Influencers of the social media generation have taken many issues into their own hands to create simple and beneficial products for people in search of beauty hacks and skincare solutions.

Former Google tech executive, Davlyn Mosley, created Namesake Skincare, a line of dermatologist-approved skincare essentials that cater to people of color, in honor of her mother, a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Lynn McKinley-Grant.

 

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After spending a lot of time at her mother’s dermatology practice, Mosley was exposed to the ins and outs of skincare products and treatments.

“I started Namesake with a singular goal in mind: to create a skincare line specifically catered towards the care of melanin-rich skin,” Mosely stated on the Namesake website.

“It needed to be powerful enough to target the particular concerns of my own skin type, focusing on brightness, elasticity retention, and smoothness.”

“And it also needed to be gentle enough to work on my own ultra-reactive skin.”

“When I scoured the existing products on the market and was unable to find anything that covered those bases, I decided to create my own. I brought my dermatologist mom on as an advisor, and Namesake was born,” she added.

According to an interview with a source, Mosley appointed her mother as an advisor for Namesake Skincare to ensure quality was at the center of the brand.

“We spent almost two years perfecting the formula for the Daily Moisturizer and we started from scratch,” Mosley said.

“We made so many revisions which meant I was constantly FedExing samples from L.A. to D.C. so my mom could weigh in on everything from the ingredient list to the texture and scent. She was incredibly instrumental in making sure that we didn’t include ingredients that she’s seen her patients react negatively to.”

Dr. McKinley-Grant shared that working with her daughter has kept her up-to-date on various skincare trends, products, brands, and ingredients.

“Learning more about what works and doesn’t has been an interesting process as we developed the formulation.”

Mosley revealed upcoming partnerships with creators and brands, in addition to new social media content.

Namesake Skincare is approaching its first year since launching.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

October 25, 2022

Grab This Nine-Course Adobe Bundle For Under $20 Thanks To Overstock Deals

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Not much software over the past couple of decades has had the impact and staying power of Adobe.

More than just a vehicle to unpack PDFs, Adobe has become the go-to software for creatives. Photoshop and Lightroom are the preferred programs of photographers and videographers because of the vast set of features and their ease of use once properly learned. Dreamweaver is one of the most popular programs for web design, and InDesign is used in newsrooms and PR agencies around the globe.

A solid grasp of Adobe’s programs not only benefits users but can open doors professionally.

Thanks to Overstock Deals, you can purchase The 2022 Ultimate Adobe CC Beginner to Advanced Training Bundle for just $19.99. That’s a savings of more than 95% if you were to purchase each course in this bundle individually ($1,800). You don’t need a special coupon to receive this deal.

Overstock Deals runs through 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Nine courses are included in this Adobe bundle.

The Adobe Premiere Pro CC for Beginners 2022 is a great introduction to anyone interested in learning the programs. It includes 176 lessons and covers everything from video editing basics to green screen/chromakeying to advanced color grading.

Adobe Illustrator with Alice Thorpe spans 26 lessons. Taught by prominent YouTuber and graphic designer Alice Thorpe, students will learn how to build their brand through the use of Adobe Illustrator, along with ways to use the software to make the most of their graphic designing skills.

Those interested in game creation will find value in The 2022 Adobe Animate Games & Characters course. Aspiring creators will learn how to draw with Adobe Anime, they’ll receive step-by-step instructions on how to develop a game, and how to use a physics engine, among other tools and tips.

Whether you use Adobe daily or if you’ve never explored the software, there’s something of value for everyone in this nine-course offering. Purchase it today at its low Overstock Deals price.

Prices subject to change.

by Derek Major

October 24, 2022

Amazon Prime Gets Exclusive Rights To Broadcast 2023 ‘Black Friday’ NFL Game

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The NFL is adding a game on Black Friday, and Amazon Prime has won the right to televise it.

The L.A. Times reports that adding the Black Friday game to Amazon Prime’s package of NFL games indicates the streaming giant’s performance as a media partner.

Amazon is currently in the first year of its exclusive broadcasting deal with the NFL to show Thursday Night Football, which averaged 13.6 million viewers and 15.3 million viewers during its first two weeks of this season.

Black Friday is one of the year’s biggest days for retailers, including Walmart and Target, who typically start sales on Thanksgiving night. Amazon also features a bevy of sales on Black Friday. However, the game will likely promote Black Friday deals and sales for those who don’t do their Christmas shopping early.

“Amazon is uniquely positioned to partner with us for this game as Black Friday is one of the most important days of the year for their business,” said Hans Schroeder, chief operating officer for NFL Media.

Amazon paid more than $1 billion per year for the broadcasting rights to 15 Thursday Night NFL games between 2022 and 2032. Neither the league nor Amazon disclosed the terms concerning the Black Friday game, but according to the New York Times, rumors are swirling that the tech giant paid $50 million.

Traditionally, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys play home games on Thanksgiving, but in recent years a third game has been added to the slate. The Black Friday game will be next year at 4 p.m. EST. The competing teams are unknown, and the 2023 NFL schedule has not been set.

While streaming is set to be more popular than cable based on the number of viewers by the end of this year, NFL games are routinely the most-watched cable programs. According to Mental Floss, NFL games on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights were three of the top 10 most-watched cable TV shows of 2021 and 2022.

• Entrepreneurship

by Eric Moody

October 24, 2022

Black Entrepreneur Pushes Positivity Through Clothing Brand

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Entrepreneur Donny Harper has dedicated his G(O)OD Company Apparel brand as a daily reminder to be good company to others and to be mindful of the company you keep.

“I’m pushing a message of positivity through fashion,” Harper told Oprah Daily in an interview.

As a 2022 recipient of Spectrum Reach’s Pay It Forward (PIF) program, Harper reflected on his early journey and how he wanted to integrate a message of positivity after losing his mother at the age of 19 to cancer.

“My mom was my best friend, my everything. I started going to church and growing in my faith,” Harper said.

What once began as Harper rapping about things he said his mother was not proud of later transformed into messages about his values as a Christian man. That laid the foundation for the Ohio-based company, and Harper began spreading joy and positivity.

 

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Harper earned his GED at 26—a promise he made to his mom—after dropping out of high school a decade before, which led to bigger and brighter things.

After becoming a math teacher and putting his music career on hold, Harper began to bring forth his vision for the GO(O)D Company.

“I wanted a brand that everybody could relate to and connect to.”

“In our world, there are so many things that divide us as people,” he told Oprah Daily.

“I wanted a message that connected to all backgrounds, all different walks of life, rich and poor.”

The messages on his t-shirts quickly became popular among his students and fellow staff. Harper left teaching to spread his message in new ways as a pastor and business owner.

“I truly feel that my mom would have been really, really proud of what we’re doing,” he told Oprah Daily. “I’m reminded of her every day.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 24, 2022

The BeyHive is Buzzing: Beyoncé Confirms Renaissance World Tour in Summer 2023

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Beyoncé’s Bey Hive is reeling over news confirming Queen Bey’s upcoming Renaissance world tour.

Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Blue Ivy attended the WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater’s fifth annual Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday. During the lavish charity event, a concert package valued at $20,000 was raffled that confirmed Bey’s upcoming global tour, Yahoo News reports.

The event was founded by Beyoncé’s mom Tina Knowles-Lawson and her husband, actor Richard Lawson, to help raise funds for the theater’s arts and youth mentorship programs. Leave it up to Mama Tina’s signature event to reveal exclusive news for the Bey Hive.

A screenshot taken during the event showed the unique offering giving one lucky fan a chance to see Beyoncé’s return to the live stage.

“United x WACO offers you a chance to see Beyoncé on her ‘Renaissance Tour’ starting in the summer of 2023 at any of United’s national and international destinations around the world,” the message read.

“BEYONCÉ IS GOING ON TOUR THIS IS NOT A DRILL,” one fan tweeted out.

BEYONCÉ IS GOING ON TOUR THIS IS NOT A DRILL pic.twitter.com/cLXLNpIgAa

— S ミ☆ (@legendarihhhh) October 23, 2022

The package details include lavish accommodations to attend one of Beyoncé’s 2023 tour dates.

It included “2 First Class International United Airline Polaris tickets to select cities, with 3-Night hotel accommodations at a Marriott Property,” the offering states.

“2 concert tickets” are also included to attend Beyoncé’s 2023 tour, along with a guided backstage tour with Mama Tina herself.

Video footage showed that the bidding war went up to $50,000 while the final amount the tickets went for was unannounced. One attendee claims the tickets sold for a whopping $150,000.

https://twitter.com/IChoseViolences/status/1584053231197769728?s=20&t=rrKg1uiFMBF3BvG1eVeZdg

The Renaissance tour would be Beyoncé’s return to the live stage following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grammy Award-winning singer released the 16-track album in July to critical acclaim.

Each song on the LP has landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with “Cuff It” being the latest dance craze on TikTok. Fans are eager for the highly-anticipated release of the Renaissance visual album.

• Lifestyle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 24, 2022

‘BMF’ Starz Actress Michole Briana White Explains How Season 2 Will ‘Elevate’ Viewers

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Actress Michole Briana White, one of the four main leads on the hit Starz series, BMF, spoke exclusively with BLACK ENTERPRISE ahead of the season 2 premiere.

The BMF series is only one season in and receiving praise for his gripping portrayal of the infamous Detroit-based BMF (Black Mafia Family). From executive producer Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, BMF continues to tell the story of love, kinship, and capitalism in the pursuit of the American dream.

All through the eyes of the Flenory brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (played by Demetrius Flenory, Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (played by Da’Vinchi), the show shares how the brother rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late ’80s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in the country.

On the show, White portrays ‘Lucille,’ the strong-willed, dignified mother of Demetrius and Terry Flenory. In every episode, White delivers a strong and powerful performance as the matriarch of the Flenory family.

As the cast prepares for the release of season 2, White is beyond overjoyed with the public response to the show and how it helped humanize the Flenory family.

“Incredibly excited. People love this show,” White told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I personally love that it’s a story about family.”

“You get to see that these beautiful boys did not come from a broken home. They came from a broken neighborhood.”

Season 2 continues the grit, heart, and humor that helps refine the choices the Flenory brothers made in their pursuit of the American Dream.

 

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The show is rooted in family, loyalty, and brotherhood, as the show explores the brothers’ complex relationships with their parents, Charles Flenory (played by Russell Hornsby) and White’s character Lucille, who seeks counsel from their spiritual advisor, Pastor Swift (Snoop Dogg).

“As our incredible showrunner Randy Huggins said all season long, it’s to, “Elevate, elevate, elevate!” White said about the central theme of season 2.

The new season will see every character fighting temptation all around them, with Meech and Terry being at odds. When it comes to Lucille, she’s finally practicing the importance of self-care.

“I think they will see that Lucille has always done everything she could for those she loves but this season she learns the importance of honoring herself,” White said.

With the American dream remaining at the forefront of the BMF series, White says it’s a story that many can relate to.

“Access to the American dream was not an option in their community,” she said.

“So, they found another way to prosper with the limited opportunities presented to them.”

• News

by Atiya Jordan

October 24, 2022

White Lives Matter T-Shirts Were Dropped On Skid Row, But This Black Woman Wasn’t Having It

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A champion for LAʼs ever-increasing homeless population jumped to action when she discovered that boxes of T-shirts with the phrase “White Lives Matter” had been dropped off on Skid Row.

A video posted to Twitter on Oct. 16 suggested that the drop was “courtesy of Kanye West,” NBC News reports.

But Beauty 2 the Streetz founder Shirley Raines was not impressed and feared for the safety of those who might wear the shirts. She caught wind of the footage and decided to return a sense of security.

Load 1 – Skid Röw pic.twitter.com/F9Fh4KGlzp

— Ian Connor (@souljaian) October 17, 2022

“I’m not gonna allow their desperation to lead to their harm because people want to dump stuff like that in our community,” said Raines, who provides hair and makeup services, food, clothing, hygiene, and safety items to thousands of homeless people every week, per the outlet.

“It’s not acceptable. It’s not OK.”

 

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Photos were also shared to an Instagram account called DondasPlace, along with a caption that read “#WLM shirt activation today at Skid Row.” The shirts resemble the one West wore at his YZY SZN 9 presentation, which sparked a social media uproar.

On a mission, Raines and her team took to the streets with about 200 plain black T-shirts from her warehouse and offered the opportunity for people to replace the ones emblazoned with White Lives Matter.

Last Thursday, she posted a video to her Twitter account documenting her efforts, and in her words, “it’s about providing clothing for an at risk community that keeps them warm and SAFE! I fear that while trying to keep warm someone will get harmed.”

@beauty2thestreetzIt’s about providing clothing for an at risk community that keeps them warm and SAFE! I fear that while trying to keep warm someone will get harmed. We provided SAFER OPTIONS today 🙏🏾♬ original sound – Shirley

Named the 2021 CNN Hero of the Year, Raines has been documenting the real people she serves and their living conditions to change the narrative of homelessness. She began with live-streaming Beauty 2 the Streetz events on Instagram and Tik Tok and gained millions of followers for her devoted journey.

The work is personal for her, but the spotlight on the homeless community is even more valuable.

“I wanted people to understand you are not looking at a woman who buried a child, who started a nonprofit, got her life together, and now she’s a CNN Hero winner,” Raines said, per CNN.

“I don’t do hero stuff, I do human stuff,” she continued. “I work out here in the streets to gain the trust of my community.

• News

by Derek Major

October 24, 2022

Fossil Firms Including TC Energy Are Using Black Leaders To Endorse Projects Harmful To Black Communities

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Fossil fuel companies such as TC Energy have long used Black leaders to endorse oil and gas projects that disproportionately affect people of color and low-income areas.

The Guardian reported that one prime example is the Virginia Reliability Project (VRP), a proposal by TC Energy, the same company behind the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. THE VRP aims to upgrade gas infrastructure on tribal lands, fragile waterways, and underserved neighborhoods in Southeast Virginia.

Geoffrey Guns, the senior pastor at the Second Baptist Calvary Church in Norfolk, was asked to join the community advisory board for the pipeline, which TC Energy claimed would lead to thousands of local jobs, and that community engagement is core to TC Energy’s mission.

Guns, believing it was his duty to fight for Black communities that would be affected by the pipeline, joined the board with several other Black community leaders, but soon realized they made a grave mistake.

“If they’re asking us to rubber-stamp this, then there should be economic benefits for Black folks and minorities. But all we heard was talk without any actual commitment to equity in contracts for minorities,” Guns told the Guardian.

Guns added that he felt used by TC Energy, which features the endorsement of several Black leaders on its “Community Voices” page, including Virginia Senate Delegate Lamont Bagby, Sen. Louise Lucas and Delegate Clinton Jenkins.

However, The Guardian reported that many of the firm’s “Community Voices” receive financial contributions from TC Energy, which is legal but not mentioned on the page. Additionally, the majority of the “Community Voices” are white.

“The whole thing feels very disingenuous, as clearly the company is not really interested in our advice on safety or guaranteeing opportunities for minority businesses. I am very disappointed. This is a bunch of white people with some Black faces sprinkled in. I feel absolutely used and violated,” Guns added.

TC Energy is a $47 billion energy company and its VRP proposes digging up 49 miles of an existing pipeline and replacing it with a pipeline double the size through designated wetlands, residential areas, and an elementary school of mostly minority students.

The Guardian reported the project would also use horizontal drilling to cross watersheds currently being rehabilitated, which provide fish, oysters, and drinking water to indigenous Americans and Black communities. TC Energy is not the only fossil fuel firm to bring in influential Black leaders to endorse oil and gas projects that disproportionately affect people of color, Native communities, and low-income areas.

In fact, it happened so much the NAACP created a Fossil Fueled Foolery primer, warning people of color and communities about companies that use the endorsement of local leaders to misrepresent their interests. The organization created the primer after discovering some of its local chapters were supporting power plants and pipelines.

James Minor, the president of the Richmond NAACP chapter, lobbied on behalf of TC Energy and asked local politicians to sign ghostwritten letters supporting the pipeline. Minor is also one of eight voting members on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which is responsible for issuing water permits, which the VRP requires. Earlier this year, Minor voted in favor of a separate TC Energy permit request.

Itai Vardi, a research manager at the Energy and Policy Institute (EPI) told The Guardian that Minor’s actions are “a blatant conflict of interest and what seems to be an extremely troubling attempt by TC Energy to tilt the environmental review of the project in its favor.”

According to The Guardian, TC Energy donated $20,000 to the state’s Black Caucus, $5,000 to Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, and $2,000 to Sen. Lucas, among others in the state.

• News

by Eric Moody

October 24, 2022

George Floyd Demonstrators to be Paid $700K in Four Separate Settlements Over Police Excessive Force

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The city of Minneapolis has been required to pay more than $700,000 to demonstrators because of the police using excessive force during protests over the death of George Floyd.

Members of the Minneapolis city council approved the four separate settlements Thursday, with the largest award issued to a group of 11 Minnesotans and one Iowa resident, according to The Associated Press.

Minneapolis police were accused in federal court of targeting the protesters with tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray as they peacefully protested George Floyd’s death.

The council unanimously voted to award each plaintiff named in the case $50,000.

“In other blatant displays of excessive force, captured on video, MPD officers can be seen spraying tear gas and pepper spray indiscriminately out of their squad car windows while driving through peaceful protests,” according to a 60-page civil suit.

The settlements reportedly require approval from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

The Star Tribune reported that most of the plaintiffs were marched along the Interstate 35W bridge on May 31, 2020, when a semitrailer drove into a large crowd.

The city of Cleveland also agreed last month to pay 12 protesters $540,000 for their wrongful arrests during George Floyd protest demonstrations.

The 12 plaintiffs agreed to split the money evenly, and the city will dismiss all charges on their records, ABC News reported.

Last week, the family of George Floyd filed a $250 million lawsuit after billionaire recording artist Kanye West made inflammatory comments regarding George Floyd’s death  on the Drink Champs podcast.

Ye said, after watching a documentary by Candace Owens, that Floyd was not killed by a Minnesota police officer. Instead, Ye said, Floyd died from ingesting fentanyl, which was proven in court to be false.

Former police officer Derek Chauvin is currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted for the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

October 24, 2022

Death Rates From Breast Cancer 41% Higher Among Black Women Than White Women

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As of 2019, breast cancer is reportedly the leading cause of cancer deaths among Black women.

Statistics provided by the American Cancer Society show that Black women are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to white women. Studies found that death rates from breast cancer were higher among Black women as a result of a higher prevalence of obesity and other health problems, and a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, which is reportedly more challenging to treat.

“Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer than white women. They’re also 30% more likely to die from these tumors because of lower rates of surgery and chemotherapy,” the American Cancer Society reported.

Higher death rates from breast cancer among Black women are also likely related to a higher incidence of inflammatory breast cancer, which studies found to be aggressive, but less common.

According to Chicago Tonight, the age for women to begin screening for breast cancer was lower than the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s guidelines, presently set at 50 years old.

Advocate and consultant, Teena L. Francois-Blue, believes the age for mammograms should be lowered. Black women who decide to seek detection earlier than the set age often have to pay out-of-pocket, as insurance companies will not cover costs for mammograms until women are of the recommended age, reported Chicago Tonight.

However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women in their 40s communicate with their doctors about when to begin screening.

“There’s a lot of policy issues at play, that we need to still be mindful of that are very specific to Black women that are important to save our lives,” Francois-Blue said, according to the outlet.

Dr. June McKoy, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, cleared up myths about mammograms, regarding the concern that radiation to the breast being an “additive overtime effect.”

“If we can’t dispel this myth that mammography will lead to breast cancer then we’re going to lose more of our own women to breast cancer,” McKoy said.

McKoy and Francois-Blue believe early screening and changes in insurance policies are necessary, especially for Black women who might be finding lesions early.