Katrina Parrott is fighting to have her innovation recognized.

Google is releasing 53 new gender-neutral emojis for its Pixel smartphones, according to Fast Company. The emojis will be available for other Android phones later in the year. Vampires, swimmers, zombies and a list of other emojis that feature male and female options will now have another choice in the middle. The gender-neutral emojis have subtle changes in clothing and hairstyles to be more inclusive of non-gender conforming communities. “Gender is complicated,” Google designer Jennifer Daniel, said to Fast Company. Daniel also serves on the Unicode Consortium, the organization that sets international standards for emojis.” “It is an impossible task to communicate gender in a single image. It’s a construct. It lives dynamically on a spectrum. I personally don’t believe there is one visual design solution at all, but I do believe to avoid it is the wrong approach here,” Daniel said to Fast Company. Other developers have also petitioned the Unicode Consortium to be more inclusive by...

Dove wants increased representation in the digital world, leading the global personal care brand to launch a guide to help designers create characters with Black hair textures and protective styles for video games. “Code My Crown” — created with the help of Black game developers, artists, academics, and stylists — features instructions, personal insights, detailed references, and complete open-source code. “In the real world, there is an incredible variety of Black hairstyles. But this is rarely reflected in the gaming world,” said Lead Guide Contributor and Founder of the Open Source Afro Hair Library (Osahl) A.M. Darke in the guide.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Prof. A.M. Darke (@prettydarke) Recent research indicates that 85% of Black gamers believe video games poorly represent Black hair textures, according to Dove. Additionally, around 80% of Black gamers report feeling excluded, discriminated against, or inadequate when they do not see accurate...

Beyoncé is taking her talents to the spirits industry! The “Cowboy Carter” songstress continues to defy industry standards while paying homage to her Southern roots. This time, she’s introducing her line of American whisky alongside Moët Hennessy, which falls under the French luxury goods giant LVMH. In a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the brand revealed that SirDavis has been in the making for years, offering an “unexpected take” on whisky through its “ bespoke recipe,” unusual maturation process, and distinct taste profile, influenced by Japanese and Scottish styles. Beyoncé debuted the beverage i n a post shared to Instagram, with the comment “Davis in my bones” alongside emojis of whisky glasses. According to Forbes, the whisky industry is the same one that made her husband, Jay-Z, a billionaire. The Houston, TX, native may very well join the billionaire ranks herself with an estimated net worth of $760 million.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Beyoncé...

Mooski’s 2021 hit “Track Star” may be filled with double entendre and deeper meanings, but its opening line — “She’s a runner. She’s a track star”— takes on a literal meaning for Sha’Carri Richardson. Richardson is a Dallas, TX, native whose track career has experienced some hills and valleys but never infused extreme doubt for anyone who has followed the star’s journey. Her athletic prowess was confirmed even further when she qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sha’Carri Richardson’s Journey Richardson’s 2024 qualification is a testament to her resilience following a challenging period in 2021. According to a Forbes profile, a failed drug test led to a one-month suspension, causing her to miss the Tokyo Olympics. Her candid discussion about using cannabis to cope with the stress of Olympic qualifying and the loss of her biological mother earned her widespread respect. Despite the emotional turmoil, Richardson returned triumphantly in 2023, securing gold in the 100 meters at the...

Growing up in a Black household, you likely heard the phrase “don’t jump on my furniture.” And as much as many people tried to adhere to the rule, for some, jumping was a natural passion and interest. That passionate sentiment could be said for Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles. With an early interest in the sport since the age of six, Biles, no doubt, took Kriss Kross’ lyrics to “Jump” literally. The Olympic star began competing in competitions by capitalizing on her affinity for gymnastics. It earned her initial first-place prize on vault at the 2012 American Classic, landing her a spot to compete at the 2012 USA Gymnastics National Championships. Biles would be named to the U.S. Junior National Team that same year. After mastering the aerodynamic sport, Biles would earn gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Olympics. She also has won various other world championships. While her sports career is impressive, Biles has leveraged her success as an athlete to make investments and...

Yara Shahidi has crossed the finish line. According to People, the Grown-ish and Black-ish star has officially graduated from Harvard University. While we are excited for her, it was also hard for Shahidi to contain her excitement, even creating a series of posts leading up to the big day on Instagram. “Celebrating ALL week! T MINUS DAY AWAY FROM GRADUATION,” she said in one post.  

If Allyson Felix ever decides to follow her initial plan of becoming a teacher, she won’t be making an Amazon list of all the school supplies she needs like other teachers. Her net worth, alone, means that she can not only take care of her own classroom but #ClearTheLists of all the teachers she works with. She got her start as a regular track and field sprinter, then went on to become one of the biggest names in the sport. That’s thanks in no small part to her hard work, dedication and coaching from the legendary Bobby Kersee — the husband of the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee — who has coached some of America’s most elite athletes in the Olympics. But more than an Olympian, Allyson Felix is a mother, a wife and an advocate. When Nike hit her with what seemed like an unjust pay cut (thanks to her maternity leave), she cut ties with the company and formed a shoe line of her own. In so doing, Allyson Felix became an advocate for women everywhere. So, it’s no wonder that her $4.5...