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Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The tech industry has long had an obsession with youth. This is seen in how the industry conducts itself, who investors look to invest in, how people look at hiring in the world of startups, as well as which programs are being targeted by DOGE, and which ones aren’t, as they look to make the government more efficient. Over the last few months, the Department of Government Efficiency has aggressively looked for waste and fraud within the federal government. It started with organizations that do not come to mind for the average American, like the United States Agency For International Development, or USAID, which focuses on deploying aid to foreign countries for a variety of efforts centered around health, disaster aid, and economic development. DOGE came in like a wrecking ball to the organization, and as reported by ABC News in February, 4,080 employees worldwide were placed on leave and an...
Entrepreneur Kiara Imani Williams claims she was dropped from Target on short notice. Williams is an attorney with a decade of experience in entertainment law, a writer, and the co-founder of the card game LikeU, which is designed to spark conversations among family and friends. LikeU made its way onto Target shelves during a period when many companies were pledging to support diverse brands as a result of George Floyd being murdered at the hands of police brutality. Williams believed Target’s commitment was genuine and would endure, but has been mistaken. “LikeU cards were born out of the conversations that emerged after George Floyd’s murder—a time when so many people were searching for ways to connect, to listen, and to understand,” Williams said in an email interview with AFROTECH™. “Target made a pledge to support diverse communities at that moment, and it was that commitment that made me believe they were the right fit. But since then, like many other organizations, they’ve...
will.i.am missed out on an investment that would have made him millions today. During an interview with Fortune held at SXSW, the multi-platinum music artist, producer, and tech entrepreneur revealed he had a chance to invest in Airbnb, a vacation rental company. The opportunity was introduced to him by Airbnb’s co-founder, Brian Chesky. Founded in 2007, the company raised funds in its early stages and allowed individuals to invest up to $200,000. However, will.i.am wasn’t fully convinced by the concept at the time. “’What’s up with concierge? Y’all don’t got that?’ ‘No,’” he explained to Fortune. “What’s up with room service? Y’all got that? He’s like, ‘No.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m gonna have to pass on that one.’” Airbnb did become a success. According to its website, it has more than 5 million hosts and has attracted 2 billion guests from more than 220 countries and regions. Hosts have earned more than $250 billion. Today, Airbnb has a market cap valued at more than $78...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. During his second term, Donald Trump has continued to change how the United States operates with its allies. Recently, Trump and JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to ease tensions with the current administration and finalize a mineral deal intended to be celebrated following their televised meeting. However, the way Zelenskyy was treated during the exchange was a shocking break from modern diplomatic norms. This incident is just one example of a broader shift—one that becomes clearer as the Trump administration continues to signal a closer alignment with Russia, making its willingness to bully allies increasingly apparent. Previously, Donald Trump claimed that tariffs on Canada and Mexico would be paused before they were set to go into effect earlier this year. CNN reported that he kept to his word and imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™ and will not impact the outcome of the events. TikTok has been the center of controversy, due to national security concerns, since 2020, when President Donald Trump first attempted to ban the app in the U.S. Former President Joe Biden continued to push forward with a ban, passing a mandate with overwhelming congressional support to force TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, to sell to a U.S. company or be banned in the U.S. After several lawsuits and attempts to reverse the decision, the app chose to go dark right before Trump was inaugurated. Since then, Trump has signed an executive order to delay the ban by 75 days , providing a reprieve for TikTok and millions of its U.S. users and more time to sell the app to an American company. Now, time is almost up as the app is at risk again of being banned on April 5 . The Trump administration has stated that it is in talks with several...
Google is doubling down on its move away from DEI goals. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, a shift away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have been occurring across the nation. This has been seen in the venture capital space, with funding for Black-owned businesses being challenged in court. At the federal level, when he took office President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle DEI-related “mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities” in the federal government, Business Insider notes. These changes, combined with political and legal pressures, have driven major companies to rethink their DEI initiatives. Some big tech companies, such as Meta, Amazon, and Google, have retracted their DEI commitments. “We’re committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities, and over the last year, we’ve been reviewing our programs designed to help us get there,” a Google spokesperson told Business Insider in...
After receiving major backlash, President Donald Trump is now less likely to dismantle the Department of Education. ABC News reported that an executive order had been drafted requiring Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take any measures as permitted by law “to close the department, according to sources familiar with the matter.” “My vision is aligned with the President’s: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children,” McMahon said in a memo, according to the outlet. Officials allegedly scheduled the executive order for signing on Thursday, March 6, 2025. However, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump will not sign the order. “This is a tremendous victory for those of us who are standing up and holding the line and pushing back against the endless chaos that we are seeing from the Trump administration,” an education leader said, according to ABC News. The decision not to...
Dr. Bernard Harris will be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The Temple, TX, native graduated from the University of Houston in 1978 with a bachelor of science degree in biology. He then attended medical school at Texas Tech University and completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in 1985, followed by a fellowship at NASA’s Ames Research Center, according to a news release. Dr. Harris joined NASA as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. He remained with the agency from 1990 to 2010, and during his tenure, he became an astronaut and served as a mission specialist on STS-55 (1993) and the groundbreaking STS-63 flight in 1995, which made him the first African American to walk in space. In total, Dr. Harris has spent 18 days in space and has flown seven million miles, he notes on his LinkedIn. “Space exploration has always been about pushing boundaries, inspiring future generations, and proving that the impossible is achievable,” Dr. Harris said in a news release. “I am...
Vista Equity Partners Chairman and CEO Robert F. Smith believes diversity will overcome. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are being dismantled, causing a ripple effect across various sectors. According to a news release, the White House issued executive orders to end all DEI practices in the federal workforce and in federal contracting and spending. This resulted in federal employees in DEI roles being placed on paid leave. A Maryland federal judge has since blocked portions of Trump’s executive orders, including a halt on federal contracts tied to DEI and restrictions on private companies with DEI programs, according to JD Supra. Furthermore, some companies have shifted their policies to align with the Trump administration, which some attribute to political pressures from conservative groups and figures such as Robby Starbuck. Companies that have adopted anti-DEI agendas include Target, which led to the retail giant being sued by its...
Serena Williams has ownership in a new sports team. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the tennis legend is an investor in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club Angel City FC, alongside her family, which includes her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian Sr., and their two daughters, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. and Adira River Ohanian. According to a press release, Williams has officially joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo, which is owned by Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Ventures. Williams’ presence is also a full-circle moment, as she launched her career journey in Canada back in 1995. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) “I am thrilled to announce my ownership role in the first Canadian WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo,” Williams said in the press release. “This moment is not just about basketball; it is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes — I have always said that women’s sports...
As journalists, living within your stories is a treasure. For Gayle King, this journey will lead her into space. In 2021, King expressed excitement during an interview surrounding the launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket into space with Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Oliver Damon, and Wally Funk. Now, King will be front and center as Blue Origin—created by Bezos in 2000 to work towards a future that will permit millions to live and work in space with the overarching goal of sustaining work—prepares for its 11th flight under its New Shepard program, NS-31 mission, according to WJTV. This time, it will be with an all-woman team, which marks a first for Blue Origin. “I had to think really hard about this decision, and I consulted family, friends, doctors, and people who I know who have gone to space,” King said in an interview with Oprah Daily. Among her trusted confidants who gave their blessing was billionaire Oprah Winfrey , who advised, “If you don’t do it and see...
The tech event of the year is approaching once again. For the second year in a row, AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 is making its splash in Houston, TX. Attendees can connect with change-makers and leaders through keynote sessions, panel discussions, and workshops and find community at networking events. “Conferences like AFROTECH™ are full of opportunities you can’t predict, like running into someone hiring for your dream role or stumbling into a session that shifts your perspective completely,” HR leader Arianny Mercedes said in an email Q&A with AFROTECH™. Be among the first to secure your spot with early bird specials, available from the student tier to all-access passes. If you are struggling to decide which ticket level will be the best for your conference needs, we’ve got you covered. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH™ Conference (@afrotech.conference) Student Pass Students and recent graduates interested—especially those interested in technology— are...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The heart of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is about creating equitable access to opportunities, but unfortunately we are seeing the ladder of opportunity be systematically pulled up ever since President Donald Trump started his second term. Once he was sworn in, a slew of companies in the private sector, including large tech companies like Amazon and Meta, rolled back their previous commitments to DEI, with some in the financial sector like banks JPMorgan Chase and Citi Group following suit. This focus on the rollback of DEI is not only impacting the private sector but the world of education as well. Through Critical Race Theory (CRT), which started as a legal topic back in the 1970s and 1980s at Harvard Law School, Derrick Bell argued that racism appears in policies, even when these policies seem neutral. He stated that they are not just on the individual level but are present institutionally...
Pharrell Williams’ nonprofit organization Black Ambition has distributed $13 million to underrepresented founders since its inception. The nonprofit currently is launching its fifth Black Ambition Prize Competition, which will award early-stage entrepreneurs in industries such as consumer products and services, health care, media and entertainment, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will have a chance to receive more than $1 million in funding. Further support will be provided over 12 weeks through mentorship, business development support, and access to its network of investors and industry leaders through the Black Ambitionist Mentorship Program in partnership with Cinematica Labs. According to information shared with AFROTECH™, $13 million has been awarded to 131 entrepreneurs since 2020. Additionally, the organization’s founder network has raised $280 million and generated over $265 million in revenue. “Five years ago, Black Ambition was an idea,” Williams...
Student loan borrowers may be experiencing whiplash this year, as the rules and guidelines for repayment have continued to see massive sweeping changes. If you’ve been following along with political news in recent months, you’re likely already aware of the fact that president Donald Trump has plans to dismantle – and perhaps entirely abolish , the Department of Education. This is a far cry from Joe Biden’s economic plans , which included wiping out millions in student loan debt over the course of his term, and setting the stage for additional loan forgiveness down the line. Whether you’re a borrower concerned about your financial future, or just a passive onlooker questioning the economic impact of Trump’s many executive orders , you may be interested in what happens to unpaid student loans when and if the Department of Education goes the way of the dodo bird. Luckily we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive look into the history of the Department of Education, what Trump is...