On Thursday, federal agents executed a number of search warrants as the investigations into whether Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh illegally profited from a no-bid book deal intensified.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has selected Symone Sanders to be a senior adviser to his 2020 presidential campaign, the AP is reporting.
Sanders was the former press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders (no relation) during the 2016 election when the Vermont senator ran as the Democrat nominee.
The 29-year-old is also a high-profile political analyst at CNN. She spoke at this year’s Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit.
In an interview with Black Enterprise, Sanders spoke about the value black women bring to the political arena.
“I think the political and democratic apparatus has woken up to see the real value of black women and now they are doing all kinds of things to hold on to it and bring black women into the fold and black women are like, ‘We just want you to hire us, give us resources, let us lead, and get out of our way,” she said.
As someone who is often on the forefront of heated conversations and debates, Sanders is known for her ability to stand her ground. Beyond her career, she says that there are two things that no one can go toe-to-toe with her on and they are Nebraska and Beyoncé.
“I’m from Nebraska and you can’t tell me nothing about Nebraska. I’m also a Beyoncé fan and you can’t tell me nothing about Beyoncé. I don’t care who you are, what setting we’re in, or where we are—if I’m in a meeting with a potential president of the United States, if we get on the topic of Nebraska and Beyoncé, I am going to feel very emboldened to speak up and push back and talk to you about that. So, black women, we need to feel the same way about Nebraska and Beyoncé as we do about all of these other things that we deal with in our workplace every single day.”
Watch Black Enterprise’s interview with Symone Sanders:
—Additional reporting by Lydia T. Blanco and Selena Hill
The post Joe Biden Hires Symone Sanders as His 2020 Presidential Campaign Strategist appeared first on Black Enterprise.
An Oregon family was either the victims of a hateful attack or recipients of free LASIK surgery after their racist neighbors approached them on Easter and burned their retinas with visions of Caucasian butthole.
The ThermoWorks Thermapen has long been everyone’s favorite meat thermometer, but in the realm of probe thermometers, the brand’s DOT reigns supreme. And thanks to an Open Box Sale, the DOT is down to $1 less than its Black Friday price of $34 — so long as you don’t mind a model that might have been used for sales…
I left something at my mother’s house. And the girl I was with needed to pee.
In November, people in the state of Florida voted “yes” on Amendment 4—an initiative that would restore voting rights to more than one million former felons.
Editor’s note: This week, for National Poetry Month, we’re featuring 37 up-and-coming black poets—including one today who is much more well-known but in a different field—who we expect do amazing work over the next decade. We grouped them by categories, though their works often blur boundaries and defy definitions. …
While excellence is a standard for many black people, privilege and opportunity aren’t as synonymous as linguistics suggests for those pursuing higher education at predominantly white colleges and universities.
In the book, “The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged Students,” Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack, Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and Assistant Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explores the complexities that lower-income students face in the world of academia.
Related: BE Heard: The Survival Guide for Students of Color at PWIs
Imagine living through adverse childhood experiences like housing insecurity, hunger, poverty and violence–and being one of the brightest students in your class. Now imagine receiving the opportunity to transcend your circumstances with access to a private and preparatory schools while getting glimpses of an upper echelon lifestyle. Students with those experiences are who Dr. Jack classifies as the privileged poor. Students who come from similar backgrounds but navigate the hallways and under resourced public school systems are referred to as the doubly disadvantaged. Jack’s research and book reveals the two groups of students are an overlooked diverse population.
In a sit-down interview with the Harvard graduate and professor, Jack shares why educators and decision makers in academia cannot simply rely on old policy and their competitive nature if they want to cultivate community, diversity, and success for all of their students beyond access.
As a first-generation college student who had the experience of attending a preparatory high school for one year, Jack would have identified as the privileged poor if his research existed while attending Amherst College. He says his time at Gulliver Preparatory also prepared him for the enculturation into the upper echelon. As a result, his personal experience coupled with stories from students inspired his exploration on how colleges are missing the mark when it comes to admitting poor students.
Through the experiences of lower-income students, Jack’s research sheds light on programs like Community Detail in which disadvantaged students are hired to work as janitors who ultimately serve their peers; the normality of being displaced without housing or food during holiday breaks; the mental and emotional toll that being poor among a community of affluent peers has on students; and being unprepared for the academic environment.
Related: Why the College Admissions Scandal Angers Black Folks
Watch the interview with Anthony Abraham Jack:
The post Black Harvard University Professor’s Book Reveals How Being Privileged and Poor Effects Lower-Income Students appeared first on Black Enterprise.
Omarosa Proctor Manigault Newman Foster Brown Johnson, the former aide to the president and the only black woman allowed to come through the front entrance at the White House during Trump’s presidency, has confirmed what we’ve all long suspected: the president has a list of crazy policy ideas that he rolls out to…
The 18th Tribeca Film Festival invited its attendees to the beautiful blackness of Harlem for its opening night film, The Apollo. Naturally, the documentary screening was held at its namesake theater.
I’ve spent the past 365 days telling anyone who will listen that Beychella—Beyoncé’s legendary performance at the 2018 Coachella Arts and Music Festival—is the single greatest performance that I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and I will bang that drum until my dying day.
Kotaku Days Gone: The Kotaku Review | Gizmodo If You Care About Privacy, Throw Your Amazon Alexa Devices Into the Sea | Jalopnik Tesla Posts $700 Million First-Quarter Loss as CEO Elon Musk Says It Will Offer Insurance | Vitals Don’t Trust the Calorie Count on the Elliptical Machine | The Takeout Presenting the…
Winter might be gone, but that doesn’t mean we still don’t want to drink a warm cup of tea. There’s nothing better to sip if you’re feeling under the weather. Don’t be an ignorant American and microwave your water for tea, though. Instead, you can get this KitchenAid kettle while it’s on sale.
“You can be anything you want to be” are encouraging words to a child, but when it’s not followed up with how-to instructions, it makes you wonder how valuable those words are really worth. The reality is that children are born with talents that need to be nurtured for them to mature into their potential greatness. To help parents and guardians expose their children to different career opportunities, The National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work foundation sponsors Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on the fourth Thursday in April each year.
The purpose of this day is for children to attend work with their parents and guardians to learn about what they and their business do. Last year, 40 million people participated in the program alone in the U.S.
I still have memories of participating in this event as a child when my dad took my brothers and me to work with him. He worked as a case examiner in the medical records department of a local hospital in Baltimore. This experience taught me at a young age that you didn’t have to be a doctor or nurse to work in the hospital. I also discovered that I never wanted to work in a hospital because it reeked of bandages and hand sanitizer. I knew I couldn’t stomach that smell everyday.
Thankfully, I learned early on (and saved my parents time and money) that being a doctor or nurse was not in my future. The point I’m making is that children tend to remember what they experience instead of what they are told. Invest in your child’s future career by allowing your child to attend work with you this National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
Here are four reasons why taking your child to work is an investment in their future career.
-The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work foundation recommends children ages 8 to 18 participate in the program each year. If you were to participate each year, this is up to ten years’ worth of workplace exposure for your child.
-Participating in this program can be great networking for your child, which can lead to an internship, job and/or professional reference.
-Your child can add this experience to their first resume. Although it’s not paid work experience, it shows potential employers that they have been exposed to the work environment. This will be helpful as they begin to build their resume and apply for after school, summer jobs, and also college.
-Although they may learn what you do and not be interested, it’s still a step forward in the right direction. Process of elimination is a benefit in helping children to discover who and what they want to become professionally.
Black Enterprise Contributors Network
The post On ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’ Stop Telling Kids They Can Be Anything They Want appeared first on Black Enterprise.
Is there any network that loves straight white men as much as CBS? A damning—but not altogether shocking—letter published by a former exec makes the beige bar pretty damn hard to clear.
“I don’t know how you ended up so bougie when we came out of the same family,” said my baby sister one day over the phone.
The Ninja Foodi, designed in party by friend of the site Justin Warner, wants to be the One True Buzzy Kitchen Appliance. It’s a big, hulking thing, but it can do just about everything, as our researcher Corey Foster wrote in an (upcoming) Inventory post:
Shannon Sharpe has gone viral many times since his 2016 debut on Fox Sports 1’s Skip and Shannon: Undisputed with sportswriter Skip Bayless. Just last year he set Black Twitter abuzz when he appeared on the show with a Black & Mild dangling from his lips, referencing Hennessy as “yak” and “Henn Dog.”
Not all stories about children with parents in jail involve recounts of glass barriers, letters or collect calls. And sadly, many don’t end with reunions and redemption, but with pain and shame; some stories end way too soon.
Over the past year, The Root and The Glow Up have reported on any number of restrictive school dress codes. Recently in Houston, a local high school principal has sparked controversy with its new rules for parents. As the Houston Chronicle reported, in an April 9th letter to parents (pdf), Carlotta Outley Brown of…
Apple’s excellent AirPods now support a hands-free “Hey Siri” feature and, now, you can also grab a pair from Amazon for $140. I’ve had mine since the day they came out, and they’ve carved out a permanent place in my pockets.
There’s so much to feel good about in black TV world today.
#MeToo founder and activist Tarana Burke abruptly ended a sexual violence forum at Florida A&M University after getting into a verbal altercation with a FAMU employee.
Facebook has a problem in “black” and “white,” black activists charge, where even pointing out racism or racist posts or mentioning the word “black” as in “black-owned business” can get the post taken down for violating “hate speech” standards and a suspension of the user’s account.
Small business marketing resources help get your business noticed. Marketing tools are essential for any company to be able to succeed and grow. To accomplish that, you have to know who your customers are, what they want to buy, and how to get them to buy it from you. There are a lot of practical tools available that can help you accomplish these goals. If you are starting a small business, or your existing business has hit a slump, try using some of these marketing resources to expand your brand’s digital footprint.
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest all have millions of users who log in every day to connect with friends and get information about the things they like. If you are not using these sites, you are missing out on free, beneficial marketing for your business. Pique customers’ interest with a hint about a new upcoming product, offer a special limited time discount and keep people posted about the latest company news.
Remember, if customers do not know about you, they cannot buy from you. Above everything else, you have to make sure that customers can find your small business. Get your company listed in all the major online directories, such as Google, Yahoo!Business, and CitySearch. Online directories give your customers instant access to your phone number, location, website, and other details they will be searching for. Not only does it increase your online presence, but it also gives potential customers the chance to see why you are better than the competition.
There is now an entire industry devoted to telling other people about good and bad experiences with a business. The sites are called review sites, and they are another powerful small business marketing resource. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, made even more powerful by the internet and websites such as Yelp.
Surveys show that 84% of consumers trust online reviews to help them decide which local businesses to use. Your online reputation is essential, and when you give customers exceptional service, they will do some of your marketing for you by leaving good reviews on these sites.
Maybe you already have a loyal online following, but that does not mean that you should stop there. Email marketing is the most effective way to reach customers because it is both fast and affordable directly. Make sure that you are using this small business marketing resource to its fullest potential by having a way for customers to join an email list.
Each time you send a message about a sale or offer a coupon for 10% off, you will convert a percentage of those email readers into customers. Build your list continuously, so you keep expanding your base.
You might be tempted to stop your online marketing at social media and email lists. However, you will be overlooking another popular marketing tool, which is a blog. If you do not know what to write about on a blog for your business, take a look at some of your competitor’s blogs. Read blogs by other companies in your industry, too. An excellent place to start is to write about one of your products in detail, with some personal notes, or make a list of current trends and hot items in your industry.
Small business marketing resources are more than just a way to get your name noticed. They are tools for you to generate and continue interest in your small business’ products or services. The proper use of marketing resources drives traffic to your websites and customers to your door. Even if you are creating products that customers want and selling them at prices they like, first those customers have to know that you exist and that they can trust you. Use all the marketing resources at your disposal, and you will maximize that potential quickly and effectively.
The post Maximize Your Brand’s Potential with Small Business Marketing Resources appeared first on Black Enterprise.
In this week’s Squalor, I covered how — and (theoretically, at least) how often — to wash makeup brushes and applicators. In the column, I mentioned two types of brush cleaner, liquid and solid. But those aren’t the only options out there, oh no no!
He gave a “Sunday Service” performance at Coachella; now, Kanye West apparently wants to give Sunday services for real—at a church of his own.
All Star Code recently launched its inaugural Ambassador program made up of renowned executives and start-up founders. With the program, business leaders use their unique experiences and expertise to further expand All Star Code’s mission to create economic opportunity for young men of color by teaching them the skills and mindset they need to become entrepreneurs.
The Ambassadors include: Ken Chenault, retired CEO and chairman of American Express; Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of Year Up; commentator Van Jones; Jessica Lessin, founder and CEO of The Information; Loida Lewis, Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC; Sheila Lirio Marcelo, founder, chairwoman and CEO of Care.com; Robert F. Smith, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners; and Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation.
“I firmly believe that one of the biggest issues in our society today continues to be diversity and inclusion,” said former CEO and chairman of American Express Ken Chenault. “All Star Code is doing an excellent job preparing the next generation of young men of color with an entrepreneurial mindset and the tools they need to succeed in the tech industry. I am proud to be involved with this organization and look forward to serving as an Ambassador to All Star Code in 2019.”
“I am incredibly excited to welcome this outstanding group of Ambassadors to All Star Code as we work together to establish a pipeline of talented and ambitious young entrepreneurs,” said Christina Lewis, founder and CEO of All Star Code .
“These business leaders will not only serve as role models to our students, but also improve our national exposure, ultimately helping us reach a national alumni network of 10,000 future leaders by 2022.”
All Star Code is a nonprofit organization creating economic opportunity for young men of color by helping them develop the tools they need to succeed in a technological world.
The post All Star Code Launches Ambassador Program to Highlight Tech Diversity Leaders appeared first on Black Enterprise.
Marvel’s Ironheart comic tells the story of Riri Williams, a black teenage girl from Chicago who reverse-engineers Tony Stark’s iconic Iron Man suit, attends MIT at age 16, and becomes her own superhero. Ironheart’s current writer, Dr. Eve L. Ewing, has a lot in common with Riri. She’s a sociologist, writer, activist,…
We see a lot of deals around the web over on Kinja Deals, but these were our ten favorites today.
Why settle one candle, when you can get two? If you’ve ever spent your weekends inside of Yankee Candle, sniffing every jar possible, you understand this mentality. There is no such thing as too many candles. Right now, you if you buy one large jar classic candle at Yankee Candle, you can get a second candle of the…
Born from the minds of Angela Burt-Murray and Tracey Edmonds, BET’s new series Games People Play explores the tumultuous lives of three ambitious women navigating the highly competitive world of professional sports.
When you think Sweet 16, it’s almost natural to think brand new car, big red bow, or turn up! But Dedra Phillips thought to gift her daughter Nia with a beauty business instead. There was no big red bow involved, but, Phillips invested and formed Ni’Abri Beauty—a lip gloss collection and other beauty essentials now available online.
Entrepreneurship and ownership aren’t gifts that many 16-year-olds get for their birthday but those are the two principles that Phillips wanted her daughter to learn and understand.
“I thought to myself, I can always buy her a car. A business, however, could teach her many valuable lessons such as; how to lead, build a vision, time-management, team building, marketing, budgeting, investing, managing finances, customer service, and so much more. To be 16-years-old and learn these types of lessons is invaluable. It will serve her for the rest of her life. That is why I chose a business,” says Phillips.
The now-teenpreneur, Nia, couldn’t agree more. “My initial reaction when mom presented me with the business at my party was “Whaaat?!” I really thought I was going to get a car for my birthday. But, a business is so much better. It gives me something greater for my future than just a car. A business is something that will be with me forever that I get to build from the ground up. I can use my business to by myself a car!”
Phillips instilled the importance of financial literacy into her children in efforts to build generational wealth. As a result, Nia gained an interest in entrepreneurship and the beauty industry.
Nia Phillips-Harper’s surprise promotional flyer displayed at her Sweet 16.
“I want Nia to understand that she has options. If entrepreneurship is the road she wants to take. I will be her No. 1 supporter and the first to invest in her vision and future. We don’t see this enough in the black community. Many of us are taught to go to college and get a good job. That’s not a bad thing. Even if you have a job, multiple streams of income are necessary in today’s economy,” says Phillips.
Through the Ni’Abri brand, Nia hopes to help young women build their self-confidence and shine from within. “Every product is named with a ‘character trait.’ I want to inspire people to embrace positive things about themselves. The world is full of negative messages. When someone purchases a lip gloss from my company, it comes with a card that describes the character trait of the product purchased, along with a special inspirational message from me.” And she and her mother hope to inspire girls everywhere to boss up.
“Never be afraid to chase your dreams. As corny as it sounds, the business world is extremely male-dominated, which could be a mental setback for females (especially women of color) who wish to become entrepreneurs. My advice is to work to get past that mental setback and push forward to become the entrepreneur, businesswoman, and fantastic boss you want to be,” says Nia.
Phillips adds, “I want Nia to learn the value of investing in your dreams. I also want to see her inspire others to become young entrepreneurs.”
Every year, Black Enterprise recognizes exceptional teenagers who are running successful businesses. In June, we’ll be announcing the 2019 Teenpreneur of the Year at the inaugural FWD event in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Come celebrate the next generation of innovators, founders, and creatives with us. Grab your tickets today.
The post Teen Receives a Beauty Business as a Gift for Her Sweet 16 appeared first on Black Enterprise.
Not only is the writing on the walls, but it’s also on a new script of a stage production detailing the evolution of Destiny’s Child.
President Donald Trump has the recipe to rile up his base.
It’s a storm’s worth of savings on men’s and women’s Cloud Cap Lightweight Rain Jacket from Eddie Bauer. Right now, take 55% off the waterproof shell in myriad with promo code APRCLOUD, plus enjoy free shipping on orders over $40. It’s a deal that will keep you nice and dry throughout this rainy season.
What do you do when you reach a plateau in life—or your career? How do get over it and move forward? How do you take charge?
Other than being grammatically incorrect and laughable, can anyone name anything that current First Lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” program has done since it started?
If you ever thought for a second that the things Bun B raps about were fake, here is a story that will make you think again. Bernard Freeman is, as the kids say, about that life.
You don’t necessarily need to buy a new mattress to get a better night’s sleep. Sometimes, a mattress pad will do, and this popular option is on sale in Amazon’s Gold Box, with an extra 10% off with promo code 9RABNL3G. I have this exact bamboo pad on my own Casper mattress, and it really does make an…
This weekend, CBS will be taking its audience on a ride down Chicago’s Red Line in its appropriately titled series, The Red Line.
Rep. Steve King is a white man, which means that he has rarely, if ever, been told no. He doesn’t know what no feels like. It’s not only foreign to his makeup, his ears don’t even understand it. Historically, white men have had trouble with being told no. So that’s probably why the Iowa representative ran out here and…
According to The 2018 State of Women-Owned Business Report commissioned by American Express, while the number of women-owned businesses grew an impressive 58% from 2007 to 2018, the number of firms owned by black women grew by a stunning 164%, nearly three times that rate. There were 2.4 million African American women-owned businesses in 2018; most owned by women ages 35-54. Black women are the only ethnic group with more business ownership than their male peers, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas. In 2017, Kiesha Haggerty, a native of Oakland, California, and 20-year veteran with the Oakland Police Department, became a member of this impressive group when she invested in her first Subway franchise.
Haggerty experienced challenging circumstances growing up. Although she became a mother at a young age, she knew she could rise above her surroundings and have the life she wanted for herself and her son. This drive led her to graduate early from high school, enroll in college, and work multiple jobs. At 19, she joined the Oakland PD.
Throughout her law enforcement career, she often ate at a local Subway restaurant. It was fast, affordable, and offered healthier than typical fast food fare. On one of her visits, she had an epiphany, “I can do this!” she thought about owning her own Subway. That same day, she went home and Googled how to become a Subway franchise owner.
She then officially started the process toward becoming an owner. “I couldn’t believe how fast it all happened,” says Haggerty. “I knew I always wanted to have my own business, but I knew nothing about how to get there.”
Franchising provides a way for people who don’t have a business or entrepreneurial background to fulfill their dream of business ownership. Subway began franchising in 1974. Today the brand is the world’s largest submarine sandwich chain with about 40,000 locations around the world.
Subway franchise owners are given extensive classroom and on-the-job training covering all aspects of the business. In addition, candidates work closely with the real estate team to determine the right location for both the business itself and the lifestyle of the owner. Haggerty’s restaurant is located in the city of Pinole – a location that is close to her home and her career.
Subway doesn’t just provide training and real estate expertise. The Subway Minority Loan Program is a program that is available to qualifying first time franchise owners. The company offers to finance a portion of the full franchise fee for up to 42 months, with interest-free payments for six months.
Since opening in 2017, things have been going well for Haggerty. “Everything was so new to me, that I didn’t really go into the business with any expectations,” she says. However, in just two years, her first restaurant has broken even, and she is now running a profitable business.
She says she learned a great deal by listening to other franchise owners in the business, as well as leaning on her Subway Business Development Agent and Field Consultant for support. These two resources provided by Subway are designed to ensure franchise owners are successful. “One of the biggest things I learned is around hiring. It’s great to hire people that have experience, but it’s more important that they understand the value of great customer service. Now I look for the it factor.”
Haggerty is proud of her successful career and business. “My business allows me to impact my community, just as my career in law enforcement does,” she says.
In addition to providing jobs for people in the community, Subway provides owners with the tools and marketing to launch fundraising programs with its Subway Cares program, designed to benefit a variety of local organizations such as schools and churches.
She has no plans to stop at just one location. “My next location will be opening next month in the city of Richmond and will feature the new Subway restaurant design,” she says. In 2017, Subway introduced a more contemporary restaurant design, featuring bold colors, a fresh produce display for peppers and cucumbers that are sliced daily, and technology features such as USB ports in the seats; among other features designed to deliver an even better guest experience.
Haggerty plans to continue working as a police officer as she opens more locations. “I have a really great team, which includes my brother. I have my full-time job during the day, and head to the restaurant afterwards to help close. I also work on the weekends. It’s really important to prioritize,” she says.
“I didn’t grow up with much, and certainly didn’t have anything left to me. This is my legacy to my son, my grandchildren and their children.”
To learn more about Kiesha Haggerty and how she’s been able to impact her community by being a Subway franchisee, check out this video.
Black Enterprise Contributors Network
The post For This Oakland Police Officer and Subway Franchise Owner, It’s All About Community appeared first on Black Enterprise.
An Original Penguin Sale, baby clothes, $49 Southwest flights, a USB-C hub, and board games lead off Wednesday’s best deals.
President Donald Trump is doing the preemptive threatening thing that he does when he’s not making up nicknames for congressional members or kicking Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) in the back of the knee and watching him buckle. This time, the president is threatening to go to the Supreme Court, where he put Neil Gorsuch…
Monday marked the 49th annual celebration of Earth Day—have you considered the sustainability of your lifestyle? If you’re like most of us, your carbon footprint may currently be falling low on the list of your many concerns—you know, behind family, work, relationships, politics, etc., etc., etc...
It’s been well documented that while climate change affects everyone, its impact is not evenly shared. In the U.S., black and Latinx communities have been disproportionately hit by environmental disasters like storms and flooding; and a number of recent reports have found even the air they breathe isn’t safe.
io9 Avengers: Endgame Is Overwhelmingly Epic and Immensely Satisfying | Kotaku Persona 5 The Royal Adds New Phantom Thief, Comes Stateside Next Year | Jalopnik Flooding Is So Bad in Dallas That Cars at the Airport Are Under Water | Offspring You Should Wrestle With Your Kid | The Takeout The Takeout’s fantasy…
Billionaire businessman Robert F. Smith and award-winning actress Angela Basset will be recognized with honorary degrees at the Morehouse College commencement ceremony next month. Smith, who donated $1.5 million to the HBCU earlier this year, will also deliver the keynote address at the annual event.
“As Morehouse College celebrates its 152nd year of serving students, we are honored to welcome our community partner Robert F. Smith, one of the greatest business minds of our time, back to campus to share in the ceremony that is the highlight of the year,” said David A. Thomas, President of Morehouse College, in a press release. “His words of inspiration, and the presence of our other honorary degree recipients, will give the Class of 2019 a memorable experience that will challenge them to take the lessons that they learned as Men of Morehouse and become game-changers in their future endeavors.”
Smith, the founder and CEO of Vista Equity, donated $1.5 million to Morehouse in January, which will primarily be used to fund their new Robert Frederick Smith Scholars Program for underserved students who lack the resources to attend the prestigious Atlanta-based college. About $500,000 of his donation will go towards the creation of a new park and outdoor study area for students.
Smith and Bassett are just two of the more than 300 scholars who will receive honorary degrees for their dedication to leadership, service, and excellence at the 2019 Commencement. Smith will receive the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, which will also be bestowed to Edmund W. Gordon, a leading psychologist and a professor emeritus at Yale and Columbia universities.
Smith’s company currently has $46 billion of assets under management and was recognized last year as the top private equity firm on the BE100s — BLACK ENTERPRISE’s annual list of top black-owned companies in the nation. With a $5 billion net worth, Smith also tops the list of wealthiest African American billionaires in the country.
Morehouse College’s 135th annual commencement will be held May 19.
The post Black Billionaire Robert F. Smith, Angela Bassett To Be Honored At Morehouse Commencement appeared first on Black Enterprise.
Would ya look at that! This trifold vanity mirror is just $17 with promo code QULP68WP. And with built-in adjustable brightness LED lights and a touch sensor switch, you’ll be able to see yourself more clearly than ever. Just don’t spend too much time reflecting on this deal; it will be gone soon.
Note: This review is spoiler-free but includes obvious references to events in the movie. Proceed with caution.
Editor’s note: This week, for National Poetry Month, we’re featuring 37 up-and-coming black poets who we expect do amazing work over the next decade. We grouped them by categories, though their works often blur boundaries and defy definitions. Monday’s theme was Black Regionalism, poets who look at black life and…
Choose your own adventure with this huge Amazon Board game sale. There are literally dozens of games included discounted, today only. Super fun games like Carcassonne, Sushi Go, Dead of Winter, Subatomic, Castles of Burgundy, and Pandemic are all discounted.
The U.S. Supreme Court seems to be headed toward backing a Trump administration move to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, even if doing so risks undercounting Latinos and other groups with heavy immigrant populations.
