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When the New England Patriots inked Stefon Diggs to a four-year, $69 million deal, $25 million of it guaranteed, it didn’t just make headlines; it marked a directional shift. A franchise long defined by systematic precision and conservative spending is finally reaching a new identity: one shaped around adaptability, controlled risk, and cultural recalibration. Betting On Diggs Production In A Post-Prime Window Diggs is 31 years old, and he’s coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him in Week 8 of the 2024 season. And yet, his numbers from those eight games with the Houston Texans weren’t symbolic—they were substantial. According to ESPN, he tallied 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns, ranking seventh in total receptions at the time and averaging 62.0 yards per game. C.J. Stroud posted a 104 passer rating and a 73% completion rate when targeting him, evidence of Diggs’ continued ability to elevate a quarterback’s efficiency. Even if the explosiveness has dulled slightly,...
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....
TikTok creator Anayka She was once severely underpaid by her agency. The beauty creator and artist from Brooklyn, NY, who has amassed 1.7 million followers on TikTok, took to the platform to discuss compensation in comparison to white counterparts such as Bran Flakezz, born Brandon Edelman. He shared that he earned $768,000 in 2024 as a content creator. He currently has 1.1 million followers on TikTok. It is widely known that Black individuals have to work ten times harder just to see half the success of their white counterparts. She reveals that while being managed at Carter Agency, which is led by Josh Popkin, she was misled about her earnings from brand deals. “The head of Carter Agency, Josh Popkin, this is what he would do. He would tell you that the brand deal was $2,000. It was actually $10,000,” she explained in a TikTok video. “He would take that $8,000, then take the 20% fee off of the $2,000. And guess what? He was targeting Black women mainly. When we all found out and...
On the first day of the new Trump administration, the President issued an executive order to revoke several DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) protections. This policy change enabled companies across the country to eliminate DEI hiring practices, protections and related incentives. As a result, many prominent businesses revealed that their commitment to DEI had largely been driven by legal requirements rather than genuine support. While some companies, such as Costco, Apple and Delta Airlines, have maintained a strong commitment to supporting marginalized communities , numerous others in the tech, automotive and grocery sectors have removed DEI frameworks from their policies. Given the growing importance of DEI to a significant portion of the American public, consumers are increasingly making more informed choices about where they spend their money. In fact, many have begun to consider boycotting businesses that do not align with their values. For those who prioritize DEI, we...
There were great sacrifices that Fawn and Keith Weaver made to ensure that the Uncle Nearest whiskey brand would not fail. Today, Uncle Nearest is recognized as a force within the spirits industry, reflecting the resilience of Fawn, whose story is one of overcoming adversity with triumph. She dropped out of school in 10th grade, bounced between homeless shelters, and attempted to take her life twice. She viewed her struggles as affirmation of a higher calling — one that has materialized into an award-winning whiskey brand that has topped a billion-dollar valuation and is the fastest-growing American whiskey in history, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The inception of Uncle Nearest resulted from relentless research Fawn conducted in Lynchburg, TN, to uncover the story of Nathan “Nearest” Green. Enslaved at the time, Green was responsible for teaching Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel how to make whiskey using the technique known as “sugar maple charcoal filtering.” Some call this the...
Black-owned edtech company Beanstack has secured another investment from Mark Cuban. The platform was launched in 2013 by Felix Brandon Lloyd (CEO) and Jordan Lloyd Booke, a husband-and-wife duo with extensive backgrounds in education. Booke served as Google’s head of K-12 education outreach from 2011 to 2013, while Lloyd worked as a teacher and dean at the SEED Public Charter School for seven years. The idea for Beanstack was sparked while they were reading to their 2-year-old son, inspiring them to focus on increasing literacy rates. “The early idea for our company came one night when [me and Jordan] were reading a book to our 2-year-old son and soon-to-be big brother,” Lloyd told AFROTECH™ in a previous interview. “He pointed to biracial characters on the page that looked like him and said, ‘That’s me, and that’s little sister.’ The power of reading was so clear. We immediately decided to put our backgrounds in education to work on a new business idea.” Beanstack initially...
Entrepreneur Keon Williams is making history as a franchisee. QCity Metro reports that Williams’ interest in the food business dates back to his time working in his family’s businesses in the Charlotte, NC, area. His father ran the sub shop, Chat and Chew, while his grandfather owned a hoagie shop. “I watched them, the growing pains, the goods and the bads,” Williams told the outlet. He is following in their footsteps today as the latest franchisee of Tacos 4 Life Dilworth, which has 19 locations across five states. Williams’ storefront is located in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood. By opening the location, he is making history as the youngest and first Black franchisee of the restaurant brand. “I wanted to come here. I know that there aren’t any Black businesses or food businesses in this area,” Williams said, according to QCity Metro. “I wanted to be that beacon of change and that beacon of light.” Customers supporting Williams’ 3,000-square-foot restaurant can try a variety of...
Google has allocated a grant to support artificial intelligence learning at an HBCU. The nation’s first HBCU AI Institute is coming to NC Central University. CBS17 reports the university will open the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research. The groundbreaking institute aims to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and social equity, focusing on addressing systemic disparities and fostering innovation through a lens of inclusivity and diversity. “Our purpose is clear to innovate, inspire and shape the next generation of leaders in artificial intelligence,” NCCU Chancellor Karrie Dixon said, according to CBS 17. The institute is expected to benefit 200 students with mentorship and research opportunities. Additionally, it will place NCUU as “the leading hub for AI within the HBCU network, advancing diversity, inclusion and equitable representation of AI-related industries,” the school notes , according to Qcitymetro. “[This is] the first program of its...
Somtochukwu “Somie” Agunwah wants to empower the next generation of dental students. QCity Metro reports that Agunwah, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Charlotte, NC, in 2003, initially pursued a career in nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and worked as a critical care nurse in Washington, DC, at Howard University Hospital. However, she soon realized that nursing was not the career path she wanted to continue. “I didn’t like the lifestyle of the medical doctors that I was interacting with,” Agunwah told the outlet, referencing the lack of work-life balance and long hours. Agunwah discovered her true calling while working under a Maryland dentist. She pivoted to attend Howard University College of Dentistry, later completing a pediatric residency in Brooklyn, NY. Reflecting on her mission, she decided to focus her efforts on prioritizing children. “They are still teachable,” Agunwah explained, according to QCity...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own (Tech Ladies) and not those of AFROTECH™. The tech industry has long been seen as a lucrative space, but how equitable is it when it comes to compensating women? The Tech Ladies 2024 Salary Report dives deep into this question, offering a comprehensive look at how women in tech are compensated, what benefits they receive, and where the gaps still exist. With over 140,000 members globally, Tech Ladies is dedicated to helping women in the industry thrive by providing data-driven insights and actionable recommendations. As companies continue to emphasize diversity and inclusion, the numbers show that real progress is still needed—especially when it comes to pay equity and growth opportunities for women in male-dominated industries. Here’s a glimpse at some of the report’s findings: Women in Tech Are Seeking Growth — But Many Feel Stuck The desire for career advancement is strong, with 40% of women looking for expanded...
Khaby Lame is letting the numbers do the talking. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Lame, now one of the most-followed creators , was once a factory worker in Chivasso, Italy. “I was really poor,” he said on a panel during Forbes Creator Upfronts in partnership with Walmart Creator on Oct. 29, 2024. Lame was later fired from his job, returned to live with his family, and decided to not look back. Instead, he chose to bank on what was once merely a hobby — TikTok — during the onset of COVID-19. “When I started making videos, people told me to get a proper job,” he mentioned to Forbes in 2023. “But I continued to make videos because that’s what I like doing, even though no one was watching them.” It would ultimately become a money machine because he stood out for reacting to memes and viral videos without saying a word. “It’s my face and my expressions which make people laugh,” he told The New York Times in 2021. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Khabane Lame (@khaby00)...
Sheryl Lee Ralph is among the greats who have lived to smell their roses. Today, she is widely recognized as an actress, but her journey began at Rutgers College. She initially enrolled at just age 16, the school shared, with plans to study pre-med before discovering her true calling in the arts. “I’m an immigrants’ child,” Ralph said, according to Elle. “My mother had very big dreams for me. In her words, it was, ‘Be a doctor or a lawyer, and if you can’t be either, marry one.’” Despite her mother’s desires, Ralph would pivot towards acting. She discovered her passion for the arts while working on a school play. “I found my passion on the stage of the Little Theater on the Douglass College campus,” she said, according to an article shared by the school. Based on an article from Philadelphia magazine, when Ralph was 20 years old, she landed her big break, featuring in the 1977 film “A Piece of the Action” alongside Sidney Poitier. Two years later, she made her television debut on...
Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri explains why some content on the platform is being suppressed. In response to a user who inquired if the quality of their Stories was being compressed over time since it appeared blurry in Instagram’s highlight feature, Mosseri reveals there is truth to that statement. He also adds that the quality of a video, Reel, or photo could also be impacted depending on a couple factors, including its performance. “In general, we want to show the highest-quality video we can when someone is watching a Story or a Reel or a photo. If something isn’t watched for a long time, ’cause the vast majority of views are in the beginning, we will move to a lower-quality video and then if it’s watched again a lot, then we will re-render the higher-quality video,” Mosseri explained in an Instagram video, according to The Verge. “We also, if we are serving a video to someone on a slow internet connection, we’ll serve a lower-quality video, so that it will load quickly as...
Marlon Wayans has announced the return of the “Scary Movie” franchise. This represents a significant change for the series, which was originally rooted in the Wayans family. USA Today reports that the first two films were directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, with Marlon and Shawn Wayans serving as writers and actors for some of them. According to ABC News, the original “Scary Movie” (2000) grossed over $277 million worldwide. Despite “Scary Movie” becoming a pop culture staple, the Wayans family’s involvement in the franchise fizzled out after the second film. According to AFROTECH™, Marlon Wayans claimed that The Weinstein Co. “snatched” the franchise from them after it was initially passed over by other production studios. The Wayans family reportedly learned through a publication that they would no longer be involved. “The second one they rushed us into, and by the third one, they didn’t want to pay the money, so they snatched it. We found out on Christmas that they hired somebody...
Druski is investing in his dreams. Druski, born Drew Desbordes in Columbia, MD, began his journey by posting skits on Instagram under the handle druski2funny. The comedian’s social presence has continued to rise. 2020 served as a pivotal year, with his skits generating 1.5 million views and catching the attention of celebrity figures such as Jack Harlow, Odell Beckham Jr., and Drake, making a cameo in the rapper’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” (2020) video, Complex reports. On Instagram alone, Druski’s following has grown to 8.2 million. Additionally, his comedic footprint has led to a net worth exceeding $1 million as of 2023. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, the feat is a result of ventures including live shows, tours, and partnerships with companies including teampixel, RGG Studio and SEGA, and PrizePicks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DRUSKI (@druski) Despite his success, being a comedian was not initially a goal post for Druski until he found himself depressed as a...