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Zaire Wade has his daddy’s hustle. The eldest child of modern NBA legend Dwyane Wade is currently making his own way in the NBA, having just been chosen as a 10th pick in the 2021 NBA G League draft by the Salt Lake City Stars. And, in a recent press release announcement, it was revealed that his socially conscious clothing brand, YNG-DNA, has teamed up with The Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX) and Electric Token to release a collection of NFTs. “We’re beyond excited to partner with Electric Token, a team with a track record of being at the forefront of trends across many industries, and WAX to release sustainable NFTs tied to our brand,” said Zaire Wade in a press release provided to AfroTech. “Finding partners that understand how important sustainability is to not only the fashion and NFT industries but also to the world at large has been the most important aspect for us. We can’t wait to elevate our brand and its mission with a new group of consumers.” For its part, Electric Token...
Whether we realize it or not, Black creativity is one of the world’s most lucrative assets and it’s time we take back control over our superpower – the power to shift the world’s dynamic and how it connects with our culture. Through platforms like DNABLOCK, all Black creatives, and even non-creatives, have the opportunity to access and utilize the art of animation to personify our cultural experiences for the world to behold. DNABLOCK — a 3-D animation platform that enables the world’s greatest creative minds to take their narratives from concept to creation — was founded by tech specialist Anthony Kelani, who had a vision to democratize a technical form of creative expression for Black and people of color. The startup, which is loosely referred to as “ Pixar for the people,” removes the barriers between tech and creativity to bridge the gap and empower these groups to take charge of their own narratives. By offering a unique platform to visualize and build our creations from...
In the past, DNA testing was an expensive technology largely associated with forensic use. Now, it seems commercials for consumer DNA testing are nearly impossible to avoid. With companies like Ancestry and 23andMe making DNA testing easier to access, more than 26 million people have taken an at-home ancestry test by the start of 2019. If people keep taking tests at the same pace, companies could soon have data on more than 100 million people within 24 months, according to MIT Technology Review. DNA tests got a major boost in public image when police arrested Joseph DeAngelo — the Golden State Killer — for over a dozen murders and 50 rapes committed in the 1970s and ‘80s. Police located DeAngelo after making a fake profile and uploading his information to an open-sourced DNA database, GEDMatch, where they happened to find a relative. Over 20 arrests have been made using similar technology. The nature of DeAngelo’s case made it easy for the news to be celebrated while the very...
DNA companies have started to pop up all over. While some are excited to make new familial connections, others have wondered if it’s responsible or safe to give companies your DNA. After all, who else would have access to it? Now, it seems DNA testing company FamilyTreeDNA — one of the largest at-home testing companies — is doubling down on a previously reported partnership with the FBI through a new campaign titled Families Want Answers. In a statement , FamilyTreeDNA’s president and founder, Bennett Greenspan, said, “The genealogy community has the ability to crowd-source crime solving.” According to the press release, the company’s terms of service only lets law enforcement get private customer information through a “valid legal process such as a subpoena or a search warrant.” The rules — and transparency around them — are new. Only two months ago, Buzzfeed News revealed that FamilyTreeDNA partnered with the FBI, giving them access to the agency’s genealogy database. This raised...
Nobel scientist James Watson has been stripped of his remaining honorary titles at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory following the racist statements he made during a recent episode of the PBS documentary “American Masters: Decoding Watson.” During his interview, Watson claimed that genes are the reason for black people’s lack of intelligence. “Dr. Watson’s statements are reprehensible, unsupported by science, and in no way represent the views of CSHL, its trustees, faculty, staff, or students,” CSHL said in a statement . “The Laboratory condemns the misuse of science to justify prejudice.” This is not the first time Watson has come under fire for racist and prejudice remarks. In 2007, CSHL removed Watson from his position as Chancellor and from all administrative duties in the lab after an interview in the Sunday Times where he claimed that black people’s genetics make them inferior and less intelligent than white people . Watson issued an apology after the interview, but CSHL said...
The iconic words from Big Sean, “Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back,” could easily be the anthem for Jalen Hurts’ collegiate journey. His story isn’t just about wins and stats; it’s about resilience, growth, and the kind of determination that doesn’t flinch in the face of adversity. From being benched on the biggest stage in college football to becoming one of the NFL’s brightest stars, Hurts’ path proves that setbacks are just setups for comebacks. Jalen Hurts’Hometown Roots Born and raised in Houston, TX, Hurts grew up with football in his DNA. According to ABC 13, at Channelview High School, he played under the watchful eye of his father, Averion Hurts, who was also the team’s head coach. It was there that Hurts started turning heads with his dual-threat capabilities, proving he could hurt defenses both through the air and on the ground. His high school career was impressive enough to attract offers from top college programs nationwide. Alabama: Early Glory, Tough...
Kendrick Lamar received mixed reactions from the public over his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance — but it led to a nearly 175% increase in Spotify streams across the United States. According to an Instagram post shared by Spotify on Feb. 10, 2025, several songs from Lamar’s halftime setlist experienced significant boosts. “Not Like Us” — the popular Drake-aimed diss track released in May 2024 — saw a 430% increase, followed by “HUMBLE,” which rose 300%. “DNA,” which, along with “HUMBLE,” is from the 2017 album “DAMN,” experienced a 260% increase. “Luther,” performed with SZA, and “tv off,” featuring lefty gunplay, both experienced a 170% increase in streams. SZA also benefited from the performance, with an 80% increase in her Spotify streams. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spotify News (@spotifynews) Exactly one week after winning five Grammy Awards — bringing his total to 22 — Lamar performed 10 songs at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025, including five tracks...
If you’ve been tapped in to the world of business news in recent months, you’re likely well aware that DEI measures are firmly on the chopping block, thanks to the Trump administration . The DEI framework, which seeks to support diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace, has been an invaluable tool in the national marketplace to ensure that those in marginalized communities are given a fair shot at employment and upward mobility. Much like other social programs, such as affirmative action, DEI has been integral to the success of disabled individuals, underprivileged youths and those who identify as part of the LGBTQ community . Unfortunately, a powerful minority of fringe right-wing lawmakers have taken issue with DEI initiatives and have quixotically maligned the entire practice as discriminatory. Since the newly established White House cabinet has become so dead-set on eliminating DEI measures across the board, legal requirements for fair hiring practices have already...
As Kendrick Lamar prepares to take center stage at Super Bowl LIX, alongside SZA, keep a close eye on the production. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Apple Music (@applemusic) It will all be spearheaded by Lamar’s agency pgLang, which embraces creators from authors, film and television directors, producers, musicians , and more who are aligned in the vision to produce “quality” and “unconventional concepts,” its website mentions. Currently, 30 individuals and five executives are on board the pglang team, and they will have a hand in Super Bowl LIX — held Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans, LA — working on edits, production, stage design, sound tech, and more. During a press conference with Apple Music, the Super Bowl’s main sponsor since 2022, Lamar highlighted the importance of pgLang’s team, giving them their flowers and acknowledging that their collective efforts are what made it all possible for the show to reach its finish line. “Shout out to pgLang…That’s my...
Rashida Jones is stepping down as president of MSNBC, marking a significant transition just days before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House . USA Today reports that she will remain in an advisory role until March. Rebecca Kutler, a Jones recruit from CNN and MSNBC’s senior vice president of content strategy, will serve as the interim president. “I came to this decision over the holidays while reflecting on our remarkable journey and the many successes we’ve achieved together as a team,” Jones shared in an internal memo to staff, per USA Today. “This has been the most rewarding chapter of my professional career and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished, which has been made possible only by you.” Jones was the first Black woman to head a major television news network when appointed in December 2020, AFROTECH™ previously reported. She succeeded Phil Griffin, officially stepping into the role in Feb. 1, 2021. Jones previously served as senior vice...
Crowdaa aims to remind the middle-class creator economy that power can be in their hands. The French-American startup, founded by musician and psychologist Vigile Hoareau and American composer and producer Jimmy Thomas, understands the potential of technology to level the playing field for creators. The company aims to empower users to take greater control of their creative freedoms and challenge the status quo often perpetuated on social media platforms like TikTok—which faces a potential ban on January 19 unless sold to a U.S.-based company—and Instagram, as well as on music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. This includes moving away from traditional revenue models on these platforms, which often benefit the platforms more than the creators, especially regarding compensation. Even Snoop Dogg has voiced concerns about the low payouts from Spotify, despite achieving 1 billion streams. He reportedly received less than $45,000, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. “When you look at...
Being Black is not a monolith, which is why the culture’s approach to gaming is not something that is one-size-fits-all. That said, Xbox is on a mission to revolutionize the industry by offering a variety of games that fit the many needs of those playing. Beyond those who play games, there is also a space for those who have an interest in creating them over at the Microsoft-led company. One of the latest games that stem from Xbox is South of Midnight, a spellbinding third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. Designed to celebrate Black heritage and Southern culture, the project follows main character Hazel, who was created by Compulsion Game’s, Zaire Lanier, who serves as the writer and narrative designer on the game. “When creating Hazel, for me, it was important to not think of Blackness as a monolith,” she said during the “ WOVEN: The Power of Black Voices in Gaming” panel at Microsoft’s Black TechXcellence House during the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024. ...
Mathew Knowles has made a name for himself in the business world without the help of investors. Entrepreneurship In His DNA The businessman was seated center stage during the Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow Financial Empowerment Summit held at the UIC Forum in Chicago, IL, on Oct. 12, 2024. The event is designed to connect the community to tools, resources, and conversations that encourage the desire to create long-term wealth . “Bringing Mathew Knowles to our summit reflects our dedication to teaching real, sustainable wealth-building principles,” said Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the city’s treasurer . “His focus on generational wealth and self-funded success aligns with our goal of helping Chicagoans achieve true economic mobility. At the Treasurer’s Office, we believe everyone deserves access to the knowledge and resources to build wealth on their own terms, creating a legacy that will benefit future generations.” Photo Credit: Antwan Collins Knowles is well regarded as the...
Though he is a relative newcomer to the world of professional track and field, Botswana’s own Letsile Tebogo shattered records earlier this year by taking home his nation’s very first gold Olympic medal . The runner, who’s affectionately known as School-Boy, is one of several Olympians set to take center stage in the upcoming Netflix docu-series Sprint: The World’s Fastest Humans Part 2 . The series, which premieres today, Nov. 13, will detail Tebogo’s grueling training regiment, unmatched dedication and eventual path to victory at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Since his star is on the rise, this seems like the perfect time to do a deep dive on the African speedster. Tebogo is known to stay quite private and refrain from excessive use of social media , though we’ve managed to piece together several inspiring details about his background, career highs and net worth, allowing fans from around the globe a chance to get better acquainted with his story. Letsile Tebogo’s...