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A 13-year-old who attends high school in Conyers, GA, has fulfilled his lifelong dream of receiving an acceptance letter to Morehouse College . Joshua Suddith is currently dual-enrolled at Hills Academy and Augusta Technical College, completing 27 credit hours with a GPA of 3.88, according to 11 Alive News. In his free time, Joshua enjoys playing basketball like typical kids his age — but he is anything but ordinary. By 9 months old, he was talking, and by 18 months, he was reading. At just 3 years old, he authored his first book. “His grit and determination are the most impressive things about him,” his mother, Chaundra Suddith, said. “He didn’t let challenges get in the way of his dream.” Throughout his education, Joshua skipped several grades — he moved from second grade to fifth grade, then to seventh, and then 11th grade. By age 12, he had received over 20 college acceptance letters, including from Jackson State University and Tennessee State University, 11 Alive reported....
Atlanta, GA -based Georgia Tech University has joined the list of institutions adapting to federal laws surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide. On Feb. 26, 2025, the Georgia Tech Pride Alliance announced that the LGBTQIA+ Resource Center (LRC), the Women’s Resource Center, and the Black Culture, Innovation, and Technology Center would be dissolved and integrated into the Arts, Belonging, and Community Department, according to Rough Draft Atlanta. “We’ve known this was a possibility for years,” GT Pride Alliance said on Instagram. “These centers are losing the ability to distinguish and market themselves as what they are — a resource for marginalized groups. Other DEI programs are already undergoing similar restructuring across campus, but it is unclear when those changes will be fully announced.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by GT Pride Alliance (@gtpridealliance) According to Georgia Tech, the Arts, Belonging, and Community...
Floyd Mayweather reportedly has an interest in another major investment move. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the boxing champion closed a real estate deal valued at $402 million in October 2024. The investment encompasses over 60 buildings with over 1,000 units in New York, NY, and its purpose is to establish affordable housing in the city. “Growing up, I used to dream about owning just one home by myself. When you work hard, you can achieve anything,” Mayweather told TMZ. Mayweather also has a stake in nine skyscrapers in partnership with SL Green and established real estate firm Vada Properties. He committed to investing $100 million in equity to support a $3 billion luxury rental portfolio alongside Go Partners. His latest moves include potentially extending his portfolio to secure a stake in the New York Giants. According to TMZ, he is leading a group that intends to acquire a security minority stake valued at 10%, amounting to around $700 million. Currently, a proposal is...
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expanding his portfolio with a new investment tied to sports. Sportico reports the Milwaukee Bucks superstar is an investor in ScorePlay, an artificial intelligence -powered sports media management platform launched by Victorien Tixier (CEO) and Xavier Green (CTO) in 2021. Its solutions streamline sports organizations’ essential digital workflows by automating the management of photos and short video clips, its website mentions. Features among all its tiers include: Automated ingestion of photos and short videos Unlimitied AI tagging Usage analytics “The idea is to maximize the distribution, both on your own social channel, but also distributing the content to your athletes, who are your best storytellers,” Tixier told CNBC. ScorePlay had already attracted the attention of Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s 35V family office, as well as Eli Manning, notes the outlet. Most recently, it has closed a $13 million Series A round led by Harry Stebbings’ 20VC, which...
Georgia Tech has removed DEI-related terms from its website. Amid growing pressure from conservative groups to dismantle diversity , equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, numerous DEI programs and commitments are being scaled back or shut down. This shift impacts the U.S. government, major corporations — including Target, Walmart, Meta, and Amazon — and higher education institutions. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, President Donald Trump has placed federal employees in DEI roles on paid leave “as the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs.” Additionally, the companies mentioned above have all announced they are scaling back their DEI initiatives, and for Target, this has prompted a lawsuit from its shareholders who feel misled, notes Reuters. Georgia Tech is joining the trend by actively dismantling its DEI programs, a process initiated in 2023, FOX 5 reports. The university’s website has been updated to reflect these changes. “In 2023,...
Flowing with Blessings Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Atlanta’s homeless population, has teamed up with industrial design students from Georgia Tech to develop an innovative Mobile Laundry Bus, according to the university’s News Center. Founded by Nicky Crawford in February 2022, Flowing with Blessings provides essential services such as showers and clean clothing for those in need. Georgia Tech reported that Crawford’s commitment to alleviating the daily struggles of those they serve — by helping individuals preserve their cherished belongings and maintain personal hygiene without the stigma often associated with homelessness — inspired the creation of the mobile laundry bus. Crawford bought a school bus to convert it into a mobile laundry service, going to Georgia Tech for help with the process. The initiative, led by Steve Chininis, professor of practice at the School of Industrial Design, involved students Zaria Hardnett, David Hounyo, Lily Liang, Claudia Ross, and...
A Morehouse School of Medicine graduate has opened a bookstore to uplift her surrounding community. According to a news release, Dr. Viola Lanier, who boasts a Master of Science in biomedical research and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, has launched Better Today Books & Boutique, located at 2300 Shallowford Rd., Ste. 8, Marietta, GA 30066. In a video shared on the bookstore’s Instagram page, Lanier recounts her journey to owning the storefront. It began after a spa visit, when she noticed a “For Lease” sign on the door of the location while heading home. Intrigued, she reached out to the landlord to arrange a tour. “Wasn’t too impressed about the condition, but I said, ‘You know what? This is a place.’ But I figured I could make it work, even though I was skeptical about a lot. I got it. Anyway, so we’re putting a check mark on these dreams. Y’all stick with me as you renovate,” she explained in the video. Seeing the potential, Lanier’s interest put her on the path to establishing...
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has launched a venture capital firm. According to Bleacher Report, the Milwaukee Bucks player has introduced Build Your Legacy Ventures (BYL). The venture capital firm, backed by institutional investors and tech veterans, aims to funnel investments into the sports and entertainment sectors. As noted in a press release, the firm will be “driven by the Antetokounmpo family’s dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.” “I’m incredibly energized to launch BYL Ventures as a way to give back and support the next generation of visionaries,” Antetokounmpo, founder and general partner of BYL Ventures, said in the release. “This fund is not just about capital; it’s about forging partnerships and opening my network to accelerate the growth trajectory for companies. I want to help other entrepreneurs, especially those who have faced barriers, to grow and succeed. BYL Ventures will be focused on finding people with big dreams and helping them make...
A class on Issa Rae’s legal life will be taught at Georgia State University College of Law. Black Enterprise reports that George State University law professor Moraima “ Mo ” Ivory designed the course to highlight the legal considerations essential for celebrities with high-profile careers. As a result, the law students will be able to gain a firsthand account from the “ Insecure ” creator herself. She will speak to the class about contracts she has created to land deals over the past decade. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, some of her contracts include a substantial $40 million, five-year deal that dates back to 2021. This deal is in partnership with her media production company, Hoorae , and WarnerMedia. According to Variety, the agreement granted HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Television the exclusive rights to her television work, as well as a first-look film deal across various WarnerMedia brands. “T his is the first class where every single contract was the actual artist...
McDonald’s, the global fast-food giant, continues to maintain a dominant presence in the quick-service restaurant industry in 2024. Known for its iconic menu items like the Big Mac, fries, and McFlurry, McDonald’s is much more than just a food company. Its market capitalization, or market cap, reflects its broad financial success, brand power, and global influence. In this article, we’ll take a look at McDonald’s net worth, or more accurately its market cap in 2024, what factors contribute to its valuation, and why it remains one of the most valuable companies in the world. What Is McDonald’s Market Cap? Market capitalization is a financial metric that represents the total value of a company’s outstanding shares of stock. It’s calculated by multiplying the company’s current stock price by the number of shares outstanding. For a company like McDonald’s, which has millions of shares trading on the stock market, market cap provides insight into how the market values its business. For...
Josh Petty has received a significant name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal that was hard to pass up. Petty is an offensive lineman from Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, GA, and was a No. 8 prospect for Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), according to data released by 247Sports. Committing To Georgia Tech Announced on Aug. 12, 2024, Petty plans to take his football talents to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA, with an official commitment. For the school, this reportedly becomes its second-highest ranking recruit ever, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. “Georgia Tech is feeling like home and is my home,” Petty expressed, per the outlet. “They’ve got guys over there that make it feel authentic. They’ve got everything over there that’s been amazing. Staying in Atlanta is huge. It’ll definitely help with that feeling-at-home piece, but the friendly faces and the smiles and everything that goes on inside that building is more important to me as far as the home factor.”...
Michael Jordan’s Cincoro Tequila is scaling globally. The company, born in 2016 through a conversation about a shared passion for tequila, was established alongside four other NBA team owners. The founding partners have since created a portfolio of tequilas made with 100% Blue Weber agave derived from Jalisco, Mexico . Cincoro Tequila is an award-winning company and has attracted investments from Serena Williams, Michael Strahan, and Derek Jeter, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. “Cincoro has always been special to me because of the authentic friendships we’ve established around enjoying Cincoro and spending time together, designing it, experiencing it, and tasting it. We are constantly striving for greatness,” Jordan, co-founder of Cincoro Tequila, said in a news release announcing Williams’ ownership stake. “And now that we’re welcoming in some of my closest friends to the business, I’m looking forward to this next era of Cincoro alongside this all-star team.” After expanding its...
Anikitia Abram leads the first Black- and woman-owned candle-making studio in Middle Georgia, according to the Macon. She accomplished this feat in July 2023 with the opening of Pretty Lux Co., which offers candle, skin, and hair products that are “100% vegan, cruelty free, and created with minimal ingredients,” per its website. For Abram, that means using locally-sourced materials and remaining environmentally conscious during production. “Pretty Lux Co. is not just a business; it’s a movement toward greater wellness and understanding, providing a nurturing environment that supports both personal and communal growth,” Abram told the Macon. “This foundational inspiration continues to drive every aspect of Pretty Lux Co., guiding our mission to enrich lives through both our products and our educational initiatives.” Those initiatives encompass a focus on engaging the community in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through candle and skincare development. “By...
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is among the countries facing a humanitarian crisis. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that it’s not only experiencing one of the world’s longest humanitarian crises but also one of the most complex. A most prevalent issue in the DRC is child labor. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 25,000 children work in cobalt mines. Despite the alarming rate of exploitation, a case in the U.S. regarding the matter has ended with the defendants not found at fault. Previously, in 2022, Apple, Alphabet Inc. (Google), Dell, Microsoft, and Tesla were said to have been “knowingly benefiting from and aiding and abetting the cruel and brutal use of young children in the Democratic Republic of Congo to mine cobalt,” according to ABC News. However, in March 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found the five tech giants not liable due to only having an “ordinary buyer-seller transaction” with...
It was a special day for Ronald Yancey, Georgia Institute of Technology’s first Black graduate. CNN reports Yancey presented his granddaughter Deanna Yancey with her diploma for a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering at the school’s commencement ceremony held on Friday, May 3, 2024 . This marked a full-circle moment for several reasons. Yancey had applied to her grandfather’s alma mater to partake in their online master’s program after she received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Penn State University in 2020. “I didn’t tell my family I was applying, so when I got in, I got to read the acceptance email to my grandfather,” Deanna said in a news release. “He was so happy. He almost started jumping; he was so excited.” Deanna’s feat was made possible because Ronald had helped to break down racial barriers at the university. He endured various hardships during his time at the school. From the start, Ronald had faced two rejections from the school, and the...