring slaves to the United States, Clotilda. Additionally, the novel explores Hurston’s 1931 interview with Cudjo Lewis, the last known survivor of the American slave trade. Lewis died in 1935, at the age of 94.

Hurston’s May 2018 novel was published 81 years after her most well-known work, Their Eyes Were Watching God. According to w w w. A L . c o m , the upcoming project is being described as a “limited television event series,” and will come from Common’s “Common” deadline.com production c o m p a n y, Freedom Road Productions, as part of their partnership with Lionsgate.

A “barracoon” was the compact cage used to hold slaves, who were typically referred to as “black cargo,” as Lewis was. Lewis’ story was especially notable as he and approximately 109 other slaves were kidnapped in 1858, during which time human importation had been illegal for a while. However, a group of wealthy

men and their “investors” somehow evaded the law and Lewis spent five years as shipbuilder on Timothy Meaher’s property. Following emancipation, he and other slaves founded the Africatown settlement near Mobile, Alabama, which still holds descendants to this day.  https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/common-is-bringing-zoraneale-hurstons-barracoon-to-tv-1830881875

Black History Month Highlight "Black Panther"

T

itanic has sunk to the fourth spot to make way for Black Panther on the list of third-highest grossing US theatrical releases. The latest Marvel movie made $659.3 million and it is behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($936.7 million) and Avatar ($760.5 million), not adjusted for inflation, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Worldwide, Black Panther has earned a whopping $1.29 billion and currently stands as the tenth h i g h e s t grossing film at the global box office. The film, which is Marvel’s first to be directed by an AfricanAmerican, took only 26 days for it to crack $1 billion at the global box office.

B l a c k Panther was directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, and stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. Black Panther was released theatrically in the United States on February 16, 2018. The film has garnered numerous awards and nominations with most nominations recognizing the film itself, acting,

24  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

screenplay, art production, and soundtrack. Black Panther became the first comic book film and the first superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Black Panther is nominated for seven Academy Awards, one AACTA Award, one American Film Institute (won), one American Music Award (won), nine BET Awards (winning two), one Billboard Music Award, two British Academy Film Awards, twelve Critics' Choice Movie Awards (winning three), three Golden Globe Awards, eight Grammy Awards, two Hollywood Film Awards (won), seven MTV Movie & TV Awards (winning four), one MTV Video Music Award (won), one National Board of Review (won), five People's Choice Awards (winning two), one Producers Guild of America Award, eight Satellite Awards (winning two), two Screen Actors Guild Awards (winning both), fourteen Saturn Awards (winning five), and eleven Teen Choice Awards (winning three). 

Century Fox -- will be its subscription for edgier, more adult-oriented fare. Disney+ will be the only place you can stream all of Disney's theatrically released movies starting with its 2019 slate that includes Star Wars Episode 9 due in late December.

Episode 9 will feature John Boyega as Finn, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian.  www.cnet.com/how-to/disney-disneyplus-streamingservice-name-release-date-shows-movies-toexpect/?utm_medium=techboard.wed.20190206&utm_ source=email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=campaign www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-episode-9-director-cast-plotrumors-bb-8-c-3po-wrap

Some of the 2019 Grammy Awards Winners

MG Media

Disney+ Streaming Service Debuts This December With Star Wars Episode 9

T

he company is ending its streaming deal with Netflix to launch its own service that will be the exclusive home for Disney movies, TV shows and other original programming.

Most of the programming planned for D i s n e y + leans into the company's franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. But Disney is starting to sign deals for content that's brand-new to the company.

Customers will be able to subscribe with a still“John Boyega popsugar.com unannounced monthly Disney plans to the online thl fee. f Di l t make k Disney+ D home for all its family-friendly content, while Hulu -- which Disney will control after its takeover of 21st

Michelle Obama and Jada Pinkett-Smith Getty Images Record of the Year -- "This Is America" — Childish Gambino Song of the Year -- "This Is America" — Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino) Urban Contemporary Album -- “Everything Is Love” — The Carters

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see page 26

BBN Show Biz Buzz from BBN Show Biz Buzz on page 26

Producer of the Year, Non-classical -- Pharrell Williams R&B Song -- “Boo’d Up” — Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & DijonMcFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai) Rap Performance -- “King’s Dead” — Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake (tie) “Bubblin” — Anderson.Paak Rap Song -- “God’s Plan” — Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, RonLaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake) Jazz instrumental Album -- “Emanon” — The Wayne Shorter Quartet Best Gospel Performance/Song — “Never Alone,” Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin Traditional Blues Album -- “The Blues is Alive and Well” — Buddy Guy Contemporary Blues Album -- “Please Don’t Be Dead” — Fantastic Negrito Reggae Album -- "44/876" — Sting & Shaggy Score Soundtrack for Visual Media -- “Black Panther” — Ludwig Göransson, composer World Music Album -- “Freedom” — Soweto Gospel Choir Best Historical Album — Voices Of Mississippi: Artists And Musicians Documented By William Ferris Best Album Notes — Voices Of Mississippi: Artists And Musicians Documented By William Ferris Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals — “Spiderman Theme,” Randy Waldman Featuring Take 6 & Chris Potter Best Comedy Album — Equanimity & The Bird Revelation, Dave Chappelle“ Music Video -- "This Is America" — Childish Gambino Music Film -- "Quincy" — Quincy Jones https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-etms-2019-grammy-winners-nominations-2019-story. html

One More Grammy Award

C

larence Avant, the recipient of the Black Business Association (BBA) 2017 Salute to Black Music Lifetime Achievement Award, was recently honored by the Recording Academy and Clive Davis at the pre-Grammy Gala with the Grammy's Salute to Clarence Avant Industry Icon Award.

"A funny acceptance speech by Clarence Avant, the 87-year-old music exec given the academy’s Industry Icon award, was a highlight; he said that when he was told about the prize, his first question was whether he’d be paid." 'Skip' Cooper, BBA President/CEO, joked that Clarence posed the same query to the BBA when he received their award. www.bbala.org

Disney's Alladin with Will Smith Coming in May

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trailer for Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Aladdin aired during the 2019 Grammys finally gave everyone what they wanted — Will Smith’s Genie.

Entertainment Weekly spoke to Smith about the role and Smith spoke about the differences between his version of the character and Williams’.

Will Smith as the "Genie" "There’s a little bit less mimicking — there’s a James Brown piece that we do but a little bit less mimicking.

The thing that will be the major addition from me playing the Genie is the hip-hop base. I think that’ll be fun for people. I think it’ll stand out as unique even in the Disney world. There hasn’t been a lot of that hiphop flavor in Disney history!"

Aladdin is directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Will Smith in the role of Aladdin’s flamboyant friend, Genie.

Aladdin will be released on May 24th, 2019.  www.theverge.com/2019/2/10/18209690/aladdin-trailergrammys-2019-disney-will-smith-genie

2019 BAFTA Awards (some)

lasentinel.net

26  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Ridesharing Industry

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he British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) recently held its annual awards ceremony.

Here are a few of the Winners.

Adapted Screenplay — "BlacKkKlansman" Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Wilmott Supporting Actor — Mahershala Ali, "Green Letitia Wright Book" zig.com Special Visual Effects — “Black Panther,” Geoffrey Baumann, Jesse James Chisholm, Craig Hammack, Dan Sudick Animated Film — "Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse", Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, Rodney Rothman, Phil Lord EE Rising Star Award -- Letitia Wright  https://variety.com/2019/film/news/bafta-awards-2019winners-list-1203133526 /

Tidal Adds a Block Button

T

idal is following in Spotify's footsteps by allowing you to block music you don't want to hear from popping up in personalized My Mix playlists, as well as the radio stations the service creates for you based on an artist or track.

Now when you're listening to My Mix or artist or track radio, and a song you just can't abide starts, you can remove it permanently by tapping a block button on the playing page.

You can choose whether to nix only that song or prevent anything from that artist's catalog from playing in those algorithmically curated features, and then Tidal will skip the track. If you change your mind, you can review blocked songs and artists in your settings to unblock select items. 

Ray J Signs Deal to Sell His Line of Electric Scooters

By MG Media

R

ay J, the famous singer and TV personality who is also a thriving entrepreneur, recently made a deal that would make him conquer the ride-sharing industry. He agreed with Canadianbased LOOPShare to sell his Scoot-E-Bike brand in a deal reportedly worth high 7-figures, and he gets to remain as a consultant and brand ambassador for the company... and a shareholder of 19 million shares too!

With the deal, the 38-year old will be riding the booming trend of electric scooters and ride-sharing apps where people can rent a scooter through an app, use it, and when they're done, leave it on the sidewalk for the next rider. What makes Scoot-E-Bike unique and competitive is that they provide users with a choice of three types of scooter models: traditional sit-down bike style, a stand-alone, and also a Vespa-like vehicle.

Several celebrities have helped Ray J in creating brand awareness for the Scoot-E-Bike. These include Snoop Dogg, Stephen Curry, P. Diddy, and his big sister, Brandy.

Meanwhile, Ray J has also been hands-on with his own tech company Raycon Global (https://rayconglobal. com), which reportedly rakes $2 to 3 million dollars in sales each month. For more Bluetooth Earphone details about Scoot-E-Bike, Raycon visit www.scootefriends. com. 

www.engadget.com/2019/02/12/tidal-blockmusic-ios-android/?utm_medium=techboard. tue.20190212.pro&utm_source=email&utm_ content=&utm_campaign=campaign 27  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

28  February 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 Sincerely, Gina Paige President, African Ancestry Maternal Country of Ancestry: Nigeria Maternal Tribe of Ancestry: Fulani

www.africanancestry.com

Opinion

Racist Voter Suppression is Rampant – and Corporate Silence is Complicity

By Reverend William Barber and Rashad Robinson

A

s top Democrats start to throw their hats into the ring for the 2020, we will see policy proposals such as Medicare for All, criminal justice reform, immigration reform and more circulating as part of their platforms.

But every bold policy is meaningless until we eradicate rampant voter suppression in this country. Millions of Americans don’t have a voice on the issues that affect them – mostly because of the deliberate, concerted attempts to stop them from voting.

The blatant racist voter suppression in Georgia, Florida and elsewhere last year revealed the widening cracks in our democracy and the Republican party is becoming only more emboldened in attacking the right to vote.

In Georgia, former Secretary of State Brian Kemp has purged over 1.4 million voters from the rolls since 2012. Throughout his campaign for governor, we saw reports of absentee ballots being stolen and faulty machines at voting sites throughout many communities of color.

In Fulton county, a predominantly black area, officials failed to plug in the polling machines, leaving them to operate solely on battery power.

The polling place opened with only three working machines.

Let’s be clear: the politicians who win elections by targeting bl ack and brown people with voter suppression tactics are also the ones who support policies that hurt all people living in poverty, regardless of race.

That is why voter suppression affects all voters – though it often targets black and brown people,

it affects everyone.

These policies will shape the economic realities of people’s day-to-day lives. According to the Census Bureau, about 1.7 million people –

thyblackman.com

roughly 16% of the Georgia’s population – are living below the poverty line.

Low-income communities, whether white, black or brown, whose votes were systematically suppressed, may as a result be represented by politicians who oppose a living wage and the expansion of affordable healthcare.

As long as communities of color and poor people are denied voting rights, Color Of Change (https://colorofchange.org) and Repairers of the Breach (www.breachrepairers.org) will continue to apply political and economic pressure on the corporations enabling voter suppression.

In addition to elected officials, many corporations benefit from voter suppression.

Companies such as Delta, Coca-Cola and UPS, headquartered in Atlanta, profit from tax benefits

30  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Rev. Barber of Repairers of the Breach and Moral Mondays uuworld.org Rashad Robinson usnews.com

and a large customer and employee base. These companies aim to lift up Georgia’s economy – but their own employees and customers from historically marginalized communities are being silenced and shut out of the political process.

Corporations would like us to believe they’re guileless when it comes to voter suppression, innocent bystanders in their own communities.

That’s simply not true.

Through key campaigns via Color Of Change and the Moral Mondays (http://moralmonday.org) movement, we have proven our strong record of success in holding corporations accountable and working with them to prevent attacks on civil rights.

It is the communities who possess the power to make change, and we have seen the results. In 2018, people got involved in a way we have never seen before. They started paying attention. This year will be even stronger and we’re prepared to take action.

Corporate silence is complicity. These companies have the power and the resources to take a stand, and their consumers must hold them accountable to doing so. We have the power to pressure corporations, civic leaders and influencers to do the right thing and fight with us to protect our civil rights.

When corporations lean in and take action on behalf of fairness and civility, in a non-partisan way, it will immensely impact our currently rigged voting system for all Americans.

The Super Bowl is 3 February in Atlanta.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will flow into the NFL and the state of Georgia because of the Super Bowl, but profit should not come at the expense of our democracy and our civil rights.

It’s an opportunity for southern-headquartered companies to show they are willing to do more than pay lip service and are ready to take action.

Our organizations will use the big game to point to the fact that corporations are benefiting from their approval of this racist system of voter suppression.

We are launching actions from now until 2020 to highlight in various ways the disenfranchisement and expose the corporate enablers who sit on the sidelines while racist attacks prevent people from making their voices heard.

We’re drawing a line in the sand. We demand to see which side of the fight corporations are on: black Americans, civil rights and a strong democracy, or racist politicians’ intent on a regressive slide back toward Jim Crow.  www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/ feb/01/american-corporations-voter-suppressionsuper-bowl

31  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Profile

How a New Generation of Black Entrepreneurs Built Atlanta's Hot Startup Scene

By Cameron Albert-Deitch

M

ajor corporations like Delta and Coca-Cola have become synonymous with Atlanta (Inc.'s No. 18 Surge City), but it's the southern city's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem that's taking its identity for a spin.

Working to Build a More Diverse Investor Scene Serial tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist Paul Judge is perhaps the best-known black founder to emerge from Atlanta, but he's more the exception than the rule. According to census data, the city is 52% black, but many venture capitalists here are white men who tend to fund companies they find relatable.

Jewel Burks Solomon co-founded visual-recognition tech startup Partpic in 2013, and sold it to Amazon for an undisclosed sum in 2016. But of the $2 million she and her co-founders raised, only $25,000 of it came from local sources. Burks Solomon is part of a new generation of Atlanta's black entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s who are succeeding, in part, because they're finding ways around the venture capital issue-constantly traveling to secure funding from other parts of the country, often relying heavily on crowdfunding and angel investments. Says Candace Mitchell, who, after graduating from Georgia Tech with a computer science degree, founded Myavana, a digital hair care startup for people of color: "We're trying to create this momentum where we can start having major exits or major growth in our businesses to really start shaping the ecosystem."

Black Founders Playing the Long Game The Gathering Spot, a private membership club in downtown Atlanta, was founded two years ago

by Ryan Wilson and T.K. Petersen, who curate their membership list to foster balance between

entrepreneurs from local colleges, representatives of Atlanta companies like Coca-Cola and Chick-fil-A, and celebrities from the city's entertainment industry. It caters primarily--but not exclusively--to Atlanta's black community.

How to Connect a Sprawling City After David The Gathering Spot members (fro Cummings sold his Market, Joey Womack of Goodie marketing startup Pardot co-founder Ryan Wilson, and Ba for $95 million in 2012, he decided to invest in filling a void in his city. Today, Cummings's Atlanta Tech Village, a six-floor building on Piedmont Road, is a co-working space that 300-plus startups call home.

It also helped birth a startup movement throughout the city's sprawling patchwork of neighborhoods, which had historically existed in isolation. Soon after ATV launched, Switchyards Downtown Club and FlatironCity arrived downtown. Then, in 2016, private club the Gathering Spot set up shop between Atlanta's trio of historic black schools--Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta--and Georgia Tech. "By having these hubs, we have way more density of startups," says Cummings, "and, big picture, we have a lot more success stories in the community."

Home Depot, CNN, and ... Mailchimp Home Depot's Arthur Blank and CNN's Ted Turner have been the entrepreneurial faces of this city since the 1980s, largely because no one else has since

32  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

om left) Tracey Pickett of Hairbrella (sitting), Andrea Hamilton of Theory Communications, Key Hallmon of the Village Nation, Jewel Burks Solomon of Partpic, Horace Williams of Empowrd, Candace Mitchell of Myavana, Gathering Spot rry Givens of Monsieur. CREDIT: Lynsey Weatherspoon made a big-enough splash. Finally, they have some heirs: Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzius, the relentless (and idiosyncratic) co-founders of Mailchimp. At this for nearly 18 years, the 40-somethings are now running a $4.2 billion email marketing company of which they still own 100%. When Chestnut, who hails from nearby Augusta, and Kurzius, an Albuquerque transplant, founded Mailchimp following the dot-com crash, they decided to emulate larger locals like Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and CNN to create a B2B tech company with consumer company flair. "This isn't just a product, it's not just a business," says Chestnut. "It's a global brand."

Atlanta's Best Kept Secret: Tech Talent Georgia's business-friendly tax credits are a lure, but the city's best-kept secret is a rich tech-talent pool.

Georgia Tech's computer science program is world-

renowned, while Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta also feature top engineering and computer science programs for people of color. It's largely why Square, Pandora, and Opendoor all set up offices in Atlanta this year--joining Google, Twitter, Salesforce, and Facebook. It's also why Blavity founder Morgan DeBaun, whose L.A. media company serves black Millennials, opened an Atlanta office in June. "There's more diversity of ideas, industries, thought, and ethnicities in Atlanta," she says. "Even if I didn't have a black company, I would still probably put my company in a place that has diverse people. Which does not happen in San Francisco, where I lived long enough to know."  www.inc.com/magazine/201902/cameron-albert-deitch/atlantageorgia-black-entrepreneurs-networking-mailchimp-2018-surgecities.html?cid=readmoretext_ab

33  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

California State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Individual Company Export Promotion Program (ICEP) The following are edited guidelines for STEP/ICEP. Complete guidelines are located at: https://californiaexport.org/icep.

For a copy of the complete guidelines, send a request to: bobby.hines@trade.gov Request: California STEP

T

he ICEP program will be used to reimburse eligible California small businesses up to $3,000 USD for specific export promotion related expenses performed on trade promotion related activities.

ICEP will open: • •

November 1, 2018 – January 31, 2019.

April 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019.

Qualifying California companies must: • Be organized, operating and or incorporated in the U.S.A. • The applicable industry-based small business size standard established under section 3 of the Small Business Act; or • The alternate size standard applicable to the program, under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.)

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards for your business based on your NAICS code: www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/ Size_Standards_Table_2017.pdf • Registered to do business in the State of California and in good standing with the California Secretary of State: http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/ • If a company is registered as a sole proprietorship with a fictitious name, the applicant must be registered and in good standing with the county in which the business is located.

• Must be in business for at least one year at the time of the approved ICEP activity takes place • Have sufficient resources to bear the costs associate with trade, including the costs of packing,

shipping, freight forwarding, and customs brokers.

• Agree to provide information on export sales data resulting from the ICEP reimbursement funding, and respond to all subsequent STEP surveys on a timely basis.

Qualifying Expenses: The ICEP program provides the opportunity for eligible companies to apply for direct financial assistance to implement an export promotion activity(s). Events/ activity(s) eligible for reimbursement may include : • Participation fees for international trade missions that support U.S./California exports.

• Participation fees for international export trade show exhibitions • Export research tool subscriptions used to assist STEP clients with market research (up to $1,000 maximum) • Website translations, search engine optimization, localization services (up to $1,000 maximum) • Cost of compliance testing of an existing product for entry into a foreign market (maximum of $2,000) • Fees for shipment of sample products internationally (up to $2,000 maximum) • Other export initiatives determined to be appropriate.

How to apply?

Please go to https://californiaexport.org/register/ to register for STEP indicating interest in the “Individual Company Export Promotion” program 30 days in advance of the event for which reimbursement is being sought.

34  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Black Fashion Week | USA presents

Discover Made in LA

March 5-9, 2019 A “Business of Fashion” educational tour

Black Fashion Week has partnered with Sheila Jones, owner of SMJ Sourcing, Consulting, to create an educational and opportunity filled tour and excursion through the Los Angeles Garment Industry

For detailed information: www.blackfashionweekusa.com info@blackfashionweekusa.com 1-312-899-6179

A

re you a Small Business interested in selling your product or services to Metro or to Prime Contractors that do business with Metro? Would you like to learn how to win contracts as a Prime Contractor through SB Prime, Metro's exciting set-aside initiative? If so, we invite you to come grow with us and learn about Metro Connect.

Start now and register for a How to Do Business with Metro Workshop. Metro staff will show you how to take advantage of the vast array of products, services and transportation related opportunities projected over the coming weeks, months and year. As an added bonus, Metro's procurement staff will host informal interviews with firms before the workshop, starting at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 12, 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.

Commentary

EXCISING AMERICA’S CANCER OF RACISM: TURNING LEFT FROM THE FAR RIGHT LANE

By DR. MAULANA KARENGA

I

t is all there, the beginning of another myth-making drama of an America honestly engaged in coming to terms with its racist past and present, openly discussing the grievous hurt and harm White racism causes to its victims, and making a united front and consensus call for the resignation of a governor caught with his White Klan cape up and his blackface guard down in a pre-selfie photo for his med school yearbook.

Clearly, it must be an important issue, for it is on all the media: corporate, social and otherwise. And if it drags out long enough, it could inspire the making of a movie or at least lead to other goodwill tours inside the alternating racist and reformist mind of America.

And at the center of all this White soul searching drama is the fallen-from-grace governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, the repentant sinner, asking for an opportunity to earn forgiveness for his racist transgression, and the Democrats and others all crying “no.” And we don’t really know if this widely advertised outrage is out of real moral concern or rank political calculation. But given the history of these selective episodic engagements with personal expressions of racism, it’s safe to suspect

Actor Al Jolson in Blackface thenewdaily.com.au

and assume that moral concern is not the first order of the day.

Indeed, regardless of what we say aboutt and d see in i this thi incident i id t and d the th man who sparked it, it is the structure and functioning of America we are really discussing and the governor is only a mime and metaphor for a larger, more injurious and lethal systemic problem. He did not create the blackface caricature from the lime pit in the White racist recesses of his mind. Nor did he design the clown and dunce cap costume of the Klan. Both are American historical traditions, born of a larger bloody and savage tradition of degradation and death-dealing terrorism against Black people. And it should be noted that these photos and the decision to immortalize them in a med school yearbook were taken in 1984 not 1884 or even 1915 when a movie acted as midwife for the notion and “birth of a nation” of Klansmen, saving America from its reconstructionist memories and mistakes about the humanity, equality and human rights of Black people.

We are talking about a history of violence and oppression and its continued unfolding, a deeply rooted White supremacist approach to Black people and the world that cannot be seriously altered or ended even with ten thousand resignations and repentances on a personal level. For racism is not simply an attitude of hostility and hatred of different persons and peoples, but the turning of that hatred and hostility into public policy and socially sanctioned practice.

That is turning this attitude into law and systemic policy and practice. Indeed, what difference does it make whether the suit is white or blue, if its wearers have a depraved racist disregard for our lives and rights as persons and a people? And in the final analysis, what consolation or real contribution to social change is it to have the system fake our equality in TV ads,

38  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

pretending interracial mingling and sex is some sort of index of progress?

Indeed, interracial sex has been engaged in since the Holocaust of enslavement, but it was vicious rape of women, men and children and did not change relations of wealth, power and status and neither do symbolic placements of Blacks in ads and roles on TV or in the movies. Afterall, it is not a question of who’s in the bedroom, but who’s in the boardroom; who rules and defines reality and who controls the racist structure of wealth, power and status which, of course, is monopolized by Whites? And unless we discuss and move to change such relations of crushing and criminal inequity and injustice, calling for one or numerous resignations, taking people to lunch or bed, and joking about Trump and his open and silent supporters and confederates-in-arms on late night shows, will not change our condition or that of others who are oppressed by this system.

Certainly, it’s important that every instance of racism, especially in public space, be exposed, criticized and condemned. But let’s be clear - the expressions of racism we are discussing now are about personal transgressions, not various forms of systemic racist treatment and their effects on us and other peoples of color. This kind of focus on personal transgressions works well for the system, for it comes with little cost to it. In fact, the system is strengthened by the myth that it corrects itself, outs its rogue members, and removes them while the system itself that produced, sanctions and supports them, until they are caught, keeps rolling on and over the oppressed.

Moreover, America loves to force and hear confessions and is almost pathologically committed to purges in their personal and cinematic forms. However, again, the ruling class never sacrifices the system itself, but periodically finds itself needing to make an example of the embarrassingly problematic characters it has produced. Such is the case of the wayward Virginia governor who has been declared a racist rogue and is being urged to resign, thus saving the racist system itself from serious and sustained scrutiny.

So, the Governor, dressed in racist rag, becomes the talk of the town and nation. But police violence, mass incarceration and disabling disparities in health, housing, employment and education which deal with systemic issues rather than personal disorders and evil acts are not engaged in a depthful and sustained manner. But this is the crux of the matter, the hub and hinge on which it all turns - the racist oppressive structure and daily functioning of the system. And failing to address this ensures an endless repetition of racist words spoken and acts committed by persons

that have their roots in a racist system, unengaged and unaltered.

In the final analysis, we are confronting and discussing a serious pathology in America called racism, a systemic disorder. Indeed, Min. Malcolm states that racism is “plaguing America like an incurable cancer,” and that he had dedicated his life to bringing light and teaching “meaningful truth that will help to destroy (this) racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America.”

Given the nature of the disease, its history and its pervasive and persistent presence, it will not be easy to excise and eradicate. But we can be sure that tea and sympathy, confessions and personal repentance, resignations and more ad man images of interracial exchange as evidence of progress and change will not solve the problem. Only a radical reconstruction of society and of wealth, power and status relations offer any serious promise and possibilities of real and substantive change.

AMERICA SEES ITSELF ON GOOD DAYS AS A liberal society and truly believes its founding myth of being a light of democratic hope and capitalist heaven among nations. But in reality, in race relations, it is driving in the far right lane on the highway of history holding fast to White power, privilege and illusions of superiority, while promising and pretending it’s going left toward a truly just and inclusive society. Among the Democrats, there is talk of a rising left initiative among them, but they seem apprehensive of its presence and promise. And the Republicans are fear mongering about the spread of socialism here and in Venezuela and the suppression of democracy, as if they have not already enabled and presided gleefully over this suppression. And yet a new overarching movement to the left and of an inclusive left of peoples and groups united in struggle, is possible. But it cannot minimize the centrality of race and racism, pretend all differences are equally disadvantaging or ask Black people to erase themselves and accept funding, favor, accolades for controlled anger, and a comfortable place in oppression as a substitute for a real and irreversible freedom.  Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, The Message and Meaning of Kwanzaa: Bringing Good Into the World and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org.

Los Angeles Sentinel, 02-17-19, p.A6 Image credits: vimeo.com, apollotheater.org

39  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Apologies

Gucci and Adidas Apologize and Drop Products Called Racist

By Anastasios Pallis

L

ess than a week into Black History Month, in two episodes of retail déjà vu, Adidas and Gucci have apologized and pulled products criticized as racist.

The offending Gucci item was an $890 black-knit women’s balaclava that could be pulled up over the lower half of the wearer’s face. The sweater included bright red lips ringing an opening for the mouth, a detail widely denounced on social media as evoking b l a c k f a c e imagery.

The sweater was part of a line of balaclavastyle ski masks and knits in various color combinations included in Gucci’s fallwinter 2018 collection.

In Adidas’s case, the c o m p a n y included an balaclava-style ski mask sweater almost entirely white pair of shoes in a line of clothing and sneakers inspired by the Harlem Renaissance m o v e m e n t and meant to commemorate Black History Month.

One Twitter user labeled the product “a swing and a miss.”

Criticism of the designs spread quickly on Twitter, prompting the companies to act amid separate firestorms over the fashion industry’s pattern of racially offensive choices.

Gucci released a statement on Twitter late Wednesday, saying it “deeply apologizes for the offense caused” by the balaclava’s design. The company said it had removed an image of the sweater from its e-commerce site and was withdrawing the item from all of its physical stores.

“We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make,” the company said in the statement. “We are fully committed to increasing diversity throughout our organization and turning this incident into a powerful learning moment for the Gucci team and beyond.”

Earlier in the day, Adidas, one of the largest sportswear companies in the world, said it would pull the shoes at issue, part of the “Ultraboost Uncaged” line, from stores. The company said in a statement that the $180 sneakers “did not reflect the spirit or philosophy of how Adidas believes we should recognize and honor Black History Month.”

Several clothing makers have come under fire in recent years for similar missteps.

Dolce & Gabbana was excoriated for advertisements laden with stereotypes about Chinese people. Zara has featured a skirt with a character like Pepe the Frog, a figure embraced by far-right g r o u p s .

P r a d a adorned bags with charms, part of a line of goods called Pradamalia, t h a t resembled Adidas Ultraboost Uncaged Shoe

40  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

I'm Done with Prada & Gucci!!!

Rips 'em for 'Coonery and Buffoonery'

S

pike Lee's had it with Prada and Gucci's racist blackface blunders ... so he's boycotting the luxury brands until they hire some black designers to keep them in check.

The "BlacKkKlansman" director announced he's no longer going to wear either Prada or Gucci Friday in wake of yet another blackface controversy from the Italian Fashion houses. If you missed it, Gucci got dragged this week over an $890 blackface sweater.

Spike says he's done with both brands "Until They Hire Some Black Designers 'To Be In Da Room When

Spike Lee TMZ.COM

It Happens.''' He added ... "It's Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don't Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. WAKE UP." Gucci apologized for its ridiculously offensive balaclava jumper and says it's been pulled from all stores. It also vowed to increase diversity across the company ... but Spike's clearly taking a wait and see approach.

As for Prada, you might recall its high-end Manhattan shop put a purse in its window in December with this "Sambo" figurine attached. It was also quickly pulled after cries of racism.

Still, both incidents beg the question ... who the hell's watching the shop???

Spike thinks he knows the answer, and says more black staffers have to be on board to help end the "coonery and buffoonery."

We reached out to both brands -- Prada has no comment and Gucci has yet to reply.  h ps://www.tmz.com/2019/02/08/spike-lee-boyco nggucci-prada-blackface-hateful-imagery-designers/

black monkeys with outsize red lips. And the Swedish company H&M dressed a young black male model in a hoodie with the phrase “coolest monkey in the jungle,” setting off protests at South African stores.

The fresh accusations of racism in the fashion industry coincided with a continuing political furor in the United States over the wearing of blackface and other racist behavior by prominent Virginia politicians in their younger days.

Some people on Twitter responded to Gucci’s apology by urging the company to employ more black people to avoid similar episodes in the future. Others questioned Gucci’s motivations, suggesting that the sweater and

the ensuing mea culpa were part of a publicity stunt.

Still others saw the offensive sweater as a result of a centralized European company being unaware of aspects of American cultural heritage.

The company, which is owned by the French luxury group Kering, was voted “the hottest brand on the planet” in the Lyst Index released this week. The list, compiled by a leading fashion search platform, found that from October to December 2018, more than six million shoppers searched online for a Gucci bag, belt or shoe.  http://anastasiospallis.com/topics/gucci-and-adidas-apologizeand-drop-products-called-racist/

41  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Entrepreneur Profile

Meet Dani Arps, New York’s Go-To Designer for Start Ups

By Akiva Blander

D

ani Arps neither subscribes to nor rejects contemporary workplace design trends.

She readily embraces the push to provide employees with comfortable and amenity-rich spaces. Some ideas, like the now-ubiquitous (although increasingly criticized) open-plan layout, Arps cautiously endorses, depending on the client: “It’s not good, it’s not bad, but it doesn’t necessarily work for most

offices,” she says.

Still other trends, like the obsession with so-called millennial pink, Arps dismisses outright (“It’s a beautiful color, but I’ve seen designs that go overboard. Like, why did this cotton candy ball explode all over this restaurant?”).

Arps’s nuanced takes speak to the project-specific design process that defines her style, which is in high demand in New York’s start-

up scene. Through her practice, founded in 2014, Arps has proved adept at helping young companies differentiate themselves from the pack in brand and work culture.

Her synthesis of the fine-grained aspects of brand identity, daily work needs, and preexisting spatial constraints is especially valuable to many of her New York clients, who have made industrial spaces their homes. And her clients trust

44  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

that they’re in good hands with Arps at the helm: “They’re very much willing to just be like, ‘We trust you, do what you’re gonna do.’”

The Connecticut-raised Pratt alum graduated into a tough economy in 2009, when she nabbed her first gig designing the offices for online coding platform Codecademy. “That really started the ball rolling in which direction I was going to take,” Arps says.

Other start-ups and tech companies followed, with payment service Venmo, ticket company SeatGeek, and online fashion purveyor Gilt hiring Arps for their own office redesigns. “I was literally saying yes to every project that came my way,” she recalls.

By saying yes at such an early

stage in her career, Arps quickly turned good instincts into a thriving practice. Today, she prides herself on tailoring designs to her clients through a collaborative process, avoiding cookie-cutter solutions, even when many of her clients share similar challenges. Yet inescapably, certain Dani Arps signatures emerge: contextinformed spatial layouts; raw and untreated materials; a palette of industrial grays and neutrals with vibrant pops of color; and always, at least some greenery.

For news site Fashionista, Arps conceived a bright, compact design with white furniture, printed wallpaper, pastel accents, and houseplants. The SeatGeek office jibes with its industrial setting,

featuring high ceilings, a stripped-down aesthetic, ample greenery (including living walls), and exposed brick and wood. The 33-yearold powerhouse even dabbles in product and furniture design when a project affords the opportunity: Her Dani Lounge is a wheeled plywoodframe, boothlike unit that facilitates privacy while maintaining a certain openness and mobility.

Arps’s commercial portfolio is expanding,taking her into markets in London and Los Angeles. And while she welcomes hospitality and residential projects, she’s happy with her current reputationin workplace design, where she feels most free to experiment.

In the start-up realm especially, a workplace project “allows me to play with different typologies,” she says—whether that’s a kitchen,a café, an event space, or something totally new. She admits, though, art galleries are her next target.

Asked why, she explains,“Because designing them is hard.” It’s this fearlessness—to try new things, challenge herself, and balance the timeless and the fashionable—that perhaps best defines Dani Arps more than any one trend..  www.metropolismag.com/interiors/ dani-arps-studio-profile/ www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/ a26016246/dani-arps-interiordesigner/?src=socialflowTW

45  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Travel Tips

Coca-Cola®Zero Sugar Keeping Pace with Consumer’s Health Demands

By By PY Thomas, Staff Writer

C

oca-Cola is an American institution, just like apple pie. Their famous tagline for years was “Things go better with Coke.” A long time and well-established leader in the beverage industry crowded with competitors, Coca-Cola’s success is due in part to its branding as a socially responsible soft drink manufacturer by their wide assortment of soft drink offerings, specifically with its Coca-Cola®Zero Sugar, which provides consumers who are weight and/ or health conscious with a tasty alternative that helps them in their weight management goals as compared to regular Coke or other sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

In 2018, the Coca-Cola Company spent $675 million with minority-owned businesses, and has provided access to opportunities throughout its global supply chain by maximizing procurement opportunities and proactively engaging and building partnerships with diverse suppliers. Additionally, they have an ambitious goal to hit $1 billion in annual spending. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, as the he National Minority

Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) recognized Coca-Cola for its innovative approach to promoting minority supplier development in December 2018.

Coca-Cola has enjoyed a long history of using the world’s biggest advertising stage to celebrate unity, especially during seasons of cultural division. In 2014 and 2018, the brand struck a similar chord with the buzzworthy “It’s Beautiful” and “The Wonder of Us” ad campaigns.

Coca-Cola’s move to change Coca-Cola Zero to Coca-Cola®Zero Sugar was just another reason why consumer trust with Coca-Cola remains high. Based on research they conducted, they discovered that many of their consumer base were not aware that “Coke Zero” did not contain sugar or calories. The subtle name change has proven to be invaluable, clear and descriptive as possible. Consumers now are able to enjoy the traditional taste of America’s number one beverage, but without the sugar. 

46  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

www.bbala.org

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:

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47  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Training

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Launches Online Education Partnership with Coursera

T

he Goldman Sachs Foundation has launched an online education program to further 10,000 Women, providing female entrepreneurs across the world with a digitized curriculum and interactive platform of women business owners. In partnership with Coursera, the world’s largest online platform for higher education, 10,000 Women will provide greater access to its proven curriculum, providing female entrepreneurs with a world-class business education and a global peer-to-peer network. The course is free, and has been built to meet the needs of women business owners in developing markets.

10,000 Women will provide focused and tailored exercises in an introductory module where participants will assess the strengths and weaknesses of their business and themselves as business leaders. The additional modules will review strategies to identify, optimize, and execute growth opportunities. Learners at the end of the course will have a Business Growth Plan to follow as they continue to grow and evolve their businesses.

Importantly, participants in the course will be supported by a network of fellow students and alumni that will provide real-time support, mentoring and group learning across a number of technologies and channels. This is specifically designed to support quality outcomes by driving personal growth and fostering an online community, allowing the participants to create meaningful connections that will last beyond the completion of the program itself.

“This is a question of opportunity, not capability, and this partnership with Coursera allows us to expand 10,000 Women to reach those entrepreneurs we haven’t been able to before,” said John F.W. Rogers, Chairman of the Goldman Sachs Foundation. “Helping businesses grow is at the core of what we do as a company, and increasing access to business education to support smart, driven, and talented women is good for their businesses, their communities, and the world.”

“Supporting women entrepreneurs is so crucial to creating an economic future that is fair and inclusive, and we’re so honored to partner with the Goldman

Sachs Foundation in this endeavor,” said Leah Belsky, VP Enterprise Development at Coursera.

“Exponentially scaling this program with our platform will allow many more women to develop the skills, credibility, and networks needed to execute on their ideas.”

In 2008, Goldman Sachs launched the 10,000 Women initiative to foster economic growth by providing women entrepreneurs around the world with business education and access to capital. The initiative was founded on research conducted by Goldman Sachs, the World Bank and others, which suggests that such an investment can have a significant impact on GDP growth. 10,000 Women has reached more than 10,000 women though the in-person program, where 70% of graduates report higher revenues and nearly 60% create new jobs.

This course has been built on the foundation of the proven 10,000 Women curriculum with the aim of democratizing access to business education worldwide.

The announcement follows a recent milestone achieved through a partnership with the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, to enable women entrepreneurs to access capital, with the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (“WEOF”) raising over $1 billion in capital commitments to banks for women entrepreneurs.

The course is free and open to all learners. Women business owners with at least three employees and $50,000 in annual revenue are eligible to receive a certificate upon completion. The course can be found at www.coursera.org/launch/10000women.  www.goldmansachs.com/media-relations/press-releases/ archived/2018/coursera-launch-may-21-2018.html

49  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Profile

Amazon Names Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer as Director, Diversifying Previously All-White Board

by Taylor Soper

R

from black and Hispanic members of Congress, Amazon adopted a new policy to consider “a slate of diverse candidates, including women and minorities” for future openings on its board.

The company said at the time that it was merely formalizing its existing practice. Corporations are increasingly being called upon to increase board

osalind “Roz” Brewer, Chief Operating Officer at Starbucks, has joined Amazon’s Board of Directors, the Seattle tech giant announced today.

Brewer, who was the first woman and first black Chief Operating Officer at Starbucks, becomes the second black woman to join the Amazon board. Amazon currently has six men and four women on the 10-member board. With the exception of Brewer, all of Amazon’s board members are white. Pharmaceutical executive Myrtle Potter was the first black woman to serve on the Amazon board, from 2004 to 2009.

Brewer, the former Sam’s Club CEO, ranks No. 33 on Fortune’s list of the world’s most powerful women.

Last year, facing an employee backlash and public criticism

diversity.

Brewer is also a director at Starbucks, where she became COO in October 2017 and leads the company’s operating businesses across the Americas, in addition to global functions of supply chain, product innovation, and store development organizations, according to Starbucks.

She is “a perfect example of the extraordinary minority and female talent that exists in corporate America, that is all too often excluded from the boardroom and the C-Suite,” said U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, co-chair of the House Tech Accountability Caucus and a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a statement.

Kelly joined other members of the House Tech Accountability Caucus in pushing Amazon to diversify its

board last year. She added that Brewer’s appointment “serves as an example to other industry leaders regarding the positive economic, business, innovation and inclusion benefits offered by increasing board diversity, especially to companies leading the way in our modern innovation economy.”

Prior to Starbucks, Brewer was CEO at Sam’s Club, the membersonly retail arm of Walmart, from 2012 to 2017. She was also previously a director at Lockheed Martin.

Brewer was awarded with 570 shares of common stock as part of her election that will vest in three equal annual installments beginning Feb. 15, 2020. Shares of Amazon ended Monday at $1,633. She was also named to the leadership development and compensation committee of the board.

She replaces John Seely Brown, a former chief scientist at Xerox Corp. who joined in 2004 and did not stand for reelection. Amazon’s other board directors are CEO Jeff Bezos; Tom Alberg; Jamie Gorelick; Daniel Huttenlocher; Judith McGrath; Jonathan Rubinstein; Thomas Ryder; Patricia Stonesifer; and Wendell Weeks.  www.geekwire.com/2019/amazonappoints-starbucks-coo-rosalindbrewer-board-directors/

51  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Technology / Take A Look!

Technology:

Take A Look!

ZipWhip - Texting for Business

Z

ipwhip's goal is to make texting with businesses as natural as it is with family and friends. We imagine a future where voicemail and never-ending games of phone tag are history. We're dedicated to making that a reality, and having some fun along the way.

Reach customers faster using Zipwhip’s textingfor-business software and API solutions. Send and receive text messages on your computer using your existing business phone number.

newswire.com

Contact more customers at once with Zipwhip’s unlimited contact import and group text features. And since SMS comes preloaded on every cell phone, your customers don’t need to download an app in order to get the message.

People respond instantly to texts. Zipwhip’s automation tools like keyword triggers and auto replies further enable rapid-fire conversation with customers so your team can solve problems quickly.

Save time and money with features geared toward productive teams. Share files instantly with MMS picture messaging, and get work done more efficiently with templates, conversation filters and multi-user switchboard capabilities.  www.zipwhip.com/#

Wynd Store Management Service

W

ynd (www.wynd.eu/ ) is a SaaS software editor.

We support the digital transformation of points of sale and brands while creating new seamless customer journeys resulting in an improvement of their value chain. We support over 90 large clients in their digital transformation covering over 18,000 stores across the

world.

Wynd is a product designed to create and manage all of your sales channels (order management, payment, loyalty…) in-store and out-of-store.

Consumption methods are evolving very quickly and businesses and brands need to adapt. With connected consumers looking for new shopping experiences and a high level of service, the borders between the online and offline worlds are becoming blurred. Most businesses these days choose to outsource this digital side to pure web players. However, we found that by creating a tool dedicated to physical sales which creates simple and intuitive journey for the final client, the department and head office, we had found an alternative solution. By offering each service adapted to their needs, Wynd improves the whole value chain.

The Wynd solution maintains the brands by allowing them to claim the digital innovations for themselves.”

Wynd, a global player in digital solutions for points of sale, is now established in 18 countries worldwide. Our ambition is to accelerate the digital transformation.

Our solutions are designed to meet specific needs in each country. Our wide network of partners is expanding in line with our international development and growth.

We have a multi-disciplinary project team experienced in international deployments for which they combine efficiency and agility.  www.wynd.eu/

Jyve: The Future of Work.

J

yve works for both the recruiter and the job seeker and offers lots of perks. Check it out.

What do Jyvers do? - Jyvers help retailers and brands market their products in stores.

Where You Want, When You Want - Whether at home or away, there’s a Jyve (aka Job) near you. And you control your schedule by choosing the hours and job locations that work best for you.

What You Want - You decide what you want to do, get paid by the job (we call it a Jyve), not the hour - the more you Jyve, the more you make.

Each Jyve has its own pay rate, and you can make anywhere between $200 to over $2,000 per week. You get paid every Friday via direct deposit.

All Through Your Phone - Everything you need to

52  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Jyve you can find in our Jyve app. View achievements, contact support, and chat with fellow Jyvers all in the palm of your hand.

For the Business - Brands, distributors, and retailers have needs. People have skills. The Jyve Platform matches the needs to skills. Jyve partners with industry stakeholders to help them grow revenue and cut inefficiencies.

For the Worker - Change The Way You Work.

Become a Jyver and see what it’s like to love your work. www.jyve.com/homepage www.jyve.com/become-a-jyver

I

Curve - All Your Cards in One

t seems to us you don’t need another bank. You just need a better way to control your money. So, we’ve created one very simple card that puts all your finances in one very smart place.

With all your finances at your fingertips, you can get on with the business of enjoying life.

Our friendly app lets you magically use all your current cards through one simple, secure Curve Mastercard.

It’s the only card you need to carry.

Plus, you’ll get instant cashback rewards from your favourite retailers and you can spend abroad with no exchange fees. Nice and simple.

Managing your money just got a lot easier. With Curve, you get real-time alerts that tell you how much you’ve spent (and in which currency).

We also show you how you’re spending to help you budget. And if you use the wrong card to pay, you can Go Back in Time and change it. With Curve you’re in complete control.

Curve is safer than carrying all your cards with you.

We don’t store your card numbers in the app, your information is encrypted with military-grade security.

We never ever share your information with retailers.

Instantly lock your Curve Card or call us if you lose it and we’ll fix things.

Besides protecting against chargebacks, Curve now offers the Curve Purchase Protection as standard for up to £1000 ($1,316.56) per transaction: an added layer between you and unscrupulous sellers..  www.curve.app/en/

Amazon Web Services Launches AWS Backup

A

mazon Web Services is providing a fully managed backup service. The Seattle-based mega-company has launched AWS Backup, an automated, centralized

backup service that enables businesses to back up their data across the AWS network and on-premises more efficiently.

AWS Backup gives enterprises a single point of control for configuring and auditing data stored in AWS resources and allows storage admins to automate backup scheduling, set retention policies and monitor recent backup activity in one place. It features support for block storage volumes, databases and most file systems.

“We designed AWS Backup for [the] type of builder who has told us that they want one place to go for backups versus having to do it across multiple, individual services,” said Bill Vass, vice president of Storage, Automation and Management Services at AWS. For more information, go to: https://aws.amazon. com/backup.  www.eweek.com/storage/amazon-web-services-launchesaws-backup?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EWK_ NL_EP_20190131_STR2L2&dni=462366015&r ni=25652266

Google Releases New Apps To Help Hard-Of-Hearing People see page 54

53  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Technology / Take A Look! new emoji will be coming to your phone by the second half of the year. What’s significant about this latest batch is its focus on disabilities and genderrelated experiences.

New emoji in the latest batch include a yawning face, a person kneeling, a sloth, an otter, an orangutan, a skunk, a flamingo, garlic, a waffle, a falafel, a Hindu temple, ballet shoes, a diya lamp, and more (https://unicode.org/ emoji/charts-12.0/emoji-released.html).  www.fastcompany.com/90302946/ women-finally-get-a-menstruation-emoji

G

oogle has announced two new Android apps today meant for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

The apps – Live Transcribe and Sound Amplifier – are meant to break down barriers and make life a little easier for those who are differently-abled.

Google developed Live Transcribe based on the idea of using cloud-based automatic speech recognition to display spoken words on a screen. The app can thus transform real-world speech into real-time captions with just the Android device’s microphone. No special equipment required. This app will thus provide deaf or the hard-of-hearing greater independence in their daily interactions.

The app is available in more than 70 languages and dialects. It also allows for two-way conversation through a type-back keyboard for users who can’t or don’t want to speak. Live Transcribe is initially being rolled out in a limited beta to users worldwide through the Play Store.

The Sound Amplifier app was first announced at Google I/O last year. It makes audio more clear and easier to hear. Sound Amplifier is available from the Play Store for devices running Android 9 Pie or later.

Both apps come pre-installed on the Google Pixel 3.  www.ubergizmo.com/2019/02/google-releases-new-appsto-help-hard-of-hearing-people/

59 New Emoji in Your Library

T

he Unicode Consortium has announced that 59 new emoji will make it into the sixth major update to the official roster of emoji. With another 171 variants for gender and skin tones, that means a total of 230

Use Loom Video Message Software to Add a Human Touch to Email Messaging

S

ave hours of typing with only a few minutes of quick videos using Loom.

For every 10 seconds of video you record it is equivalent to 81 seconds of typing. No more super long emails that take forever to write. Simply click Loom to record and start saving time!

Your ideas will be crystal clear and convenient. Your viewers will be able to watch your videos when it is most convenient for them and revisit videos when needed.

Whether you communicate with people across the office, across the country, or people around the world, Loom videos will be loved by your viewers!

Build deeper relationships with less time You communicate with text messages and emails all day, but rarely do you feel closer to people when only text is exchanged. It is human nature to emotionally bond with people we see and hear on a regular basis.

Send more Looms, build deeper relationships.

Basic Loom is $0.00 a month. Pro Loom is $10.00 a month. Both options offer a free 14-day trial.  www.useloom.com

Curatted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

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55  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Publisher's Message from page 3

by Victor Hugo Green. Green, a postal employee and travel writer from Harlem, New York City developed and wrote The Green Book, a travel guide for African Americans living in the United States. The book was published from 1936 to 1966, which. included hotel and restaurant reviews; and businesses that did business with African Americans, during the time of Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in the United States. He printed 15,000 copies each year. After retiring from the Postal Service, Green continued to work on updating issues of The Green Book. With entrepreneurial drive building inside, Green went on to establish a travel agency business in 1947.

Looking ahead to the balance of the year, each of us can create new and exciting Black History moments by supporting each other’s businesses – rekindle a “Black/Green Book,” where our support of each other is not driven because of racism, but because of a commitment to sustainable economic empowerment within our business communities and families. African American buying power is projected to exceed well over $1 trillion according to Fortune Magazine. While African Americans make up just 14% of the population, we are responsible for approximately $1.2 trillion in purchases annually... in some cases, Black American consumers make up over 50% of overall spending, such as the category of dry grains and vegetables. But other categories are stand-outs as well, like baby food (42.76%) personal soap and bath needs (41.64%) and air fresheners and deodorizers (38.29%).

Danny J. Bakewell, Sr,

Bernard & Shirley Kinsey

Danny J. Bakewell Sr. – Lifetime Civil Rights/ Entrepreneur Award. Mr. Bakewell has been a true civil rights activist for the betterment of African Americans throughout the greater Los Angeles area and the nation. Bakewell is a founding member, current board Chairman and former President and Chief Executive Officer of The Brotherhood Crusade.

Danny is currently the Executive Publisher/CEO of the Los Angeles Sentinel, the oldest and largest Black-owned newspaper on the West Coast and nation’s Number One Black Newspaper. Bakewell created “Taste of Soul,” which in its 11 years is considered the largest African American theme street family festivals in the nation. Danny is also

Carl Dickerson

the Chairman of The Bakewell Company; one of the largest African American-owned development companies in the country.

•

Carl Dickerson – Lifetime Entrepreneur Award of Excellence. Founder and Chairman of the Board of Dickerson Employee Benefits Insurance, began his career in the life insurance industry over 50 years ago, and quickly realized his passion lay in the health benefits arena. Carl’s long career has included service on many boards and committees and he has held many prominent positions with organizations such as the Los Angeles Urban League and Town Hall Los Angeles. Dickerson recently completed the successful merger with Alera Group, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the nation. Through this merger, Dickerson has expanded nationwide capacity and access, positioning the company with increased growth potential and revenue.

•

Bernard & Shirley Kinsey – Lifetime Achievement in Black Heritage Arts Award.

Bernard and Shirley established the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation for Art and Education, which assists educational/cultural institutions

The Black Business Association (BBA), headquartered in Southern California, held its Salute to Black History this month. Not only was this event well-attended, but inspirational and a great tribute to its honorees: Honorees for this year’s tribute who received the following awards: •

Gwen Moore

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with educating underserved youth and increasing public awareness about African American history and ancestry, by exposing and bridging cultural and societal gaps while addressing stereotypes and social ills. In 1992, Bernard Kinsey was selected as chief operating officer and co-chairman of Rebuild L.A. under Peter Ueberroth. Bernard had a highly successful 20-year association with the Xerox Corporation. He helped form the Xerox Black Employees Association. It was through this association that increased the hiring of blacks from 121 employees in 1971, to over 14,000 in 1991.

He was responsible for the direct hiring of nearly one thousand Blacks, Latinos and females. He was a Vice President for nearly ten years; he also managed Xerox’s largest sales and marketing division. Currently, he serves as President of KBK Enterprises, a management consulting firm.

Bernard and Shirley Kinsey were one of the early financial supporters of the “NAACP Image Awards” and “Real Men Cook” for prostate cancer. Through their leadership, the Kinseys have assisted the College Bound organization, helping raise over $3.5 million.

•

Gwen Moore – Lifetime Professional Award

of Excellence. As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GeM Communications Group, Moore is the primary consultant, working with clients to develop and implement public affairs, legislative strategies and community outreach programs.

Drawing on her vast experience as a legislator in the California State Assembly; chaired of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee for 12 years; and also served as Majority Whip. She is known for her proven ability to develop grassroots lobbying efforts, client advisory services on legislative and regulatory issues; and is a problemsolver. She formulates public affairs programs for clients with marketing, political, cultural and charitable agendas.

Upcoming Events: Register for the BBA’s upcoming 2019 Salute to Black Women Business Conference, Expo and Awards Luncheon, Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 9620 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

As we celebrate Black History Month, let us continue to celebrate all accomplishments of all AFRICAN AMERICANS 365 days a year.  www.bbala.org

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 57  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Adarrius Joseph www.facebook.com/swift.bitness 58  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

B

lack History Month is a special time to pause and celebrate the trials and triumphs of generations of Black people who have shaped this nation and pushed it closer to becoming the country it claimed to be at its founding.

From anti-lynching laws and the desegregation of public schools to voting rights and criminal justice reform, NAACP members have fought for and won monumental victories that made our country better not only for Black people, but for all marginalized communities.

However, the news reminds us each day that now is not the time to rest on our laurels; there’s still so much to fight for to keep America moving toward progress.

That’s why this Black History Month, NAACP is challenging all of our supporters to step up and play an even bigger role in our organization by becoming members of the NAACP (http://naacp.org/membership).

Voting rights are under assault in states across the country. The justice system still only works for some. Black people— regardless of money and fame—can still be arrested, beaten, or worse for simply existing in certain spaces. Many of our schools and communities remain underfunded and ignored by people in power.

To combat these challenges before us today, we have to recognize a long-standing truth: there’s strength in numbers.

Just as those who came before us harnessed their collective power to create change, we must do the same in our time.

So, as we all celebrate Black stories and Black excellence this month, I hope you’ll take up the challenge and join us. With you as our newest member, we’ll be even bigger and bolder in the fight against injustice.

Sincerely, Derrick Johnson President and CEO NAACP

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Government - Trade

Discover Business Opportunities in the Indo-Pacific Region The 2019 U.S. Commercial Service Trade Winds program includes an Indo-Pacific focused business forum in New Delhi, India consis ng of regional and industry specific conference sessions as well as pre-arranged consulta ons with U.S. Diplomats represen ng commercial markets throughout the region.

Customize an op onal business matchmaking schedule, based on input from our Commercial Specialists throughout the region, and grow your interna onal sales through mee ngs with pre-screened poten al buyers, agents, distributors and joint-venture partners in the following Indian ci es on May 8-10: New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata Op onal business matchmaking appointments may also be arranged in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka on May 13.

• Learn how to increase profits and overcome barriers in the Indo-Pacific region during business development conference.

• Network with the region’s leading industry and government officials and experienced U.S. and global companies Want to learn more about these dynamic markets? Click on each to access their Country Commercial Guide: India - www.export.gov/ar cle?id=India-Market-Overview Bangladesh - www.export.gov/ar cle?series=a0pt0000000PAtGAAW&type=Cou ntry_Commercial__kav Sri Lanka - www.export.gov/ar cle?series=a0pt00000000GteAAE&type=Count ry_Commercial__kav. h ps://live.even a.com/en/tradewinds19/Registra on/# Deadline to Register for Trade Winds: February 15, 2019 Bobby Hines, Interna onal Trade Specialist/1-213-894-4231 DTLA Export Office: U.S.D.O.C. | Interna onal Trade Administra on 444 S. Flower St, 37th FL, LA, CA 90071 Tex les/Apparel/Spor ngGoods Team Page h ps://2016.export.gov/industry/apparel/index.asp Virtually promote your USA Apparel/Tex le/Spor ngGoods h ps://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newRegistra on. jsp?SmartCode=8Z0C

72  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

Community/Public Interest

400th Commemoration Year of Enslavement 1619-2019

Hannibal B. Johnson: 400 years of African American History Cannot be Unlived, but it should be Chronicled

HANNIBAL B. JOHNSON

I

am honored to serve on the 15-member 400 Years of African American History Commission. This national body will develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of 20 enslaved Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619. Thus began American chattel slavery.

The legacy of that peculiar and odious institution still plagues us. We will never understand

the history of our nation until we acknowledge and examine the centrality of the slave trade to colonial and early American society.

At a time when racial tumult dominated the airwaves and the Civil Rights Movement captured headlines, James Baldwin remarked: “To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage.” Baldwin’s provocative prose highlighted the wide gap between the ideals and aspirations of American citizenship and the realities of the black experience.

We have evolved, but our evolution is incomplete.

The commission aims to recognize the courage, steadfastness and resilience of African Americans from that seminal moment in 1619 forward, while simultaneously highlighting the myriad contributions of African Americans to American society.

From enduring slavery to fighting in the Civil War to working against the oppressive Jim Crow laws to prolonged civil rights struggles, the rich history of African Americans in the United States and their prodigious gifts to the nation began hundreds of years ago and extend to the present.

The robust narrative the commission will draw upon includes both troubling and triumphant times.

Those troubling times include the “nadir of race relations in America,” i.e., the end of Reconstruction in 1877 through the early part of the 20th century; lynchings, a variant of domestic terrorism, including the infamous 1911 lynching of Laura Nelson and her son, L.W., in Okemah; the 1919 “Red Summer” riots; and the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot.

The triumphant times include the proliferation of all-black towns in Oklahoma; the emergence of “Black Wall Street”; the Harlem Renaissance, an intellectual, social, and artistic explosion in the 1920s; and the galvanization of black masses and allies into a powerful and effective Civil

76  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Rights Movement that arguably continues today.

The commission’s work includes planning, developing and implementing a series of programs and activities throughout 2019 to tell the full story of African Americans over the last 400 years, adding context and nuance to an American history curriculum too often short on both.

As part of its work, the commission will establish a clearinghouse for commemorative events; collaborate with initiatives that support its work; utilize informationsharing networks to push forward information about the commemoration; and award grants for suitable projects and initiatives.

This work reminds me of my ongoing efforts with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, www.tulsa2021.org. That body leverages the rich

history of Tulsa’s Greenwood District in ways that tell the story of Tulsa’s African American community and promote the entrepreneurial and community spirit that defined the Greenwood District pioneers.

Central to both undertakings is crafting an inclusive, honest rendition of American history that pulls in and integrates heretofore m a r g i n a l i z e d narratives.

African American history is part and parcel of American history. One can neither understand nor appreciate the latter without sufficient grounding in the former.

We each have a role to play in adding underrepresented voices to our historical chorus.

Your investment in the process — be it through time, talent or treasure — is essential to our success.

Read about the contributions of persons of African descent to our shared American adventure. Volunteer with an organization whose mission work centers on diversity and inclusion, civil rights advocacy or education reform. Contribute to causes that help heal our history and narrow racial disparities.

As Maya Angelou so cogently noted: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived; but, if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

Let us mark 400 years of African American history with a view toward leveraging the triumphs and avoiding a repetition of the tragedies.  www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/columnists/hannibal-b-johnson-years-ofafrican-american-history-cannot-be/article_85daa3f5-3ec0-533c-8d8193e9f691798a.html Image credits: tulsaworld.com, www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216 747304578610&set=a.2609327876101&type=3&theater

77  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

Bennett College Raised $8.2 Million in its Nationwide #StandWithBennett Campaign

B

ennett College President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins announced that the College has raised $8.2 million in its #StandWithBennett Campaign.

“So, we’ve come to the moment that you’ve been waiting for. As of today, and let me just say we’re still counting. We are still counting money. But as of today, Bennett College has raised $8.2 million.”

Dawkins’ announcement was met with jubilation, as Bennett students, alumnae and others began jumping up and down in their pews. Many cried, others hugged and some looked shocked.

After the total was announced, Brooke Ashley Kane, Miss Bennett College, spoke briefly.

“I would like to thank everyone for coming here today (and) for the many gifts we received,” said

Kane, a political science major from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. “It is a blessing. But I want my Bennett sisters to remember that the bell is our icon and it represents our school. Bells are strong, and they will never stop historically ringing.

As Bennett Belles we too are strong, and we must hold ourselves to a higher standard and ensure that our ringing voices are heard, not only for the sisterhood within these gates but in the world in which we expect to make a difference.”

After the press conference, Dawkins said the stalwart support she received from her Board of Trustees, the College’s Leadership Team, the Office of Institutional Advancement, Bennett students and Bennett Alumnae helped sustain her confidence that the $5 million would be raised. “It was truly

a campus wide, community and nationwide effort.”

On Dec. 11, 2018, Bennett College was removed from membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Bennett immediately appealed the decision and remains accredited during the appeal process. Bennett was removed strictly for financial reasons and was not sanctioned for its academics, faculty, leadership or students.

Founded in 1873 as a coeducational institution, Bennett became women’s only in 1926.

Spelman College in Atlanta is the country’s only other all-women’s HBCU. Bennett has a rich history of

78  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

see page 79

Community/Public Interest

2020-2021 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Competition Opens

W

e are excited to announce that the 2020-2021 competition for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is now open! The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers teaching, research and combination teaching/research awards in over 130 countries for the 2020-2021 academic year. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. The application deadline for most awards is September 16th, 2019.

Explore award opportunities

by using our Catalog of Awards (https://awards.cies.org). Highlights from the over 450 awards offered in this year’s competition include the Postdoctoral and Early Career Awards (www.cies.org/program/ postdoc).

Fulbright presents excellent opportunities for recently minted scholars to deepen their expertise, acquire new skills, work with additional resources and make connections with others in their fields, all while serving as cultural ambassadors. Postdoctoral awards are available in all fields of study, from STEM, to the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Bennet College

and Policies and youngest Director within the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA); and the first African-American woman to serve as Assistant Attorney General in the state of Massachusetts – just to name a few.

Current Bennett students or recent grads are also impressive, including senior administration major Tyler Binion, who was selected among 63 students to serve as a Competitiveness Scholar through the White House Initiative on HBCUs, and Delrisha White ’13, who enrolled in Bennett from the foster care system in San Francisco

from page 78

producing outstanding women leaders, including: the first AfricanAmerican woman licensed surgeon in the south; the first woman or African-American to head the U.S. Peace Corps; the first AfricanAmerican mayor of the city of Greensboro; the first AfricanAmerican female mayor in the state of Washington; the writer of the screenplay “The Loving Story,” which in 2016 was turned into an Academy Award-nominated motion picture; the first woman to hold the position of Director of Drug Program

Find Out More

Find out more about the 20202021 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program competition by joining our webinar on Wednesday, February 6, or joining one of our upcoming webinars or virtual advising sessions (www.cies.org/eventtype/webinar-schedule). You may also be interested in reading our latest blog post, 9 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for the Next Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Competition (www.cies.org/ article/9-things-you-can-do-nowprepare-next-fulbright-us-scholarprogram-competition).  The Fulbright Scholar Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is administered by IIE.

and became SGA President. White graduated with honors and is now earning her master’s degree at Harvard.

Ways to give to Bennett College: Online: bennett.edu/donate Text2Give: Text the word BELLES to the number 444999 Cash App: $StandwithBennett Snail Mail: Send a check to Bennett College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 E. Washington St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401.  www.bennett.edu/news/bennettcollege-raised-8-2-millionstandwithbennett-campaign/

79  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial

"Young and Restless" Star Kristoff St. John Dead at 52.

By Anika Reed

K

ristoff St. John star of the "Young and the Restless" has died at age 52.

His attorney Mark Geragos confirmed the actor's death, saying in an email: "Sadly we can confirm."

The LA County Department of the Medical Examiner-Coroner Public Information Officer Sarah Ardalani said that St. John was pronounced dead at a home in Woodland Hills on Sunday.

The actor's cause of death has been deferred "pending additional investigation" after an autopsy was completed Monday, according to the coroner's official website.

Officer Rosario Cervantes, of the LAPD, said police responded to an incident Sunday in the San Fernando Valley area where a person was pronounced dead. She could not confirm the name of the deceased.

“We did respond yesterday at 2:05

p.m. on Morea Way for a possible alcohol overdose and that’s going to be a coroner's case,” Cervantes said.

St. John had played the character of Neil Winters since 1991 on the long-running CBS daytime soap opera.

CBS Television Network and Sony Pictures Television, the studio that produces "Young and the Restless," released a joint statement about St. John's death.

“The news of Kristoff St. John’s passing is heartbreaking.

He was a very talented actor and an even better person," they said in the statement. "For those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him on ‘The Young and the Restless’ for the last 27 years, he was a beloved friend whose smile and infectious laugh made every day on set a joy and made audiences love him. On behalf of the Y&R cast and crew, CBS and Sony Pictures Television, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones, especially his two daughters, Paris and Lola.”

The actor was nominated nine times for Daytime Emmy Awards, and he won 10 NAACP Image Awards.

He also had roles in the 1990s on a variety of sitcoms, including "Martin," "The Cosby Show," "Living Single" and "The Jamie Foxx Show."

St. John's son, Julian St. John, died of an apparent suicide in 2014 while in a mental health facility.

On Jan. 21, St. John retweeted a tweet about the loss of a child that reads: "Grieving the loss of a child is a process. It begins on the day your child passes, and ends the day the parent joins them."

He also responded to the tweet, writing: "Never a truer word was spoke. Thanks for posting this."

The actor took a leave of absence from "Y & R" in October 2017 to undergo psychiatric treatment after a reported scare with regards to his mental health, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"No parent should ever have to bury their child, and for those who do, it is a nightmare that haunts you forever," ex-wife Mia St. John said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight that month. "The death of our beloved son Julian, has taken a toll on both of us. He is an actor and while he may appear whole on the outside, his heart is broken. As a society we need to start taking mental health seriously and realize that no one is immune."

St. John was set to be wed, announcing in September that he was engaged to model Kseniya Mikhaleva.

Mikhaleva joined St. John's co-stars and other celebrities in grieving the actor on social media.  www.usatoday.com/story/life/ people/2019/02/04/young-andrestless-star-kristoff-st-johndead-52/2766227002/

80  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial

Michelle King, Former Los Angeles Unified Superintendent, Dies at 57

By Denisa R. Superville

M

ichelle King, the longtime Los Angeles Unified educator who became the first African-American woman to lead the district and only the second woman to do so in nearly 80 years, has died.

King was 57 and had been battling cancer. Her death was announced Saturday by the district.

"Words cannot begin to describe the sorrow we feel, the love we shared with—and for—Dr. King, and the lasting impact she had on our communities," the district said in a statement. "Her dedication to uplift every student, family and employee within Los Angeles Unified was second to none."

King was selected as superintendent of the nation's second-largest school system in January 2016.

She replaced Ramon Cortines, who had come out of retirement to run the district after John Deasy's departure.

While on medical leave and undergoing cancer treatment in January 2018, King announced her plans to retire from the district.

"As a Los Angeles Unified graduate, parent, life-long educator, and the first African American woman to lead the district, Dr. King was truly an inspiration," the Los Angeles Unified schools wrote in a statement.

"She was a collaborative and innovative leader who broke down barriers to create more equitable opportunities for every student.

Her warmth, love and generosity transformed countless lives and left a legacy that will continue to impact us for generations."

King had a deep roots in Los

Angeles. She graduated from the district, and made the decision to become a teacher while studying biology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

That led to a nearly 33-year career with the district. She started as a teacher's aide, then became a middle school math and science teacher. She rose up the ladder, from assistant principal, principal, chief administrator of secondary instruction, local district superintendent, chief of staff to the superintendent,and senior deputy superintendent before taking the district's top job.

She left her mark on those around her through her "competence, humanity, dedication and loyalty," The Los Angeles Times' education reporter Howard Blume wrote. Her major accomplishments, Blume wrote, included increasing the district's already climbing graduation rate and expanding access to special programs.

In a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said, in part: "Dr. Michelle King's life and career encapsulated what it means to be an Angeleno: excellence, kindness, integrity, service above self. She devoted her entire professional life to students in Los Angeles, and led our school district with all of the passion, skill and determination that it takes to be a powerful fighter for young people and their dreams.

"Michelle's extraordinary achievements—record graduation rates, putting higher education within reach for all families, and creating new opportunities for our kids to be on pathways to careers— should inspire each one of us to be part of the mission to make L.A.'s schools the best in America."  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/ District_Dossier/2019/02/ michelle_king_former_los_angeles_ superintendent_dies.html

81  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson of Oakland Dies at 83

By Jon Becker

F

rank Robinson, a trailblazer who forged his own path from the playgrounds of West Oakland to baseball immortality, died Thursday after a long battle with bone cancer. He was 83.

The Hall of Fame outfielder had been in hospice care for the past few months and passed away in Los Angeles, almost 45 years after he made baseball history by becoming its first African-American manager with the Cleveland Indians.

Robinson is mostly remembered in the Bay Area for managing the Giants from 1981-84, when he was the first African-American to manage in the National League.

But the long-legged, quickwristed kid from McClymonds High with a chip on his shoulder remains perhaps baseball’s most overlooked superstar. In fact,

when he was near the end of his managerial career in 2005 with the Washington Nationals, one of his players reportedly asked him if he had ever played the game.

Oh, did he ever.

A 14-time All-Star and twotime World Series champion, Robinson finished his star-studded 21-year career with 586 home runs and remains the only major leaguer to win the MVP award in both the American and National leagues.

Robinson’s baseball legacy was cemented on a sunny, summer day in New York in 1982 when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. For a kid who had always fought to prove he was worthy, Robinson told those in attendance that even he couldn’t believe where his career had taken him.

“A young boy in Oakland,

California playing on an asphalt baseball field, he didn’t dare dream, not even dare think … that he would one day be standing up here being inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Robinson said during his speech.

“But it has happened. I thank the Lord for giving me the god-given talent to play the greatest game in this country.”

From the time Robinson burst into the major leagues with the Reds as a record-setter in 1956 until he finished his managerial career with the Nationals in 2006, he had spent 50 years in uniform.

Coupled with his time working in the Commissioner’s office, Robinson had worked in baseball for more than 60 years.

“Frank Robinson’s resume in our game is without parallel, a trailblazer in every sense, whose

82  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

impact spanned generations,” Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by this loss of our friend, colleague and legend.”

The sometimes surly, often times superlative Robinson made an impact right away as a 20-yearold rookie with the 1956 Cincinnati Reds. The right fielder’s batting line was .290/.379/.558 for a .936 OPS. He also hit 38 home runs to set a National League rookie record that stood for 61 years until Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit 39 in 2017.

Robinson was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1961 after hitting 37 home runs and driving in 124 runs and posting a 1.015 OPS for the Reds.

The Reds then seemed to test Robinson’s competitive juices when they traded him to the Orioles after the 1965 season, saying he “is an old 30.” A rejuvenated Robinson wasted no time in proving how wrong the Reds were.

All he did in his first year in Baltimore was win the American League MVP, capture the Triple Crown by hitting 49 homers, driving in 122 runs and batting .316, all while leading the Orioles to a world championship.

The man Orioles fans affectionately called “F. Robby” wound up playing 10 more seasons in the majors — five as an All-Star — while hitting 262 more home runs to finish with the fourth-most in MLB history when he finally retired at the end of the 1976 season. Not bad for a guy dismissed as too old a decade earlier.

While winding down his career in 1975 with the Indians, Robinson was hired as their player/manager.

It was a bittersweet moment for Robinson. Just three years earlier, and nine days before he died, baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson

talked about how he’d love to “look down the third base line and see a black man as manager.”

“The one wish I could have is that Jackie Robinson could be here today to see this happen,” Robinson said during a press conference after his hiring.

As someone accustomed to spectacular debuts, Robinson did it again on Opening Day in 1975.

In his first game as manager, he inserted himself into the lineup as Cleveland’s designated hitter.

Naturally, he smashed a home run off the Yankees’ Doc Medich in his first at-bat. It was his eighth opening-day home run, which remains an MLB record.

After his playing days were over, Robinson went on to manage the Giants, Orioles, Expos and Nationals during a 16-year managerial career that saw his teams go 1065-1176. He was the AL’s Manager of the Year in 1989.

In San Francisco, Robinson’s teams went just 264-277 and finished in third place in the NL West twice in four seasons. But it was also in San Francisco that Robinson’s aggressive nature was frequently on display.

The man some called “The Director of Discipline” wasn’t always the most loved manager, but he certainly earned the respect of many. Current Giants announcer Duane Kuiper, who played for Robinson in both Cleveland and San Francisco, said he was “the best manager I ever played for.”

Born in Beaumont, Texas, on Aug. 31, 1935, Robinson was the youngest of Ruth (Shaw) Robinson’s 10 children. By the time he was four, his father had left the family so his mother moved Frank and her other children to Oakland.

Growing up in a tenement on Myrtle Street in West Oakland, his family struggled to make ends meet.

Robinson once joked his quickness

came from being one of 10 kids. “If you weren’t quick, you didn’t eat,” he said.

Sports had also become a perfect way for the young Robinson to avoid the trouble that surrounded his neighborhood. The grittiness and aggressive style of play that Robinson came to be known for in the majors was also born on the playgrounds near his home.

He never owned his own baseball glove until he was 14. That was around the time Robinson’s talents really began to show while playing American Legion baseball. As a 14-year-old playing against mostly older kids, Robinson helped Bill Erwin Post 337 of Oakland win the first of its back-to-back national championships.

Later, under the guidance of famed Oakland youth coach George Powles, Robinson stood out despite being surrounded by greatness in the city. Consider that by the late 1960s two Oakland high schools just 2½ miles apart — McClymonds and Oakland Technical — had produced 29 major leaguers. His high school baseball team included future major leaguer Curt Flood.

One of Robinson’s teammates on the McClymonds basketball team was Bill Russell, universally viewed as one of the top players in the history of the game.

“The neighborhood we lived in, you had to be tough,” Russell said recently. “I always remember Frank as being really smart and a tough guy.”

Months after the 1953 baseball season, Robinson, armed with a $3,500 signing bonus from the Reds, left Oakland to begin what would become the journey of a lifetime.  www.mercurynews. com/2019/02/07/hall-of-famerfrank-robinson-of-oakland-diesat-83/

83  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial

RnB Singer-Songwriter James Ingram Dies Aged 66

T

he Grammy winner and Oscar nominee had two number one hit songs, in 1983 and 1990.

He also co-wrote Michael Jackson's Pretty Young Things with frequent collaborator Quincy Jones.

Actress and friend Debbie Allen announced his death on her Twitter page, saying she was "blessed to have been so close" to him.

Entertainment news site TMZ reports Ingram had been suffering from brain cancer.

Born in Ohio in 1952, Ingram later moved to Los Angeles and began his career with the band Revelation Funk. He also played keyboards for Ray Charles before his own musical career took off.

He performed vocals on Quincy Jones' 1981 album The Dude and won the Best Male RnB Vocal

Performance Grammy for the song One Hundred Ways the following year, when he was also nominated for Best New Artist.

Jones and he would later co-write Pretty Young Things, the sixth single from Michael Jackson's album Thriller.

Ingram won his second Grammy for the song Yah Mo B There which he sang with Michael McDonald.

His first number one hit was the duet Baby, Come To Me with singer Patti Austin, and he would again top the charts with I Don't Have The Heart.

The singer-songwriter also worked on film soundtracks.

He was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar Academy

Award in 1994 and 1995 for songs from Beethoven's 2nd and Junior, respectively.

More tributes from fans and friends have been posted on social media.  www.bbc.com/news/entertainmentarts-47052136 Image credit: getty images, dippingintolight.com

84  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial

Julius Campbell, a Key Player from the T.C. Williams ‘Remember the Titans’ Team, Dies at 65

J

ulius Campbell, a former high school football star who was portrayed in the 2000 film “Remember the Titans,” died Friday of multiple organ failure.

He was 65.

Campbell attended T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., and graduated in 1973. After Alexandria integrated its three high schools, students were all housed at T.C. Williams in 1971. The school’s football team, the Titans, went undefeated that season and won the Virginia AAA state championship, defeating Andrew Lewis High School, of Salem, 27-0.

The story of the football season amid the city’s racial tensions inspired the film. In the cinematic depiction, Campbell, played by Wood Harris, befriends white linebacker Gerry Bertier and the pair’s bond becomes part of the team’s success.

“Julius was very, very instrumental on that team at simply getting kids to just talk to one another, kids who never talked to kids from another race their entire lives,” said Herman Boone, who coached the Titans from 1971 to 1979. “By doing so, they learned many things about each other that were not passed down to them and for that, the world owes Julius a debt of gratitude.”

Hammond Coach Bill Yoast was expected to land the job as the new coach of T.C. Williams, but officials chose Boone instead. Yoast agreed to coach on Boone’s staff, easing tensions and paving the way for white players leaving Hammond to join a roster that included African American players.

“You have to understand, we had never been together for three years,” teammate Collin Arrington said of students from the three high schools. “This was going to be our junior year, and then all of a sudden, they decided they were going to bring three schools together and they’d all been enemies for years.”

During summer training camp, Boone took the team for two weeks to Gettysburg, Pa., where, away from the racial animosity of Virginia, the group bonded. Campbell

and Bertier emerged as leaders.

“Julius took it upon Julius Campbell Wood Harris himself to lead the team and rebuild race relations,” Boone said.

“He talked to members of the team even up at Gettysburg about how we could c o m e together. It was Julius who came up with the saying that our team is a team of one group of people with ‘one vision.’ And in order to win we must have ‘one heartbeat.’”

“The best thing we ever did was going to Gettysburg,” Arrington said. “We had football camp for two weeks and we trained, and we got out temper tantrums out and our animosity out and we came back as a football team.”

Campbell, a defensive lineman, was among the best players on the team. He was tall with broad shoulders and long arms. “You didn’t run the football at Julius Campbell,” Arrington said. In 13 games, the Titans posted nine shutouts. Opponents averaged just 33.5 yards rushing and 79.9 yards passing per game.  www.onenewsmedia.com/2019/01/26/julius-campbell-akey-player-from-the-t-c-williams-remember-the-titans-teamdies-at-65 Image credits: heraldmailmedia.com, buzzfeed.com

85  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest - Obituary/Memorial

Dumisani Kumalo Dead at 71; Helped Turn Tide Against Apartheid

By Neil Genzlinger

D

umisani Kumalo, who was pivotal in the antiapartheid campaign to halt investment in South Africa and, after white minority rule ended in the 1990s, spent a decade as the country's representative to the United Nations, died on Jan. 20 at his home in the Johannesburg suburb Midrand. He was 71.

The Sunday Times of South Africa said the cause was an asthma attack. His life was celebrated in a state funeral in Midrand on Saturday.

Early in his career Mr. Kumalo was a reporter for various South African publications, and in the 1970s he became increasingly involved with anti-apartheid causes. He left the country to live in the United States after "the police wrecked my home and threatened me" in 1977, he told The Weekly Mail in 1985.

He was soon working for the American Committee on Africa and the Africa Fund, promoting divestment. He traveled the United States urging pension funds, universities, cities, states and the federal government itself to shed investments in companies doing business with South Africa.

"I spoke to more than 1,000 campuses all over the country in all 50 states," Mr. Kumalo recalled in a 2005 interview for the book "No Easy Victories: African Liberation and American Activists Over a Half-Century, 1950-2000."

A particular triumph of his and others' came in 1986, when the United States Congress, overriding a veto by President Ronald Reagan, passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act. The keys to such successes, Mr. Kumalo often said, were the grass-roots support he worked to generate and an ability to get disparate groups to agree on the wrongs of apartheid.

"In Missouri," he said, "we had a coalition that had Arabs, Jews and Catholics and right-wingers.

These guys, if they discussed anything else they would be at each other's throat. But when it was South Africa, they were together."

Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo was born on Sept. 16, 1947, in KwaMbunda, in eastern South Africa. His father, Andries, was a carpenter and preacher, and his mother, Kheline (Mbatha) Kumalo, was a counselor and midwife.

In 1947 the family moved to Evaton, south of Johannesburg, where Mr. Kumalo grew up and attended Wilberforce College.

He received a bachelor's degree from the University of South Africa and a master's degree at Indiana University, where he participated in a foreign journalists' program in 1973 and 1974.

In his anti-apartheid lobbying in the 1970s and '80s, Mr. Kumalo was not shy about taking on powerful forces, including politicians who

The South African-born actress Charlize Theron with Mr. Kumalo after she was designated a "messenger of peace" at United Nations headquarters in New York in 2008.CreditHenny Ray Abrams/Associated Press

accepted campaign money from a law firm, Baskin & Sears, that represented South Africa. One was Edward I. Koch, mayor of New York at the time.

"He cannot represent a city of black and white citizens and still be taking money from a racist group," Mr. Kumalo said in 1984, calling

86  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

on Mr. Koch to return a $2,000 contribution his campaign had received from the firm in 1981. Mr. Koch defended his acceptance of the money.

Mr. Kumalo returned to South Africa to witness the historic 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid and brought Nelson Mandela to the presidency. He served in the government after that and was appointed to the United Nations post in 1999 by Mr. Mandela's successor, Thabo Mbeki.

In that job, too, he often opposed the powerful, including the United States. He objected to American eagerness to go to war in Iraq in 2003. Later in that decade, when he was sitting on the United Nations Security Council, he drew considerable criticism for opposing sanctions that were intended to counter President Robert Mugabe's human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

"We didn't want human rights to be used as a tool: 'If I don't like you I trot out human rights violations that you may have,' " he told Voice of America in 2009, explaining this

and other controversial stands, "but when it is Guantánamo Bay, they keep quiet, and you know when it is Gaza, they keep quiet."

"We didn't do things the way the British and the Americans wanted us to do them," he added, "and if you don't do it like the big ones, the French and the Americans and the British, the way they want to do them, then you are a cheeky African. Well, I am happy being a cheeky African."

Mr. Kumalo's survivors include his wife, Ntombikayise Kumalo; a brother, Henry; two sons; and several grandchildren.

Rachael Kagan, who worked with Mr. Kumalo on the American Committee on Africa, recalled a phrase he coined that became a favorite among staff members.

In meetings, when they were considering places to press the divestment argument, Mr. Kumalo, who had already been to all the possible targets, knew which locations would be unproductive.

"Let's jump quietly over" that one, he'd say.

"It was funny, and wise, a lyrical shorthand," Ms. Kagan said by

email. "It helped us not to get bogged down in defeat, and kept us moving forward to build the national coalition that could be built. While we laughed and kept the 'jump quietly' saying going in a million ways, it was also a brilliant lesson in tactics."

And it worked. In a 1999 interview with The New York Times at the Manhattan office he had just settled into as South Africa's newly named representative to the United Nations, Mr. Kumalo recalled a time in the 1980s when, living in the United States, he was denied permission to return to South Africa for his father's funeral.

"They wrote me back from this office and said, 'You are not wanted in South Africa - forget it,'" he recalled. "And guess what? I'm now the one sitting in this office."  www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/ obituaries/dumisani-kumalo-dead. html Image credits: innercitypress.com, globoble.com

87  February 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

88  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

The Single African Passport is Closer Than We Think

By DeAnna Taylor

I

f you keep up on intra-Africa travel, you will know that citizens on the continent cannot freely travel between countries.

Many African travelers must seek visas to travel from one place to the other unless they have an actual passport for the other country. This issue causes the fees to add up very quickly, especially for those who frequently travel for business.

For instance, those traveling to Angola must pay $55 for a visa, Sierra Leone is $95, and the Democratic Republic of Congo charges up to $475 for a multi-entry visa.

The African Union (AU) passport, a flagship project of the organization has been making a push to have a single passport approved for all 55 African nations. The African Union passport was first unveiled in 2016 when Rwandan President P a u l Kagame a n d Chadian President Moussa Faki Mahamat Idriss Déby sundiatapost.com received the first documents to offer visa-free travel through the Union.

Some government officials, diplomats, and AU members have already been issued the passport.

These same leaders met in Nairobi in 2018, to try to work out the details of actually issuing the document to residents.

In a statement, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, promised that “in February 2019, in Addis Ababa, at the 32nd Summit of our Union, the Commission will present, for adoption, guidelines

en.wikipedia.org

on the design, production and issuance of the African passport, the materialization of which will take us one step closer to the long-held dream of complete free movement across the continent.”

“With a single African passport, it would be a lot easier to do business more quickly and affordably,” argued Oz Desai, Johannesburg-based general manager of Corporate Traveller, a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group. “A single African passport – and the consequent breaking down of the barriers to travel – could bring significant prosperity and growth for the continent.”  https://travelnoire.com/the-single-african-passport-is-closerthan-we-think

89  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International - Entrepreneur Profile

Choosing to Change the System

By Cartier Women's Initiative Melissa Bime

A

t the tender age of 21, Melissa Bime is already making a mark on the world.

Following her Nursing degree in Cameroon, Melissa was expected to go back home to help her mother with the housework - but Melissa had other ideas. Whilst working in the hospital, she was taken aback by the tragedies witnessed as a result of avoidable conditions, often due to the simple lack of available compatible blood. A five-year-old girl called Rita pulled on Melissa’s heartstrings when she passed away from anemia caused by malaria when no blood was available. Only a few days after her death, the hospital found out that the compatible blood was, in fact, available from a nearby medical facility. “Seeing a little girl dying because the hospital could not source blood from a nearby facility angered me. I could not keep working as a nurse - I did not want to be part of a system where I had to simply watch these cases,” says Melissa.

Putting her medical knowledge to one side, Melissa took it upon herself to find a solution to the inaccessibility of local blood supplies, experienced by hospitals and doctors in Yaoundé. In 2015, aged just 18, Melissa founded Infiuss (http://infiuss.socialventures. biz), a digital supply-chain platform that gives hospitals access to ready-to-use blood.

"It motivates me every day that I’m actually doing something that matters to someone else’s life."

A bank and database for blood According to the World Health Organization, blood shortages and blood-related complications in the SubSaharan region claim 570,000 lives every year. With

hospitals relying solely on their own blood reserves or blood donations from relatives of patients (using only the most basic of screening tests), the high number of deaths in the region is understandable yet preventable.

Infiuss operates as a “blood bank” collecting and categorising blood supplies, but also as a database of all the blood types available at various hospitals. In an emergency, a hospital will call or send a text message to Infiuss, which will efficiently check where the required blood is available via the digitalised platform, organise the collection of blood supplies and coordinate delivery by motorcycle. Thus far, Infiuss has transported over 230 litres of blood via 6 hospitals. This number is expected to rise substantially as the partnership expands to 908 hospitals across Cameroon in the near future.

The hunger to make a change Running a medical business in Cameroon, Melissa has faced all sorts of challenges. Besides her family’s lack of initial support and the levels of bureaucracy involved, Infiuss had to navigate cultural stereotypes too. “In Cameroon, blood is often seen as a taboo.

We’ve had to spend a lot of time convincing potential donors that the blood they donate won’t be used to do ‘magic’ as some belief but to save lives”. There have also been unexpected challenges, such as the shutting down of internet services by the government to stifle online activists during periods of protesting, which means that users cannot access Infiuss’ database. “If the suspension of internet services hasn’t killed my

90  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Egypt to Host African Space Agency's Headquarters https://africanews.space

E

gypt has won the bid to host the headquarters of the African Space Agency (AfSA), with the decision due to be endorsed at the next week’s African Union (AU) summit in the Ethiopian capital, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on 8 February.

The statement added that Nigeria and Ethiopia were among the main competitors for the bid to host the agency’s headquarters.

The African Space Agency was established by the initiative of the African Union in 2017. The agency is aimed at promoting and coordinating the development of space science across the continent for improved technological advancement.

For more information visit: https://au.int/st-division.  https://sputniknews.com/ middleeast/201902081072249870-egypt-africanspace-agency/

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 allowing her lack of business experience or young age to slow her down.

What’s her motivation? Put simply, it’s hunger: “I am hungry to create change and make a difference. I have overcome so much but know that it is all worthwhile.” 

business nothing can stop me,” comments Melissa, who has throughout her journey remained defiant, not

www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/candidate/melissabime www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/applicationselection-process

91  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International (www.itnewsafrica.com) reported. RURA disclosed that

Rwanda Set to Launch its First Telecoms Satellite This Year

R

wanda is on course to launch its first satellite this year with help from Japan. The telecoms satellite is expected to be launched from the International Space Station (ISS) into orbit before May 2019’s Transform Africa Summit – an annual event hosted in Kigali that explores developments in technology.

The initiative is in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This is in line with the implementation of the agreement signed in 2018 between the Rwandan and the Japanese government on Space Inclusion in Africa.

A model of the Rwandan satellite prototype was first displayed in May by the Japan-Rwanda team of experts during the 2018 Transform Africa Summit in Kigali, where 100 Japanese companies displayed cutting edge Satellite technologies.

“We are trying to shorten the timeline. Satellite technology will not only build capabilities for our people, but it will also give us the capacity, for instance, to inspect certain activities within the agriculture sector, monitor wetlands as part of environmental conservation efforts, and in smart urban planning,” Rwanda Utility and Regulatory Authority’s Director General, Patrick Nyirishema said.

Some Rwandan engineers are currently being trained at the University of Tokyo, working with their Japanese counterparts on the project ahead of the launch. The areas mostly emphasized, are in the fabrication of local satellites specialized on the acquisition of data on weather and which could further be extended as earth observations for purposes of agriculture, itnewsafrica

another team of 15 engineers will be trained locally in satellite technology, starting next month.

The plan to launch its own telecommunications satellite and initiation of the long-term space programme was first announced back in 2017 and was set for 2020. However, the country will have the satellite earlier than its scheduled year of launch, as disclosed by the ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, Takayuki Mayishita.

For Rwanda, having a satellite in the orbit in today’s world is considered a leap in technological development. The East African country joins the list of few countries in Africa that have placed the devices into orbit as less than 10 African countries have managed to launch satellites.

There is an untapped potential for satellite technologies within the African continent. Application of satellite data will assist in areas such as precision agriculture, predicting weather patterns, including drought among other sectors.

In line with this, the African Union (AU) has taken a

major step in establishing an African Space Agency (AFSA) to leverage space technologies for the future of the continent (http://austrc.org). Currently, the AU is in the process of identifying the country that will host the Agency.

“When you look at Africa as a continent, it is massive and there are large expanses of land where the most viable means to deliver any kind of services, will depend on satellite,” Nyirishema added.

Nyirishema highlighted that Rwanda as a responsible and active member of the AU has found it necessary to join countries that are developing capabilities in space technologies. But for this to be realized there is a need for engagement of different partners, confirming the strong basis of Rwanda-Japan partnership to promote satellite programmes.  www.balancingact-africa.com/news/telecomsen/44762#.XF2lPCUZPTs.mailto

92  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - Entrepreneurship

IFC, Jumia Partner to Boost Economic Opportunities for Women

A

frican e-commerce company Jumia (https:// is among seventeen technology companies operating across the online marketplace, that have come together to boost opportunities for women in emerging markets under an initiative led by IFC, a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group.

Under the 1 8 - m o n t h Digital2Equal initiative (www.ifc. org/digital2equa) , the companiess agreed to take steps t tto expand d women’s ’ access to t jobs, assets, and business opportunities across their online platforms. They will make measurable, timebound commitments. These range from closing gender gaps in their workforce to goals aimed at boosting opportunities for female consumers or providers of services and products on their online marketplaces.

“This is a win-win situation—great for women because they can take advantage of online work and entrepreneurship opportunities, and great for the economy because more talented women will be able to contribute,” said IFC Chief Executive Officer Philippe Le Houérou, adding that “With this initiative, online platforms are taking concrete steps to close gender gaps in the digital economy.”

The Digital2Equal initiative builds on IFC’s recent research, Driving Toward Equality: Women, Ride-Hailing, and the Sharing Economy*, which highlighted how ride-hailing apps have the potential to increase women’s mobility and ease their entry into the transportation industry, where men outnumber women.

The initiative seeks to ensure that emerging technologies and business models—including the platform economy—benefit both women and men.

Women already lag behind men in access to crucial assets like the internet or mobile phones, limiting their economic opportunities. The European Commission will participate in the launch of the initiative, which is aligned with the commission’s strategy of ensuring greater women’s participation in the economy.

Other companies participating in the initiative consist of global travel company Airbnb, Inc., global group.jumia.com),

transportation platform Didi Chuxing Technology Co., Brazilian online marketplace Elo7, social media company Facebook, South African recruitment app Giraffe, global technology company Google LLC, Southeast Asian marketplace platform Lazada, online professional network LinkedIn, Kenyan work platform Lynk, Latin American e-commerce site Mercado Libre Inc., Chinese online lender and Ant Financial brand MyBank, Indian e-commerce firm Myntra Jabong, digital payments platform PayPal Holdings Inc., customer relationship management platform Salesforce.com Inc., South African home cleaning service app SweepSouth, and global ride-hailing firm Uber.

IFC’s work with the technology companies is part of its efforts to o ccreate markets for all. It works with a tthe private sector tto close gaps between men and b women as employees, entrepreneurs, customers, and leaders. More companies are increasingly recognizing that to remain competitive, they need to better serve women across their business operations, including on digital platforms.

About IFC: IFC—a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In fiscal year 2018, we delivered more than $23 billion in longterm financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. Visit www.ifc.org.

About Jumia: Our mission is to connect African consumers and entrepreneurs to do better business together. Jumia has created a sustainable ecosystem of digital services and infrastructures through online and mobile marketplaces and classifieds to expand your horizons, now partnering with more than 50,000 local African companies and individuals. Founded in 2012, with a presence all over Africa, the group has MTN, Rocket Internet, Millicom, Orange & Axa, CDC Group and Goldman Sachs as investors.  https://group.jumia.com/ifc-jumia-partner-to-boost-economic-opportunitiesfor-women/ *download report: www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/ec101088-8a12-49949918-14455b8e2cd9/00418+IFC+DTE+Report_Complete_Layout+Final2pxp.pdf?MOD=AJPERES Image credit: lactuwebdedith.com

93  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Commemorative Statue of Emperor Haile Selassie set to be unveiled at the AU Headquarters From African Union Headquarters

T

he Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Amb. Kwesi Quartey, received Princess Mariam Sena Asfaw Wossen, granddaughter of Emperor Haile Selassie I. The discussions centred on Ethiopia-African Union relations, in particular, the upcoming installation of Emperor Haile Selassie’s statue at the African Union Headquarters. The statue will be unveiled during the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government on the 10th February 2019.

Reflecting on the history of African liberation, integration, and Emperor Haile Selassie’s role in the evolution of Africa’s development agenda, the Deputy Chairperson noted that the commemorative statue of

Emperor Haile Selassie is an important recognition of the Emperor’s contribution to Africa’s liberation and unity leading up to the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963.

Princess Mariam Sena conveyed the Royal Family’s gratitude to the African Union for this decision to erect the statue at the African Union Headquarters. She recalled the Emperor’s commitment towards African unity, stating, “this historic decision is an illustration of the unity of purpose by African leaders”.

The Deputy Chairperson stated that Ethiopia has been a host and seat for the Organization of the African Unity, now the African Union, for over 50 years.

“This is Africa’s diplomatic capital and symbol of Pan-

94  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Africanism. We extend our appreciation to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as well as the good people of Ethiopia, for their commitment to the AU”.

The Deputy Chairperson also met with executives of the Emperor Haile Selassie I Memorial Association.

The Association’s Board Chairman, Mr. Abayneh Abebe, apprised the Deputy Chairperson of the Association’s work in honor of the Emperor’s legacy.

The Deputy Chairperson applauded the Association’s commitment to education as the way to advance the socio-economic development of the people of Ethiopia.  https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190122/commemorative-statueemperor-haile-selassie-set-be-unveiled-au-headquarters

95  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Ethiopian Airlines Wins 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

By Ike Dzokpo

E

thiopian Airlines, the largest airline group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline has set another ground-breaking record by winning 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award: “Best Business Class in Africa and Indian Ocean."

TripAdvisor seized the opportunity to evaluate the world’s top carriers based on reviews and ratings gathered from travelers worldwide over a 12-month period and recognized Ethiopian for its outstanding service, as well as the quality and value in its service delivery.

In a press release signed and copied to News Ghana on May 4, 2018, the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, expressed heartfelt gratitude to TripAdvisor community for their resounding vote of confidence in our premium class product and service.

“We are highly honored to receive this award from TripAdvisor, the most prestigious global travel site.

TripAdvisor community for their resounding vote of confidence in our premium class product and service.

We offer the best value proposition to premium travelers, whether corporate or government, thanks to our operational excellence, convenient and seamless connectivity, superior on-board product and top-notch end-to–end customer service.

We will continue to invest in the latest the technology aircraft such as the B787 and A350 that offer unmatched on-board comfort and to enhance our premium onground and on-board offerings with a superior level of service so as to meet the high expectations of premium travellers and remain their airline of choice.”

“We’re thrilled to recognize the global TripAdvisor community’s favorite airlines and shine a spotlight on the carriers around the world that provide the very best

96  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

worldairroutes.com flying experiences, including Ethiopian Airlines,” said Bryan Saltzburg, senior vice president and general manager for TripAdvisor Flights, “As the airline industry introduces new fare products and a widening array of in-flight offerings, consumers continue to seek out the carriers that deliver value and a quality experience.

The Travelers’ Choice awards for airlines recognize the carriers that exceed passenger expectations and receive top marks from travelers.”

Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline. On November 8, 2017, SKYTRAX, the most prestigious international air transport standards and quality rating organization, has certified Ethiopian as Four Star Airline.

SKYTRAX has also awarded Ethiopian as SKYTRAX World Airline Award for Best Airline Staff in Africa, two times, and earlier in 2017 Ethiopian has received SKYTRAX World Airline Award for Best Airline in Africa.

About Ethiopian Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the panAfrican passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 110 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.

Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with eight business centers: Ethiopian Regional Services; Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering; Ethiopian Ground Services and Ethiopian Airports Enterprise.

Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.  www.newsghana.com.gh/ethiopian-airlines-wins-2018tripadvisor-travelers-choice-award/

97  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

konya

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z

International

One Africa:

J

Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!

oin with and support the United Africa Organization’s campaign to petition the U.S. Department of State to include the whole African continent under its Bureau of African Affairs.

Why? The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, led by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, currently excludes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara from its agenda.

Instead, the aforementioned countries are grouped with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, together with Iran, Iraq, Israel and others.

This artificial distinction between North Africa and the rest of Africa

negatively impacts US foreign policy relations throughout the entire continent of Africa.

We unequivocally reject the argument that North African countries are outside the scope of African affairs.

North Africa is geographically and historically part of the African continent, and all fifty-three (53) independent African states, including North African countries, are represented in the African Union (AU).

It would be far more productive for the State Department to engage with the entire continent of Africa, including North Africa, under its Bureau of African Affairs.

We are one Africa, from the Cape to Cairo, indivisible and bound together!

Therefore, no square inch of African

land should be excluded from African affairs.

Sign The Petition!!!

Go to www.change.org/petitions/ one-africa-tell-us-state-departmentthat-north-africa-is-part-of-africa and sign the online petition to support this important proposition. Next tell everyone you know to sign. 

www.uniteafricans.org

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ur Deluxe Boxed-Set Edition is a great gift! We’ve gone the extra mile to provide an embossed UV package with a magnetic hinged lid and a black satin puller ribbon. Inside you will find a Hardback version of “Hey A.J. It’s Bedtime” with a midnight blue glitter cloth and glossy blue foil blocking with debossing. With everything perfectly sealed in a dust jacket that has gloss lamination and aqueous varnishing, this is the perfect gift for any occasion – whether it’s bedtime or party time!  www.theimaginationagency.com/ shop-categories/books/hey-aj-itsbedtime/#

T

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

F

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.

5 People Your Kids Should Know About for Black History Month (and Life)

By Amber Guetebier

F

ebruary is Black History Month so it’s the perfect time to read up, get busy and get inspired with the kids.

While this list is just a fraction of the African Americans who have changed history, we’ve found some kid-approved action-items to help connect with these heroes you really should know.

1. Mae C. Jemison On June 4, 1987 Mae C. Jemison became the first African-American woman to enter the space program.

On Sep. 12, 1992. she joined the crew of seven astronauts on the Endeavour, becoming the first African-American woman in space.

Born in Decatur, Alabama and raised mostly in Chicago, Il, Jemison holds multiple awards and degrees including a a B.S. in biomedical engineering and an M.D. Let your dreamers build a rocket ship of their own and blast off into outer space (http://redtri.com/how-tobuild-a-cardboard-rocket).

2. Daniel Hale Williams In 1893, because of discrimination, African Americans were not allowed in hospitals, not to mention given staff positions Daniel Hale Williams opened the Provident Hospital: the first medical facility to have an interracial staff. A major pioneer in the field of medicine, he was one of the first surgeons in the world to successfully perform open heart surgery. As a child he was encouraged to apprentice with a shoemaker but he pushed on to higher education and eventually

completed medical training at Chicago Medical College. He later became a chief surgeon at Freedmen’s Hospital, a facility that cared for former slaves. In 1895 he co-founded the National Medical Association.

Honor this heart surgeon with some activity to keep your heart healthy with 15 games and activities to get the kiddos moving (http:// redtri.com/games-and-activities-to-getkids-moving).

3. Gwendolyn Brooks A poet, an author and a teacher, Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks made history in 1950 when she became the first African-American woman to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Brooks published her first poem at 13. By the time she was 16 she had already published nearly 75 poems. Throughout her lifetime, she was awarded more than 75 honorary degrees and a number of prestigious awards and positions.

She was the Poet Laureate of Illinois from 1968 until her death in 2000 and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1988.

Inspire your budding laureates to create a poem of their own using one of our kid-tested methods (http://redtri.com/ poetry-crafts-for-kids).

4. Jackie Robinson The first AfricanAmerican Major League Baseball player in the

20th century, Jackie Robinson made history when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending a 60 years of segregation in the league. that same year he became Rookie of the Year. In 1949 he was named National League MVP in 1949 and in 1955, helped win the World Series.

Learn more about Jackie Robinson by watching this family (http://redtri.com/baseballflick movies-for-families/slide/1).

5. Morrie Turner When Morrie Turner wondered why there were no minorities in cartoons, his mentor—Charles M. Schulz—suggested that Turner create one. And create he did. Wee Pals, which first appeared in the early 1960s as Dinky Fellas, became the first American syndicated comic strip with a diverse and integrated cast of characters. He also created the Kid Power animated series, wrote numerous books and was honored with such awards as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cartoonists Society and the Sparky Award from the Cartoon Art Museum.

Family Circus honors Morrie with a character (Morrie).

Here’s a step by step guide to making a comic strip yourself (http:// redtri.com/diy-comic-strip-for-kids)!  http://redtri.com/people-your-kids-shouldknow-about-for-black-history-month/

Ice Cream Toys & Books is a small independent Black-owned online retailer that specialises in an everexpanding range of globally sourced Afrocentric products for children everywhere.

We started this company after becoming increasingly frustrated with the very limited & poorly represented range of Afrocentric products that the major high street & online stores were carrying at the time.

Zumo Learning System with Tablet The Zumo Learning System provides an accessible learning environment for children of all abilities. Zumo helps children fall in love with STEM. • Includes a 7 Tablet, Math Games and a Wireless Smart Toy, named Zumo • Unique technology maps physical movements to touch screen gestures • A suite of apps are included that are specially designed to enable tactile-based learning • Designed for K-3rd graders for learning in the home or classroom • Apps are customizable to the special needs of each child • Zumo offers many different play experiences through apps already available on iTunes www.zyrobotics.com info@zyrobotics.com

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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 From www.shondaland.com/live/beauty/g22793939/ women-of-color-owned-skincare-brands/

I

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 Insta-ready 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 by founder She’Neil Johnson's own struggles with acne, the line includes a moisturizing

facial "jelly" and body cream. www.basebutter.com 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 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.

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is an online platform for the best contemporary brands from Africa and around the world.

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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/

TO ME, LOVE FROM ME...

Be your own valentine this year and treat yourself to the nudes you deserve. This year weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re serving up a feel good look & embracing neutral tones & a pop of colour with the bodysuit as the foundation.

Get the perfect underpinnings for your valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look & choose from a range of intimates including bras, panties, bodysuits, slips & more.

Shop Now at: www.nubianskin.com image credit: moziru.com

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 130  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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This magniďŹ cent handcrafted concert grand is a "Best of" in terms of sound, new technology, beauty, and construction.

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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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In the meantime visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/CulturalInteriors-West/140688362658236

135  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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50 Restaurants, 50 States: The Best Black-Owned Restaurants In America

By Shontel Horne, Travel Noire

O

wning a restaurant is generations ago and many that tough. It can be expensive have opened recently. The just to get started and most restaurants included were selected based on a variety of factors, including historical significance, consistency and quality of the food, the impact the Yo’ Mama’s Restaurant – Birmingham restaurant has had on restaurants fail within the first year. its neighborhood and the Black-owned restaurateurs face value for the price, but the even greater challenges like lack goal of this list is to serve as of funding and resistance in certain a reminder that black people neighborhoods, so when one does are working hard across become successful, it deserves to the United States to share be celebrated. their legacy and culture I’ve set out to find the best through food. Whether it’s black-owned restaurants in every through flavors rooted in the state across America, including American south, cooking restaurants that were founded techniques from Ethiopia and Jamaica, or new culinary concepts, these black-owned restaurants have all earned Rodney Scott’s BBQ – Charleston support and recognition, and they’ve done so by patronizing the Black-owned one plate at a time.

Visit all 50 restaurants, food wagons, bakeries, Restaurants, 50 caterers, wineries, breweries, etal States using the link in your town, city and state.  below but, strengthen https://travelnoire.com/theand support the Black best-black-owned-restaurants-inCulinary Industry america-shontel-horne/ SoCo – Brooklyn

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!

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We invite you to browse through our store and shop with confidence.

Need a dinner idea. Go to the Recipe Page on our website. Thanks for visiting!

S

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.

W

e can cater for any event or party. We offer custom packaging for all of our cookies and pies to suit any need. Cookie platters also available. Corporate gifts, company parties, restaurants looking to outsource pastries, we're here for you.

The menu: Turtle Cookies, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal, Butter Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin, Brownies, Snickerdoodle, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Ginger Cookies, Vegan Brownies, Gluten Free Chocolate Chip, Sweet Potato Pie, and Fruit Pies (apple, cherry, blueberry or peach).

Visit www.notjustcookies.com for online shopping, store locations, shipping and catering details. Talk to us by calling: 1-800-833-4541 or send NJC an inquiry at: info@ notjustcookies.net.

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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.

MICHELE FOODS, INC. 1-708-331-7316 www.michelefoods.com

149  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

DRINK THIS: BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDITION

By Shall We Wine

O

ne of the most common wine questions that we are asked is, “are there any Black owned wineries?”

Many are surprised when we say yes and begin to list them - they do exist!

Recently, the beverage industry has been exposed for its lack of diversity. In response, there have been more open discussions about inclusion. Many major wine & spirits publications have shown support by spotlighting African, AfroCaribbean, and African American vintners. This Black History Month (and the months to follow), we invite you to fill your glasses with wines

by Black Vintners.

Where will you find them?

We’ve been sharing all along!

As far as we’re concerned when it comes to wine, the color that matters the most is delicious!

From day one, Shall We Wine has introduced you to the deliciousness made by vintners of African descent via our newsletter, social media

reviews, events and wine trips.

Some of the Black wineries we’ve featured are: Fog Crest (www. fogcrestvineyard.com), Theopolis

Vineyards (www.theopolisvineyards. com), McBride Sisters (www. mcbridesisters.com), Maison Noire (https://maisonnoirwines.com), Seven Sisters (www.facebook. com/SevenSistersVineyards), Alex Cooper Project (www. alexcooperproject.com), Flo Wines (https://buyflowine.com), Abbey Creek Vineyards (www. abbeycreekvineyard.com), Brown Estate (www.brownestate.com) and Vision Cellars (http://visioncellars. com).

Want to try more wines by Black Vintners? If you’re in Chicago, head to Kimbark Beverage Shoppe (1214 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615) in Hyde Park. They offer free parking and an impressive selection of wines by Black Vintners. FYI, Kimbark is also Black owned.

For more information about Black Vintners, check out the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV).  www.shallwewine.com

151  February 2019  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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httt // i i ht http://visioncellars.com ll

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Books to Consider

Books to Consider...

Do What Feels Good: Recipes, Remedies and Routines to Treat Your Body Right

A

By Hannah Bronfman

s a food lover, beauty product addict, exercise junkie, and wellness entrepreneur, Hannah Bronfman practically radiates confidence and health. But she’ll be the first one to admit that the road to wellness and self-acceptance hasn’t been easy. As a woman of color who grew up watching a close family member struggle with an eating disorder, Hannah’s had to forge her own path and create her own standards of beauty. And what she’s learned is this: Healthy is beautiful. And healthy should feel good.

In Do What Feels Good, Hannah offers real talk about getting in touch with your body’s needs, baring her soul and sharing her story along the way. Hannah provides insight on everything from gut health to nutrition to fitness to skincare, sharing insight from top experts on how to understand your body’s unique chemistry so that you can fuel it with more of the things that feel good and less of the things that don’t.

And since delicious food is one of the things that makes everyone feel good, Hannah shares more than 50 of her favorite recipes for healthy hedonism (desserts and cocktails included!). Enlightening, empowering, and educational, this is an approach to wellness that is holistic, hedonistic, and real. Because self-care should not feel self-punishing, and every body deserves to feel good.  www.amazon.com/Do-What-Feels-Good-Remedies-ebook/ dp/

"Raised Up By Mrs. Manly & Her L's"

By Sandra J. Evers-Manly and

M

Wendell Wiggins

rs. Doris Manly raised her children by one letter - the letter "L." "Raised Up by Mrs. Manly and Her L's" is a non-fiction, inspirational title where Sandra Evers-Manly, the author, draws on the rich exchange between Mama Doris Manly and her children and the examples of love and life Mrs. Manly used as a foundation to raise them. Not only did she teach her children using a diversity of words that began with the letter "L," but she shared that same practice with everyone she touched throughout her life; the importance of lifting others Sandra Evers-Manly up and not northropgrumman.com tearing them down, being a leader, living life to the fullest, leaving a legacy and most importantly, finding time to laugh.

The book is illustrated by artist Wendell Wiggins thru images that make the L's come to life on the page.

Mrs. Manly's L's is a simple telling of well worn, proven and timeless examples of family, Motherly impact, selfconfidence and a guide to daily living and caring for your fellow man. It shines a light on long lost traditions of basic kindness, community building and love.  www.amazon.com/Raised-Up-Mrs-Manly-Her/ dp/0999613901

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Books to Consider

Kayla & Kyle The Walking Loving You, Dictionaries: Election Thinking of You, Day (Vol. Book 1) Don't Forget to

By Nicholas Buamah Pray: Letters to My Son T

www.amazon.com/Kayla-Kyle-Walking-DictionariesElection-ebook/dp/B07JZJ1M7D

wins, Kayla and Kyle are competing against each other to become their schools next class president. Before their friends can cast their votes, they must first have a class debate to show that they are worthy contestants.

Find out who will win the election and also learn new advanced words along the way.

Nicholas Buamah is a typical second grader who loves playing chess, tennis, and basketball. However, when he’s not playing Nicholas Buamah sports or cheering for his favorite team, The Golden State Warriors, he’s busy autographing and selling his book.

The 7-year-old Georgia native is the author of Kayla & Kyle The Walking Dictionaries: Election Day, an animated book that helps elementary-aged school children build their vocabularies. In addition to being sold at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon, the book has been added to the Library of Congress catalog.

The book is just the first edition in The Walking Dictionaries series. Volume 2 is scheduled to be released in Summer 2019. Ultimately, the young author wants to have his book available in every elementary school library in the country. He also aspires to one day attend the Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology (MIT) and become a mechanical engineer. 

in Prison

by Jacqueline L. Jackson (Author), Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (Introduction)

J

a c q u e l i n e J a c k s o n promised her son, Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., that she would write him every day during his incarceration in federal prison to serve his thirty-month sentence.

This book is an inspiring and moving selection of the letters she wrote him. Together, they comprise a powerful act of love—nurturing and ministering to

Jacqueline L. Jackson gettyimages.com

her son's heart, health, and mind and maintaining his essential connection with home.

Frank, anecdotal, imbued with faith, and sometimes humorous, they offer intimate details from the family’s daily life, along with news of friends and the community and glimpses of such figures as Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and

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Mayor Marion Barry. They also touch eloquently on issues of social justice, politics, and history, as when Mrs. Jackson recalls growing up in Jim Crow Florida, and they reflect the qualities, instilled by her own mother, that made her a role model for much of her life.

Ultimately, these letters offer a blueprint for why we have to support our families not just as they elevate but when they fall. This collection is Mrs. Jackson's contribution to healing during a time when our prisons are full and our communities are suffering. She provides the road map for ensuring that the individuals serving sentences understand that prison is where they are, not who they are and for helping them sustain the courage to keep hope alive.  www.amazon.com/Loving-Thinking-Dont-Forget-Pray/ dp/1948924323

Trailblazer: A

Pioneering Journalist's Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America

M

by Dorothy Butler Gilliam

ost civil rights victories are achieved behind the scenes, and this riveting, beautifully written memoir by a "black first" looks back with searing insight on the decades of struggle, friendship, courage, humor and savvy that secured what seems commonplace today-people of color working in mainstream media.

Told with a p i o n e e r i n g n e w s p a p e r writer's charm and skill, Gilliam's full, fascinating life weaves her personal and professional experiences and media history into an engrossing tapestry.

When we read about the death of her father and other formative events of her life, we glimpse the crippling

impact of the segregated South before the civil rights movement when slavery's legacy still felt astonishingly close. We root for her as a wife, mother, and ambitious professional as she seizes oncein-a-lifetime opportunities never meant for a "dark-skinned Dorothy Butler Gilliam dailymail.co.uk woman" and builds a distinguished career. We gain a comprehensive view of how the media, especially newspapers, affected the movement for equal rights in this country. And in this humble, moving memoir, we see how an innovative and respected journalist and working mother helped provide opportunities for others.

With the distinct voice of one who has worked for and witnessed immense progress and overcome heartwrenching setbacks, this book covers a wide swath of media history -- from the era of game-changing Negro newspapers like the Chicago Defender to the civil rights movement, feminism, and our current imperfect diversity. This timely memoir, which reflects the tradition of boot-strapping African American storytelling from the South, is a smart, contemporary consideration of the media.  www.amazon.com/Trailblazer-Pioneering-JournalistsFight-America-ebook/dp/B07CWQ3394/ref=sr_1_1?s =books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549600672&sr=1-1&refinem ents=p_27%3ADorothy+Butler+Gilliam

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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 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 DiasporaVoice -www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice 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 KweliTV -- www.facebook.com/kwelitv 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 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/ YouTube Educational Channels -- http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know UN Video -- https://videos.un.org/en United Nations -- http://webtv.un.org WikiHow -- www.wikihow.com World Library -- www.worldlibrary.org

Media/Podcasts

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

Culture/Arts Asako Afrikan Combat Capoeira -www.abibifahodie.com Africa Center (The) -- www.theafricacenter.org African Networks -http://afn.bibalex.org/MainPart/About_.aspx African Origins -- www.african-origins.org

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

Almasi Arts -- www.almasiarts.org Cultural Events/Content -- www.okayafrica.com Digital Assets Repository -http://dar.bibalex.org/webpages/dar.jsf 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 Black Female Founders -www.blackfemalefounders.org Jumia -- https://group.jumia.com Nigeria (Africa) financial news -- //nairametrics.com She Leads Africa -- http://sheleadsafrica.org Shoppe Black -- https://shoppeblack.us

Organizations 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

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

General Explore ideas -- https://ideas.ted.com The Undefeated -- https://theundefeated.com

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BBA 2019 Master Planner

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NYSE trader/broker Lauren Simmons © CNBC Make It