While the World Welcomes Meghan’s Royal Baby: Here Are 6 More Royal Black Women Around the World

It’s a boy! Meghan Markle has delivered a baby boy, according to several news reports. Markle, whose official title is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex since her marriage to Prince Harry, has been a daily topic in media and among royal family watchers.

According to CNN “the baby will be seventh in line to the British throne behind Prince Charles, Prince William, and his three children and Prince Harry.”

Markle is the product of a white father and black mother—a social worker who lives in the mostly African American L.A. suburb of View Park-Windsor Hills (incidentally, one of the wealthiest black suburbs in the country).

It’s been a constant source of buzz—the first woman of color to become part of the British royal family. Yet, there are other black women royalnistas around the globe:

 

Princess Angela of Liechtenstein

Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein (Pinterest)

Princess Angela (born Angela Gisela Brown) was a standout graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York and worked as a fashion director for Adrienne Vittadini, before marrying Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in January 2000. This Afro-Panamanian beauty also started her own line, A. Brown, which she headed for three years. The couple wed at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in New York, after reportedly meeting a few years earlier at a reception in the city. The princess wore a white dress which she designed and the same Kinsky royal-jeweled tiara that Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein wore when she married Philipp von Lattorff in June 1999.

 

 

Baroness Cecile de Massy of Monaco

Baroness Cecile de Massy of Monaco and Christian Louis Baron de Massy (Facebook)

de Massy is married to Christian Louis Baron de Massy who is Prince Rainier of Monaco’s nephew. The fashionable beauty of Caribbean descent is a prominent fixture among the who’s who of Monaco’s social scene and is also involved in philanthropy, serving as president of Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo, a charitable organization in Monaco.

 

Princess Sikhanyiso of Swaziland

(Wikimedia)

The first of 30 children of King Mswati III of Swaziland, this princess is more than a pretty face, speaking out to raise awareness on issues such as AIDS and poverty that affect her country. With interests in the arts, this 30-year-old studied drama at the University of Biola in California and was featured in publications as one of the top hottest young royals.

 

 

Princess Keisha Omilana of Nigeria

(keishaomilana.com)

A former model, spokesperson, and actress, Omilana adds brains to beauty as a businesswoman. The Inglewood, California, native started Wonderful Brand, a multifaceted business incorporating fashion, television, and web, with her husband, Kunle, a Nigerian prince. Known as the “Pantene Girl,” Omilana is cited as the first African American woman to be featured in three consecutive commercials.

 

Countess Mary Von Habsburg of Austria

 

Ferdinand Leopold Joseph Count von Habsburg and Countess Mary Von Habsburg (Pinterest)

Habsburg, a native of Sudan, is the wife of Ferdinand Leopold Joseph Count von Habsburg of Austria. The couple wed in August 1999, hosting their ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, and have three children, all born in Nairobi. Their marriage was seen as controversial among the public and in royal circles, because of her class as a commoner and her ethnic background; but the head of the Habsburg royal family, Dr. Otto von Habsburg, reportedly declared all Habsburg marriages “equal.”

 

Queen Sylvia Nagginda of Buganda (Uganda)

(sonianabetafoundation.org)

 

Born in the United Kingdom and raised in Uganda, this regal woman married King Kabaka Mutebi II in 1999, after a career working in various U.S. sectors including public relations, international nonprofits, and healthcare and human services. A graduate of New York University and New York Institute of Technology, the queen also advocates for public service, having worked as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund, and has worked as a consultant to bring resources to Uganda’s entrepreneurs and the business community.

—Editors’ Note: This article has been updated from its original publish date of April 28, 2011

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Warning: Fashion Nova May Cause Cancer

Alarm over Fashion Nova erupted on Twitter earlier this week when a social media user shared a photo of a bathing suit she ordered from the online fashion retail giant that included a warning label stating that the material in the swimwear includes harmful chemicals.

“Did y’all know this tag is in Fashion Nova swimsuits?” wrote @Aziaani in a post with a photo of her bikini in a tweet that went viral. “They’re not getting any more of my coins,” continued the concerned customer in a rant about the $34.99 bathing suit, reports The Grio.

Did y’all know this tag is in Fashion Nova swimsuits ? pic.twitter.com/pUK5S2BAMq

— azia (@aziaani_) April 29, 2019

The chemical warning label in the “Water Sports Bikini” states that “This product can expose you to Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, lead and cadmium, which are known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm.” Per the National Library of Medicine, these chemicals are “linked to deteriorating male reproductive health.” Nevertheless, the user was tagged in beach photos posted online the same day where she appeared to be wearing the controversial bikini after her alarming tweet caused panic.

“Hold on you telling me fashion nova causes cancer?” wrote a user in response. “Wild.”

“Beauty is pain and sometimes death,” wrote another user.

Others, however, pointed out that the same warning label is posted on a number of products sold in California, where Fashion Nova is headquartered, due to the state’s Proposition 65, which mandates companies to disclose if their products contain any potentially toxic chemicals. Last year, the 1986 law was amended to also require businesses to list the specific chemicals used that prompt the warning.

“This is a label on EVERYTHING in CALIFORNIA. Everything,” one person tweeted. Others noted that it appears on a wide range of products, including Christmas lights, furniture, coffee, and even airplanes in the Golden State.

Fashion Nova is heavily endorsed by celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Cardi B, whose new signature Fashion Nova collection drops on May 8. The rapper’s first Fashion Nova collection sold out within minutes, according to Entertainment Tonight.

 

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Entrepreneur Launches ArtX to Allow Greater Access to the Art Community

Purchasing unique pieces in the art world has typically been reserved for the elite. Founder Everette Taylor wants to alter that with the launch of ArtX, a media and technology platform that is aimed at changing the narrative and the way the art world as it’s currently constructed.

Taylor began collecting pieces and found that there was a prejudice through his own experiences and interactions. 

“Growing up, I never really had anyone around me who was educated about art or who could teach me about it,” said Taylor. “When I first started collecting art, I would walk in art galleries and people wouldn’t even acknowledge my presence. I would go to art museums and would barely see any artists of color.”

ArtX is broken into three parts: a media platform, software/technology, and community.

The media platform provides a place for artists to get discovered and for people who aren’t familiar with the space, a place to educate themselves and not feel intimidated. On the technology front, ArtX is launching a software tool that allows artists to tap into the business side by using Amplify, a social media AI tool that helps artists find their audience on social media and build their fan base.

“I spoke to dozens of up-and-coming artists and asked what’s the No.1 tool that they are needed and the answer was always the same: social media. So I wanted to provide them with a tool to amplify those results,” continued Taylor.

In addition, ArtX also provides free business tools such as an invoice generator, a business directory, and a meeting scheduling tool that will roll out later next month.

In the spirit of giving back to the community, ArtX has launched the ArtX Scholarship Program, which provides need-based scholarships to artists who may be struggling financially. This will be backdropped by local art events to help educate people on art collections and provide a space for artists to sell their work.

“People have to understand that art isn’t only something you can love and appreciate, but a way to invest and build generational wealth. Many people from marginalized and underrepresented communities haven’t had the opportunity to be educated. ArtX is going to change that. This is only Phase I of a much bigger plan,” said Taylor.

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Kamala Harris Introduces Bill to Increase Student Diversity in STEM

Sen. Kamala Harris introduced new legislation to help students from underrepresented communities gain access to educational materials, mentorships, and work experience related to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). On May 2, the Democratic senator and 2020 presidential hopeful introduced the 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act, which would authorize a $40 million competitive grant program for school districts to improve participation in STEM education among girls, students of color, LGBTQ students, disabled students, and kids from low-income neighborhoods.

“When we have more women, people of color, LGBTQ folks, and people with disabilities in STEM jobs, we get better results,” said Harris in a press release. “Preparing our nation’s students for the jobs of the 21st century starts in the classroom, and we must ensure that the benefits of that education are shared equally with those who are currently underrepresented in STEM professions.”

The bill seeks to provide funding for school districts across the country, and ultimately increase opportunities for women and minorities to secure high wage jobs in STEM fields. According to a 2018 Pew Social Trends report, , 69% of STEM workers in the U.S. are white, while only 9% of the STEM workforce is black and 7% are Hispanic. If passed, funding for Harris’ bill would be allocated towards:

• Providing tutoring and mentoring programs in STEM subjects.
• Providing afterschool and summer activities designed to encourage interest and skill-building in STEM subjects.
• Providing subsidies to minimize the costs of STEM-related educational materials, equipment, field trips, internships, and work experiences.
• Educating parents about the opportunities and advantages of STEM careers.
• Providing professional development services to teachers, principals, and other personnel aimed at reduced racial and gender bias.

In addition to Harris, co-sponsors of the legislation include Democratic senators Dick Durbin, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar, and Jacky Rosen. The bill is also being supported by Girls Who Code, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, NAACP, National Society of Black Engineers, and other organizations.

Harris, who became the first black woman to serve as Attorney General in California and the second black woman to ever be elected as a U.S. Senator, opened up about being second-guessed and misunderstood throughout her career while speaking at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit back in February:

“I’ve had the setback of attempting to run for office that nobody thought that we could win and all that comes with that,” she said, revealing that people have doubted her ability to become an elected official. However, she added that she has used people’s negative perceptions of her as a source of motivation. “Good, underestimate me. I can work with that,” she said.

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HP Reports on the Current State of Small Business 2019

It’s important for black entrepreneurs to know the current trends with small businesses. At a New York City event hosted by small business expert, entrepreneur, and founder of Smart Hustle Media, Ramon Ray, print titan HP unveiled its findings from a global report on small businesses.

One of the key takeaways—younger entrepreneurial-minded folks (Gen Z in particular) are motivated to start businesses that have a positive societal impact.

From the HP Small Business Today Study Global Insights Report:

“While making money while pursuing your passion is a top definer of success and motivator for most small business owners around the world, societal impact becomes a key consideration for those in Asia and younger generations of small business owners, on par with or overtaking money in most cases.”

Other findings from the study about small business owners:

• Over half feel it’s their responsibility to fill the gaps the government leaves behind when it comes to the environment and their employee.
• 46% take a stand on controversial societal and/or political issues.
• 46% won’t work with other companies if they feel those companies do not support their community or respect their culture and heritage.
• 44% won’t work with other companies if they do not do their part to protect or advance the rights of underrepresented groups.

[Related: WILL GENERATION Z BE THE MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL GENERATION YET?]

Many small business owners also feel alone and unsupported. Eight out of 10 said they found maneuvering regulations and laws to be challenging. The same number also said they found technology to be challenging.

Gen Z small business owners also felt as though they had to make more sacrifices to start their business than other generations.

Not surprisingly, HP also had statistics about printers and small business. The study found that 86% of small business owners still have a printer. Forty-nine percent said they could not operate their business without one.

For more findings from the study, check out the below infographic.

 

 

 

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Workshop at Macy’s Celebrates Diverse Beauty Brand and Fashion Founders

The wine flowed, hors d’oeuvres were nibbled, and colorful fabrics abounded. The iconic Macy’s at Herald Square celebrated its latest class of diverse beauty and fashion entrepreneurs at the Workshop at Macy’s event on Wednesday.

Fifteen brands from around the country and Puerto Rico showed off their fashion and skincare products. The brands included:

Mare Cheia, a swimwear brand by Lorel Torres.

Footnanny, a skincare brand by Gloria Williams

Gunas New York, a vegan handbag brand by Sugandh Agrawal.

SUNDÃRI, women’s skincare.

Chen Burkett, an Africa-inspired fashion line

Chen Burkett (Photo: Kent Miller)

Parisian Pet, pet apparel

Solo Noir, men’s skincare

Frères Branchiaux Candle Co.

Tayion Collection, men’s suits.

Jo Handbags

Fe Noel, women’s clothing

Fe Noel (Photo: Kent Miller)

Nager by Nic Hyl, women’s apparel

Earth’s Nectar, haircare

MAIR, fragrance

The Workshop at Macy’s is a program the retailer launched in 2011. Its purpose is to diversify the supplier pipeline in the retail industry. Many of the brands that participate in the program have gone on to have their products sold at Macy’s.

Macy’s was recognized on Black Enterprise’s ‘50 Best Companies for Diversity List.’

 

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Four Things Steve Canal Wants You to Know About Marketing and Branding

Steve Canal was a star college athlete and now is a branding expert. He’s worked with an impressive list of companies including McDonald’s, Facebook, Coors Light, Delta, and Walmart. After some stumbles in his journey, he has learned many lessons of success in marketing and branding. 

For example, Canal worked with the U.S. Army in its branding efforts. That work taught him the value of human connection. He led a national campaign that connected recruiters to potential soldiers looking for opportunities. The campaign involved wrapping hummers and jets in U.S. Army branding and turning them into interactive installations. It gave the brand identity, and made potential recruits feel invited and engaged. 

His work has led him to other marketing and branding realizations from which other entrepreneurs and marketing and PR professions can learn.

Four Things Steve Canal Wants You to Know About Marketing and Branding (In His own Words)

-What leads the campaign is research. I need to know what you’re passionate about, what motivates you, and what you’re trying to accomplish. For example, even though they may offer similar products; Company A and Company B need a unique offering that must be brought to life. You have to understand what’s important to each brand and create a package that says I’m paying attention to you, I know what’s important to you. I don’t call them clients, I call them partners because it’s a two way street.

-Who is the brand? What are they offering, and who are the people who care? Some organizations do focus groups. Take that extra step to get that insight. Times are changing, people are changing, there’s a new mindset within age demographics that don’t think like you as the brand. That’s where localizing your brand comes to play. You must find advisers and champions within those communities to get you that information, and listen to them. 

-It’s important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are, and find opportunities to make your weaknesses a strength. If you’re super passionate about something or you need to know something then do it. Either way, you must prioritize what’s important for you to be able to do versus what you can outsource.

-Brands need to stop thinking they have all the answers by coming up with campaigns within their walls, and not having any diversity of thought. Many times you get into these rooms to pitch, and across the table there are a bunch of like minded people coming up with campaigns without being where their customer is. Diversity of thought will make or break brands in the future. If you’re not aligned with consumers then they won’t mess with you.

---

Black Enterprise Contributors Network 

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From Sorrow to Strategy: 7 Black Women Who’ve Turned Their Agony Into Activism

Lora King is keeping the legacy of her father, the late Rodney King, alive almost three decades after he survived a notorious police beating that triggered L.A. Riots.

Back in 1991, four white LAPD officers were charged with tasering and viciously beating Rodney King with their batons and boots during a police stop. Despite video evidence of the attack, an all-white jury acquitted the cops, sparking public outrage, the onset of rioting, and a nationwide call to end police violence against the African American community.

Now, at 35 years old, Lora King launched a scholarship program to honor her father, who passed away in 2012, and uplift other black dads, according to The L.A. Times.  The goal of her “I am a King” scholarship is to encourage black fathers to play a more active role in their children’s lives by sponsoring special events for dads and their kids. The program will provide grants on a rolling basis that will fund a range of events, from a family dinner to a trip to Disneyland. In addition, in 2016 she launched the Rodney King Foundation to advance social justice and human rights causes.

Lora D. King, daughter of Rodney King (Facebook.com/dene.king)

King is part of a long list of black women who have used the tragedy of a loved one victimized by racialized violence as motivation to affect change. Some of the most notable women are the “Mothers of the Movement,” who joined forces to advocate for police, criminal justice, and gun reform following the deaths of their unarmed African American children by law enforcement or gun violence.

Here are six other black women who’ve turned their agony into activism by pushing for institutional and structural change, fighting for social justice, and raising awareness around the disproportionate rates of violence against black Americans.

Lucy McBath

U.S. Rep Lucy McBath (Wikimedia)

In 2012, Lucy McBath’s 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed by a white man at a Florida gas station over an argument about loud music. When the killer invoked Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law as a defense, McBath asserted herself onto the frontlines of the fight for gun control and justice. She retired from a 30-year career with Delta Airlines to become the national spokesperson for both Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Eventually, McBath’s son’s killer was sentenced to life in prison, but that did not stop her activism around gun reform. In 2018, she launched a successful campaign for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. Now, as a U.S. representative, McBath has co-sponsored gun control legislation that would require universal background checks for those seeking to purchase armed weapons.

Sybrina Fulton

Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and father, Tracy Martin (Twitter.com/SybrinaFulton)

Since Sybrina Fulton’s son Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by white vigilante George Zimmerman in Florida, Fulton has been working to expand voting rights in the state and has become one of the most visible members of the “Mothers of the Movement.” She also helped found the Trayvon Martin Foundation, an organization that seeks to find solutions for youth, help parents who have been victimized by senseless violence, provide scholarships to inner-city youth, and strengthen a positive self-image within the community.

Gwen Carr

Gwen Carr (Twitter.com/GwenCarrEric)

Gwen Carr said that the death of her son, Eric Garner, who died in 2014 after being placed in a police chokehold, was her political awakening. In an editorial published on NBC News’ Think column in October, Carr talked about how the tragedy has encouraged her to become more civically engaged.

Me, I don’t like to write. So instead, I go up to Albany, and I get in the faces of our politicians. I try to emphasize what I want from our government, and what I need elected officials to do. For instance, I went to Albany with a group of other New York mothers in 2015, and got Governor Cuomo to sign an executive order that allowed a special prosecutor from the state attorney general’s office to investigate all police killings of unarmed people for a year. (He’s since extended it.) And what this does is that, when these senseless killings take place, the cases are taken it out of the hands of the local district attorney and put in the hands of the state attorney general

Lesley McSpadden

Michael Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden on stage at the St. Louis Peace Fest the day before burying her son. (Photo: Brett Myers/Youth Radio via Flickr)

The shooting death of the unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 sparked nationwide protests and fueled the Black Lives Matter movement. A grand jury chose not to indict the white officer who fatally shot Brown while his hands were in the air. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, however, has taken up the cause, running for a seat in the 2019 Ferguson city council. Although she did not win that race, McSpadden revealed that she is open to running again in 2020.

“I did this because we were all devastated over what we saw almost five years ago,” McSpadden told CNN last month. “I was personally devastated because that’s my son. My children witnessed the devastation.” She added, “After watching Ferguson over these years, I’ve looked for progress and I haven’t seen anything. My candidacy is the first step of building towards justice for my son and building towards a part of his legacy to make sure that my son did not die in vain.”

Tiffany Crutcher

Tiffany Crutcher (Twitter.com/TiffanyCrutcher)

The death of Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old unarmed black man who was fatally shot by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while his hands were in the air, shook the nation in 2016. The incident occurred when Crutcher’s SUV broke down in the middle of the road. But, instead of receiving car assistance, he was met by several police officers who drew their weapons and typecasted him as a “bad dude.” Video footage shows the officers walked closely behind Crutcher while his hands were up. He then stood beside his car moments before he was tasered and a white female officer opened fire and killed him, arguing that Crutcher failed to adhere to police commands and was reaching inside of the driver side window for a weapon. Crutcher’s attorneys, however, insist that his car window was rolled up.

Following his tragic death, his sister, Tiffany, quit her job as a healthcare provider and became a full-time political activist. In addition to working as a field organizer for Doug Jones’ senatorial campaign in Alabama, she has been involved in several judicial races in the state. “The death of my twin brother forced me to get involved [in politics],” she said, according to The Root. She also launched a national Campaign Against Bad Cops, which seeks to abolish the immunity that protects government officials from being sued for discriminatory actions performed within their official capacity. Furthermore, she and her family are fighting to lower the legal standard an officer has to meet so that they can be more easily indicted for biased killings.

Geneva Reed-Veal

Geneva Reed-Veal (Facebook.com/geneva.reedveal.3)

Geneva Reed-Veal loss her daughter, Sandra Bland, in 2015 in an unexplained hanging death inside of a Texas jail cell, following an unlawful traffic stop. Since then, Reed-Veal has used her voice to speak out against police brutality and state-sponsored abuse by law enforcement. She, along with the eight other “Mothers of the Movement,” also delivered a powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention where she endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

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Brooklyn Apartment Tenants Rise Up Against Landlord’s Plans to Install Facial Recognition Technology

Atlantic Plaza Towers is a 718-unit apartment complex in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville, which is largely African American. Tenants there are fighting the landlord’s plans to install facial recognition technology in their building.

The landlord, Nelson Management Group, filed an application to install the tech with New York State Homes & Community Renewal (NYSHCR)—which can approve or deny the request.

This is the first time a property manager filed an application for facial recognition technology with NYSHCR according to The Brooklyn Eagle.

The tenants, who normally use a key fob to access the building, are claiming the plans for facial recognition are problematic for several reasons.

[Related: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ALGORITHMS: 21ST CENTURY TOOLS FOR RACISM]

First, as with other inner-city areas in Brooklyn such as Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick—once largely African American communities—Brownsville is undergoing gentrification. Nearby the East New York section of Brooklyn, the area has close proximity to Manhattan and relatively low rental fees.

The tenants say the facial recognition technology is a way to increase gentrification in the area and attract more outsiders

Second—there are data privacy concerns. “Residents should not have to live in fear that landlords are tracking their comings and goings and amassing sensitive data on tenants and their guests,” the New York Civil Liberties Union stated in a letter, according to The Brooklyn Eagle.

Lastly, there are issues with facial recognition technology’s ability to scan darker skin.

The proposed technology is made by StoneLock. In an emailed statement from the StoneLock CEO¸Colleen Dunlap, to BLACK ENTERPRISE, she addressed some of the concerns:

“Unlike surveillance systems that captures photographs of the general public, StoneLock only interacts with enrolled users and does not perform surveillance on the user once access to the premises is authorized.

In order to maintain an optimized system, user data (even the 5% of the user profile) never leaves the system, always existing either on a Gateway or pushed to a GO within the control of the customer. StoneLock does not have access to any user data and cannot provide any user data in response to government or third-party inquiry.”

BLACK ENTERPRISE also reached out to the New York City Mayor’s Office, Nelson Management Group, and the NYSHCR for comment and will update this article when received.

 

 

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Black Women: Mental Health Treatment is For Us Too

When it comes to mental health issues, black women are more likely to experience mental health-related issues due to lower income, poor health, multiple role strain, and the “double minority status” of race and gender according to a study conducted by psychologists who focused on the lack of support black women receive professionally.

More recently, the American Psychiatric Association recently published a study that revealed:

• Only ⅓ of black Americans who need mental health care receive it
• Physician-patient communication differs for African Americans and whites. Physicians were 23% more verbally dominant and engaged in 33% less patient-centered communication with African American patients than with white patients.
• Lack of culturally competent counseling deters folks from seeking care

We know that’s a lot of hardcore facts. So, take a deep breath with us… Now that you have the facts, we want to be sure that you have the tools that you need to take the steps toward your healing or be a resource for another powerful woman.

Speaking of powerful women, we spoke with Dr. LaVerne Collins, interim vice president of Foundation and Professional Services for the National Board for Certified Counselors, about the real on black women and mental health as we prepare for the Women of Power self-care and self-preservation workshop where women can ask our panel of experts anything. Yes, anything!

Black Women Mental Health Facts

When it comes down to the facts and figures, Dr. Collins says that there are a number of reasons why black women aren’t seeking professional help for their stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Stigma, pricing, and mistrust of both diagnoses and treatments to list a few.

“There’s stigma that’s still prevalent in the black community. Even a basic mental health issue like stress or anxiety because we as a people have been taught to be strong and we’ve been taught to rely on the inner strength of our ancestors and spiritual sources—all of which are good—however when we don’t seek the professional care that we need those resources don’t give us the complete package of care.”

There is also significant stigma associated with the language that some people use that keeps women from pursuing help.

“We’ve heard people say things like, ‘you know she’s not all the way there…’ or ‘you know she’s a little touched…’ We have very unfortunate labels and judgmental statements that we’ve heard our ancestors use because they didn’t have an accurate understanding of mental health,” says Dr. Collins. And that language only keeps women in hiding to live with their pain.

While the stigmas are very real for a lot of women, Dr. Collins urges women to pay attention to abnormal feelings and triggers that may arise.

“Pay attention to anything that is atypical for you; anything that is causing an interruption to your daily life such as your work or social life; and pay attention the degree of interference that you are experiencing.”

On your journey to wellness, it is important to seek culturally competent and responsive mental health professionals as well as consult with your doctor to rule out any medical conditions that could be contributing to any changes in your mood or brain chemistry. Here’s Dr. Collins’ formula for finding the right fit for your needs.

Start your journey today

• First, do the research to identify a board-certified counselor whose specialization is a fit for your needs
• Secondly, prepare to speak to more than one counselor in the vetting process. You do not need to go with the services of the first counselor that you interview with or have a consultation
• Look for a counselor who will give you a 15-minute consultation in person or by phone before you enter into an agreement with them.
• Prepare yourself by taking notes of how you’re feeling so that you can tell your counselor what (i.e., if you’re having crying spells), your triggers are.

Remember that you are not alone

“Have confidants who you can share with that you trust and who will support you with their presence and their words,” adds Dr. Collins.

• Know your limits. — Be able to set limits and don’t overload yourself. We live in an overload culture and it’s very easy to do more and take on more. Sometimes we find our significance in the amount of things that we do and we find ourselves wearing ourselves out
• Take vacations or staycations. – Know how to step away and take a real vacation or staycation and do what reenergizes you and things that nourish your mind and body. If what you need is to be away from everyone, do that.
• Watch what you eat. – Don’t give your taste buds over what your body really needs.
• Maintain a regular cycle of 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night
• Minimize or manage the amount of stress in your life—recognize what things are stressful to you and have a way to minimize them.

If you want to learn more about how you can protect your peace, join us at the Women of Power Summit in Vegas! Get your tickets here.

 

-Editors’ Note: Originally published in February 2019 

 

 

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Serena Williams and Bumble Select New Women-Owned Businesses for Investment

At Bumble’s first-ever Bumble Fund Summit in Napa, California, the company officially announced the winners of its in-app pitch competition through Bumble Bizz. The competition provided female entrepreneurs with the exclusive opportunity to pitch Bumble Global Advisor Serena Williams and Bumble CEO and Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd their businesses for possible investment from the Bumble Fund and Serena Ventures.

“We aimed to redefine the pitch competition and provide a space for underrepresented women who are often overlooked in venture capital to speak freely about their ideas,” said Wolfe Herd.

There were more than 1,000 applications received, and three finalists were chosen. Both Serena Ventures and the Bumble Fund will invest between $50,000 and $100,000 per company, depending on the scale of business. From the three finalists, Bumble Fund and Serena Ventures chose two companies to invest in:

Erin Carpenter of Nude Barre, a company redefining “Nude” and offering hosiery and underwear in twelve shades (Williams wore the hosiery during her Wimbledon and US Open matches)

Arfa Rehman of Virtue Health, a digital health company for longevity with their first consumer health product, Eva, which is an AI-powered companion for women going through menopause

“Too many female entrepreneurs have grown accustomed to being silenced or hearing the word no,” stated Williams. “By amplifying these voices as opposed to ignoring them, we are signifying to an entire generation of underrepresented women that their ideas should know no bounds. I am honored to be a part of Erin and Arfa’s journeys—as I want them, as well as all others alike, to know that when it seems as if no one else will listen, we will.”

The Bumble Fund launched in 2018 with a mission to invest in underrepresented women founders, with the intention to provide them with resources and access as well as capital. The pitch competition was the first step to the company fulfilling its goal. Only 2% of the more than $130 billion raised in venture capital in 2018 went to women founders, despite the fact that there are 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the U.S.

In addition to her work with the Bumble Fund, Williams has invested in over 30 companies through Serena Ventures, focusing on underrepresented founders or problems, empowering creativity or empowering oneself, and future technology.

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Why the Fight for Equality May Be the Wrong Fight

In a recent conversation, I was speaking to a friend about social issues. In my all too common discussions about society’s ills, we begin to talk about equality. As the conversation moved to the action stage, we started to ask, what can we do? What needs to happen? What are the next steps? Then it occurred to me that equality might be the wrong fight.

People of color have been fighting for equality for as long as I can remember and many hundreds of years before that. Now, in the 21st century, I’m not sure equality can ever be achieved. Think about it. There will always be someone who makes more money, lives in a bigger home, or drives a nicer car. Equality promotes fairness but only if we all start from the same place, with the same opportunities. Since that hasn’t happened and most likely won’t, we will never achieve equality, but we can achieve equity.

Fight for Equity Versus Equality

Equity gives us all the same tools we need to be successful. Our focus should be on changing policies and procedures to level the playing field. And, unfortunately, we will need white folks to engage with us in accomplishing equity. So, blaming white folks today for the racist systems put in place in the past will always impede the progress of dismantling the systemic issues we face daily. But, to speed up that progress, intentional inclusion is the best strategy for achieving equity.

Related: 27 THINGS WHITE PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER, EVER SAY TO THEIR BLACK CO-WORKERS

Related: 16 THINGS BLACK PEOPLE SAY OR DO THAT ANNOY WHITE PEOPLE AT WORK (AND IN GENERAL)

If we switch our focus to equity over equality, we could then lean in on the things that would bring about real change like access to good healthcare, loans for businesses, stores with better quality foods, smoother streets, culturally responsive police patrol and commerce in our communities that will help our communities thrive.

Be the Change

If you want to effect change, here are a few ways to start: point out policies that are not inclusive to all employees. It could be something as simple as letting management know that a policy against braids or natural hair is exclusionary to people of color. Look at procedures to see how implementing incremental changes could assist in more diverse hiring and promotions. Go ahead. Try it.

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Black Enterprise Contributors Network

The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s and not necessarily the opinion of Black Enterprise.

The post Why the Fight for Equality May Be the Wrong Fight appeared first on Black Enterprise.

5 Critical Business Development Truths Every Black Freelance Writer Ought to Know

Choosing to become a freelance writer and turning your writing talents into a profitable career are two very different stories. You can possess excellent grammar and spelling skills, but if you can’t build a profitable business around your talents, your freelance writing dreams are likely to be nothing more than a mirage. Understanding how to turn your writing yearnings into a revenue-focused business is essential for long-term success as a freelance writer. If this is the year you transition from being a wannabe writer to a writing business owner, remember the following five critical business development truths every freelance writer ought to know.

Evaluate the ROI of Your Writing Clients

Walking away from low-ROI, high-demand freelance writing clients is OK. Not every writing relationship offers a significant return-on-investment for your writing business. Learn early on in your writing career how to evaluate the ROI of your clients. Are they helping you grow your portfolio with a byline in a respected publication? Are they paying you enough to meet your revenue-per-hour goals? Do they request multiple revisions on each project, thereby driving down your revenue-per-hour rate? The sooner you learn how to evaluate the ROI of your writing clients, the sooner you’ll build a revenue-positive writing business you can be proud of.

 

Combine a Niche Specialty with a Format Specialty

Chances are good you have already heard the advice to choose a niche to specialize in. However, did you know that choosing a writing format can also help increase revenues for your freelance writing business? Not only should you specialize in an industry, but you should also consider concentrating on one or two types of content. Offer white papers and case studies for the digital marketing sector. Create blog posts for SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) startups. Also, build a reputation as a sales letter copywriter for the affiliate marketing sector. Once you learn the power of combining a business niche with a content format, you’ll kick yourself for not discovering this exceptional career-development hack sooner.

Network Strategically

Your network has a significant influence on lead generation opportunities for your writing business. Find niche-specific forums via a tool like BoardReader.com and offer helpful insights your target clients can use. Build a knowledge-based reputation within your industry, and you’ll soon have to start turning away clients for your freelance writing business.

Consistent Education Upgrades Equals Business Development Mastery

Continuing your education as a freelance writer is essential if you want to enjoy a long and profitable career as an on-demand wordsmith. Immerse yourself in new industries. Learn new writing formats. Study business sectors experiencing rapid growth. Pay attention to which startup sectors are attracting investment capital. Continually increasing your knowledge base makes good business sense. Not only will you be able to attract more clients to your writing business, but you’ll also build a reputation as an expert who can be depended upon to craft compelling content. Developing a deep knowledge base also helps you to transition your writing business and improve client quality while increasing your writing rates at the same time.

Control Your Clients

How much you charge, how you’re paid, and the revisions you offer are within your control. Professional writers don’t allow clients to tell them what a blog post will cost or how many revisions will be required in an article. Writing is a business, and you’re a business owner. You can’t tell the supermarket manager how much you’re willing to pay for your groceries. Don’t allow clients to tell you how much they’re willing to pay for your writing services. Know how much you charge for your writing services and only work with clients who respect your professionalism and honor your business practices.

Remember these five critical truths for freelance writers, and you’ll improve your odds of building a thriving and profitable writing business. Choosing to be a freelance writer is a decision not to be taken lightly. The sooner you start treating your writing career like a business, the sooner you’ll start living your freelance writing dreams.

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The Tribeca Film Festival Celebrates ‘In Living Color,’ A Pioneer of Black Sketch Comedy

The Tribeca Film Festival celebrated the 25^th anniversary of In Living Color, a pioneering comedy sketch show created by filmmaker Keenen Ivory Wayans in the 90s. The show, which spoofed celebrities, politicians, and cultural moments from 1990 – 1994 on Fox, featured stars like Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and Damon Wayans.

On April 27, original members of the cast, including Ivory Wayans, his younger siblings Kim and Shawn Wayans, David Alan Grier, and Tommy Davidson, reunited for a panel conversation at the festival following an episode screening of the original show. When discussing the intent of the cutting-edge show, Keenen said “the intent was to include everybody. Everybody is going to laugh. It was all inclusive so we offended everyone…We wanted everybody to go, ‘Man that’s messed up, but that is funny as hell.’”

On the red carpet, Davidson said the Emmy Award-winning show helped paved the way for many of today’s popular sitcoms and comedies featuring black actors. “We’re in everything from sitcoms from Black-ish to Atlanta to every standup comic,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We’re a part of everything that’s happening because we’re a good nucleus that started the whole ball rolling.”

It also helped launch the careers of some of the biggest stars in comedy. “In Living Color was my comedy college,” Shawn Wayans told BE. “That’s where I learned everything from acting to writing to producing. Everything I know today was taught on that show.” Likewise, Kim Wayans said, “it was my first really big thing. In Living Color was my introduction to the world.”

At the time, they had no idea the show would become their launching pad to stardom and a staple in pop culture. “We were young. We were just kids ourselves so we weren’t really thinking big picture. Maybe Keenen thought about [the] big picture,” said Kim. “We were creating and just laughing. It was the time of our lives. We weren’t thinking much ahead of that,” added Shawn.

Nevertheless, Davidson says he cherishes the early days of the comedy hit, revealing that his most memorable moments on set happened during “our first season before we knew we were famous when we were doing it just for laughs and to pay our bills. That was the most magical time,” he said. “It gave us our blueprint. We created our own blueprint the first season and that just grew from there.”

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Affordable Business Startup Ideas for Young, Black Entrepreneurs

Starting a business can be a fantastic experience, but it often requires a large amount of capital to start. Young, black entrepreneurs may not have access to the amount of money needed to get a business up and running. However, several cheap business startup ideas can get you started with your entrepreneurial ambitions with very little initial capital investment required.

Startup Ideas for Young, Black Entrepreneurs

Online Businesses

Starting up a business online requires very little capital because all you need is a well-designed website and a good business idea. There is a multitude of opportunities that await you online. You can start a search engine optimization service, sell products on eBay, and market products through online affiliate programs.

While online businesses are very cheap to get up and running, make an excellent investment to create an attractive website. A well-designed website is essential to attracting potential customers to your products or services.

Virtual Assistant

Many businesses need the services of a secretary, but cannot afford to hire one full-time. Virtual assistants usually work on a variety of small tasks for multiple small businesses. If you have a manageable schedule, this might be an excellent choice for you.

Many online freelancing websites are available where you can advertise your services to prospective customers. Being a virtual assistant requires very little capital and involves very few risks, making it an excellent choice for young entrepreneurs.

Event Planning

Weddings, family reunions, class reunions, and business conferences occur every day all around the country. All of these events require solid planning to be pulled off successfully, and an event planner can provide this service. If you are a highly-organized person who understands how to arrange a successful event, this job might be right for you.

Young entrepreneurs can create their website or advertise in freelance postings to offer their services. This requires only a little bit of money, and it can be started in very little time.

Pet Businesses

Americans spend an immense amount of money on their pets. With a little bit of startup money, you can have access to a large customer base. If you know how to groom animals, you can spend a little money on the necessary equipment, and you are ready to care for customers’ pets quickly.

People also pay to have their dogs walked, which is also great for young entrepreneurs. All you need is a little advertising for your services, and you can be making money quickly and easily.

These are several cheap business startup ideas that can get you started with a successful business quickly. All you need is a modest amount of money, an entrepreneurial spirit and a healthy amount of determination to pursue your entrepreneurial goals. With all of these opportunities, you can start making money in no time.

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[Video] Meet The Black Race Car Drivers, Pit Members, and Executives at NASCAR

Coming to you live from the Daytona 500, BLACK ENTERPRISE spent time with NASCAR, learning how the car racing organization is diversifying. In the video, check out interviews with race car driver Bubba Wallace; the first black woman member of a pit crew; and other black people who are making waves in NASCAR. (Video by Ed Stokes).

Related: MEET MELISSA HARVILLE-LEBRON: THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO OWN A NASCAR TEAM

 

 

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Morgan Stanley Announces its Third Cohort of the Multicultural Innovation Lab

Morgan Stanley recently announced the third cohort of the Multicultural Innovation Lab, an accelerator program for technology and technology-enabled startups in the post–seed to Series B funding rounds.

The program is three years in the making and targets companies with a multicultural or woman founder, co–founder, CTO, or other C-suite member that is developing innovative solutions across sectors. 

“This program has seen tremendous success over the past two years, and I am looking forward to helping this next group of founders accelerate their businesses and make significant strides in executing their strategies,” said Carla Harris, vice chairman of Morgan Stanley and head of the Multicultural Client Strategy Group. “The Lab’s goal is to provide these founders with additional contributions toward their future success by leveraging our expansive and global networks, resources, and expertise that will hopefully attract the capital needed to scale.”

Carla Harris

Over 300 applicants applied globally. 2019 cohort startups include BLUEWAVE Technologies, Care Advisors, Cosynd, Five to Nine, Gappify, Looklive, Mighty Well, ShopJenzy, SmartGurlz, and Taina Technology. The companies span across sectors focusing on health, software development, legal, medical hardware, HR, fintech, fashion, and education.

Morgan Stanley will take an equity percentage in the company in exchange for utilizing its global reach, content, and connections to push growth and address the funding gap for multicultural and women startup founders.

Access to capital alone isn’t sufficient enough to build a successful tech startup. The Lab brings in other elements to help the entrepreneurs grow and scale their companies. William Crowder, formerly head of Comcast Ventures’ Catalyst Fund and now founding partner at 42 Venture Partners, will be returning as its Entrepreneur-In-Residence. Crowder will serve as a strategic advisor to both the entrepreneurs and the Multicultural Client Strategy team throughout the duration of the Lab to help participating companies address and conquer challenges that will increase performance and progress. There will also be additional input from other partners such as Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

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Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms: 21st Century Tools for Racism

Black activists and technologists are increasingly raising the alarm about what one has called ‘the new frontier of civil rights’—that is, growing concerns over inherent racism in artificial intelligence and computer algorithm technologies.

It was proven that algorithms behind many social media platforms were manipulated in an attempt to influence black voters. The released Mueller report outlined it plainly: Russian operatives deliberately targeted black activists online through social media—using the algorithmic technology behind online platforms to purposely cause dissension among black voters in the 2016 election (on page 32 of the Special Counsel’s report).

According to a report from Axios, these foreign actors gamed a number of tech platforms in addition to social media, including Google, PayPal, and Instagram.

“One of the reasons social media platforms continue to be exploited is because the opacity of algorithms being used make many of these fictitious posts or misleading campaigns go viral,” according to the Axios report.

How Algorithms Can Negatively Affect Black Lives

Algorithms are inextricably linked with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data. Algorithms, in a nutshell, are lines of code that tell computers what to do. While not all algorithms are used for AI, they do provide instructions for AI systems, as per TheNextWeb.

The problem with algorithms is that they are “inherently racist,” according to Mutale Nkonde, a US-based policy analyst and a 2018-19 fellow at Data & Society Research Institute in New York City.

“Algorithmic decision-making is based on historical data,” says Nkonde. “A system will look at, for example, how many people were evicted in Bed-Stuy [a Brooklyn neighborhood] over the last 10 years. When you are going for an apartment and then when your landlord does a credit check, if you’re black and it says there were historically huge amounts of evictions [among the black community], then you may not get the apartment.”

Mutale Nkonde

Last month, the Housing and Urban Development agency charged Facebook with housing discrimination violations. Facebook’s ad-targeting technology allowed property owners to target their properties to Facebook users based on race and other factors.

Algorithms today can help determine whether you get a loan, a job, or insurance. Just about all business verticals are using algorithms to some extent for decision making. Couple that with the massive amount of information collected against people through social media apps and search engines—so-called ‘Big Data’— and the potential to stealthily discriminate against black people is a concerning issue.

“Algorithmic decision-making is at the core running all of society’s systems,” says Nkonde.

Even the prison industry has moved into the digital age. Superstar rapper Jay-Z recently invested in Promise, a startup dedicated to reducing incarceration rates. The startup offers ‘community-supervised alternatives to jail and prison’ according to its website.

While the intent of the startup, keeping more black people out of the prison system is good, Nkonde sees the technology behind it as problematic.

She says Jay-Z and “a bunch of other billionaires have bought into this company where instead of going to jail, you’re going to be given an ankle bracelet that will track you,” she says.

In a TechCrunch article featuring Promise’s co-founder and CEO, Phaedra Ellis Lampkins, the startup’s technology was described: “Instead of a county paying to incarcerate someone simply because they can’t afford to post bail, they can use Promise to monitor compliance with court orders and better keep tabs on people via the app and, if needed, GPS monitoring devices. Counties, courts, case managers and other stakeholders can also access progress reports of individuals to monitor compliance.”

“The problem is there is secondary use for that data. The data that you generate can then be sold to various other businesses and that’s where the real money is,” says Nkonde. “That is a reinforcement of the ‘black code’ and reinforcement of the racist code that has always driven American society. Except now, it’s called ‘AI’.”

Ellis Lampkins refutes Nkonde’s allegations. In an emailed statement to Black Enterprise, she called Nkonde’s statements, “factually inaccurate.”

“We have not built and do not have any plans on building GPS monitoring technology. We believe that constant monitoring technology would create more injustice and be a violation of the foundation of our company. We built Promise so that there would be technology that improved the lives of those who were impacted by the criminal justice system, ” she wrote. She also clarified her company’s position on GPS monitoring of those entangled in the legal system and the potential for data collection against those individuals.

“People are on GPS because the court mandates it. We do not provide the GPS. We do not recommend it and we do not have it in our app. The court has many conditions such as AA, parenting class, etc. We also do not provide those services.  Because we do not collect the data, there is no way it could ever be sold,” stated Ellis Lampkins via email.

Black Politicians Craft AI Bias Legislation

However, the problems of biased algorithms and AI are being raised by politicians. Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Yvette Clarke have presented legislation addressing tech bias.

Nkonde, in fact, serves as a senior tech policy adviser for Congresswoman Clarke. She says Clarke and Booker have gone beyond just looking into well-documented cases of facial recognition technology’s inability to correctly identify people of color but they have “gone for the money,” says Nkonde.

“They’ve gone for the algorithm; they’ve gone for ‘what makes systems think?’ Those algorithms are protected by commercial law so this is actually the first time in history that anybody has really gone for how AI works.”

She says she loves the fact that Sen. Booker is involved with this cause because she feels he can make bias in technology a presidential issue. “I’m hoping that what journalists and activists and policymakers can do is really frame this as the new frontier of civil rights,” she says.

Last year, Nkonde and Clarke gave a briefing in DC on algorithmic bias. “We were looking at white supremacy online because the algorithms that feed you videos on YouTube were feeding white supremacists more extreme content and we were speaking about that,” says Nkonde.

Facebook has also taken measures to combat bias in AI. At its developers’ conference last year, a Facebook executive said that it is focused on “how to build fair and unbiased systems.” The company says one way to do so is by having diverse individuals involved in building its AI systems.

“If AI is built by a small group of technologists it will only see a narrow point of view,” said research scientist Isabel Kloumann at the event.

Still, activists say that Facebook and other tech companies are not doing enough and the red flags aren’t being raised enough about how potentially harmful AI and algorithms can be to black people.

“The real issue,” says Nkonde, “is technologies do not serve everybody equally. Because algorithms/AI systems are built by people, those people encode their values in those systems.”

“What AI actually does increase the likelihood for white, rich, cis men to succeed and decreases the likelihood for everybody else in society to succeed.”

 

 

 

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Remembering the Legacy of Legendary Director John Singleton and his Classic Film “Boyz n the Hood”

Update: 4:45 p.m. EST

According to CNN, John Singleton died on April 29 at 51 years old. His family released the following statement:

“We are sad to relay that John Singleton has died. John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends. We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John’s fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time.”

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Hollywood trailblazer John Singleton, who suffered from a stroke and fell into a coma earlier this month, made history when he was just 24 years old with his iconic 1991 film Boyz n the Hood. The groundbreaking movie explored the plight of childhood friends growing up in an inner-city neighborhood stricken by gang violence in South Los Angeles. The film received two Academy Award nominations in 1992, making Singleton both the first African American and youngest person ever to be nominated for Best Director. It also received the nod for Best Original Screenplay. In addition, the film also helped launch the careers of stars like Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

At the 2015 American Black Film Festival, Singleton revealed that he had hired a predominantly black crew to make the film as well as a mix of actors and non-actors, some from South LA. “Everyone from the neighborhood was invested in the film. The crew was 97% black,” said the USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate. He described making the film — which was inspired by his real-life friends and the challenges that they experienced in South Central — as “cathartic.” “I wanted to make a film that was quintessentially black American. I think we’ve gotten away from that as filmmakers. We’re too concerned with what others think, not about what’s culturally astute.”

Today, Boyz n the Hood is recognized as one of the most definitive movies of the 90s and an urban classic that continues to resonate with audiences almost 30 years later. “Everything that we dealt with in Boyz n the Hood is still relevant today,” Singleton said. “Black men still feel like they have to prove their masculinity. There’s so much pressure black women and men have to deal with. We’ve become time bombs.” Boyz n the Hood was added to the United States Library of Congress in 2002.

The screenwriter went on to direct a number of other notable films and television series throughout his career, including Poetic Justice, Baby Boy, 2 Fast 2 Furious, the FX crime drama Snowfall, and several episodes of Empire.

Back in 2011, Singleton told BLACK ENTERPRISE that there are fewer opportunities for black directors today to make big-picture films than there were at the start of his career. “I think there is less opportunity now in making big mainstream pictures [for] black filmmakers making films for black audiences,” he said. “It’s harder for us to get a movie made in that vein because they kind of compartmentalized and made it open for just a few people to make pictures.”

Tragically, Singleton suffered from a stroke on April 17 and was placed in intensive care. His mother and business manager, Shelia Ward, filed papers in court requesting conservatorship, stating that Singleton was “unable to provide for his personal needs” or “manage his financial resources,” according to The Associated Press. The court papers also claim that at the time of his stroke, Singleton was “engaged in several business deals” and in the process of signing “a lucrative settlement agreement.” Ward’s claims, however, were publicly refuted by Singleton’s daughter, Cleopatra Singleton, who also opposed the idea of giving her grandmother control over her father’s estate.

At the time of publishing, Singleton was reportedly still on life support and scheduled to be taken off April 29. In a statement, a family spokesperson revealed he had suffered from hypertension. “Like many African Americans, Singleton quietly struggled with hypertension. More than 40% of African American men and women have high blood pressure, which also develops earlier in life and is usually more severe.”

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