Gina Belafonte is someone who walks the walk and talks the talk. As the executive director of Sankofa, she’s combining the arts and activism to carry on her father’s legacy. Though initially starting out as an actress, Gina Belafonte is now focusing her efforts on the organization her father started and choosing to focus her efforts on larger social justice causes. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t use entertainment to get her point across. On March 1, HB95 — a celebration of Harry Belafonte’s 95th birthday — will be a star-studded event that will take place at the Town Hall Theater in New York City. Proceeds will benefit Sankofa, whose mission “educates, motivates, and activates artists and allies in service of grassroots movements and equitable change,” per the organization’s official website. Their outreach is, of course, grassroots in nature — they work with local partners to amplify their message, but their amplification involves some of the biggest names in the entertainment...

La La Anthony wears many hats — businesswoman, actress, television personality, author, and investor. According to a press release, in her latest venture, she put on her investor hat with an investment in LEUNE, a California-born cannabis brand — founded by Nidhi Lucky Handa — with a focus on shedding light on social injustice. “LEUNE is honored to be part of the cannabis community – the constant excitement and growth potential is part of what keeps us dancing on our toes. We also realize that being in our industry comes with a platform – an ability to use our voice and help bring awareness to social injustice and inspire true, positive change. There is a mountain of work to be done, and beyond the fad buzzwords and headlines of the week, we’re here for as long as it takes,” the company website says. One of LEUNE’s recent actions include a partnership with the Last Prisoner Project, an organization working to end marijuana convictions. In January of 2021, the company launched an...

Healthcare company Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to expand its commitment and address racial and social injustice in the U.S. The organization has pledged $100 million over the next five years to invest in and promote health equity solutions for Black and brown communities across the country, according to a news release . The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the economy throughout the year and revealed implicit systemic racism that has greatly impacted health equity in America. “The quality of your healthcare should not be determined by your race and ethnicity,” said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson, in a press statement . She continued her statement sharing her sentiments of the state of healthcare for Black and brown citizens in America: “There is an urgent need to take on the inequities rooted in systemic racism that threaten health in communities of color across the United States. That’s why Johnson & Johnson is focusing its efforts and...

It’s always good to see athletes using their platforms to fight for justice and change. This week, NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade launched the Social Change Fund to offer more financial support and resources in the Black community while also addressing issues like public safety and criminal justice reform, according to The Hollywood Reporter . https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8fyvdHqcJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The three athletes have banded together to put their money behind concrete action. “Our mission is to address social and economic justice issues facing Black communities and break down the discriminatory barriers to success,” Paul said in an Instagram post . “The Social Change Fund will help advance racial equality and opportunity.” Additionally, the fund is acting on behalf of the Black community in America who has gone unheard and mistreated in response to our demands for justice. “When all else fails to organize us, conditions will,” Anthony said in...

Social media has been in an uproar since a video of Ahmaud Arbery’s death surfaced online and has since called for immediate justice from the state of Georgia. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot on Feb. 23 while jogging through a neighborhood by Gregory McMichael and his son Travis, who chased him down before killing him. McMichael and his son were only arrested and charged for the murder just last week, USA Today reports . The video caused such a stir online that Roc Nation’s philanthropic arm Team Roc and civil rights lawyers S. Lee Merritt, Esq. and Benjamin L. Crump, Esq. signed an open letter calling for justice from Georgia state officials. Open letter to Georgia elected officials appearing in the Atlantic Journal-Constitution today, calling for justice to be served in the case of Ahmaud Arbery's murder. Convict his killers and show the world that hate and fear will lose. #JusticeforAhmaud #iRunWithMaud pic.twitter.com/w0nuXthGEc — Roc Nation (@RocNation) May 10, 2020...