Arlington National Cemetery has removed DEI references from its website. They are not the first of their kind to do so. Under shifting federal policies, many companies have scaled back on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Two days after his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signaled his administration’s stance on DEI. A White House press release outlined executive orders targeting DEI initiatives in federal agencies, schools, and universities. Trump issued a two-week mandate giving schools a two-week deadline to eliminate “racial preferences” in college application essays, financial aid, and hiring or be at risk of losing funding, The Guardian notes. He also aims to “take steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” at the federal level, as AFROTECH™ reported. Since then, more and more companies have begun to shift their policies in alignment. This includes Meta, Amazon, Google, Target, Walmart, and now the Arlington National...

Students from across the country can benefit from the AFROTECH™ Conference. You don’t need to be a professional or a graduating college student to make an impact at the annual Black tech mecca. Learning is a lifelong process, and by attending the conference, you’ll gain access to a dynamic lineup of speakers and corporations covering topics such as entrepreneurship, wealth building, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Additionally, attending AFROTECH™ presents countless networking opportunities—its first year in Houston, Texas, in November 2024 drew more than 37,000 attendees. Morgan State University junior Mivette Garcia had several expectations when she attended the AFROTECH™ Conference for the first time in 2024—expectations shaped by her pursuits as a business administration and management major, an intern at the university’s Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center, and the owner of a virtual beauty boutique that she hopes to expand to include beauty...

Shonda Rhimes is stepping down from her position on the Kennedy Center board. Deadline reports that the award-winning producer had served as treasurer of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which exposes art to 2 million annual visitors and is guided by a mission to promote a “culture of inclusiveness,” according to its website. The center has served 1.4 million students and offers education and outreach programs throughout the United States and in 29 countries. Now, the center’s leadership, which contributed to its direction and impact, will shift in response to Trump becoming more involved. He previously shared on Friday, Feb. 7, 2024, his intentions to become its chairman and stated that he would remove board members as part of his plan to pursue “a golden age in arts and culture,” the Los Angeles Times reports. This resulted in 18 board members being removed from the roster on the center’s website by Feb. 10, including chairman, David Rubenstein. Most of the...

Duane Martin is one of those actors who disappears and reappears like a Maxwell album. You know he’s “ in the lab cookin ” and will pop out when he feels like it. On Election Day, he asked men to fight for women’s rights. Then, after not-so-subtly hinting at his presidential pick, he stepped out of the limelight again. Still, when his fans want to see him, it’s not hard to find him in Bel-Air , The New Edition Story , The Seat Filler with co-star Kelly Rowland , Deliver Us from Eva, Out All Night , Any Given Sunday and his longest-standing project as Robert James Sr. on All of Us . But while he’s playing the background right now, his fans may still wonder what is Duane Martin’s net worth? Kevin Winter/Getty Images Martin’s Ties To Will Smith Martin and rapper-actor Will Smith have been seen together on more than a few occasions. They’re not just co-stars or business partners. They’re also friends. Even in Jada Pinkett Smith ‘s book Worthy , the actress told a comical story about a...

Climbing his way into first place of today’s billionaires , South African-born Elon Musk is making headlines for his political affiliations as much as his business decisions. Two of his most well-known are Musk’s purchase of Twitter (X) in 2022 and founding of artificial intelligence startup xAI in 2023. Since the November presidential election, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has become even richer, by 77% , than he was last year. Selling shares of Space X garnered the surpassing of his own record-setting wealth amount now making him worth more than Costco . Wondering how much that is exactly? Here’s what we know about Elon Musk’s net worth. Who Is Elon Musk? Allison Robbert-Pool / Getty Images Elon Musk received bachelor’s degrees in physics and economics from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In 1995, he moved to California to pursue a master’s degree in physics from Stanford University. He would leave, after only two days in the program, as he was certain that the...

Described as “an original Bulls great ” by Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Bob Love joined the team in 1968 , two years after the franchise was established in 1966. He averaged an estimated 21 points per game, exhibiting a level of competition and defense that influenced future ballers within the league even after his retirement following the 1976-77 season. His jersey number, 10, was retired in 1994 after 17 years of retirement and nine years dedicated to the Bulls franchise. Love even loved the franchise so much that he got married on the court during the halftime of a game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Chicago United Center in 1995. Now, with his recent passing following a prolonged battle with cancer, fans are wondering about Love’s net worth. Here’s what we know. Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images Love Came From Humble Beginnings Love grew up in northern Louisiana as one of 14 children and was lovingly referred to as “Butterbean” due to his love for lima beans. His...

Civil rights leader Rashad Robinson and actor Kendrick Sampson had a much-needed conversation at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024. During the fireside chat “We’ve Voted, Now What?,’” on Nov. 15, the two activists led a compelling discussion around post-election and reclaiming our power through infrastructure. Robinson served as the president at Color of Change for 13 years and is currently a board member of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation. With his expertise, Robinson shared his thoughts on what true power looks like for communities of color and the realities of who benefits from the lack thereof. “We have to get clear about power to know what we will do next,” Robinson shared. “When I think about power, I very much think about the ability to change the rules. Far too often, we mistake presence for power. Presence is visibility, awareness, retweets, shoutouts from the stage, etc. For example, we can sometimes think that a black president means that we’re in a post-racial world. Or when...

From one of the most impactful singles, “Where Is The Love,” to the catchy hit “Boom Boom Pow,” will.i.am has been an integral part of the music industry and still places a massive stamp on the world. As a member of the iconic music group Black Eyed Peas, the Grammy-Award winner has released many popular studio albums. Will.i.am has also played the role of record producer by working alongside other artists such as Michael Jackson, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few. Born William Adams, will.i.am grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He has always been encouraged to pursue music and stand out. His music career began in the eighth grade, performing with a group around the city. After becoming the Black Eyed Peas, their recognition continued to soar, which landed the group a contract with Interscope Records. The Black Eyed Peas released their first studio album, “Behind The Front” in 1998. With over 25 years in the music industry, will.i.am decided to expand...

Since August 2016, Nigerian-American rapper, director, and entrepreneur Tobechukwu “Tobe” Dubem Nwigwe has made an imprint in the music industry for his authentic “hood hymns,” visual storytelling, and integration of faith and family in his art. Nwigwe stopped by the AFROTECH™ Conference on Nov. 15 for the session, “Visionary Beats: Tobe Nwigwe on Visual Storytelling,” where he shared details about his creative process, the importance of living in your purpose, and how he wants to be a true example for his children and fans. Before Nwigwe became recognized as Grammy-nominated Best New Artist in 2023 and Webby Special Achievements award winner, he didn’t see himself as an artist growing up. The Houston, TX, native attended the University of North Texas and was on track to play for the NFL. However, after an unfortunate injury, he dove into different passions. Nwigwe told AFROTECH™ in an interview that he has always known who he is as a person. The originator just needed to figure out...

As the Chief Marketing Officer for Mars Wrigley North America, Gabrielle Wesley leads a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, exemplifying how Black women can thrive in the C-suite. Originally born on the south side of Chicago, Wesley expressed during the AFROTECH 2024 conference panel discussion, “Fueling Ambition For Women On The Rise,” that her desire to join marketing started after watching the 1992 film “Boomerang,” starring Eddie Murphy and Robin Givens. “When I saw people who looked like me doing marketing, doing advertising, leading big brands, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Wesley’s first job was as an intern in financial services at Northern Trust. While there, she met a woman named Jackie, who became her mentor for her confidence, leadership, and her way to command a room. After the internship, Wesley held roles in brand management at both food and beverage corporations, General Mills and ConAgra. With 20 years of experience, Wesley has managed a variety of brands,...

Melissa Bradley set out on a mission to address the lack of financial resources available to Black founders in Washington, D.C., and ultimately surpassed even her own expectations in achieving this goal. She created a national organization called 1863 Ventures, a name that pays homage to the year of the Emancipation Proclamation, symbolizing the organization’s commitment to economic empowerment and social justice. 1863 Ventures has helped various businesses reach over one million dollars. Before her successful organization became a vast resource for many Black founders, Bradley had always had an eye for business. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Georgetown University in 1989, she received her master’s degree in business administration (MBA) in Marketing at American University in 1993. Bradley’s education prepared her to pursue a life of entrepreneurship, even if it included dealing with complex societal realities. On Nov. 14, during the session “Founder’s...

Aaron Walton is the CEO and founder of the award-winning ad agency Walton Isaacson. He is celebrated for his extensive work with renowned brands and celebrities, establishing himself as a true trailblazer in the art of collaboration. Walton began his career as a marketing executive for the food and beverage giant Pepsico and went on to create his own company, Aaron Walton Entertainment (AWE). He later sold AWE in 2002 to Omnicom Group’s DAS Division. This transaction resulted in Walton being appointed president of Omnicom’s Radiate Entertainment Group, driving exponential growth across numerous agencies. With his knowledge, Walton shared how he successfully created major opportunities to transform traditional advertising practices by embedding them with cultural insight and innovation. On Nov. 14, during the AFROTECH 2024 Conference, Walton spoke about challenging the practice of collaborating with the same people within the same industries. While aligning with brands for successful...

Interest rates have been cut once again by the Federal Reserve. According to CNBC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System voted to lower interest rates to a range between 4.5% to 4.75%.  It had previously lowered rates in March 2024, which had been the first time since 2020, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. While this may seem like a hopeful sign, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell shared mixed views about the economy. CNBC mentions Powell expressed “feeling good” about the economy, but also shared the following remarks during a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 7. “The federal government’s fiscal path, fiscal policy, is on an unsustainable path,” Powell said. “The level of our debt relative to the economy is not unsuitable, the path is unsustainable. And we see that in a very large deficit, you’re at full employment [and] that’s expected to continue, so it’s important that be dealt with. It is ultimately a threat to the economy.” Other economists are weighing in on...

Investing $30,000 annually is a substantial commitment that can lead to significant wealth accumulation over time. Whether you’re saving for retirement, a large purchase, or financial independence, a $30,000 yearly investment has the potential to yield impressive returns. However, determining if this amount is “good” depends on various factors, including your financial goals, income level, investment strategy, and risk tolerance. Here’s a breakdown of what makes investing $30,000 a year effective and what to consider in order to maximize your investment strategy. Potential Growth of a $30,000 Annual Investment To understand the impact of investing $30,000 a year, let’s consider some hypothetical growth scenarios. If you invest $30,000 annually and earn an average return of 7% per year (a common historical average for the stock market ), your investments would grow to around $1.02 million over 20 years. Over 30 years, the total could reach approximately $2.85 million, thanks to the...

This year’s AfroTech conference going down in Houston is more than just a gathering—it’s a celebration of Black creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship! We’re thrilled to partner with Walmart who will be bringing The Shoutout Experience to AfroTech 2024. Part of Walmart’s Black & Unlimited program, The Shoutout is a bold initiative spotlighting Black creators, founders and businesses through the power of community-driven support. Nearly 50% of Black-owned businesses thrive on word of mouth, underscoring the essential role that we as a community play in driving visibility and success for the Black-owned brands we admire and love. With The Shoutout Experience, Walmart Black & Unlimited harnesses this power, giving us all a way to wear, share and shout out our love for Black ingenuity while amplifying the game-changing creators and entrepreneurs who lead these businesses. So, what can you expect at AfroTech? Get ready for an experience that empowers you to be an ambassador for...