James Brown said, “This is a man’s world.” However, he had the foresight to finish that thought by admitting it would be “nothing without a woman or a girl.” Throughout history, countless amazing women have challenged Brown’s initial statement with incredible examples of leadership, influence, and innovation. AFROTECH Conference understands this fact, and today’s vibe is centered around the ladies.

James Brown boldly proclaimed in one of his most famous songs, “this is a man’s world.” He then quickly came to his senses and clarified that statement by saying, “it would be nothing without a woman or a girl.” Since the beginning of time, girls and women worldwide have been building strong spaces as they lead and excel across various industries. And if one wants to talk about excellence in journalism, some prominent names such as Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, and Robin Roberts come to mind. However, you can’t let the list keep running without the commentary of younger Black women who are also forging paths and making waves, like Angela Rye, Jemele Hill — and Cari Champion. Champion is a noted journalist and broadcaster known for her unapologetic commentary, insightful dialogue, and championing (no pun intended) gender equity. And much of her power manifested during Super Bowl LVII weekend as she partnered to celebrate the Black women journalists making headline-worthy strides and...

James Brown was a musical legend — but his failure to engage in estate planning prior to his passing away left his family in financial turmoil. As AfroTech previously reported, the “Mother Popcorn” singer had an estate that was estimated to be worth more than $100 million. But when he died in 2006, his will was nothing if not vague. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the Godfather of Soul merely made provisions for the value of his estate to be designated for scholarships for children in need. Given how James Brown grew up — in a small wood cabin in the rural town of Elko, SC — it would make sense that he’d want nothing but the best for those who may be like him. But needless to say, his will was contested almost immediately after his passing thanks to his complicated legacy. And, after a costly 15-year battle, his heirs finally sold the value of his estate for $90 million to Primary Wave Music. This settlement, however, is not without its issues. “For the past 15 years, several...

Black Americans are losing out on a $68 trillion wealth transfer. But what can fix the problem? Planning ahead. “According to an analysis of high net worth and ultra-high net worth markets by consulting group Cerulli Associates, by 2047, trillions will have been passed down to future generations, and due to a lag in estate planning in Black America, Blacks might not actively transfer wealth to their descendants,” reads a new report in the Atlanta Black Star. Put simply, white Americans remain wealthier than other ethnic groups because they keep the money in the family. The Brookings Institute reports that on average, the typical net worth of a white family was $171,000 in 2016, which is nearly ten times the value of the typical net worth of a Black family (which only held a little over $17,000 in assets in 2016). And while the numbers haven’t jumped significantly in the past few years, Black Americans are missing out on whatever wealth they may be entitled to because of the lack of...