Bukola Somide is a Nigerian woman who has invented “Somi,” the very first Computer Science Interactive Doll. The goal of this 14-inch doll is to not only be fun to play with but educational as well.
According to BlackNews.com, Somide created the STEM doll from the main character in her recently published children’s books, Somi, The Computer Scientist: Princess Can Code, which is an illustrated book about, Somi, “a curious, bright, humorous, and beautiful young girl who has a natural interest in learning Computer Programming concepts from her mom.”
Somide equipped the Somi doll with 12 voice-overs that help teach computer science concepts in a way children can understand as well as discourage cyberbullying. In addition, the doll’s curiosity in learning more helps her to connect “what she’s learning with real-life experiences,” according to BlackNews.com, making her relatable to children.
As Somide states, “My passion is to bring computer science awareness to underserved communities while deterring cyberbullying. I’m so excited for everyone to experience Somi, The Computer Science doll!” The Somi Computer Science Interactive Doll is made [for] people of all ages beginning from the age of three. Critics are already praising the doll as a “real educational, entertaining, and inspirational tool for young learners and keepsake to celebrate milestones for young adults” according to BlackNews.com.
Somide has always been involved in technology. Her book, Somi, The Computer Scientist: Princess Can Code, was first published by Innovant Technologies L.L.C. Not to mention, she also published a computer science activity book for children and recently created a coding workshop for children that will soon become an affordable online mini-workshop.
Somide’s future for the Somi doll is to write more additions to the Somi, The Computer Scientist series and publish more activity books to cover advanced concepts.
The ultimate Buy Black product guide from black-owned businesses by RankTribe™ Black Business Directory. Whether it’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Black Restaurant Week, Amazon Prime Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentines Day or any other “Shopping” Day, consider a Black-owned Business for your shopping needs!
Black buying power currently stands at over $1.1 trillion and is on the road to hit about $1.5 trillion by 2021. This collective buying power means that nearly $2 trillion will be flowing through black America annually very soon, making us the centerpiece for various researchers, marketers, advertisers, and other campaigns designed to influence black spending patterns.
The Benson Watch Company was founded on the principle, that time should be spent doing what you love. Our timepieces are mere reminders of this belief.
AFROHEMIEN is a curated collection of afrocentric handmade jewelry, cultural goods and vintage finds that reflect the beauty of African and Black Culture. About the Designer Lakesha Renee has been creating jewelry for over 5 years from her home…
Maxim Thuriere founded this wooden watch and bracelet company in his college dorm at the University of South Florida — but he wanted his small business to serve a greater purpose than simply selling accessories for profit.
When you support a Black Woman Owned Business, you support the entire community. Our Atlanta Black Woman Owned Directory is designed to connect customers with businesses owned and operated by Black Women.
CarmaBella Skincare is an all natural skincare company. Our mission is to help people reach their skin goals by using materials that are naturally sourced, not overloading products with unnecessary ingredients, and provide a luxurious experience.
When I decided to transition to plant-based lifestyle, the one thing I missed was ice cream. Oh sure, there were non-dairy options available, but they just didn’t taste very good. I decided it was time to create something that was dairy-free
Nandi’s Naturals is the end product of what began as a mission to find a truly natural and effective deodorant. Not only did Nandi’s Naturals’ founder Yolanda “Nandi” Jacobs find that deodorant, she created it.
Our Tapas menu is back! We have all of our most popular signature dishes available along with the most creative and delicious signature cocktails Atlanta has to offer.
Since the launch of Council & Associates, LLC, our track record of exceeding client expectations has earned us a reputation for excellence. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients who have suffered personal injuries
As a working mom of 3 and wife, Chantel Powell could not have imagined the price her sense of smell would have to pay while shuttling her then six-year-old son, Kameron between summer basketball camp and football practice.
Kuponya is the Swahili word for healing. All of our accessories are handcrafted with healing crystals, 100% pure olive wood beads from Bethlehem, & precious metals; such as gold, silver, and copper.
We’re an all natural, sister baking duo that specializes in healthier twists on your favorite classics. We like to have fun and introduce tastebuds to new, unique ingredients and flavors.
Jasmine Elder is an American fashion designer and the creator of the plus size contemporary women’s label, JIBRI. JIBRI is dedicated to creating garments for the fashion-conscious curvy woman (size 10-28).
The Healers’ Collective curates the intentional healing experience for corporate, entertainment, startups, and events. We consult with your company and curate experiences that offer the holistic wellness experience.
SoRen Tea is a luxury lifestyle brand with a gourmet selection of blended loose teas. Established in 2011 by sisters Sonnia Shields and Rena Williams, SoRen Tea is one of the first fashion-forward lines of loose leaf teas.
The first subscription service for naturally curly hair! An exclusive MONTHLY subscription service that delivers products for curly hair to your front door.
Yelani All Natural Collection is a new and all-natural, plant based hair care product line exclusively designed for women with naturally curly hair. All products are made in the USA, clinically tested, scientifically formulated and 100% chemical free
A Chicago Native developed Photographer ABKV has years of industry experience in Creative Lifestyle, Architectural portrait views and Editorial with years of marketing Social Media & Digital Media content. ABKV is privately owned.
Fireside Chat Candle Company is a luxury candle brand that is absolutely elegant, simple, and transforms any atmosphere with sheer luxury and opulence.
We are a purpose driven company that is unapologetic with the belief that every kink, coil & loc should be celebrated.Here, everybody has good hair. Our high standards demand that we offer healthy plant based solutions for coils all around the globe
Gocha’s Breakfast Bar is an upscale breakfast cafe featuring Southern-style pescatarian and vegan-friendly dishes. Located in Atlanta’s affluent Cascade area, Gocha’s Breakfast Bar offers a modern, friendly atmosphere, exceptional service…
The PuffCuff Hair Clamp was developed from a simple concept:Create a simple hair styling tool to achieve a easy timely look, be more sanitary then existing utensils, won’t stress the hair yet be durable and affordable.
JACKSONVILLE FREE PRESS — Jessica Nabongo’s thirst for travel has taken her across the globe Name a country. Nabongo says she’s been there, and her vivid Instagram feed has 160,000 users who have followed along.
By Quinn Gawronski
Jessica Nabongo’s thirst for travel has taken her across the globe
Name a country. Nabongo says she’s been there, and her vivid Instagram feed has 160,000 users who have followed along.
Jessica Nabongo’s stamp-riddled passports and scores of vibrant photographs offer a glimpse of her journey to every country on Earth. On Oct. 6, Nabongo arrived at her final destination, Seychelles, and became the first black woman to document her visits to all 193 countries.
A woman of color, Nabongo stood out in countries she described as homogenous, but she said most people welcomed her with open arms.
“We are more similar than we are different,” she said. “Truly, we’re all human beings. That may sound very simple, but I think a lot of people have forgotten that.”
Nabongo was born in Detroit to Ugandan parents and discovered her insatiable travel bug on family vacations to destinations like Jamaica, Mexico and the Bahamas. It’s stuck with her ever since.
She spent two years working at a pharmaceutical company in Michigan before her appetite for travel became too intense to ignore. This time, she packed her bags and moved to Japan to teach English.
“It was that move to Japan that opened everything up for me,” she said. “I had never been to Asia, so getting on a plane where no one looks like me and landing in a place where I couldn’t even make out the characters to pronounce the words was a huge culture shock.”
From Japan, Nabongo went to England to study at the London School of Economics. She decided then that she wouldn’t move back to the U.S. for three years — which then turned to seven. Her next job with the U.N. took her to Benin and Italy.
By the time Nabongo decided to embark on her worldwide journey in 2016, she had already been to 60 countries. Three years later, she can cross off all 193 countries from her list, in addition to two territories, Vatican City and Palestine.
“No matter where you go in the world, even with a lack of language, you can still communicate,” she said. “Who cares about national borders or economic status? We all want love and community. We all want the same things.”
The vivid collage of images that fills her Instagram feed is one testament to her extensive travels and has amassed over 160,000 followers. But she said it’s about more than just the photographs.
“It’s about changing the narratives around a lot of black and brown countries and a lot of the negative stereotypes that we have about them,” Nabongo said. “Some people travel to a place to confirm what they thought they knew about it.”
Nabongo said her perspective on travel is different because she took the time to understand each culture. She sipped beers with locals in the Central African Republic, ate fresh fruit with women in Macedonia, and was welcomed into more homes than she can keep track of.
“There are very few places where I didn’t feel welcomed. I’ve been in people’s homes in Iran, Cuba, Iraq, Jordan,” she said. “People are welcoming, and they’re happy to have you in their country.”
Lupita Nyong’o has released a children’s book to help kids be comfortable in the skin that they’re in.
“When I was younger, I had trouble accepting my skin,” the actress tells Good Morning America. “I grew up in Kenya around very many dark people, but I grew up with a lot of light skin on TV and in the books I read and it made me feel uncomfortable with my skin color.”
“I had a younger sister that was born a lot lighter than me and she got … told how pretty she was, and I realized that it was in the omission of those words when it came to me that made me feel unworthy and so it took a while for me to find my stride and learn to love the skin I’m in. So I wrote this book to help little kids get there a little faster.”
Now Nyong’o has released a book, Sulwe, which tackles the issue of acceptance among kids of color.
According to the book’s description, Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
In celebration of the launch, Nyong’o took to Twitter to reminisce on what gave her the idea to write the book: “#Sulwe is out today & in honor of her debut, I wanted to take you back to the day she was born for me: Just days before the 2014 Oscars, I gave a speech at Essence Magazine‘s Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. For a surreal, nerve-wracking five minutes, I spoke to a room full of Black women about my own struggle to find beauty in my dark skin… In the aftermath of this open-hearted public moment for me, I realized this message needed to be heard by our most vulnerable: the children.”
“Much like Sulwe, I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin,” Nyong’o said in a press release. “My goal in writing Sulwe is to provide young children with a path towards seeing their own beauty, regardless of what society tells them.”
The talented actress was born in Mexico and was raised in Kenya. She made her feature film debut in 2013 in 12 Years A Slave, which won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Black women are making historic moves in the realm of entrepreneurship. According to Atlanta Black Star, Dr. Venaya Jones recently opened the first veterinary clinic in Cleveland to be owned and operated by an African American woman.
“I’m hoping to uplift the community both physically and emotionally, health wise by taking care of their pets,” said Dr. Venaya Jones.
The clinic—which is based in the city’s Fairfax community—was created to provide accessible care for animals from different socioeconomic households. The facility offers a wide spectrum of services including diagnostic exams, dermatology, wellness visits, and hospice care. Dr. Jones—who discovered her passion for helping animals at a young age—says she wants to utilize the Cleveland Veterinary Clinic as an avenue to push animal health care forward and establish the clinic as a go-to veterinary facility in Cleveland.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity here in Cleveland, especially there being no other vet hospitals here,” she said in a statement. “There are tons of people with pets, we’re in the health tech corridor. I mean, this is where quality medicine is discovered and done, and I want to be a part of that.”
For the Western University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, opening up the Cleveland Veterinary Clinic was about more than her passion for animal health care; its about representation. Dr. Jones hopes her journey will inspire Black youth to pursue careers in veterinary medicine. She mentors youth and other women of color who are interested in stepping into the field. “I’m hoping to uplift the community both physically and emotionally, health wise by taking care of their pets, but … also bringing a sense of pride and a sense of accomplishment,” she said. “I want to be able to show other [young minorities] that they can do it, anything that they dream of, because here is a Black woman that’s come into this community and made it happen.”
Diahann Carroll, a pioneering and Oscar-nominated actress who broke the color barrier in network television, died of cancer on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles. She was 84.
Carroll’s daughter, Suzanne Kay, released a statement praising her mother’s trailblazing work in entertainment.
“Carroll was a consummate entertainer and beloved icon whose career spanned nearly seven decades,” she said in a statement, according to NBC News. “She paved the way for many and never allowed anyone to limit or define her.”
Born Carol Diahann Johnson in the Bronx, New York, Johnson was an actress, singer, and model perhaps best known for her role in Julia, the first TV series to star a black woman in a non-servant role. In the series, which ran from 1968 to 1971 on NBC, Johnson played a widowed mother described as confident and self-sufficient.
“There was nothing like this young successful mother on the air,” Carroll once told PBS. “And we thought that it might be a very good stepping stone.”
The groundbreaking role earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress In A Television Series in 1969.
Prior to that, Johnson rose to stardom in performances in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black actresses, including a supporting role opposite Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones in 1954 and Porgy and Bess, starring Sidney Poitier, in 1959. In 1962, Carroll became the first black woman to win the Tony Award for best actress for her role in the Broadway musical No Strings. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for the 1974 film Claudine. Later, she played a multi-racial diva in the primetime soap opera Dynasty throughout the 1980s.
Carroll was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2011 in honor of her career that included four Emmy nominations for work in ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and NBC’s A Different World.
Following the announcement of her passing, a number of celebrities expressed their sympathy on Twitter while honoring her legacy, including President Bill Clinton, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, actress Debbie Allen, and many more.
Diahann Carroll was a gifted artist and activist whose trailblazing legacy will live on. https://t.co/VGkMRmYrMQ
Curvaceous Couture believes every woman deserves a joyful and fulfilling experience when shopping for her wedding dress, but the curvier bride too often faces disheartening challenges. Not Anymore!
William+James is a luxury bow tie line that offers bespoke handcrafted bow ties inspires by the philosophies of WEB Dubois and James Baldwin. Recent collections are a nod to Black fraternities, the Harlem renaissance…
A graduate of the prestigious Parsons School of Design, Jean-Ralph Thurin became enthralled by the fashion history of top Haute Couture Houses of Dior, Givenchy and Oscar De La Renta. Growing up, Jean-Ralph learned to sew by watching his grandmother.
Pantora Bridal, known for modern textiles and classic silhouettes; combining contemporary flare and a glamorous edge, transforming those key components into the perfect wedding ensemble.
Nathaniel White is a young Fashion Designer born and raised in Brooklyn NY. Growing up, Nathaniel was always creative and artistic and had a strong love for art and drawing.
Legacy was formed to create premium accessories in honor of the 1st African American US President. Their current offerings are cufflinks, medallions and pendants available in sterling silver, ancient bronze, 18K gold and platinum.
Launched in New York City in 1986, Amsale is one of the leading brands in the couture luxury bridal market, synonymous with wedding gowns of exquisite simplicity and luxurious restraint.
Est. 2014, we have been on a mission to combat the damaging effects. To date we have rescued over 2,500lbs of these unwanted fibers and textiles to prevent a lifecycle ending in landfills where it takes anywhere from 2-200 years for certain materials
Guided by a blend of conservative sensibilities and contemporary style, William Wilson is redefining the term exclusive. William Wilson has become one of preferred designers for celebrities, CEOs, athletes, and the socially elite…
Belasse is designed for the sophisticated and trendy woman. The collection’s fabrics range from 100% silks and silk/cotton blends to lace, chiffon, cotton, and knits. The sophisticated and flirty styles cover every occasion.
If you know of or are a man who is a purveyor of fine clothing, then get familiar with Loren Spratt—a uniquely inspiring black-owned clothing brand wholly focused on the male consumer.
Andrea Iyamah offers custom couture bridal gowns under its sister brand Andrea Iyamah Bridal which began in 2012. A.I Bridal offers made-to-measure bridal gowns with close attention to detail.
TLG FASHION offers today‘s hottest styles at reasonable prices. We are an internet-based clothing retailer that understands the value of offering our customers the best for less. Our on-line store means that our overhead cost are low.
Dress Maker by Olivia is a Custom wear one stop shop in Chicago — using Ethnic/Modern/contemporary prints/Fabrics in current trends and style for the everyday fashionista and interpreters of modern fashion expressions.
Yemi Osunkoya is the designer behind the Kosibah label. Kosibah is an exclusive brand specialising in figure enhancing Bridal, Evening and formal Daywear using luxurious fabrics and sumptuous embellishments.
Harrison Blake Apparel has found a way to deliver high quality men’s accessories at a great price. The style and variety of products are sure to please any gentleman.
Deola Sagoe Limited, is Africa’s leading specialist fashion company. The company prides itself on its innovative designs, its use of genuine and exclusive fabrics, attention to detail, and championing the push for structures in Africa’s fashion…
Welcome to Brides by NoNA! Thank you for choosing Brides by NoNA to make your special occasion attire and to be a part of your special event. We look forward to partnering with you to bring your vision to life and create your one-of-a-kind gown.
Shukri Hashi Bridal is a worldwide fashion brand launched in 2014 in London. SHB offers bespoke designs which elegantly combine the traditional Somali bridal print with beautiful modern western styles.
Pure chocolate by Jinji was founded in 2012 by Jinji Fraser, and her father, Guy. Since the beginning, the priority has been maintaining a high level of sensitivity to the farmers who grow & harvest the cacao, and to the earth that yields the fruits.
Our Sweet Mission is not adding stuff we cannot pronounce or understand. The ingredients we add into our wonderful treats are all Natural, made with 75% Organic Ingredients, Made from the Real Deal. Just good old Fashion Cookies.Peace Love Cookies.
Our Hand Crafted Gluten-free Coconut Macaroons are your favorite childhood treat taken to a whole new level with mouthwatering varieties. Chewy and moist on the inside, crispy and golden on the outside
LoAdebar is a natural, organic, vegan, gluten-free energy bar that combines taste and wholesome nutrition for a healthy snack or breakfast bar. Loaded with nutrient-rich, raw and organic ingredients, the LoAdebar contains no preservatives or…
Uncle Renz’s Popcorn is a gourmet popcorn offering some of the most delicious and fantastic treats you will ever enjoy. With custom and spiced up traditional flavors, we guarantee that there is more than one fabulous treat
Made from all-natural ingredients, Unique Syrups is a great-tasting “better for you” top quality syrup to enhance alcohol or food in an unimaginable way. Drizzle it on a stack of pancakes, add a dollop to alcohol, coffee, tea, or glaze poultry.
Symphony Potato Chips, a Black-owned family business based in Atlanta, GA is quickly becoming a household name. Harmonious and flavorful are words that are used everyday, but try saying that with your mouth full of these gourmet potato chips!
Buckhead Berries is not just a chocolate strawberry…It is a delicacy wrapped in luxurious chocolate, a light sweet crunch, combined with a blend of International nuts that exuberates the tastebuds.Making for an exquisite, decadent luxurious…
Antonia and Cynthia have combined their love for eating well and delicious desserts to create the fabulous experience of Dipped Fresh. With dipped desserts and catering made fresh any selection you make will be a great choice.
De La Pop Gourmet Popcorn sells gourmet popcorn, gourmet sodas, and specialty candies. With more than 125 different varieties of popcorn available, there is a flavor that is perfect for everyone. All of De La Pop’s popcorn is manufactured in-house.
Michele Foods was founded in 1984. We are a Chicago based syrup company. We service over 10,000 retails chains nation wide. Please feel free to visit our web site. Our syrups are good over everything.
That’s a vision the owner of Akhirah’s Praline Candy, Beignets and Coffee gave me roughly three years ago…before he even knew the location. With focus, passion, and determination Arron Muhammad brought that vision into reality.
The Painted Pretzel® is a gourmet company that is dedicated to providing superior quality products to every customer every time. Using only the finest ingredients, every pretzel is crafted with care and precision. Owned by Raven Thomas.
Hot Chocolat is home to decadent dark, milk, and white chocolate treats that are made with the finest ingredients. Award-winning chocolatier Michael Poole has three decades of culinary experience under his belt, so he knows how to create exciting…
The truth about the history of America’s favorite soft drinks, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, may shock you. Coca-Cola, for example, founded in the year 1892, was originally a product only intended for white people. According to the New York Times, Coke’s recipe was heavily influenced by white supremacy and it was marketed mainly to the white middle class. Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, the company “studiously” and purposely ignored the African-American market.
Pepsi, on the otherhand, started out by primarily targeting African American consumers. In fact, during the 1940’s, the company launched a “negro markets” department and even had Black sales representatives working hard to promote the brand in urban areas. They also aggressively hired Black models to appear in Pepsi ads that were featured in Black publications. Special point-of-purchase displays also appeared in stores that were mostly patronized by African-Americans.
Neither company, Coca-Cola or Pepsi, had an inclusive marketing strategy in the beginning to promote their soft drinks to people of all ethnic backgrounds. In fact, according to The Atlantic, they were avidly known as ‘white’ and ‘black’ drinks for quite some time.
In later years, however, both companies did eventually begin to implement diversity advertising campaigns after realizing that they were missing out on the opportunity to generate billions of dollars in revenue. But that didn’t put an end to the racism.
In the year 2000, for example, Coca-Cola was ordered to pay $156 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a group of Black employees who accused the company of racial discrimination.
Pepsi was forced to do the same in 2012 when they paid $3.13 million to settle a federal lawsuit stemmed by accusations of racial discrimination for using criminal background checks to screen out job applicants who were arrested but not convicted, disproportionately excluding Blacks.
Jada Pinkett Smith has no issues with being open and candid on her talk show. And she says the reason is that her famous family weathered the “storm” of having child protective services show up at their door.
Smith made the admission while at the Ham Yard Hotel in London hosting a screening of her Facebook Watch series “Red Table Talk” on August 1.
Jada Pinkett Smith attends the Facebook Watch: Red Table Talk screening at The Ham Yard Hotel on August 1, 2019, in London, England. (Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Facebook Watch)
“We’ve been through so much as a family, it takes a lot to rock us,” she told the Daily Mail when talking about the worst thing that has ever happened to her clan. “Once you’ve survived having child protection services come to your house because someone called and said, ‘You’re abusing Willow, you’re not feeding her’ … When you’ve gone through crazy stuff like that, whatever you’ve spoke about at the ‘Red Table Talk,’ doesn’t mean anything, due to the storms you’ve survived off of that table [and being so open].
“We’ve survived so much as a family, so that’s one of the things I’m grateful for,” she added. “We hold it down together and give each other that freedom to speak our truth.”
In 2014, the Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services showed up to the Smith family home. At issue was a photo showing a then-13-year-old Willow lying in bed with her shirtless friend, actor Moises Arias, who was 20 at the time, that was posted to his Tumblr page.
Willow Smith (left) and Moises Arias (right) in the photo that stirred controversy in 2014. (Tumblr)
Radar Online reported the agency got involved after receiving an anonymous tip “about the welfare and safety of Willow, based on the contents of the photo.”
Smith and her husband, actor Will Smith, were cleared after CPS investigated.
A source with DCFS told Radar there was “no evidence presented that Willow has ever been in any danger around Moises, or that she has ever been physically or emotionally abused.” Additionally, they found Willow was “a very well adjusted, smart, and articulate young lady.”
Speaking to TMZ before the clearing, Jada said “there was nothing sexual about that picture or that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it. You’re acting like covert pedophiles, and that’s not cool.”
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has won the race to become the first billionaire in hip-hop, beating music moguls Sean P. Diddy Combs and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young to the threshold, according to a new cover story published in Forbes. This also makes Carter just the fifth African American in the country to reach this historic milestone.
Forbes reports that Carter “has accumulated a fortune that conservatively totals $1 billion” thanks to his savvy business acumen and diverse portfolio of lucrative investments, acquisitions, and deals. “Jay-Z’s steadily growing kingdom is expansive, encompassing liquor, art, real estate (homes in Los Angeles, the Hamptons, Tribeca) and stakes in companies like Uber,” it reads.
The publication then explains how they came to this conclusion, listing a breakdown of Carter’s major assets. “To calculate his net worth, we looked at the artist’s stakes in companies like Armand de Brignac champagne—applying our customary discount to private firms—then added up his income, subtracting a healthy amount to account for a superstar lifestyle,” states the report. His assets are as follows:
Armand de Brignac champagne – $310 million
Cash and investments, including a $70 million stake in Uber – $220 million
D’Ussé cognac – $100 million
Tidal streaming service – $100 million
Roc Nation – $75 million
Music catalog – $75 million
Art collection – $70 million
Real estate – $50 million
In 2018, Forbes listed Carter as the wealthiest rapper with a $900 million net worth, while Combs came in second with a net worth of $820 million. Young ranked third with $770 million. At the time, it was hard to predict which of the artists would hit the billion benchmark first. But, as time would tell, the Brooklyn-born rapper became the first to join the ranks with the four other black billionaires in the U.S.
THE BLACK BILLIONAIRE’S LIST
ROBERT F. SMITH
Vista Equity founder, chairman, and CEO Robert F. Smith
Robert F. Smith, the founder, chairman, and chief executive of Vista Equity Partners, is reportedly worth $5 billion. Last year, Vista Equity Partners was recognized as the top private equity firm on the BE 100s (BLACK ENTERPRISE’S annual list of the top black-owned companies in the nation), generating $14 billion in capital. Earlier this year, Vista Equity-acquired company, Marketo, was sold to Adobe for $4.7 billion. Smith’s firm was also recognized as the BE100s Financial Services Company of the Year in 2013.
The “Queen of All Media” has accumulated a massive net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes, thanks in large part to her partnership with Weight Watchers. Back in 2015, Oprah Winfrey bought a 10% stake and became an ambassador for the company. By June 2018, her stake was estimated at $427 million. Winfrey also generates revenue through several other business endeavors, including ownership of the cable network OWN, Harpo Films, a multi-year content partnership deal with Apple, and her iconic talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show.
MICHAEL JORDAN
(Image: File)
Although considered the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan only made about $90 million during his stellar career in the NBA. Today, however, the basketball legend is worth an estimated $1.9 billion thanks to lucrative endorsements, like his lifetime deal with Nike, and big investments, like his purchase of the Charlotte Hornets.
DAVID STEWARD
World Wide Technology Founder and Chairman David Steward
With a net worth of $3 billion, David Steward ranks as No. 745 on Forbes’ 2019 list of global billionaires. In 1990, Steward invested $250,000 that he earned from two auditing ventures to launch World Wide Technology (WWT), an IT provider that offers hardware and software products and services to large public and private customers in various sectors. Its clients include Citi, Verizon, and the U.S. government. In 2017, WWT earned $10.2 billion in sales and was ranked as No. 1 on the BE 100s list. The business tycoon also graced the cover of BLACK ENTERPRISE in June 2001.
When it comes to the most viewed and popular content, it doesn’t matter how many photos or clever memes you choose to share, video reigns supreme, and many love the options that video-streaming provides. Many of us like to see things live and in action, and the stats don’t lie: According to Google, black millennials “have more than doubled their mobile watch time on YouTube in the last two years,” and they watch “73% more YouTube on mobile per person than the general population of the same age.”
The platform has diversified since its inception in 2005, but the issue of diversity on the platform, as with other popular media, remains a challenge. According to the same Google statistics, users of color want more inclusive ads and want to see themselves represented, and more would like to see brands better represent diversity in their ads. Here’s a list of 27 black YouTube stars, some on the come-up and others already bankable.
27 TOP BLACK YOUTUBE STARS
BEAUTY
Nyma Tang
Oftentimes you see beauty tutorials that feature lighter complexions for trying out the latest trends, but Ms. Tang changes the game for chocolate sistas who want to know how to use the latest products for their skin tone.
Petite-Sue TV
Sue-Ann Gordon is a down-to-earth Jamaican beauty who starts all her vlogs with the most passion-pumping motivational moments along with beauty and fashion looks to inspire young girls of the Caribbean. And you’ll love checking in to vlogs that offer peeks into family and yard life on the island that endear you to a more balanced view than the stereotypical news and entertainment blurbs.
Jackie Aina
A YouTube superstar, Aina had humble beginnings and continues to share her love and life experiences via keep-it-real beauty and conversational vlogs. She also incorporates her Nigerian heritage, one of which she is proud.
The Cut Life
If you’ve always loved short hair, this is the channel for you. From interviews with beauty industry leaders to celebrity features to how-to inspirations for your next new cut, you’ll love what these women have to offer.
Tiarra Monet
This young boss used to shoot videos on her phone before YouTube became the money-making platform it is today. Now she’s grown into a full brand, with more than 600,000 subscribers and an in-demand hair line and beauty salon. Her wigs look majorly realistic, so much so that she’s often booked months in advance, and she’s been a featured influencer on E! and with Revlon.
FASHION
Notorious KIA
She knows how to make a thrift-store find look chic, and has a simple, clean aesthetic. Her vlogs don’t bombard you with endorsements and trendy clichés, and her candid style when describing her fashion picks will make you think she’s your real-life shopping bestie.
KarenBritChick
It can be hard to find consistent, real-woman fashion content on YouTube if you’re not a baby, teen, or millennial. Karen Blanchard’s channel offers something for the woman of style who knows Fashion Nova or Forever 21 are not her cup of tea and likes to add designer and luxury finds to boost her wardrobe.
MsNerdyChica
Bright, bubbly, and explorative, this Haitian beauty loves to share her hair, fashion, and travel experiences with a wide smile and a sophisticated style inspired by her Caribbean roots.
Patricia Bright
A Nigerian Brit, she’s another young woman who went from smartphone YouTube faux pas in the early days to superstardom, with more than 2 million subscribers today, influencer deals with brands including Diet Coke, and she even landed the cover of British Glamour this year.
Chanel Ambrose
A curvy fashionista, Ambrose redefines what plus-sized fashion has to be. Her vlogs are positive, classy, and sleek, offering curvy sistas options to put together looks that slay.
TRAVEL
Oneika the Traveller
Oneikagives you a fun, diverse adventure in her vlogs. She’s traveled to almost 90 countries on six continents, according to her channel, and her vlogs don’t skimp on the tips, the details, and the advice for world treks. She includes content that informs while entertains, so you won’t find just landscapes, photo shoots and selfie videos set to music on this channel.
The Blog Abroad by Gloria Atanmo
A self-professed “adventure junkie,” Atanmo gives honest insights on traveling while black to countries including Germany and Bangkok, and she also offers budgeting tips for aspiring nomads and production tips for those who want to document their journeys on YouTube.
Kellee Edwards
This channel is run by a scuba diver and pilot who hosted her own travel segment on YouTube called “Kellee Set Go” and has now become a correspondent with the Travel Channel. She shares content from her latest adventures on the show and features travel tips for individuals and families.
Charly Cheer
She’s a full-time traveler and teacher who offers vlogs off the beaten path of the usual Caribbean, Middle Eastern, or African leisure locales common among African American vacationers. She gives a real look into life in Asia for a woman of color.
LIFESTYLE/FITNESS
Nia the Light
Once known for her larger-than-life natural curls, she recently took a major brand leap, doing a big chop and refocusing her efforts on self-exploration, spirituality, and travel. The name definitely fits the bill: Each breath-of-fresh-air vlog is filled with positivity and exploration.
Magda Civil Fitness
This channel, hosted by a personal trainer and coach, features workouts and honest conversations about women’s health issues, including miscarriage, fitness while pregnant, and weight loss.
Fit Men Cook
Operating on the adage that “Bodies are built in the kitchen, sculpted in the gym,” this channel offers yummy, healthy dishes and lifestyle content for women and men who want to live at their best. It also helps that the host is motivated by his own journey into living a healthy, fuller life.
Black Men’s Beard
For beard enthusiasts, this channel is like having your own personal barber. You can find tutorials, tips on products and men’s grooming, and even some style features.
At Home with Nikki
If you love interior decor or just need some ideas for your next home makeover, check out Nikki. She gives you Martha Stewart with a dash of Oprah-esque Black Girl Magic in offering tips on organization and design.
NEWS / POP CULTURE
Joulzey
This vlogger’s been offering her spunky and eloquent take on African American culture before it was popular on YouTube. She continues to inspire and make you think with her vlogs, offering fresh, fun, and smart prospectives.
Shameless Maya
She’s fun, energetic, and raw, giving viewers a sense that she’s the girl next door who everyone loves for her take on a variety of subjects from love to investing (bitcoin, anyone?), style, and everyday life hacks.
DesusandMero
This duo, who had their own show on Vice and Complex TV, offers hilarious banter and engaging dialogue on the latest news in politics, sports, and entertainment.
Kat Blaque
Whether it’s explaining what modern-day anarchy is or the military ban on transgenders, this vlogger doesn’t pull any punches, offering opinions that will have you thinking or at least Googling to expand your understanding.
MONEY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The Budgetnista
Tiffany Aliche provides doable tips and offers budget plans for anyone wanting to find financial freedom. Her receipts: She overcame a home foreclosure and an investment that cost her tens of thousands of dollars to boost her credit score and become an entrepreneur and home owner in her own right.
Roberto Blake
If you want to know how to become a creative entrepreneur or how to create content that will help your business progress, this is a great channel to tap into. Blake talks salesmanship, business plans, building a social media following, and much more.
Trials N Tresses
Thischannel’s “Millennial in Debt” series is entertaining and relatable. You can also find tips on how to pay off your student loan. (She’s done that to the tune of $85,000.)
His & Her Money
For all the married couples out there, get your financial fitness fix here. The chemistry between these two is undeniable and they share money tips that will make you want to invite them to the next marriage ministry potluck.
At just 31 years old, Rihanna is officially the wealthiest female musician on the planet, according to Forbes. The publication estimates her net worth at $600 million, trumping the wealth of fellow music superstars Madonna ($570 million), Celine Dion ($450 million), and Beyoncé ($400 million).
A large part of the singer’s wealth has been generated through her cosmetics company, Fenty Beauty, which launched in collaboration with luxury giant LVMH in September 2017. Noted for its inclusive range of 40 shades of foundation, Fenty reportedly racked up $100 million in sales within weeks due to the Bajan artist’s mass appeal and social media following. Since then, sales for the beauty brand have continued to soar.
“Fenty Beauty generated an estimated $570 million in revenue last year, after only 15 months in business. The entire operation is worth, conservatively, more than $3 billion. Forbes estimates thatLVMH owns an estimated 50% of it, while Rihanna has about 15%, a figure a spokesperson for the artist disputed but wouldn’t clarify further,” writes Forbes.
In May, LVMH announced that it was opening a fashion house under Fenty name. This makes the style icon the first black woman to head a major luxury fashion house. Her new clothing line with LVMH, which includes high-end clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry, launched in Paris on May 24. In addition, the pop star co-owns the Savage X Fenty lingerie line with TechStyle Fashion Group.
JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD
Act-1 Group Founder and CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd (Image: Courtesy of Black Enterprise Business Report)
Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of ACT-1 Group and the first African American woman to run a billion-dollar business. Her company, which provides workforce solutions such as temporary staffing, raked in a whopping $2.8 billion in revenues in 2017 and placed as No. 2 on BLACK ENTERPRISE’S annual BE 100slist of the nation’s largest black businesses.
Bryant Howroyd launched the business back in 1978 with just $1,500, a $900 loan from her mother, a fax machine, and a phone. Today, the agency has over 17,000 clients and 2,600 employees in 19 different countries.
SHEILA JOHNSON
Sheila Johnson
Sheila Johnson is a business titan most known for co-founding Black Entertainment Television (BET) with then-husband Robert Johnson and selling it to Viacom for roughly $3 billion in 2000. Following their divorce in 2002, Johnson launched the Salamander Resort & Spa in 2005. The luxury hotel company owns two properties and manages five others around the Southeastern region of the United States. Its growth strategy has resulted in an impressive 24% jump in revenues, from $170 million in 2016 to $210 million in 2017.
Today, Johnson’s net worth is estimated at about $820 million while her resort company was recognized as the 2018 BE 100s Company of the Year.
OPRAH
(Image: ABC/Rick Rowell via Flickr.com/photos/disneyabc)
With a net worth of a $2.5 billion, Oprah Winfrey is ranked as no.10 on the Forbes’s list and is one of just five black billionaires in the country. The “Queen of All Media” accumulated her staggering wealth thanks in large part to her partnership with Weight Watchers. Back in 2015, Winfrey bought a 10% stake and became an ambassador for the company. By June 2018, her stake was estimated at $427 million.
Winfrey also generates revenue through several other business endeavors, like her cable channel OWN. “Her 25.5% of the network is worth about $75 million,” reports Forbes. Last year, she inked a multi-year content partnership deal with Apple to create original content that will include a book club, documentaries, and TV series.
BEYONCE
(Image: Instagram/Beyonce)
Although married to the first hip hop billionaire, Beyonce Knowles Carter is a business mogul who earns her own money and an unsurprising spot on the list. According to Forbes, the superstar is worth $400 million. Earlier this year, she announced a new partnership with Adidas to relaunch her activewear line, Ivy Park. She also stars in Disney’s 2019 Lion King remake.
Beyonce’s On The Run II stadium tour with husband Jay-Z grossed more than $250 million. The superstar singer also signed a deal with Netflix reportedly worth $60 million to releaseHomecoming, a live album and special documenting her groundbreaking 2018 performance at Coachella.
Furthermore, it is rumored that Beyonce scored big money when Uber went public last month. People magazine reports that Queen Bey received $6 million in restricted stock units (RSUs) from Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick to perform at an event. With the IPO, speculations abound that she made $300 million from her shares.
SERENA WILLIAMS
Serena Williams (Wikimedia Commons)
Serena Williams is known for her prowess on and off the tennis court. The 23-time Grand Slam winner has made a number of boss business moves. She launched Serena Ventures, an investment firm focused on companies founded by women and minorities, which has invested in 34 startups in a portfolio worth at least $10 million.
In 2018, the tennis champ launched a self-funded clothing line called S by Serena. She also owns stakes in the Miami Dolphins and UFC and has signed multiple endorsement deals with major brands throughout her career, including Gatorade, Delta Air Lines, Aston Martin, Pepsi, and Beats by Dre.
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Black-owned Ice Cream Businesses you need to know about. Whether it’s “Friday”, Saturday or any other day of the week…Ice Cream is always a cool treat!
our passion is real food We produce amazing dairy-free ice cream in small batches from scratch, using our own cashew, almond and hazelnut milks. We aim to make better ice cream…
“Goodies” is Washington D.C.’s first and only “Vintage Mobile Eatery” paying homage to the Rock & Roll era. We pride ourselves on creating and serving old-fashioned Frozen Custard and treats made with 100% love
Surf’s Up is Hampton Roads premier mobile truck serving Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Every cup we serve is piled high with fluffy, white, finely shaved ice and topped with mouth watering syrups.
We’re located at 4181 William Styron Square in the Port Warwick area of Newport News and 36 Mellen St. in Hampton! We specialize in Wedding Cakes, Birthday Cakes, Graduation Cakes, Baby Shower Cakes, cookies and other bars.
We make really good sinfully tasty ice cream ya dig? Brooklyn Bell Foods & Co. is our forty acres and a mule; it’s a small Ma and Pa company with big ideas.
Brooklyn Swirl is the first independently-owned frozen yogurt shop to serve the Brooklyn Community. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, we are open daily and offer a variety of frozen yogurt flavors, healthy toppings as well as smoothies, and crepes.
One Man with One Cart, with One Dream, Accomplishing that dream by serving Authentic, Hand-Scooped Italian Ice. Proudly serving a fat free, dairy free and cholesterol free frozen treat.
Your Go-To Frozen Desserts Shop Tempt your taste buds with devilishly good frozen treats from Whipped Creamery in Augusta, Georgia. We offer a selection of desserts for everyone! Come and eat to your heart’s content.
My name is Beau Shell and I own my own ice cream push cart business. I operate my carts and trailers all over town. My ice cream cart business is available for fundraising, corporate, business, and church events.
It’s more than just “Ice Cream.” It’s an experience! Our mission is to bring back the feeling of tradition and togetherness. We are bridging the gap of old fashioned homemade goodness and creating new memories of homemade desserts.
Founders of Localicious Old Fashioned Ice Cream has spent a combined 40 years perfecting making the world’s best ice cream. Developing and perfecting new flavors of ice cream to bring to the public is our passion
Tropical ice cream made only with tropical fruits. Our 12 flavors of ice creams consists of cachiman, citron, korosol, anana, papaya, grenadia, peanut, etc.
Sweet Magnolia Ice Cream Co. Is a small batch artisan gelato company located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.What started out as making ice cream for family and friends, in our home kitchen, quickly flourished into a labor of love and…
Ice Cream 504 gives the city a great, fresh, and light taste of ice cream with great natural flavors. The ice cream is churned old-fashioned style and is very…
Well before the deluge of commercial manufacturers, ice cream was an extravagance, made in small batches through an achingly slow, labor-intensive process. Today, ice cream is king. Little kids long for it, summer virtually belongs to it…
Miyako’s is a sweet tooth’s dream, with some sandwiches thrown in on the side. The small shop serves locally made old fashion ice cream in a large selection of flavors alongside candy found in rows of jars displayed on the wall.
“Appropriate for any occasion, Whimsicles are available for special occasions ranging from baby showers and birthday parties to weddings and corporate events. Believing that one day Whimsicle will be available all over the world…
Hi my name is Demont Coleman. I can remember as a kid growing up in the 70’s the sounds of ice cream trucks rolling through our neighborhood. Seeing others run from their house or from playgrounds and ball fields nearby usually meant it was time for
These Black Midwives Want To Change The Statistics One Birth At A Time.
Black women are taking control of the narrative around the Black maternal health crisis.
The numbers are so staggering they’ve made national news many times over. We know them by heartbreak: Black women are 3-4x more likely to die from childbirth and pregnancy-related causes, and Black infants are 2.2x more likely to die than their white counterparts.
We know the problem, but what’s being done about it? Black Mamas Matter Alliance is an organization that’s working to change policy and shift the culture around Black moms and maternal health outcome. There’s the inspiring news that there’s now a Black Maternal Health Caucus (because Black women get things done).
And then there are a group of women who are working with pregnant people in their communities to give them the empowered birth experiences they deserve and that should be their right: I’m talking about Black midwives and doulas.
Now, only “10% of U.S. births involve midwives, far behind other industrialized countries, where midwives participate in half or more of all deliveries,” according to ScienceDaily. But midwifery used to be a part of everyday life for centuries. Women like South Carolinian Maude Callen provided access to healthcare to thousands of people in their communities before the medical community lobbied to make midwifery nearly obsolete.
It’s taken a crisis to bring us back to this ancestral knowledge. Having access to midwifery care has been linked to improved birth outcomes for Black women and their children. Though “fewer than 2% of midwives in the United States are Black,” writes journalist Dani McClain In her book We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood, there is a rise in Black women becoming midwives and that will hopefully boost that number. And there’s a number of state and federal legislation in the works to make midwifery care fall under the services Medicare covers.
Although every birth won’t have a midwife catching the baby, all birthing people can benefit from the call to safe, respectful, and empowered births this group of birth workers is advocating for.
I asked seven Black midwives and midwives-in-training to share how they came to midwifery. Here are their stories.
I was born at home and had been passively exposed to the care that midwives give for pregnancy and birth throughout my childhood, but it was not always my dream. I knew that becoming a doctor was not my calling and did many other things before I was reintroduced to midwifery. I worked in nonprofit housing, studied herbal healing and African spiritualities, and was even a high-school teacher in NYC before I decided to become a midwife.
When a friend was planning a home birth, she introduced me to her midwife who became my mentor. It took many months of research and discussing with other midwives for me to even figure out the whats and hows. I learned that midwives could care for women for a whole range of things, including regular gynecological care, birth control, and some even provide abortion services.
Eventually, I decided that the path of nurse-midwifery was best for my family and me. From a career perspective, I had a longing to be a in a field where I got to do a few specific things: 1) be a guide to women seeking health and wellness; 2) be a voice in support of personal empowerment through the major biological life moments that change our lives; and 3) call upon the deep use of my heart, hands, spirit, and intellect.
I began taking courses to apply for nursing school and became pregnant with my first child during that time. I fell in love with the journey of being a mother, which added another layer of meaning to my studies. I also got to spend time learning about the histories of Black midwifery and nursing in the South, which made me feel a palpable sense of pride. When I was finally in a position to apply for graduate school, I had also made a major pivot in my life and work into advocacy for families with a strong focus on breastfeeding.
My midwifery care is informed by a unshakable belief in the power of women and in an understanding of how intersecting social forces can come to bear on the lives of the families I serve. It is about holding space for women to be heard and remember their power as well as about providing healthcare and being a public advocate. So, this is a long way of saying that I wanted to become a midwife because it feels like a pure expression and practice of creating the world and future I want to see for women.
As otherworldly as this may seem, I was first led to midwifery as a newborn and through divination: My parents were told that I was destined to become a midwife.
Over the course of my young life, my family forgot about this specific declaration and midwifery reintroduced itself to me through the work of a family friend. Her journey into the profession sparked my interest. I was able to learn and attend a home birth, which helped to solidify my desire to become a midwife.
I eventually went to nursing school and became a nurse on a labor and delivery unit. After awhile the babies kept birthing themselves under my care and that was when I realized that it was time for me to transition from nurse to midwife.
Although the spiritual undercurrent of midwifery plays a huge factor in my life, midwifery is a practice and concept that I am still learning and building upon every day. The more I expose myself to the work of other birthworkers and scholars, the more my thoughts about midwifery evolve and expand for the better.
For me, there is something innately radical and revolutionary about being a midwife. The humanistic act of listening, being present, and holding space for others seems rather simple but has been proven to have profound effects in the healthcare setting. In a society where specific individuals are marginalized for various reasons, midwifery acts as a buffer saving many from experiencing feelings of neglect, coercion, and abuse by the larger medical system. In an effort to redefine birth, to reclaim the legacy of the traditional black midwife, and to treat others as whole human beings, I embrace the role of the midwife.
“It goes back to how you control your community. Whoever feeds you really controls you,” said Raphael Wright.
An entrepreneur from Detroit is on a mission to increase representation when it comes to ownership in the area by opening up the city’s only Black-owned grocery store, Civil Eatsreported.
Raphael Wright started his journey to bring this establishment to fruition two years ago after noticing that Black-owned grocery stores in Detroit’s underserved communities were non-existent; despite African Americans accounting for 80 percent of the Motor City’s population. He decided he wanted to change that narrative and began laying the foundation for the creation of the store. He unveiled a plan for a 5,000-square-foot market to be based in the Islandview community inside of a mixed-use development. He’s also been eyeing other locations in underserved communities.
Wright wants his business to be more than just an average bodega. In an effort to make healthy food options more accessible and affordable for these communities he plans on teaming up with individuals who are a part of Detroit’s urban agricultural landscape so the store can sell fresh food. He also wants the store to serve as a cultural hub and community meeting space. Wright says he wants to utilize his entrepreneurial endeavors to promote the importance of Black ownership and reinvesting in our own communities.
“It goes back to how you control your community. Whoever feeds you really controls you. And if we’re not in control of that—it’s bigger than just the economic consequence. We lose a piece of our culture, our history,” he told the news outlet. “You have fried chicken spots in the hood, but they’re [not owned by Black people]. Your grandmother cooked this food your whole life. Why doesn’t she have a chicken spot? There’s much more at stake when Black people don’t control food. There’s our health, our culture—everything is at stake when we don’t control the grocery store.”
As far as funding and securing capital—which can be a struggle for many Black entrepreneurs —Wright has invested nearly $50,000 of his own money towards the project and has raised $47,000 through a crowdfunding campaign. He also garnered $70,000 through other forms of funding.
Wright is a part of a wave of Black entrepreneurs who are making the effort to reclaim their communities through ownership. In January, an entrepreneur announced plans to open up the only Black-owned bookstore in Orlando.
Makeup, nail and beauty products that match every skin tone to using herbal and vegan ingredients to create products for wellness-obsessed millennials, these entrepreneurs are carving out their own space in the cruelty-free, vegan cosmetic industry with these 25 black-owned vegan beauty brands.
These millennial-made cosmetics come with bold names, such as F*CKBOY REPELLENT, and its made to give you Instagram-ready, glowy, sun-kissed skin. Don’t miss the Lip Drip mica-infused gloss and WILDAF powdered highlighter for added glam.
Kacadas is committed to discovering and providing our customers the purest and finest in truly healthy natural, organic, vegan and eco-friendly beauty products. This commitment enables us to offer choice selections in natural hair care, body care…
Welcome and Salaam to Azur Soleil Organics(Blue Sun Organics) I have been a member of Etsy since 2008 but I official started listing items in 2013. I have been making soaps and other natural bath and body items since 2003.
Mischo Beauty is a pioneer of clean luxury, offering award-winning, richly hued and high performance nail lacquers. We are committed to our philosophy to do no harm as we innovate across the beauty landscape.
We’re expert mixologists, mood setters, and vegans sharing our love for blissful fragrance and wellness. Our artisan candles and body products work together to help you relax and release for better mind, body, and spirit.
Minimalists rejoice! This easy-functioning brand features three products: Multi-Wash, Multi-Oil, and Multi-Spray, which can operate for face, body, and hair. Simplify your beauty routine and pair down your medicine cabinet with multi-functional…
Zandra, an award-winning plant-based artisan skincare product range for teenage skin, has started a nationwide launch of her new brand of women’s face care products called ‘Zandra 18’. The launch event will take place at the teen CEO’s…
Earths Bliss is here to provide holistic health and wellness through alternative practice for all. We provide reiki as well as massages focusing on the the body internal and external wholistically.
In 2012, I launched The Lip Bar because I was incredibly frustrated with the beauty industry. I had so many questions. Why were most cosmetics filled with unnecessary chemicals? Why did lipsticks only come in a limited range of colors?
This affordable skincare-focused brand makes modern, simply designed bottles that are practically made for a beauty routine #shelfie. The ingredients focus in on antioxidants and botanicals, and the brand even carries a line for men.
Kissed by Koco is was created as a small batch, all natural bath and body company with the idea of developing a healthier and safer environment for not only for ourselves but for our friends and family as well. We handcraft all natural, vegan…
The best 100% Raw + Vegan natural ingredients, blended with the best results-oriented “natural science” to get real results; and the best salon-tested & proven formulas to help you conquer and reign over dryness.
Our mission is to create the world’s most intelligent, Eco-Luxury range of Personal and Beauty Care for the discerning, multi-cultural consumer, using only plant-based and organic ingredientsof the highest quality and proven efficacy…
One night, over a glass of pinot, we sat down and asked ourselves why it was so hard to find the perfect nude lipstick. That conversation sparked an idea, and that idea became the brand we are building today.
After creating the “cash rules everything around me” mantra, multiple classic hip-hop albums, and a blueprint for turning gritty street rap into mainstream success, the Wu-Tang Clan is giving the world lipstick.
Founded by mom and entrepreneur Keli Smith, this botanical brand creates small-batch products that are multi-use and help promote healthy, nourished skin. Choose between moisturizing creams that work for both body and hair, detoxifying facial…
“Natural Ingredients for Natural Products” is the focus of OBIA Naturals. The mission of OBIA Naturals is to produce pH balanced, non-toxic, herbal-based natural hair and body care products for women and men.
Not everyone is a Gold Digger (wink, wink). PNK (aka Pink) is the color of Love, so it’s okay to dig for Love instead of Gold. Or you can be a Gold Digger wearing PNK Lipstick…….you decide!!!
We do things the old fashioned way – we handcraft our entire line of natural soaps, butters and whips. We respect each and every customer. We offer fair trade organic goodies sourced directly from their motherland.
Cancer survivor and mother Barbara Jacques focuses on tropical ingredients, sourced locally in southern Florida to deliver pure and healing products, free from harmful synthetic ingredients. The Heal + Slay Kit contains everything you need…
Two veg friends started this nail polish brand to create hypoallergenic, toxin-free, and vegan-friendly nail polishes that were still on-trend and rich in pigment. Choose between pastel hues, vivid shades in every color of the rainbow, and gleaming…
With everything from eyeshadows and lipsticks to serums and toners, this makeup company has everything you could need when it comes to cosmetics. It can be found nationwide in Neiman Marcus locations, as well as online at many beauty retailers.
A city that is more than cowboy boots, there are literally thousands of options, but we will focus on the ones ‘For Us By Us’. RankTribe™ Black Business Directorybrings you a compiled list of some notable Black-owned restaurants in Dallas, Texas.
Download our Androidand iOSapps and start supporting Black-owned Businesses!
Brunch convention featuring vendors from around the Southwest region will showcase all things Brunch, with food and drink samples, workshops, merchandise, and apparel. The event is open to industry professionals and foodies alike.
On a personal journey toward better health, Nicole Allen began making daily green smoothies to bring to work. She had no idea at the time that her healthier snack substitute would eventually lead to the creation of Roots on Tap.
The Kessler Baking Studio is a creative sweets boutique, operating as a cottage baker in the Oak Cliff Gateway District (just north of the Bishop Arts District). All of our products are from scratch and made with real Texas butter, cane sugar.
This is your ONE STOP SHOP for Catering Services for parties, corporate events, receptions, YOU NAME IT!! We specialize in making your dream event REALITY!
Our big, country breakfasts are what packed the house first. Fluffy biscuits and creamy gravy. Omelets stuffed tighter than a suitcase. Hot and hearty pancakes, waffles and sweet rolls. And although our breakfasts have won some awards, we like to think people come see us because they love great, homestyle cooking.
This no-frills chicken shack doesn’t need any of said frills, just ask for extra seasoning and some secret sauce and you’ll happy you came. Download our Androidand iOSapps and start supporting Black-owned Businesses!
Mr. Records gain knowledge and experience within the restaurant industry at Pappy Dad’s BBQ which was located in Dallas, Texas. He methodically and skillfully applied skills learned from being a faithful and diligent employee and became a successful owner…
Bay Area Foodies Get Rejoice! Here’s a list of 33 Black-owned Restaurants for you to enjoy. This list does not include every black–owned restaurant in Oakland. We have compiled this list of the ones we know of. If your favorite Bay Area Black-owned Restaurant isn’t listed, please add it here.
The cuisine at Brown Sugar Kitchen reflects Tanya Holland’s interpretation of Soul Food. Her influences include her African-American heritage, her formal training at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in France
Lena Mae Peters was born April 15, 1935 in Wharton Texas. Like most young girls from the south during that time, Lena learned at a young age the ways of the kitchen.
Kingston 11 Cuisine is an environmentally friendly, community oriented and innovative restaurant whose mission is to provide consistent high-quality, delicious blends of Jamaican and Californian cuisines using organic ingredients.
All Amawele’s foods are prepared from scratch. We use fresh ingredients. The cuisine of South Africa is sometimes called “rainbow cuisine”, as it has had a variety of multicultural sources and stages.
A new Modern American Diner infused with Traditional Diner menu in a full sit down full service restaurant style serving many organic and natural ingredients supporting local farmers and producers.
Judahlicious is nestled between Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park in the outer sunset. We serve unique 100% organic raw and vegan cuisine, artfully prepared and always made from scratch.
The menu features traditional Japanese and fusion style cuisine, a full-bar and featured cocktails. As you dine, the staff at Yoshi’s will assign the best seats available for the show, to be claimed in the adjoining live performance venue.
Cafe Colucci is a small family owned restaurant in Oakland, California founded in 1991. Since then, we have delighted the palates of Bay Area residents with our unique, organic and flavorful Ethiopian dishes.
Starbucks Coffee is facing public calls for a boycott after witnesses said two African American men were arrested this week at a Philadelphia store because of their skin color. Store employees said the men were trespassing because they hadn’t purchased anything. We’ve compiled out list of alternatives to Starbucks.
As the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks continues to gain momentum following the Thursday arrests, a weakly worded apology by the company on Saturday only exacerbated public outrage.
View our complete list of over 140+ Alternative to Starbucks here.
Damn Goods Teas is a ready-made natural, hydrating and refreshing herbal drink. We use an abundance of Water, a signature 7 Herb blend – sweetened with real honey & stevia. Top it off with a light hinted of 100% fruit juice.
Wonderful, eclectic environment with an amazing outdoor venue. Great people creating a wonderful new business in a cool neighborhood on Baltimore�s West side. Good coffee, pastries and sandwiches. Rent the outdoors space for meeting and parties.
We are a family owned and operated Café known for our green tea with fresh mint, Moroccan atmosphere and decor. We serve espresso drinks, authentic Moroccan appetizers, tagines for lunch or dinner and deserts.
KYE is a gourmet herbal teahouse that blends handcrafted organically grown ingredients to provide you with the most enjoyable, relaxing experience one sip at a time. KYE was established on the foundation of “going back to nature.”
We’re just an everyday family who decided to live an extraordinary life. We work to share the concepts of healing, wholeness and holistic living through all of our works.
Brooklyn Bell, founded in 2011 by the husband and wife team of Ron Cunningham and Kati Duncan-Cunningham in Brooklyn, is a purveyor of strictly craft foods.
Serengeti Teas and Spices introduces the history, magic, sumptuous taste and exotic flavors of Africa. The recipes, the aromas, and the culinary history kept in boxes, journals, and the African kitchen come to life in our signature coffees, teas, cocoa
Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is a celebration of geek culture. A place for comic book fans, hardcore gamers, movie addicts, television connoisseurs, and zombie apocalypse survivalists to meet, and with their powers combined, change the world a little
Loaded with fresh spices, coffee and Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate. Infused with liquor. MLA Gourmet makes cookies for grownups. We love to create decadent recipes using nontraditional ingredients, and we’ve perfected the classic chocolate chip cookie.
Stef-n-Ty is the clothing design team of Stephanie and Tyrone Dickey. Our location is a boutique and coffee shop in the progressive North End neighborhood.
It’s our pleasure to welcome you to My Coffee Shop @ East Lake! It was always Miss Linda’s dream to surround herself with friends, family, and guests in a comfortable, homelike space that makes all who enter feel like they are part of something.
Beyù Caffè (pronounced be-you) is a combination of four business models in downtown Durham, NC – coffee shop, restaurant, bar, and live jazz club – successfully wrapped into one unique business venture.
640 West is a coffeeshop/cafe & event space situated in the Historic West End. Come enjoy food, networking, wifi, poetry, live music, tutoring & community.
The seed for Calabash was planted 2 doors from the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY in 1976. Serving at her parent’s herbal shop & juice bar, owner Sunyatta trained alongside master herbalists learning the medicinal value of teas & spices.
Afro Deli is an urban fast-casual restaurant that provides a delicious fusion of African, Mediterranean, and American themed food in a fast, fun, and friendly environment. Patrons describe the atmosphere as a ‘community meeting’
curators and independent business owners. We live for art and community! We feed your mind, body and soul! Only the freshest creators have graced our stages and we are proud to be your home for soul, rnb, hip hop, and all art grooves in between.
Our mission is to bring superior quality teas to your doorstep. just add honey wants you to enjoy the best, freshest, and most flavorful teas alone or in the company of friends.
As long time residents of Harlem, we wanted to bring something fresh, healthy, delicious to the taste buds and supportive the artistic talent that is near and far. We are committed to honoring that heritage by providing a space for regular arts event
That’s a vision the owner of Akhirah’s Praline Candy, Beignets and Coffee gave me roughly three years ago…before he even knew the location. With focus, passion, and determination Arron Muhammad brought that vision into reality.
View our complete list of over 140+ Alternative to Starbucks here.
Black Enterprise Founder and Publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr., the quintessential entrepreneur who created a vehicle of information and advocacy that has inspired four generations of African Americans to build wealth through entrepreneurship, career advancement and money management, has died. According to his son, Black Enterprise CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., he passed away quietly at 9:22 p.m. on April 6, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Graves was 85.
Graves was widely considered to be the ultimate champion of black business, launching Black Enterprise in 1970 to not only chronicle the rise of African American entrepreneurs, but also provide the tools for African Americans to succeed in the business mainstream and “achieve their measure of the American dream.”
In his award-winning, now classic, business bestseller, How To Succeed In Business Without Being White, Graves stated his life-defining purpose for founding Black Enterprise in simple, direct terms: “The time was ripe for a magazine devoted to economic development in the African American community. The publication was committed to the task of educating, inspiring and uplifting its readers. My goal was to show them how to thrive professionally, economically and as proactive, empowered citizens.”
Driven by that mission, Graves became a trailblazing entrepreneur in his own right, building Black Enterprise from a single-magazine publishing company 50 years ago, to a diversified multimedia business spreading the message of financial empowerment to more than 6 million African Americans through print, digital, broadcast and live-event platforms. As such, Black Enterprise was one of two companies that would appear on the BE 100s—the publication’s annual rankings of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses—each of its 47 years. At one point, Graves would operate two companies on the list, including Pepsi-Cola of Washington, DC, one of the nation’s largest soft-drink distributors owned by African Americans.
Graves’ influence and reach also extended into the mainstream of corporate America. One of the few African Americans to serve on the boards of major corporations such as American Airlines, Daimler Chrysler, Rohm & Hass and Federated Department Stores (Macy’s), he was a staunch advocate for African American inclusion in the C-Suite and corporate governance. Graves was also a tireless champion of major corporations doing business with black-owned companies.
Beyond business, Graves was a force in politics, civil rights and philanthropy. In fact, he played a pivotal role in galvanizing support for the election of the first African American president of the United States, Barack Obama, through his endorsement in Black Enterprise and service as a surrogate campaigning on his behalf. Before that, Graves also championed the historic presidential bids of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Moreover, his fight for racial justice and economic parity earned him the NAACP Spingarn Medal, the organization’s highest honor, in 1999.
Graves was also known for his dedication to family, and especially to his wife Barbara Kydd Graves, who passed away in 2012. Together, they raised three sons, Earl Jr., Johnny and Michael, and were blessed with eight grandchildren.
Born in 1935, Graves reaches the pinnacle of power from humble beginnings in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. It was in that community where he learned the lessons of hard work and perseverance from his parents, Earl Godwin and Winifred Sealy Graves. After graduating from a Morgan State University with a B.A. in economics, he served two years as an officer in the Army, and held jobs in law enforcement and real estate. In 1975, he joined the staff of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy as his administrative assistant. When Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, he decided to start a publication that would provide blacks with the pathway to go into entrepreneurship.
Nationwide — Meet Love Atiya, the first 25-year old unschooled Black woman to launch – not one, two or three – but four self-love inspired businesses; with her newest business being Ethereal by Love Atiya.
Films like Mean Girls often portray homeschooled children as extremely socially awkward, highly intelligent, yet very strange. Atiya, however, spent her entire life trying to change that narrative. In fact, by the age of four, she had already opened her first business.
Thanks to a beautician glueing a weave to her scalp; at the age of eighteen, Love Atiya lost a patch of her hair in the front of her head, as well as her confidence.
Fortunately, she began to do an extensive amount of research until she was able to grow her “edges” back. A few years later, she lost her edges again; but thanks to her new found knowledge, she knew the perfect mix of oils that would grow them back even faster!
After moving from New York City to Atlanta, GA, Love Atiya’s hair product addiction grew, as did her frustration. Why was it so hard for her to find a product that didn’t contain water, alcohol, a paraben or a word she couldn’t pronounce? That’s when Ethereal by Love Atiya was born.
Love Atiya’s signature product, Ethereal Hair Growth Oil, has stunned the world with its cruelty free, vegan, aromatic, detangling, hydrating and thickening abilities.
She comments, “I changed my name to Love Atiya in 2015 because I felt like I was lacking the self love I needed in order to flourish. I wanted everyone I came across to approach me with love.”
“Once I truly began my self love journey and saw how beautiful life became, I knew I had to share this feeling with the world. All of my businesses involve self love in some way,” she continues. “I found a way to weave love into my photography business The Lens Goddess, my Self Love Workshops for youth and in the stories I tell through my production company, Love Atiya Productions.”
Ethereal by Love Atiya is perfect for women and men who are in search of loving themselves again. She says her company’s mission is to show their customers how Ethereal and fulfilling self care can make them feel, and how amazing it can make their hair feel and smell!
Love Atiya thanks her mother for the years she spent encouraging her to embrace and adore her natural hair. Who knew it’d take one home grown product to help her grow a more beautiful relationship with her hair, her confidence and herself.
To support Love Atiya, vist her official web site at LoveAtiya.com
Black and Mobile has experienced a surge in deliveries and sales in Philadelphia and Detroit.
Business operation restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic have ravaged many small businesses throughout the U.S. The food delivery service Black and Mobile is focusing on rallying around Black-owned eateries during the health crisis, Black Enterprise reported.
The platform—which was founded by brother-duo Aaron and David Cabello from Philadelphia last year—was created to spread awareness about Black-owned establishments by helping them grow their digital presence in an effort to connect them with more customers and boost their sales. The delivery service, which has expanded into Detroit, has an ever-growing directory that features 30 Philadelphia-based restaurants and nearly 20 in the Motor City. The twin brothers are dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses all-year-round, but say due to the current health crisis they need assistance now more than ever. Black and Mobile has experienced a surge in deliveries and sales since the outbreak shifted the communities they serve. The founders hope to expand into other cities.
“With my platform, we make it easy to find Black-owned businesses — there are no more excuses,” David told Philly Mag after the platform’s launch. “We locate every black-owned restaurant and we put them on our site. That way if you want to support them, we’ll hire someone from the community and they’ll bring it to your door.”
Black business owners in Philadelphia are trying to remain hopeful during this uncertain time. “I’m just trying to stand firm and support my employees,” Keven Parker, the owner of Keven Parker’s Soul Food Café and Ms. Tootsie’s Restaurant Bar and Lounge told the Philadelphia Tribune. “I hope the state and city comes through with funding.” The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation has reportedly teamed up with the city to create a program to support small business owners.
Entertainer and businessman Lecrae Devaughn Moore, best known as Lecrae, is doing what he can to restore some order to the ongoing health crisis taking place across the world. The gospel/hip-hop rapper has partnered with Love Beyond Walls to install portable wash stations in and around the Atlanta metro area.
“I’ve been following Covid-19 quite intently since it’s become a pandemic and, first and foremost, I want to remind people THIS IS NOT THE END!” Lecrae said in an open letter to Billboard. “While we can heed The Center For Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to stay away from others who are sick, avoid crowds, and properly wash our hands, I can’t help but think about those living on the street who have no way to bathe or wash their hands. People who may eat, sleep and congregate so close to each other that social distancing is not possible. Partnering with Love Beyond Walls is my way of doing what Jesus did which is serve humanity. I’m humbled to support the work of organizations like Love Beyond Walls who help, serve, bring light, love, peace, and restoration every day.”
The initiative launched on March 19 at Love Beyond Wall’s Center, located at 3270 East Main Street, College Park, Georgia, 30337. It was developed by Terence Lester, executive director of Love Beyond Walls. Lester, who was once one of Atlanta’s homeless, is the founder of Love Beyond Walls and is pursuing his PH.D. in Public Policy & Social Change.
“We’re excited to have Lecrae be involved with our work at Love Beyond Walls because he understands the importance of restoring the community and affirming the dignity of those who are unseen,” he said. “Lecrae understands that it takes both faith and action to provide real restoration in our communities and world. Jesus washed feet, now we have an opportunity to wash hands and provide that same type of restoration in a modern way.”
The National Museum of African American Music is on track to open in Nashville later this year. When it does, it will be the only institution dedicated to showcasing music genres created and inspired by black Americans.
In 2015, Karl Dean, who was the mayor of Nashville at the time, announced that plans would move forward to redevelop the old convention center on Fifth and Broadway into a brand-new space. In 2017, demolition started to make way for the construction of apartments, offices, retail, and the NMAAM. Nearly three years from the start of the project, the museum is nearly finished and it is expected to be completed by this summer, WRKN reports.
“The perception nationally, I think, is that Nashville is just country music. And while we love country music, I think it’s important to touch base on all the other musical genres African Americans have helped to influence,” Tamar Smithers, director of Education and Public Programs, said, adding it’s a story that needs to be told.
The museum will consist of more than 1,400 artifacts, seven galleries, a theater, and live music. NMAAM will educate and celebrate the influence African Americans have made on America’s music. R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, Jazz, and Gospel are just a few of more than 50 genres and sub-genres of music that will be showcased and highlighted in the museum, integrating history and interactive technology to bring musicians of the past into the present.
African American music has a very rich history and originated from slaves during the 1600s who used songs to communicate amongst each other. In its basic form, the music was a simple rhythm, beaten out on rudimentary drums and percussion instruments fashioned from materials gathered by slaves. Back in Africa, rhythm was part of daily life and was incorporated into labor, rituals, and celebrations within the community, according to questia.com.
Nursesbnb allows people to house healthcare workers who need special accommodations because of their odd work schedules, according to webuyblack.com. This new innovative platform was created by Keisha Manning, who is a nurse, after realizing there was a need for housing for traveling nurses.
There is a significant nursing shortage in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.1 million new registered nurses will be needed by 2022 to prevent the shortage. Travel nursing has emerged as a response to that shortage, today there are an estimated 25,000 travel nurses in the U.S. alone. Travel nurses usually take short-term assignments at hospitals, ranging from a few weeks to a full year. A typical shift for a traveling nurse might be from 7 PM to 7 AM. Hotels and Airbnb hosts simply can’t accommodate such schedules because they generally cater to tourists.
Manning recalls an experience she had with another nurse who was recruited for an assignment at the hospital she was working for in 2019. The new nurse began his shift that night without knowing where he would go at the end of his shift, at 7 a.m. He called several hotels in the surrounding area and checked with several Airbnb hosts. Keisha saw him the next night and asked where he stayed after he finished his shift. His answer was shocking; he said he was forced to sleep in his car. Hotels weren’t willing to adjust their check-in or check-out times and after a 12-hour shift, he had no other option. Manning recognized there was a real issue but also an opportunity and thus Nursesbnb was born.
With the urgent need for a place to stay for traveling nurses and hospitals being everywhere, Nursesbnb can become the next billion-dollar tech startup, much like the Airbnb business. Airbnb, which is now valued well into the billions, has helped homeowners across the globe become mini-hoteliers, allowing guests to stay overnight in an extra room or take over their home for a set period of time. To date, the company has helped book more than 160 million guests for its more than three million listings in 190 countries. According to Priceonomics, hosts on Airbnb are earning more than anyone else in the gig economy and are raking in an average of $924 a month.
Last month, Target released a new campaign for Black History Month highlighting entrepreneurs and how their businesses got started. One of those entrepreneurs was Bea Dixon, owner of the Honey Pot, who wanted to empower her community, specifically other black women, to own their businesses as well. Unfortunately, the move triggered some fragile trolls online.
Dixon started the Honey Pot when she found out she had contracted bacterial vaginosis which left her ill for months. She was interested in natural remedies that could help her with her ailment. She shared that she had an ancestor visit her in a dream who offered a vision of what would heal her: plant-based solutions consisting of herbs and botanicals. The idea was to help other women heal using holistic, natural ingredients.
She appeared on a recent commercial for Target to tell her story. “The reason why it’s so important for Honey Pot to do well is so that the next black girl that comes up with a great idea, she can have a better opportunity. That means a lot to me,” she said in the commercial.
Unfortunately, not everyone was thrilled about Dixon’s desire to help young black girls. Many white female shoppers expressed their anger in negative comments online, leaving 1-star reviews to diminish her brand reputation.
“Denoting products as being about/for one particular race is just wrong. I will not purchase any of these products. This should be for all women. What are you telling young girls of any other race?” said one angry reviewer.
“I received a bottle of one of the honey pot cleansers in my BUMP box subscription my husband bought for me during my pregnancy, I thought the product was just alright… then I saw the commercial where the founder of the company stated that it’s to empower black women- not ALL women, only black women… it made me feel that the company is not only racist but small minded and not worth purchasing, I will tell all my friends and anyone who asks that the products are not worth purchasing… very disappointed in the company and founder,” said another reviewer.
In an effort to combat the wave of negativity, many of Dixon’s supporters fought back, leaving positive reviews of their own experiences with her products.
“All those one star reviews can stay mad that this product isn’t for them. It’s probably not for me either but it deserves to be rated fairly by the beautiful and powerful black women it was made for,” said one review.
“The negative comments only prove the point that no one wants black women to succeed. As if saying I hope this inspires other black girls excludes white women who literally have to do nothing and are rewarded for it. The jealously jumped out quick,” said another.
Katrina Wilson’s passion has always been to help people look their most glorious through the complex art of hairstyling. The Detroit native is now able to successfully achieve that dream thanks to being granted $596,000.
Katrina is launching her own beauty salon called Creme Brulee. What sets this salon apart from all the other salons in downtown Detroit, is the fact that it is not only multicultural but luxurious.
According to BlackBusiness.com, Katrina’s background includes growing up in a family that often struggled financially. As a result, Katrina began working as a hair stylist at only 13 years old in order to help her family with money. When she was 16, she earned her Cosmetology license and has been working with a variety of VIPs as a “platform artist and celebrity stylist,” according to BlackBusiness.com.
But it was when she got an endorsement from the industry’s #1 brand, Paul Mitchell, that her career blew up. Katrina wanted to go a step further and open her very own salon. She decided that she wanted to create a luxurious salon where her clients can be treated like celebrities no matter their race and background.
Once she made her choice to own her salon, Katrina was given $170,000 from organizations such as the Space Award from the Motor City Match Program which according to BlackBusiness.com, “helps entrepreneurs from Detroit find a location and build their space.” Katrina was also given $426,000 in microloans. All funding is now being used to renovate the space she has rented for her salon.
Creme Brulee will have its grand opening this year in downtown Detroit. The salon will be the first and only multicultural, celebrity beauty salon in the area that caters to all hair textures and ethnicities, setting it apart from all the rest in Detroit.
Diondre Lewis, a technology entrepreneur, who also runs training programs in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area noticed that many of his students were having issues with transportation to get themselves to his classes. To solve this pain point, Lewis decided to create a rideshare service, ScoopM, that would be safer than the traditional rideshare companies.
“This group [of students] was anywhere from 14 to maybe 18 or 19 years old,” Lewis told The Charlotte Post, “and a lot of them relied on their parents for transportation to the training. And if there was ever any kind of glitch, or any type of issue with, with the parents’ schedules, they were not able to come to class, they were not able to get that valuable training that we delivered.”
Lewis looks to take market share away from companies like Uber, Lyft, and GrubHub by positioning ScoopM as focused on safety. Lewis’ rideshare company requires mandatory FBI screenings, interviews, and random drug tests for its drivers. The cars also have ScoopM decals and LED lights identifying the vehicles. There are also interior and exterior cameras, as well as a panic button.
All of those features are for the customer, but there are also advantages for the rideshare drivers with higher pay and better benefits than the competitors.
“The awesome thing about rideshare is that it has been created by these entities. Uber and Lyft, they’ve also created a connected economy, gig economy, where people can work when they want, people can live the lifestyle they want to live, they can supplement their own existing income,” Lewis said. “They’ve created this massive market, but they’re not paying their drivers right, they’re not being transparent regarding the way that they pay. And they are not background checking their drivers adequately.”
Lewis is not worried about well-funded competition that already has several years’ head start in the market.
“Every time a McDonald’s opens up on a corner, there’s a Burger King on the other side,” Lewis said. “It’s like, this is business, this is American enterprise. You figure out a way to separate yourself.”
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