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Track stars Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Tara Davis-Woodhall are investing in familiar territory. What Is ATHLOS The trio has teamed up to join the ownership group of the ATHLOS track and field league. ATHLOS, launched in 2024 by Alexis Ohanian, Reddit founder and Serena Williams ‘ husband, began as an all-women’s track and field meet. According to Forbes, ATHLOS will return to New York, NY, for its 2025 meet but will scale into a full-fledged league starting next year. The team-based league’s website states that it will feature some of the fastest athletes in the world, span multiple cities, and build momentum toward a championship event. “ATHLOS is shifting gears, moving from a solo spotlight to team-centered showdowns where participating athletes will compete for teams, not just times. It’s still blazing fast, but with teams to cheer for,” the website mentions. ATHLOS offers $60,000 in prize money to the winner of each event across the meet, and 10% of all event...
Actress Keke Palmer credits director Jordan Peele for being the first to pay her adequately. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ELLE Magazine (@elleusa) In an interview with Business Insider, Palmer cited Jordan Peele’s 2022 film “Nope,” in which she starred alongside Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya, as the first time she was paid properly. Recognizing the importance of proper compensation and pay equity in Hollywood, particularly for Black actresses, Palmer said she does not measure her circumstances with others. “I don’t compare — especially as a Black person, a Black woman — because it’s not a fair thing to do to myself,” Palmer told Business Insider. “I don’t think that comparing oneself makes sense in any regard, because you’re not at the same vantage point, beginning or otherwise, as someone else.” She added, “If you are getting your needs met, that has to be at the forefront of your mind. That doesn’t mean that everything is fair, but it’s an important thing to...
If you’ve ever casually flipped through the television channels in search of something to watch, you probably already have a cursory knowledge of Tyler Perry’s massive TV empire . The writer, director, producer and actor has spent the last two decades absolutely dominating the film and television world, with such acclaimed projects as “Why Did I Get Married,” “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” and more recently, “Beauty In Black.” Perry has brokered exclusive deals with entertainment giants including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and has even opened a massive studio facility in Atlanta, which spans over 330 acres. The New Orleans native has also spoken at length about his mission to support Black actors, writers and filmmakers through his expanding empire, even serving as a mentor to 50 Cent . Since Tyler Perry has become such an enormous part of the Hollywood system, it only makes sense that fans far and wide have started searching for ways to get involved. Luckily, we’ve got the...
Issa Rae proudly represents her home state as a powerhouse actress, producer, and entrepreneur. The Los Angeles, CA, native, well known for her rise from “ Awkward Black Girl” to “Insecure” continues to stretch herself in new ways. “ One of Them Days,” featuring SZA and Keke Palme r, made its way to the big screen in 2025, marking Rae’s first feature film released under her production company, Hoorae. According to Variety and Collider, the film made $22.2 million after its first two weekends, including the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) Just a few months earlier, Rae made a new dent in the hospitality space, opening Somerville in South Los Angeles, a restaurant offering a “progressive American dining experience.” This marked her second food and drinks venture, as she had expanded Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen to the city in 2023, per Forbes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) Rae has...
As the rollback and termination of diversity and inclusion initiatives continue, the fourth annual Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala successfully raised $3 million on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, to support black-owned businesses. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA, attracted many notable figures from culture and business, including Keke Palmer , Ciara, Kelly Rowland, Teyana Taylor, and Jesse Williams. Prominent artists such as Amy Sherald and Mickalene Thomas were also in attendance, along with CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Rachel Scott from Diotima; Tatcha founder Vicky Tsai; model Amber Valletta; and celebrity stylists Law Roach, Wayman Bannerman, and Micah McDonald. “This is exactly the time we need to show up and continue to speak out,” Fifteen Percent Pledge Founder Aurora James said at the gala, per WWD. “Each and every one of us, our stories, our pasts, our cultures and identities, are part of the fabric that makes America great....
GloRilla once admitted that she plans to become a billionaire and continues to progress towards this milestone. The Memphis-born rapper has remained the talk of the town, lighting up the charts through hit singles that include “TGIF” and “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” and what started it all, “F.N.F.” released in 2022. “It mean a lot to be able to be a a voice for my city,” she said during an interview with AFROTECH™. Before the artist’s journey kicked into gear, she worked overtime to make her dreams a reality. Working at jobs such as Nike and FedEx with little to no energy, she remained optimistic the grind would pay off, and it has. “I was doing 12 hours at Nike and maybe seven to eight hours at FedEx. And I was just doing all that to sponsor my rapid career so I could be able to pay for videos and studio time,” she explained. In 2022, GloRilla signed to Yo Gotti’s label Collective Music Group. He has remained a constant supporter in her journey as an artist and in business. As AFROTECH™...
Shaquille O’Neal is many things, and that also includes doctor! The former NBA star did not neglect his education journey despite going on to earn millions throughout his career. He attended Louisiana State University but did not initially complete his degree when he was drafted as the first overall pick in 1992 by the Orlando Magic. Spotrac reports he secured a four-year rookie contract valued at $17.4 million. O’Neal, who also is passionate about music, went on to secure a $10 million deal to release three albums under Jive Records. This led to collaborations with some music greats. “I was like ‘I got to take it,’ but then reality kicked in,” O’Neal shared on “Check-In at Wynn” in Las Vegas, NV. “I was like ‘I’m not a rapper’ and then I said ‘Let’s have a meeting’… I said as long as I can rap with all my favorite rappers, I’ll do it and they agreed. So, I think for a non-rapper, I probably have the best discography ever. Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Snoop, Ice Cube, Notorious...
Taraji P. Henson feels indebted to fellow actresses Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen. The sister duo, Rashad and Allen, are graduates of the illustrious Howard University and have gone on to be revered in the entertainment industry. Rashad most recognized for her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” while Allen’s resume includes acting credits and producing staple shows such as “A Different World,” “Scandal,” and “Empire.” The duo had a large influence on Henson, not only for their influence but also for sewing seeds into her acting dreams. Henson attended Howard University in the 1990s and faced challenges during her junior year while pregnant. “I really ran out of money . I didn’t know how I was going to finish, but I knew I was going to finish,” Henson said during an interview on the show, “Today with Jenna & Friends.” Her saving grace would come from the Dr. Andrew Allen Sr. Memorial Scholarship, established by Rashad and Allen in honor of their father, who also graduated...
Self-taught baker Ashley Huston is opening her own shop in Philadelphia, PA. For Huston, it all started as a child. She was interested in tinkering with recipes that were as simple as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, she told CBS News. “I would try to change things up and recreate things,” she shared with the outlet. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Huston decided to open a micro bakery as a side hustle. According to her company website, she offers a variety of cakes, including flavors like red velvet, cookie butter, chai-spiced carrot cake, and unique options such as matcha cake paired with strawberry lavender jam, matcha custard, and condensed milk buttercream. She also sells cookies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and savory pastries. Her creations have even won her Philadelphia Magazine’s 2024 Best of Philly baker — not to mention she caught the attention of the legendary Patti LaBelle. Huston had the honor of making the cake for LaBelle’s 80th birthday. “We decided on...
Tyler Perry understands the responsibility of leading by example when working with talent, a principle that shapes his unwavering commitment to ensuring actors receive fair and deserving compensation. Perry has received recognition from countless actors who revealed he was the first to ensure they were compensated fairly. This includes Taraji P. Henson. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Henson received her first $500,000 paycheck for a role from Perry. “I was asking for half a million. I didn’t get paid that until I did my first Tyler Perry film. He was the first person that gave — that broke the standard that I was getting paid for films, and he gave me $500,000,” Henson said during an interview on Variety’s segment titled “Actors on Actors.” Actor Cory Hardrict also revealed that Perry paid him generously during his time starring in “Divorce in the Black,” which was directed, written, and produced by Perry. “He paid me the most I’ve ever made in a film for three weeks ever [of...
Inspiration can come from many sources. For Yara Shahidi , the star of “Grown-ish,” one of the many influential figures in her life is her cousin — Grammy-Award-winning rapper and entrepreneur Nas. During a recent appearance on the “Sherri” show, the actress, producer, and Harvard graduate shared Nas’ role in inspiring her to attend the Ivy League institution , according to Because Of Them We Can (BOTWC). “There’s so many artists in your family. I did not know that Nas is your cousin. And that Nas, the great, inspired you to go to Harvard ,” host Sherri Shepherd told Shahidi. The actress replied, “Yes! I think the one thing people know about him just through, even his music, is just how smart he is. And he has such a deep passion for our culture and for education. And so, the first time I got to step foot on Harvard’s campus was when he was announcing a fellowship for graduate students that were studying hip-hop.” Harvard launched the Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellowship in 2013. Designed...
Popular streamer IShowSpeed isn’t afraid to turn down lucrative deals. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, IShowSpeed is a dedicated streamer who made various sacrifices to focus on his craft. One of those sacrifices included moving into his father’s home after receiving an ultimatum from his mother: quit streaming or leave her home. “Once I start something, I’m not stopping,” he mentioned on “Club Shay Shay” at the time. The decision has paid off, and the streamer holds no ill feelings toward his mother. In fact, he later bought a home for her after earning his first $1 million at 16. Today, IShowSpeed has 33.8 million subscribers on one of his YouTube channels alone, as well as an additional 27 million followers on Instagram (at the time of this writing). He also just won Streamer of the Year at the Streamer Awards 2024. While it is unclear what his exact earnings are, he confirmed on Complex’s “360 With Speedy (Morman)” that the $10 million net worth that comes up in a Google...
WNBA star and Nike signee A’ja Wilson is making m ajor moves. Wilson has been a cornerstone player for the Las Vegas Aces since she was drafted first overall by the team in 2018, as noted by the WNBA. She has led the Aces to two consecutive national championships and earned multiple MVP awards, including one in 2024. What’s more, Wilson has continued to dominate as the year comes to a close. She made history as the first player to score 1,000 points in a single WNBA season, according to ESPN. “It was pretty surreal but it was one of those things that I did not understand it was in reach,” Wilson said in reflection, per CNN . “It didn’t really hit me until the second half when I was like ‘oh no, this is doable.’ … Like now to live in it, I’m living my dream and so I’m so grateful to be able to say I’m here, and now I know someone is going to crush it soon and going to be 2,000 points in a season, so I am going to hold onto it now while I got it.” Wilson’s victories also extend off...
Aaron Samuels has revealed his roadmap into the venture capital space. Samuels, co-founder and former chief operating officer (COO) of Blavity — w ho now leads a venture capital firm Collide Capital — has worn various hats in a career that spans more than a decade. He was a performance poet who spent nearly 10 years traveling and went on to secure roles as a director of operations (Dialogue Arts Project); senior associate consultant (Bain & Co.); and product manager (TeleSign) between 2011 and 2016, his LinkedIn mentions. For the next seven years, Samuels helped co-found Blavity Inc., a platform catering to Black Millennials and Gen Z amplifying areas of entertainment, politics, technology, and culture. It was created alongside Morgan DeBaun (CEO), Jeff Nelson (now COO), and Jonathan Jackson. Serving as the COO laid the footprint for Samuels’ foray as founder and managing partner of Collide Capital, which was founded in 2022 alongside Brian Hollins to provide resources, operational...
Popular streamer and creator IShowSpeed made his first $1 million at 16. Also known as Darren Watkins Jr., he currently boasts an impressive 33.5 million subscribers on one of his YouTube channels alone, as well as an additional 26.9 million followers on Instagram. His early motivation to keep creating content as a freshman in high school also stayed with him, he explained on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with Shannon Sharpe. “My sophomore year, I kind of gave up on school. I kind of gave up on everything that I had in my old life and just put everything on my stream. I streamed every day. I didn’t care about nothing else except Youtube streaming,” IShowSpeed said on the podcast. His mother initially had hesitations about streaming, even after his first viral clip garnered 30,000 views. She gave him an ultimatum: quit streaming or leave her home. With 2,000 subscribers at the time, he chose the latter and moved in with his father in Detroit, MI. “Once I start something, I’m not...