Gabe's Musings

Monday, April 29, 2019

The 10 Best Deals of April 29, 2019

We see a lot of deals around the web over on Kinja Deals, but these were our ten favorites today.

White Supremacists Descend Upon Book Store, Chant 'This Land is Our Land'

An unseasoned collection of white nationalists who apparently are fed up with all this “inclusion and diversity” nonsense had some things to get off their chest this weekend during a book event in Washington, D.C.

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.”

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.”

The post Remembering the Legacy of Legendary Director John Singleton and his Classic Film “Boyz n the Hood” appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Maybe We Wanna Be in Kansas, Dorothy. Because It Just Became the First State to Recognize the Right to an Abortion Independent of Roe v. Wade

In the ongoing, gut-wrenching, Handmaid’s Tale-like real-life saga that is the decimation of reproductive rights across the country, yet another state has weighed in on its hatred of women. And yet. And yet, this time, Kansas came through for the bodily autonomy of its women citizenry.

Academy Award-Nominated Filmmaker John Singleton Dead at 51

Director, screenwriter and producer John Singleton has died at the age of 51.

#NotToday: The Night King nor Kim Kardashian Could Stop Us From Keeping Up With The Battle of Winterfell

My blood pressure still has not returned to normal after episode three of Game of Thrones.

The Battle of Winterfell popped off and shit did not go as any of us expected. I turned on my friend’s television in preparation to say goodbye to all of my favorite characters because I knew the Night King was going to swoop in…

Upgrade Your Dual Monitor Setup With An Affordable Monitor Arm

Monitor arms give you back wasted desk space, and include channels that keep your cables hidden and organized. And if that sounds appealing, you can pick up a dual monitor arm set up for just $43 if you stack an on-page coupon and the code KJ9ONK65.

It’s Not About the Band-Aids

Before heading into work a few weeks ago, I tweeted an original, now viral series of tweets about a surge of competing emotions that had unexpectedly hit me after placing a bandage on a stubborn, four-day old cut on my finger. But it wasn’t like the typical Johnson & Johnson brand adhesive bandages I’d worn on the…

2019 Tribeca Film Festival: In Living Color Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary by Telling the Origin Story of Its Catchy Theme Song

It’s been 25 years since the series finale of In Living Color aired (in 1994), and it’s still as vibrant and relevant as ever. At the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, show creator and star Keenen Ivory Wayans was in the building, as well as popular costars Tommy Davidson, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, and David Alan Grier.

Queen Latifah Helped 2 Black Women Achieve Their Dream With The Queen Collective

In a 90’s kind of world, we were glad to have our girls. That notion still rings true with a new program that includes the Queen, also known as Latifah. Latifah, Tribeca Studios and Marc Pritchard, Proctor and Gamble’s chief brand officer, have partnered to bring the dreams of black women to reality.

Five Cities With High Percentage of Black Populations Get $15 Million Investment

After submitting winning strategies, Chicago; Louisville; Miami; San Diego; and Syracuse, New York — all cities with high percentage of black populations — will get $3 million each to activate inclusive growth in their cities.

The five cities were the first recipients in the AdvancingCities Challenge, an annual competition launched last September by JPMorgan Chase to source innovative and sustainable solutions to address the most persistent problems facing American communities. The cities will receive a total of $15 million over three years. Advancing Cities is a five-year initiative by the nation’s largest bank to help fuel economic growth opportunities in cities globally.

The inaugural city challenge winners can use the money for multiple purposes, including providing job skills training to low-income, black, and other minority residents as well as supporting small business growth and entrepreneurial activity. The funding also provides help to individuals and businesses in underserved areas in cities dealing with economic disparities and other challenges.

The challenge drew over 250 proposals from 143 communities across 45 states and territories. Proposals had to include two of four strategic drivers of inclusive growth within JPMorgan Chase’s Model for Impact: jobs and skills, small business, neighborhood revitalization and financial health.

Winners were announced in April along with JPMorgan Chase’s 2018 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report includes Seven Traits of Advancing Cities, which the winning cities and program showed in their proposals.

“Businesses have a role to play in bringing communities together to create greater opportunity,” stated Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO, who made the announcement in Louisville. “All five of these cities have shown that they understand this type of investment and the ability to work together to solve problems is not just the right thing to do, it is also in our shared interests.”

Here’s a peek at the successful proposals:

-West Side United (Chicago): The city’s West Side residents have life expediencies that are 16 years shorter than their neighbors in The Loop, an affluent neighborhood just seven train stops away. West Side United will leverage the hiring, procurement, and investment power of major health systems on the West Side to improve the health and economic vitality of the surrounding neighborhoods. Specifically, the collaborative will address social determinants of health by connecting low-wage healthcare workers to career pathways in hospitals that provide financial security.

-Digital Inclusion and Economic Resilience (Louisville): The city’s low-income residents face significant barriers to employment, leaving them increasingly disconnected from well-paying jobs in high-growth sectors. The program will use high-touch community outreach strategies in six of the city’s lowest income neighborhoods, working to equip residents with skills necessary to compete for jobs while also connecting them to services through a formalized referral network and a new shared data platform.

-Resilient305 (Miami): The soon-to-be-released comprehensive strategy is co-led by Miami-Dade County, the city of Miami, and the city of Miami Beach with support of The Miami Foundation. It will enable Greater Miami and the Beaches (GM&B) to more effectively tackle emerging global challenges and trends like urbanization, globalization, and climate change.

– Advancing San Diego: Small businesses represent 98% of firms in San Diego, but they struggle to compete for qualified talent, especially talent reflective of the city’s growing Hispanic population. To remain competitive as a region, San Diego must double its production of skilled workers and create 50,000 new quality jobs in small businesses by 2030. The program’s efforts will include leveraging a collaborative, employer-led strategy that aligns multiple systems around to connect underrepresented residents to high-demand jobs and provide small businesses access to diverse talent pipelines.

-Complementing its so called Syracuse Surge program, this city in New York will largely use the funding to increase its technology industry and offer job training for local residents, according to media reports. Under-represented groups like minorities, women, and veterans will be targeted help them land future technology jobs.

The post Five Cities With High Percentage of Black Populations Get $15 Million Investment appeared first on Black Enterprise.

J.Crew Factory Is Taking 50% Off Sitewide, Plus an Extra 20% Off Your Purchase

J.Crew Factory is already marked down significantly compared to its regular J.Crew counterpart, but now, the Factory is taking its discounts to a whole new level. Take 50% off everything on their site, plus an extra 20% off your purchase with promo code TOOGOOD. The whole factory is currently stacked with springtime…

White Woman Defaces Nipsey Hussle Memorial

A Connecticut mural to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle has been restored after a young white woman was captured on video defacing the memorial and snapping selfies in remembrance of her brazen act of whiteness.

Grammy-Winning Singer Peabo Bryson Hospitalized After Suffering Heart Attack

Grammy Award-winning recording artist Peabo Bryson is currently hospitalized after experiencing a health scare over the weekend.

Arya Stark Forces Night King to Drop Out of Presidential Race

Sen. Dwight Walker (R-Beyond the Wall), long thought to be a serious contender for the Iron Throne, abruptly ended his candidacy for president of the Seven Kingdoms late Sunday night after he was reportedly involved in an altercation in the VIP section of a nightclub just outside of Winterfell.

Monday's Best Deals: iPad, YETI Cooler, Sonos Speaker, and More

A $250 32GB Apple iPad, a discounted Sonos Smart One speaker, a YETI cooler, and an Anker Accessory Gold Box lead off Monday’s best deals.

The Ladies of SWV Will Have You 'Weak' With This Black-Ass Interview

There are three types of people in this world:

President Trump Is Personally Trying to Keep Fact Checkers Employed to Boost His Employment Numbers (That’s a Lie)

Let’s just get to the “This Can’t Be Life” punchline first: According to the Washington Post’s Fact Checker Database, a directory that keeps track of claims made by one President Donald J. Trump, in the 828 days since he’s been in office (and as of April 27, 2019), Trump has made 10,011 false or misleading claims.…

Daughter of Rodney King Launches ‘I Am a King’ Scholarship to Celebrate Black Fatherhood Just in Time for Father’s Day

For residents of Los Angeles, April 29 is a day that lives on in infamy.

Couple: ‘We Paid Off $114,151 in Debt in 23 Months’

Money is always a sticky subject when it comes to relationships. It’s the reason why most marriages end in divorce. Instead of letting debt take over their lives, this couple tackled it head-on. BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Jhanilka and Anthony Hartzog, a millennial couple who had to face the reality of discussing finances and finding a pragmatic solution to tackling their overwhelming debt.

When did you know you were in over your heads?

Christmas 2016, we were excited to get gifts for the family. We put a ton of gifts on our credit cards, as we normally pay them off when due. After the holidays, we quickly realized we were in over our heads with credit card debt and had to dip into our savings to pay them off. As a New Year’s resolution, Jhanilka decided she wanted to save more and travel more. We were completely aware that this would be a difficult thing to do. However, in January 2017, we sat down and discussed our debt as a whole. In this discussion came to the decision to pay everything off (student loans, car, credit card debt, etc). We had never realized what our total amount of debt was. We had $114,151 in total debt and that was when it hit us.

What was your first step to paying off debt?

Our first step to paying off debt was to calculate the total and create a game plan. Anthony religiously listened to Dave Ramsey’s podcast The Dave Ramsey Show and read his book The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. This helped us to know where to start on our journey. We began with a budget. In addition to our budget, we adopted the debt snowball method, paying off the smallest to largest debt and tracked it on an amortization spreadsheet. From there, we were able to project how long it would take us to pay off the debt by only paying the minimum. We decided to start to take on more side hustles and did this in order to move the timeline of paying it off it into 23 months. We were able to meet our goal right in time for Jhanilka’s 30th birthday.

What were some everyday practices you executed to get rid of the debt?

Some everyday practices were making sure we stayed on track with our budget (this took us 4 months to successfully accomplish), as well as having our monthly budget meetings to go over our spending habits and discuss how we could save more. Money has become a part of our everyday conversations. It came to the point that we were excited to see our progress and hold each other accountable.

What are some practices you implement now to stay out of debt?

We are staying out of debt by not taking on new debt, not using credit cards and being more intentional with our money. We now have a 6-month emergency fund. This will help us avoid taking on new debt in the event of any life-changing circumstances. We also continue to do our budget and have our monthly budget meetings.

The post Couple: ‘We Paid Off $114,151 in Debt in 23 Months’ appeared first on Black Enterprise.

John Singleton's Publicist Confirms He Is Still on Life Support, Says Earlier Death Reports Are 'Inaccurate'

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, John Singleton appears to be holding on.

Grab the Original Sonos One For $50 Off, While You Still Can

Update: Now even cheaper, down to $150!

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is Reborn as 'Brilliant' Bel-Air, And Will Smith Loves it Just as Much as the Rest of Us

Reboots are en vogue, and fan favorites such as Full House, Will & Grace and a Roseanne Barr-less The Connors have enjoyed renewed life as audiences clamor for a taste of nostalgia. But black audiences have been left by the wayside, as shows like Living Single and Martin have thus far remained relegated to the past.

Let to Tell: 25 Years After Genocide, Miracle in Rwanda Sheds Light on a Tragic Legacy

It’s been 25 years since the civil war that resulted in genocide against the Tutsi tribe of the African nation of Rwanda. During a three-month period in 1994, as many as one million Rwandans were killed, including approximately 70 percent of the Tutsi population.

Federal Judge and Civil Rights Icon Damon J. Keith Dead at 96

Judge Damon J. Keith, a civil rights icon who became the sixth black person in U.S. history to serve on the federal court of appeals, died at his home in Detroit Sunday morning surrounded by family. He was 96.

NFL Rookie Shot Just Hours After Being Drafted By New York Giants

What should have been the best weekend in one college football player’s life turned into tragedy when he was injured and his college teammate was killed in a shooting early Sunday morning at a party in Topeka, Kan.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Obama Had Biden Pump His Breaks on '16 Presidential Bid: Report

According to a New York Times feature describing the relationship between the former presidential partners, President Barack Obama urged Joe Biden, his Vice President, not to run.

Durham Mom Arrested on Frontier Airlines After Complaining of Bio-hazard on Passenger Seats

Durham, North Carolina resident Rosetta Swinney was on her way back from an Easter trip to Nevada with her young teen daughter when things went wrong. In simply trying to travel in peace and health, 53-year old Swinney now must be defended in a courtroom.

Rapper GameOva Reedy, Creator of the viral For the D Challenge, Arrested for Alleged Child Desertion

27 year-old New Orleans bounce artist GameOva Reedy, most popular for creating the viral For the D challenge, was arrested for alleged child desertion. Deputies say she put her 5-year-old in a Lyft ride service car alone.

Trump Sends Migrants to Sanctuary Cities as DHS Asks Defense Department for Assistance at Border

After tweeting that his administration was considering a move to send undocumented migrants to sanctuary cities, Trump told a crowd gathered at a Wisconsin rally that the authorities have begun sending immigrants to cities around the country.

Get New Jeans From This Levi's Flash Sale at HauteLook

This is a denim deal you’ll want to try on for size: Right now at HauteLook, a whole lot of ladies’ jeans from Levi’s are on sale, with many pairs available for less than $50. Stock up on a few styles for spring before this sale goes out of season.

If You’ve Ever Wanted to Rock Chaka Khan’s Iconic Hair, Now’s Your Chance

10-time Grammy Award winning Icon Chaka Khan, known for a crown of curls as big as her voice, has announced a new wig collection, The Chaka by Indique.

John Singleton's Daughter Disputes Coma Claims; Says Filmmaker Could Leave ICU This Week

After multiple reports surfaced claiming director John Singleton was in a coma, his daughter Cleopatra is speaking out against those claims.

Black Entrepreneurs: Here’s How to Define Your Target Market

The target market segmentation of your business is a crucial component to define within a business plan. When you envision the overall customer base for your business, it may incorporate people from a wide range of groups and walks of life. However, in target marketing, the goal is to break down that massive customer base and to define precisely who the most likely customer is for your brand so that you can target your marketing methods to reach that ideal customer more effectively.

In your business plan, lenders and potential investors who read it want to see your brand’s target market clearly defined to understand who you are marketing to and to understand the cost associated with your customer acquisition strategy. To better illustrate your target market segment, consider the following tips.

How to Define Your Target Market

Determine the Geographical Component

One representation of your target market is based on the geographical location of your customers. For example, if you are a small retailer, it may be likely that your market is within a small physical area around your business. This could merely be based on local addresses and expanded through innovation utilizing technology such as geofencing. A geofence is a virtual perimeter of a real-world geographic area that will allow your customers to receive promotions and notifications about your business as they approach a pre-determined physical location surrounding your business’s physical location.

Understand the Demographics

Another way to define your target market is to determine the demographics of your customer base. Some of the most common demographics include gender and age. Income may also be a critical factor in determining who your most likely customers are as well. This can also be as narrow as a specific age group that’s most likely to interact with or visit your business. For example, if you’re launching an arcade business, statistically your targeted market is expected to be comprised of teenagers and young adults, principally males.

Consider the Psycho-graphic Component

Further defining your target market is also essential in most industries. The psycho-graphic segment may include a specific type of consumer who is most likely to patronize your business. In the context of a childcare business, this would be parents.

It could also be someone more likely to live in an urban setting if you are marketing an urban apparel line. If you sell pet supplies, your target market is, of course, pet lovers. Sell motorcycle parts? Tour target market is motorcycle riders.

Understanding the lifestyle of your customers is a guaranteed strategy to ensure the success of your enterprise.

Think about Ideal

In some cases, your customer foundation may not be solely based on who is most likely to walk in the door, but instead who you wish to appeal to in your marketing campaigns. For example, if you are a home furnishing brand, you may want to appeal to those looking for high-end home remodeling, not merely consumers making simple home repairs.

Compare Examples

To perfect your business plan further, look at examples of how well other companies do in your industry both locally and globally. For instance, feminine product sellers tend to market during the daytime hours on television when customers are most likely watching television talk shows. Alcohol brands tend to advertise their beverages during sporting events and late at night. More so, that same alcohol company may market itself as a high-end luxury beverage to women and men during more sophisticated programming and offer different ads with more of a low-key approach during reality television programming.

In advertising and marketing your brand, it’s essential to understanding who your potential customer is and where they spend most of their time. As a critical component of your business plan, understanding your target market segment is vital. Simply put, when defined correctly potential investors and future business partners have a strategic blueprint on who your brand will be marketing to and when.

The post Black Entrepreneurs: Here’s How to Define Your Target Market appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Police Confront Robbery Suspect in Texas, Shoot Three Children

Three children, aged five, four and one years old, were taken to a Tulsa, Okla.-area hospital after a police officer fired at a robbery suspect in a pickup truck.

Sunday's Best Deals: Marvel Comics, Thermapen Mk4, TCL TV, and More

Discounted Pioneer Woman Instant Pots, an Intex above-ground pool Gold Box, and a Levi’s flash sale lead off Sunday’s best deals.

Police Say Iraq War Vet Targeted Assumed Muslims in Vehicular Attack

34-year-old Isaiah Joel Peoples plowed through a crowded street in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Tuesday, striking and injuring eight before crashing into a tree. Though no one was killed in the crash, the injured range in age from 9 to 52 years old.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Shooter Kills One, Injures Four At Synagogue in Poway, Calif., Mayor Calls Incident 'Hate Crime'

Six months to the day an active shooter claimed 11 lives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Penn., a man has been detained by police in Poway, Calif. after a shooting at a synagogue has left one dead and four injured according to USA Today and other outlets.

Ayanna Pressley Tells Pundits 'Don't Dare' Make Inmate Voting Rights About The Boston Marathon Bomber

Ayanna Pressley ain’t here to play: “Don’t dare invoke one of the darkest days of terrorism in MY city to stoke fear and derail a meaningful conversation” she says.

Show the World Where Your Loyalties Lie With Up to 65% Off at Fanatics

If you’re not wearing an item of clothing that’s branded with your favorite team’s name or logo, are you even a fan? Show your team spirit with up to 65% off everything at Fanatics, happening today and tomorrow only. You could opt to support your favorite for the NBA or NHL playoffs, or hey, just start football season…

Oliver North Out As NRA President After Wayne LaPierre Exposes Alleged Threats

If the NRA were smart, it would turn its internal turmoil into a reality television show for its NRA TV platform. The upheaval at the top of the association is fit for a soap opera.

Idris Elba is Officially and Eternally Off the Market

Esteemed actor and ~~sexual chocolate~~ sometimes DJ, Idris Elba, proposed to businesswoman/model Sabrina Dhowre’s last year; the couple exchanged vows yesterday, April 26, at the Ksar Char Bagh hotel in Marrakesh. Guests wore black tie.

Connecticut Police Open Fire on Black Couple Singing Love Song to Each Other

On Tuesday, April 16, Stephanie Washington, 22, and Paul Witherspoon III, 21, were sitting in their car enjoying each other’s company, kissing and singing along to “Nothing In This World” by R&B Singers Avant and Keke Wyatt. Moments later, police opened fire on their vehicle without warning or provocation.

Saturday's Best Deals: Fanatics, BioBidet, Breville Smart Oven, and More

An Anker Soundcore Gold Box, an Original Penguin sale, and discounts on Delsey luggage lead off Saturday’s best deals.

Omarosa Still Talks to White House Staffers, Wants Anyone But Trump in 2020

It seems reality television star and former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault just can’t stay away.

Lifetime Announces Surviving R. Kelly Follow-Up Special Hosted By Soledad O’Brien

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lifetime has ordered a two-hour special, Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact to delve even deeper into effects of dream hampton’s groundbreaking reporting.

A Mission To Invest In 1,000 Founders Of Color By 2020

As many know, few venture dollars are distributed in the black community. Well, these three black millennials want to change that.

Odunayo Eweniyi and Jasmine Shells, both black female founders who’ve raised over $1 million in venture funding, teamed up with Philip Michael, CEO of NYEG, a real estate and investment firm, to create ME Ventures with the goal to invest in over 1,000 diverse founders’ businesses.

Shells is the founder and CEO of Five To Nine, an HR tech startup. Eweniyi, is the founder of PiggyBank, a startup that has raised $1.1M. She is also the co-founder of WealthLAB, a financial resource for people of color. Black Enterprise caught up with the team to find out why this initiative is so important to them and how they plan to execute the feat.

Black Enterprise: Why do you think it’s important to invest in millennials of color?

Eweniyi: Millennials represent two extremes of society. One is that some millennials stand to benefit from one of the largest generational transfers of wealth in history. The flip side of that is that millennials have been handed—possibly—the worst economic situation in recent history.

So more than any other generation, it is acutely important and urgent that millennials start to learn to turn things around—and that includes taking control of the investment process. It’s imperative for the millennial generation to understand that compounding interest can make a world of difference if you start investing in your 20s rather than late 30s or 40s.

Why do you have such a heavy focus on funding women-owned businesses?

Shells: Couple of reasons. It’s the right thing to do and it’s good business. We want to fund amazing companies and a lot of those companies are led by women. According to McKinsey, diverse teams are 33% more likely to turn a profit. Yet, diverse startups account for under 10% of venture capital.

Because we are a diverse VC and founders ourselves, we understand the value that comes from varying perspectives and mindsets. Our goal is to continue to create opportunity alongside others in the space who are looking to create a tech ecosystem that is reflective of our society today.

Perfect example, as of last year, only 26 black female founders had ever raised over $1 million for their startups. We have two on VentureLAB. And we want to help create more.

What do you feel is the best way to build generational wealth in the black community?

Michael: I’ll answer that one. Startups are riskier, which is why it has to come from the institutional level, such as from us. To me, real estate is by far the best, most secure and time-tested wealth-building vehicle.

It’s a tremendously overlooked asset class, especially among minorities. At the current pace, black and Latino wealth will drop to zero in the next 50 years. And real estate ownership—or the lack of real estate ownership—is the biggest driver behind that.

It’s not like the dollars aren’t there. There’s $1.2 trillion in spending power, yet only $11K in black wealth. It’s just a matter of re-allocating the cash versus spending it.

Why they feel “labels” are damaging and being a minority or woman is actually an advantage?

Eweniyi: We’re in the golden age of inclusivity! Social media is helping to shine a light on the injustices that minority groups have suffered for a long time. So I wouldn’t call it an advantage, but it is harder now to be dismissed or not taken seriously without cause as a woman (or a minority) in business.

There are programs targeted at getting more of us into spaces we previously couldn’t get into, and opportunities created specifically targeting our demographic. So again, I wouldn’t call them advantages, but it is nice to finally get recognized for doing great work.

NOTE: Philip Michael is a current Black Enterprise contributor.

The post A Mission To Invest In 1,000 Founders Of Color By 2020 appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Toilet Paper Is Savagery: Buy a BioBidet For $26

If you don’t care to have LED lighting built into your bidet, or just don’t want to wait to make the long overdue switch from wiping poop off your butt with dry paper (sorry to be crass but that’s what we all do, it’s insane!!), Bio Bidet’s already-released Slim Edge bidet is on sale for just $26 today, with Prime…

Skin Deep: Appreciation for Dark Brown Flesh-Colored Bandage Goes Viral

“It’s taken me 45 trips around the sun, but for the first time in my life I know what it feels like to have a ‘band-aid’ in my own skin tone,” 45-year-old Apollon wrote last week about his Tru Colour bandage. “You can barely even spot it in the first image. For real I’m holding back tears.”

It's a Beautiful Weekend to Be at the Essence Beauty Carnival!

Here at The Glow Up, we are firm believers in taking downtime when and wherever we can get it. But this weekend has presented us an opportunity to turn up that we simply couldn’t miss, as Essence kicks off its inaugural Beauty Carnival tour in New York City on April 27th & 28th!

Friday, April 26, 2019

“God Bless America”: Are Supporters of the Kate Smith Version Trying to Protect the Song—or the Singer?

For years, anyone attending a New York Yankees game would be subjected to the voice of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.

Get A Breezy Cotton Sweater In Your Life

There’s a lot of talk about how fall is the official season of “sweater weather.” And that’s fine, we all love fall—it’s the prom king of seasons. But spring, a season that requires true dressing dexterity, is actually true peak sweater weather. You get cool mornings and strong breezes, and as the days get longer and…

Family of Boy Tossed Over 3rd-Floor Railing at Mall of America Say Child Now ‘Alert’ and ‘Conscious’

The family of a 5-year-old boy who was grievously injured after being tossed over a third-floor railing at the Mall of America earlier this month was praising God Friday with news that the child was “alert” and “conscious.”

Folks Busted by Killer Cop Amber Guyger Have Been Getting Some Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Passes by Dallas Prosecutors

Amber Guyger, the now former Dallas cop who killed an unarmed black man in his own home, is still awaiting trial in the case. But since here arrest and indictment, prosecutors have been dismissing charges against folks she hemmed up on drug and other crimes.

Dazed and Confused: R. Kelly, Claiming He Was ‘Overwhelmed,’ Reportedly Wants to Fight Sex Assault Case He Just Lost

R. Kelly just won’t take the L.

Pages - HTML

Translate

Pages

Pages

Pages

Monday, April 29, 2019

Sunday, April 28, 2019

How to Define Your Target Market

Determine the Geographical Component

Understand the Demographics

Consider the Psycho-graphic Component

Think about Ideal

Compare Examples

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Friday, April 26, 2019