All results
Meta is being sued for allegedly directly contributing to education inequities in Black communities. A lawsuit filed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP on behalf of the Equal Rights Center (ERC) cites that Meta’s algorithm has shown bias by directing ads for for-profit colleges and universities to Black communities. In contrast, more ads featuring public and nonprofit colleges and universities were shown to white users. “Relegating Black students to receive information about for-profit schools, which often provide lower quality education at greater financial cost, also sends a negative message about who belongs in which types of institutions,” a statement from an email sent to AFROTECH™ by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights read. The difference between the two types of institutions is that for-profit colleges focus on generating profits...
Robert F. Smith’s Vista Equity Partners has signed off on a multi-billion-dollar deal. According to a news release, the private equity firm that has more than $100 billion in assets under management, has agreed to acquire Smartsheet— an enterprise platform for modern work management — alongside Blackstone for nearly $8.4B in an all-cash transaction. Per the agreement, the buyers would acquire all outstanding shares held by Smartsheet stockholders for $56.50 per share in cash once the proposed transaction is completed. “For more than a decade, we have built a thriving community of employees, partners, and customers, each focused on building and benefiting from Smartsheet’s industry-leading work management platform,” Mark Mader, CEO of Smartsheet, said in the press release. “Our next phase of growth and customer success is underway, and we look forward to partnering with Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners to accelerate our vision of modernizing work management for enterprises,...
High-performing women reportedly face more judgment compared to their male counterparts. Management software company Textio released a report surveying 450 participants that reveals a drastic difference among workplace feedback depending on a person’s gender or race. In fact, 67% of men said they were described as “intelligent,” while only 32% of women said they received the same description. When considering race, the numbers dwindle with 18% of Black workers saying they were labeled as intelligent in comparison to nearly 50% for white and Asian workers. With traits that include “likable,” “brilliant, “genius,” “gifted,” and “talented,” women still reportedly heard that feedback less than men. Even when surveyed on receiving negative feedback, women stated they experienced this at a higher rate with 56% being labeled as “ unlikable” in comparison to 16% of men, and 78% of women said they were called “emotional” in comparison to 11% of men. On top of this, women are seven times more...
Editorial note: Opinions and thoughts are the writer’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. All the recent talk about Black jobs got this career expert thinking about one of the best career development investments money can buy for Black professionals — AFROTECH™ Conference. And no, the Blavity team is not paying me to say this. It truly is not your average conference. In 2023, AFROTECH™ Conference had 35,000 city-wide participants, over 160 enterprises, and more than 200 speakers, solidifying it as the largest gathering of Black tech professionals. Keep in mind that it’s also not a cheap ticket. The companies that show up, host events, and sponsor employees and recruiting teams to attend are signaling their willingness to make a substantial investment in Black businesses and Black talent. I’ve been going since the very early days and can attest that it’s a place where connections are made, ideas are sparked, and careers are launched. I was surprised last year when I saw some...
Terrence Howard is set on pushing forward with a legal battle regarding his Hollywood earnings. As previously shared by AFROTECH™, the Oscar-nominated actor filed a lawsuit against the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in December 2023. Howard claims that the agency prompted him to accept talent fees that were less than what he should’ve received. For starring in the hit TV series, “Empire,” he allegedly earned 30% to 50% less than what he should have earned per episode. “We expect our agents and our lawyers to look after us, and therefore we’re free to do all of the work that you guys enjoy so much,” Howard expressed during a press conference that year. “I trusted CAA to look after me, and they looked after themselves.” During the press conference, Howard noted that he wasn’t entirely certain that the lowball pay was due to a “racial issue.” However, now, he has come forward to not only further address the elephant in the room but also detail what he believes he’s owed. In an interview...
Co-founders Jillian Anderson and DeVynne Starks are breaking ground in one of the nation’s busiest airports. Anderson and Starks are leading HERide, a rideshare company that prioritizes women’s safety. The concept was born in 2017 after Anderson dedicated time to pursuing a professional basketball career. Anderson then moved to Atlanta, GA, and worked in the gig economy as a rideshare worker. On her routes, she recognized a pattern among female passengers — they expressed hesitation about rideshares. “There were a lot of women that were hesitant with riding with men at night using Uber and Lyft. I realized that this was just a consistent problem that those platforms did not have any intention on solving. So I decided to solve it myself,” Anderson, 31, chief technology officer, told AFROTECH™. Bootstrapping the venture, HERide launched in 2019. Anderson brought her insights from her undergraduate years at Albany State University in Albany, GA, where she completed a Bachelor of...
Cordell Broadus persists in his quest to foster opportunities for artists. On Thursday, March 7, 2024, Broadus was seen in The Bahamas to distribute scholarships through t he Champ Medici Arts Fund, a $1 million philanthropic initiative in collaboration with the Tezos Foundation. The purpose of the financial commitment is to ensure “emerging and legacy musicians and artists” are supported in their creative endeavors on the Tezos blockchain, the foundation’s website mentions. “The power of community is at the center of everything I create,” Broadus told AFROTECH™. “My vision and the inspiration behind the fund have been to provide opportunities and access to new technology and innovative forms of artistic expression for up-and-coming artists, especially for minority groups.” Broadus’ focus on the country follows years of visitations, igniting his desire to support local artists in a meaningful manner. Hence, the University of The Bahamas (UB) emerges as one of the recent recipients...
For six seasons between 2014 and 2020, Shonda Rhymes had television audiences on lock every Thursday, partially due to the thrilling drama series “How To Get Away With Murder.” Starring the iconic Viola Davis, the hour-long show chronicled the complicated daily life, career, and antics of its main character, Annalise Keating. Although Viola Davis gave viewers a captivating weekly performance, her time on the ABC series was not the first nor last time she would have audiences in a proverbial chokehold, enamored by her acting chops. According to an interview with the Harvard Business Review, Viola Davis was born on a former plantation in Saint Matthews, SC, and raised in poverty. She faced continued racism after moving to Rhode Island. However, her humble beginnings didn’t stop her from discovering her love of acting and using that as a tool for her success. “I had a passion for acting because it was therapeutic. Art heals the mind. Art is supposed to move you, shake you, make you...
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and media, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) stands as a powerhouse – not just in terms of its vast portfolio, but also in its commitment to innovation and inclusion. On the heels of its 100-year anniversary, the company remains committed to its mission of amplifying the voices of global storytellers to reflect audiences around the world, promoting diversity, removing barriers and creating space for all to share ideas and be heard. As the Senior Vice President of Applied Data Science and Machine Learning, Haile Owusu has witnessed first-hand the organization’s transformative journey. Across his five years, WBD has drawn the brightest minds and fostered an environment of creativity, diversity and limitless opportunities. A Legacy of Reinvention WBD’s scale is unparalleled, boasting 95 million direct-to-consumer subscribers globally. This scale gives the company even more reason to be innovative while addressing complex tech issues and solving...
“The Weekend” hasn’t been the same since 2017. That was the year SZA told the girls she had “it covered for the weekend.” For those not already familiar with her art, “The Weekend” was one of the hit singles off of her debut album “Ctrl” that catapulted SZA and her music into the mainstream. Born Solána Imani Rowe, SZA is a New Jersey native who’s been professionally releasing music since around 2012, with EPs and a list of singles. Since starting her music career, SZA has enjoyed success in the industry, breaking free from the narrative that “ R&B is dead.” Her career has landed her 39 songs on the Billboard charts, seven of which were ranked Top 10 hits, per Billboard. Most recently, her song “Kill Bill” became her first-ever song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. In a Twitter post, she noted how much the moment meant to her. “took me a over week to process cause I dreamt of this my entire career.. didn’t feel real lol, still doesn’t,” she shared. “but I wanna say...
Some individuals rely on a stacked resume to prove why they are worthy of a position. However, for Maurice Slade, his love for music has overshadowed the value of any bullet point. Slade was recently appointed as SoundCloud’s Head of Marketing, Artist Relations, where he will cultivate the artist-to-fan relationship. Of course, he is well positioned for this role as he previously played a hand in the branding and marketing strategies for Hip-Hop artists Travis Scott and 21 Savage while working under Epic Records. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maurice Slade (@squarebiz)