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HBCU homecoming season is the most wonderful time of the year! There is nothing like the experience of a homecoming at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). From the concerts to the tailgate, it is a time for students, alumni, and guests to convene to celebrate the rich history of institutions that directly impact our culture. After COVID-19 took the world by storm, it stripped us of a lot of things. Seeing family, attending concerts — you name it. It was a year like no other. Homecoming events were among those delayed and canceled, but the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) had a plan. Last year was the inaugural celebration of Recognizing and Investing in Student Excellence (RISE), a virtual concert and fundraiser led by TMCF to celebrate the longstanding legacy of HBCU Homecomings. On Oct. 9, RISE returns with host Terrence J and performances by Migos, Moneybagg Yo, Justine Skye, NC A&T Blue, Gold Marching Machine and more!
AfroTech 2019 has come to an end, and this elderly millennial is exhausted but feeling revived and renewed. For the first time, I had a chance to brush shoulders and connect with 10,000 Black programmers, engineers, founders, and entrepreneurs from over 100 companies focused on scaling our collective power in the culture, innovation, and tech. It is the official homecoming for Black techies proving that diversity and inclusion in tech is not a pipeline problem. Let me preface. For almost ten years, I have been fortunate to have a seat at the table where I can be curious about the future of AdTech, leading strategic partnerships to bring advertising and entertainment solutions to life. Despite all of the challenges, I am proud to be a part of an exciting and rewarding industry surrounded by talented people. The AdTech industry has been a lonely place for me as a person of color. It is evident that we have made significant progress with diversity and inclusion in creative industries....
Beyoncé brought in the big numbers to Netflix, thanks to her documentary, Homecoming . Nielsen states the documentary brought in 1.1 million U.S. viewers and had an average of 828,000 viewers a minute. That average continued in the days following the film’s April 17 release up into that weekend of April 20-21. Much of the audience consisted of young Black women viewers, with 63% watching the film April 21 and 55% throughout its first seven days after the release. Even though the documentary had a huge audience, Nielsen states that Homecoming didn’t reach the same heights as other Netflix offerings like the Sandra Bullock-starring horror film Bird Box and the Will Smith-starring fantasy buddy-cop film Bright . With that said, Nielsen’s stats don’t equal all of Netflix’s viewership numbers, since it only covers American viewers, and out of that limited demographic, Nielsen only counts internet-connected televisions. This means that phones, computers and other mobile devices aren’t...
Founders, investors, marketers and tech enthusiasts will converge this weekend during Black Wall Street: Homecoming, an annual conference honoring the legacy of black entrepreneurship in Durham. This year the event will be held in conjunction with the Art of Cool Festival and Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange: Black Founders. The event fosters networking opportunities with expert panels and keynotes designed for early-stage entrepreneurs building startups at the intersection of “content, connections, and culture.” “This is content aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, professionals and community members need to hear,” said co-founder of Black Wall Street, Dee McDougal to WRAL TechWire . “We’re offering several free sessions, and have a few ‘sponsored’ conference registrations still available.” Black Wall Street Homecoming was created in 2015 to celebrate downtown Durham’s historic “Black Wall Street” where a hub of black-owned businesses and financial services flourished in the late...
Detroit, MI, native Eminem is joining a list of individuals, such as former NBA players Grant Hill and Chris Webber, to bring a WNBA team to the city, according to Sportico. The 15-time Grammy Award-winning rapper — born Marshall Mathers — is part of a group led by Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons. “This is an exciting opportunity to welcome the WNBA back to Detroit and bring additional investment and economic activity into the city,” Gores said previously, per AFROTECH™. “For the WNBA, this is home, and our bid represents an unprecedented opportunity for the league to come full circle and effect a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No city is more prepared to embrace the team as a community asset that drives unity and common ground.” According to Sportico, the franchise would play at Little Caesars Arena, which cost $863 million to build and is home to the Pistons and Red Wings. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Michigan’s largest city had a WNBA team called the Detroit Shock from...
Former NBA players Grant Hill and Chris Webber are looking to bring a WNBA team back to the city where they once played. According to a press release, an ownership group led by Pistons owner Tom Gores has formed and placed a bid to bring the league to Detroit, MI. The state previously had a team between 1998 to 2009, named The Detroit Shock, which had been quite successful, CNBC reports. In fact, the team won three WNBA Championships. However, the franchise no longer represents the city after first moving to Tulsa, OK, and then to Arlington, TX, where it has played as the Dallas Wings since 2015. Now, a group that includes Hill and Webber is hoping to reignite momentum for the city to regain a WNBA team. This marks a full-circle moment for both Hill and Webber as they both played for the Detroit Pistons at different times during their professional careers. “This is an exciting opportunity to welcome the WNBA back to Detroit and bring additional investment and economic activity into...
Community is essential for Black professionals. Among the annual events that center Black audiences, the AFROTECH™ Conference has rightfully earned the title of “Black tech Mecca.” Each year, leaders that have included Robert F. Smith, will.i.am, Beatrice Dixon (The Honey Po co-co-founder and former CEO), and Colin Kaepernick (Lumi Founder) have taken to its programing stages to offer industry insights. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) In attending the AFROTECH™ Conference, attendees have the opportunity to explore the expo floor, which features over 200 tech and enterprise companies actively recruiting, product demonstrations, and event activations both within the conference venue and in the surrounding area. The conference has made its way to Austin, TX, in previous years but has transitioned to Houston, TX, for the 2024 and 2025 years. Transforming Your ATC™ Experience As An Insider Among the list of ATC 2024 attendees was Jade C. Williams, a...
Houston,TX, native and 32-time Grammy award-winning recording artist Beyoncé put on a halftime show performance at the NFL’s Christmas Day football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. She performed several hits from her most recent album, “ Cowbo y Carter” which pays homage to the often-forgotten Black history of country music . Mrs. Knowles-Carter, dressed in all-white cowboy regalia, sat atop a white horse led by a Black cowboy for her grand entrance onto the field. She was joined by backup dancers and the third-ward Texas Southern University marching band, Ocean of Soul. They delivered a “ Homecoming” -esque show that featured songs like “Blackbiird,” “Sweet Honey Buckiin,” and “Leviis Jeans,” which she collaborated with Post Malone, Shaboozey , Tanner Adell, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts on. As noted by Forbes, Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” World Tour earned over $600 million in revenue. While she has yet to announce concert dates for her “Cowboy...
DIAGEO is opening its pocketbooks to support innovation at HBCUs. In celebration of homecoming week, the company hosted several events to honor the traditions that thrive across Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This includes its Alumni Bison Ball and “Off The Yard” tailgate festival held Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 at Howard University as well as a football classic in Alabama on Oct. 25 and another one in Louisiana on Nov. 30, a press release mentions. Photo Credit: DIAGEO “At DIAGEO, we believe a business that includes everyone is a better business. Our business is centered around celebrations, culture and memorable moments,” Danielle Robinson, Ph.D., director of community initiatives and partnerships at DIAGEO, told AFROTECH™ in an email interview. “HBCU Homecoming and Classic season represents one of those vibrant memorable moments. As alumni from these respected institutions continue to make meaningful impact in society and the business world, we are thrilled to...
Attending an HBCU helped Lance Gross realize his dreams of becoming an actor. The Oakland, CA, native had envisioned he would establish a career in entertainment. However, his parents initially had other aspirations, encouraging him to pursue finance and business . “I went against the grain. I like to take a chance on myself. I always bet on myself,” Gross told AFROTECH™ on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Off The Yard Festival at The Bullpen in Washington, DC. There he served as an event partner for the spirit company DIAGEO, celebrating Howard University’s 100th anniversary and sharing in its mission to elevate HBCUs. “I had to do what I loved and what I loved was entertainment. And I’m a creative person, and I feel like I’m not living unless I’m creating. For me, it was a no-brainer. Now, I had some convincing to do with my parents, and also I was on a full track and field scholarship, so I had to convince my coach as well. But, I’m from Oakland, CA, so I’m gonna make it work. We know...
Attending a traditional four-year college is a life-changing experience. Many students who choose that route consider it crucial to their formative era of adulthood. From making lifelong friends and unlearning things that no longer serve you to developing a sense of independence and greater resiliency — the collegiate experience can be life-defining. Now, add that perspective to a predominantly Black environment, and this is the HBCU experience. Founded to provide access to academia that systemic racist policies and laws would not traditionally allow, HBCUs are spaces of higher learning, homes, and safe spaces for students to be cultivated, developed, matured, and uniquely nurtured. Regardless of this context, one thing that is consistent for all college students is the journey of discovery, particularly around career goals and continued livelihood. Whether it is choosing the best major or navigating whether or not one should pursue an internship over a fellowship, college students...
If you’ve tuned into NBC News any time in the last few decades, you’re likely aware of Hoda Kotb, a revered television journalist best known for her long-time duty hosting the “Today” show. While the inspiring Oklahoma-born broadcaster has spent much of her time offering tales of human interest and up-to-the-minute news on “Today,” she recently announced her plans to depart her highly coveted co-anchor slot . This news came as a surprise to many, though a brief look at her net worth makes it clear that Kotb has enough liquid cash to do whatever she pleases. Per outlets such as Celebrity Net Worth , Hoda Kotb currently touts a fortune of more than $30 million. These figures come primarily from Kotb’s “Today” salary, though they are ameliorated by book sales, endorsement deals , and a wide array of other investments. Given that Hoda Kotb is preparing to enter a new phase in her career, it seems like now is as good a time as any to perform a deep dive on her financial portfolio,...
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania became the first HBCU to open in 1837. Like its successors, Hampton, Howard and Spelman , these institutions were developed to provide access to higher education for Black students. Up until then, Black students were either excluded from the higher education experience by predominantly white institutions or one of the few that were admitted. In the 1970s, HBCUs began to see an influx of non-Black students pursuing admission. The percentage of non-Black students has reached close to 30% at some HBCUs with the highest being 90% at the Bluefield Colored Institute . White students have long attended HBCUs and continue to enroll today, yet the history of higher education still begs the question: Can white people go to HBCUs? The History of the HBCU Due to racial discrimination, Black people were largely prevented from pursuing higher education. The development of HBCUs has served the Black community, and continues to, through education and philanthropy....
Edy Lawson-Jackson has made history in the NFL alongside her daughter, Samira, according to The Baltimore Sun. Growing up in Baltimore, MD, Lawson-Jackson had many dreams, including wanting to pursue ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics. These early aspirations fueled her activities in the band, track and field, as well as becoming homecoming queen. With discipline and creativity as part of her makeup, she developed a passion for writing, language, and history, which ultimately sparked her goal to become a sports and entertainment lawyer. After graduating from Baltimore City College in 1986, she attended Howard University, where she earned a juris doctor degree in 1993, per the outlet. The “Charm City” native also gained experience as an intern under a sports entertainment attorney at a law firm. That same year, despite being in the final stages of pregnancy and experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions with Samira, she took and passed the Pennsylvania bar exam on the first try. “Listen...
The founders of Eastside Golf continue to build on their momentum in the golf apparel space while staying true to their roots. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Morehouse College graduates Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper founded the brand without a fashion background in 2019 after working full-time in corporate America. The company boasts products such as polo shirts, sweatshirts, pants, shoes, and accessories including bags, all tailored towards men and women. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eastside Golf (@eastsidegolf) Beyond the product offerings, the founders have continued to pave their own way through their mission that centers moving the sport forward among the youth and non-golfers while increasing diversity in a predominantly white sport. Their vision has led to an increase in support as they scaled their annual revenue from $100,000 in their first year to $4 million in 2023. They kicked off 2024 with a $3.4 million raise led by EP Golf Ventures, and the...