Procter and Gamble Sells Johnson Products Co.
Procter and Gamble Co. sold Johnson Products Co., one of the world’s leading African-American hair care products lines, to RCJP Acquisition Inc. for an undisclosed amount.
The new management team will be led by husband and wife team, Eric Brown and Renee Cottrell-Brown. The couple will head the organization as chief executive officer and executive vice president, respectively. They have extensive experiences in the ethnic hair care arena, having both held senior executive positions with the Pro-Line International Inc.
Johnson Products is the first hair care brand developed specifically for African-American hair. Ultra Sheen relaxers, hair dress, shampoos and conditioners are among the company’s many products that are staples of many African American households.
“The acquisition of Johnson Products represents the renewal of a family of products that revolutionized the ethnic hair care industry starting in the 1950s, and a next stage of growth for a legendary company that has been an iconic figure and model of success for African-Americans,†said Eric Brown.
In 2008, Johnson Products reported net revenue of $23 million. The deal returned a legacy brand to the African-American community, according to the company.
The company was founded in 1954 by George Ellis Johnson, Sr. and became the first minority-run enterprise to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, in 1971. Today, the company offers more than 30 hair care products. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Dallas.
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— Renita Burns
Sharp Decline in Black Incarceration for Drug Offenses
For the first time in 25 years, the number of African Americans incarcerated in state prisons for drug offenses has declined substantially, according to a study released recently by The Sentencing Project.
“The Changing Racial Dynamics of the War on Drugs†found a 21.6% drop in the number of blacks incarcerated for a drug offense, a decline of 31,000 people from 1999 to 2005.
Based on an analysis of government data, including statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, FBI, and the Department of Health and Human Services, the study also documents a corresponding rise in the number of whites in state prison for a drug offense, an increase of 42.6% during this time frame, or more than 21,000 people. The number of Latinos incarcerated for state drug offenses was unchanged.
Black declines in incarceration represent “the end result of 50 state law enforcement and sentencing systems” which need to be examined individually, according to the study. This decline comes as arrest and conviction rates drop for blacks.
The analysis also documented a sharp contrast between state and federal prison populations. While the number of persons in state
prisons for a drug offense rose by less than 1% during the study period, the increase in federal prisons was more than 32%. These latter changes are attributed to ongoing aggressive enforcement of drug laws, including application of harsh mandatory sentencing policies. Despite declines in the use of crack cocaine, federal prosecution and incarceration levels for crack offenses remain high and have a stark racially disparate impact.— Janell P. Hazelwood
Study Ranks Best, Worst Tax-Friendly States
Entrepreneurs planning to start a business may want to consider making their mark in South Dakota, the most tax friendly state in the nation, according to a study released by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) Tuesday.
The survey, “Business Tax Index 2009: Best to Worst Tax Systems for Entrepreneurship and Small Business,†looks at 16 different tax measures which are combined into one tax score used to compare all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Among the taxes included are income, property, death, inheritance, unemployment, and various consumption-based taxes, including state gas and diesel levies.
And when it comes to doing business, taxes matter, says Raymond J. Keating, chief economist for SBE Council and author of the annual report. “Taxes have been piling up on small business owners, and the cumulative burden is particularly painful in a down economy.â€
South Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Washington, and Texas were ranked as the states with the best tax systemsm, while California, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia were in the bottom five.
— Renita Burns
NAMIC to Present Top Entertainment Business Leaders at Summit
National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) will present more than 50 of the entertainment industry’s top business leaders at the 2009 NAMIC Creative Summit/Vision Awards April 17.
The event will be hosted by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
Among the highlights of the event will be the presentation of the 15th Anniversary NAMIC Vision Awards. The awards will honor creators, networks, and industry leaders for their commitment to producing multi-ethnic and culturally-relevant original television programming that reflects the diversity of the nation.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that entertainment and communications professionals, like those in other business sectors, understand their new challenges while remaining focused on their respective viability. That is why we will present a fresh and unique session format,” said Debra Langford, president, NAMIC-Southern California and vice president, Inclusion & Business Diversity, NBC Universal.
— Janell P. Hazelwood
National Archives Holds Event on African American History
The National Archives will present a screening and panel discussion on the upcoming PBS documentary Legacy: Black & White in America on April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
The 90-minute documentary, which will air later this spring on PBS, examines the political rise of President Barack Obama amid changing racial attitudes in America. The film presents two stories — one of African American life today and one of the Civil Rights generation — to highlight the successes and failures of racial integration in America and what it reveals about our democracy and national character.
At the event, Richard Karz, the film’s producer, will introduce a 75-minute excerpt of the film, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ronald Walters, director of the African American Leadership Center at the University of Maryland. The panel will include the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, who delivered the stirring benediction at Obama’s inauguration, and Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., president of Spelman College in Atlanta.
Free and open to the public, this event will take place in the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
— Janell P. Hazelwood
CeCe Winans to Headline McDonald’s Inspiration Gospel Tour
McDonald’s brings a powerful message of hope and praise when its McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour returns in the spring. Now in its third year, Grammy award-winner CeCe Winans will headline the tour, along with PAJAM/Zombia Records recording artist J Moss.
Concerts in cities across the country will include performances by local groups to showcase community talent. In addition to the gospel tour, several McDonald’s franchisees have developed gospel celebrations of their own. In Atlanta, McDonald’s sponsors “The Gift†Gospel talent search, a singing and instrumental competition for Atlanta area youth.
“McDonald’s is pleased to present the Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour, featuring music that will lift spirits and inspire us all,†said Carol Sagers, marketing director, McDonald’s USA.