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Many who grew up in the 80s and 90s are quick to associate the nostalgia of heading back to school with the bright and cheery supplies designed by Lisa Frank. The notoriously private artist is best known for crafting lunchboxes, stickers, toys and trapper keepers covered in dolphins, unicorns, pandas and other adorable critters that decorated classrooms for decades. Before she rose to fame, Frank grew up in Michigan’s Bloomfield Hills (one of America’s wealthiest cities ), the daughter of a higher-up in the automotive industry who supported her creative pursuits. “ My dad was an art collector, my mom had a little kiln in our basement and we would make pottery. I think from about age five on, they sent me to art classes, and I was a huge colorer. HUGE. I think to keep me quiet, they would bring the coloring books and crayons, and I would fill up the books,” Frank told Urban Outfitters in a rare interview. She went on to attend Cranbrook Kingswood School with Mitt Romney, then headed...
Amazon is facing a lawsuit involving two predominantly Black neighborhoods, according to WTOP. The lawsuit was filed in the Washington, DC, Superior Court. It points to the Amazon Prime membership, which costs its customers $14.99 monthly or a flat rate of $139 annually. Zip codes 20019 and 20020, with 50,000 Prime members who have contributed to 4.5 million orders since 2020, claim Amazon began to rely on UPS and the U.S. Postal Service in 2022 in replacement of their own services. “Amazon is charging tens of thousands of hard-working Ward 7 and 8 residents for an expedited delivery service it promises but does not provide,” Washington, DC, Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in a statement, according to the outlet. Amazon admits the changes were a result of safety concerns. “There have been specific and targeted acts against drivers delivering Amazon packages” in the two ZIP codes, and the company made the change to “put the safety of delivery drivers first,” Amazon spokesperson...
Throughout history, the world has been introduced to many people with the “it” factor. While it may not be possible to articulate exactly what “it” is, it’s a beautiful combination of talent, influence, likeability, and authenticity. Some of the people described this way are Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington, and Tina Turner. And when it comes to sports, one of the names sure to come up as having “it” is Deion Sanders. From his multi-sport professional career to his captivating personality, fans have admired Sanders for years. But this star power wasn’t by happenstance — it came from hard work, dedication, and faith. Sanders was born in Fort Myers, FL, and began his sports career early in life across several sports, eventually attending Florida State University as a decorated athlete. His collegiate career would land him a spot in the NFL and the MLB. Simultaneously playing in both professional leagues for several years, Sanders completed 270 solo tackles, five forced...
Professional athletes are oftentimes in the spotlight for breaking a record or closing on a lucrative deal, but what about the person beyond the jersey? PlayersTV is in the business of putting the human side of sports on full display. Co-founded by Deron Guidrey and Collin Castellaw in 2020, PlayersTV, which is said to be the first-ever athlete-owned media network and content provider, utilizes storytelling to bring viewers into the worlds of athletes. Some of today’s biggest stars have joined the platform including Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, and more. Around three years after creating its footprint in the media space, PlayersTV is set to extend its reach even further. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH, PlayersTV has inked a distribution deal with Amazon Prime Video. In addition, by fall 2023, its athlete lifestyle content will be available as a free ad-supported 24/7 Channel on Amazon Freevee, Fire TV Channels, and Prime Video. Following the announcement...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we are not talking about Christmas. The world is in the middle of Amazon Prime Day, and packages are being shipped out like an Oprah giveaway — everyone gets a box! However, in good AfroTech fashion, Amazon Prime Day is an opportunity to support all Black-owned businesses and brands. As a company, Amazon has been intentional with its support of Black-owned businesses. As a part of its support over the last several years, the e-commerce giant has amplified the voices of Black business owners by creating a landing page for consumers to navigate. We took some time to navigate through all of the brands created by Black people, and we found some dope stuff. From beauty brands to cooking essentials, there is literally something for everyone during this “prime” shopping season. Check out this list of brands and creators available to shop with on Amazon below:
Football season is in full swing! There’s nothing quite like fall football games at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). And this year, Pepsi is blessing fans for their school spirit in a huge way. According to an official press release, the beverage company has launched a contest where HBCU students and alumni can vote for their favorite university. In turn, they will donate $25,000 to the winning institution’s general scholarship fund. “As a long-time resident of the South, I love the energy, spirit, and sense of community that HBCUs bring, especially around the highly anticipated return of football,” said Chauncey Hamlett, Vice President, and Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Beverages North America (South Division) in an official release shared with AfroTech. “This scholarship opportunity isn’t just open to students and alumni to cast their votes, but to anyone who shares pride and enthusiasm for these great institutions. I have a strong passion for HBCUs, and I...
Amazon Prime Day is both today and tomorrow — but it’s about more than just getting the best deals from the seemingly omnipresent retail and tech giant. Rather, now is the time — perhaps more than ever before — to show support for Black-owned businesses and brands. From indie beauty brands to small tech brands, Amazon offers customers plenty of ways to support these Black-owned businesses, even beyond Amazon Prime Day. Here’s our list of ten companies to support. Faison Office Products The Colorado-based small business is owned by Jared Casey, and has been in business for more than 40 years. Long before “big box” stores like Staples and Office Depot all but dominated the landscape, Faison Office Products was a full-service, minority-owned provider of products, solutions, and services for today’s business environment. Akweley Design View this post on Instagram A post shared by Henrietta Agyemang (@akweleydesign) Based in Vermont, Akweley Design features authentic African jewelry...
Restaurants in the United States — especially those owned by multinational corporations — understand the concept of the commissary. Now, Vendease is looking to take that same concept to Africa. According to TechCrunch, the Nigerian startup — co-founded by Tunde Kara, Olumide Fayankin, Gatumi Aliyu, and Wale Oyepeju — came to be when the co-founders noticed that different restaurants around Lagos and Accra would periodically shut down. And their reason for shutting down was an avoidable one: they had no access to the necessary food. When hotels in the area started remarking about the same problem, Vendease was born. The concept, according to Kara, was simple: provide a centralized online location where prospective customers can purchase their necessary foods and other goods at reasonable prices. “We thought to ourselves that if restaurant owners and hotel managers have these problems, let us actually do some research and find out if it is a problem we can solve the problem at scale...
The most prominent video-sharing application on the Web, YouTube , is the first platform you should consider if you’re looking to create and monetize video content. Collectively, viewers watch over a billion hours of content each day on YouTube. And because of that, advertisers pay competitive rates to air ads on the platform. Content creators like yourself can share a piece of that action and make money. But while it may seem as simple as grabbing a smartphone and selfie stick and shooting a quality video about an interest of yours, making money on YouTube is a bit more involved than that. And generating consistent income from YouTube is a lot more complicated. First, you’ll need to join the YouTube Partner Program. To be eligible for the program, you’ll need to live in specific geographic regions, have a Google AdSense account, and agree to the terms of service. You’ll also have to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours worth of views within the past calendar year. These...
Today is the last day to grab those Prime Day deals. Amazon Prime Day is all about getting the best online deals and discounts from the global marketplace, but this year the two-day holiday is all about supporting Black-owned businesses that set up shop on the platform. For the last five years, Amazon has observed this time of year by reserving featured deals for select brands on its website. With many small businesses still struggling to get by in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to show our financial support so these brands can continue to help our communities. As part of its own initiative, Amazon has highlighted its pledge to support Black-owned businesses by sharing a message on a landing page via its website . “Amazon is celebrating and sharing the stories of Black business owners, founders, and makers in our store to help customers discover new brands and shop from Black-owned businesses.” From indie beauty brands to small tech brands, Amazon offers...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for shoppers: it’s Amazon Prime Day! Starting today (Oct. 13) through Oct. 14, Amazon will offer premiere deals on home goods, electronics, apparel, dog treats—you name it. Amazon Prime members will have access to lightning deals—items available for drastically slashed prices for a limited time—while all shoppers will be able to snatch up major discounts. For Black entrepreneurs and business owners, there’s a wealth of deals to choose from, whether you need home office basics or tech gadgets. In the interest of time and how much you can save, our only suggestion is to act fast to get the perfect Amazon Prime Day deal for you! Coomaxx Adjustable Laptop Stand Your posture pays the price when you spend several hours staring down at your laptop. Prop up your device (and your posture) with a portable ergonomic notebook riser—and save 21 percent in the process. MUNBYN Label Printer This one’s for all the business owners who constantly send products...
In a press conference on Wednesday, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of Canada’s first Black Entrepreneurship Program, according to a press release . The program offers investments of up to $221 million in partnership with multiple Canadian financial institutions and the Canadian Government in support of businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis. “The pandemic has shone a light on the inequalities that disproportionately hurt Black Canadians, and has underscored the need to restart our economy in a way that allows all Canadians an equal chance to succeed,” said the Prime Minister, according to the release.“As we move forward, this program will help support Black entrepreneurs and create new opportunities for Black-owned businesses, so they are well-positioned for our economic recovery.” The press release reveals the program includes a new National Ecosystem Fund with $53 million dedicated to helping Black entrepreneurs gain access to funding and capital,...