College Applications, Student
by Rafael Pena

April 1, 2024

College Applications Surge By 6% For Fall 2024 Admissions

Data from the Common Application reveals a 6% increase in applicants for fall 2024 admissions compared to the previous year.

In a notable uptick in college application numbers, data from the Common Application reveals a 6% increase in applicants for fall 2024 admissions compared to the previous year, according to Forbes. The surge in applications suggests a continued interest in higher education despite ongoing challenges in the admissions landscape.

The demographic trends among applicants are particularly interesting, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court decision banning race-conscious admissions. Underrepresented minority (URM) applicants, including Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students, showed a notable increase of 10%, outpacing non-URM applicants by five times.

Furthermore, applicants from families residing in below-median-income ZIP codes saw a 10% growth compared to their counterparts from above-median-income areas, indicating broadening access to higher education among economically disadvantaged communities.

As of March 1, 2024, a total of 1,313,763 distinct first-year applicants had submitted applications to 834 institutions through the Common App, marking a significant rise from the prior year. This increase reflects a growing trend in college applications, with the total number of applications reaching 7,541,148, up 7% from the previous admissions cycle.

International applicants also contributed significantly to the overall increase, with a notable 13% surge compared to domestic applicants. This rise was particularly pronounced among Ghana, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan students.

Students applying to HBCUs can now use the Common Black College App.

First, students must create a student account and fill out the application, providing demographic, academic, and relevant information. Then, they can select their top four HBCU choices.

For 24 participating institutions, the CBCA can upload official transcripts and test scores, while others require direct submission. Essays and recommendation letters must be sent directly to member institutions, not through the CBCA.

After completing the application, students receive a confirmation letter indicating that it has been shared with all 52 member institutions. They are advised to contact the admissions offices of their top choices to check the application status and provide additional information if needed.

While the surge in college applications is a positive indicator for the higher education sector, challenges such as the revamped FAFSA rollout and community college enrollment losses during the pandemic may still impact admissions outcomes. Nevertheless, the increase in applicants signals a continued interest in pursuing higher education opportunities amid evolving admissions landscapes and uncertainties.

California, $20 Minimum Wage, McDonalds, fast food
by Rafael Pena

April 1, 2024

California Fast-Food Workers Set To Earn $20 Minimum Wage Starting April 1

A new law in California will raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour, marking a significant increase in pay.

The Associated Press reports that starting April 1, a new law in California will raise the minimum wage for most fast-food workers to $20 per hour, marking a significant increase in pay for an industry historically known for its low wages. The move to provide greater financial stability to fast-food workers also poses challenges for franchise owners and could impact consumer prices.

While the law received support from the trade association representing fast-food franchise owners, its implementation has raised concerns among owners like Alex Johnson, who operates multiple Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Cinnabon restaurants. Johnson noted the financial strain the wage increase will place on businesses, leading to potential layoffs, increased prices, and operational challenges.

Still, data from the past decade suggests that previous minimum wage increases in California did not lead to significant job losses, according to Michael Reich, a labor economics professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He noted that while the statewide minimum wage is currently $16 per hour, many cities in California have their own higher minimum wage laws.

The legislation, passed by Democrats in the state legislature last year, acknowledges that many fast-food workers are not teenagers earning extra spending money but adults supporting themselves and their families.

Ingrid Vilorio, an immigrant who has worked in the fast-food industry, expressed appreciation for the wage increase, noting its positive impact on workers’ lives.

“The $20 raise is great. I wish this would have come sooner,” Vilorio stated, reflecting the sentiments of many workers who have long awaited such a change.

The new law reflects a compromise between the fast-food industry and labor unions, with negotiations spanning close to two years. The legislation applies to fast-food establishments with limited or no table service and belonging to national chains with at least 60 locations nationwide. However, certain exemptions apply, such as restaurants operating within grocery stores and those primarily focused on selling bread as a standalone menu item.

Despite the initial confusion over exemptions for certain establishments like Panera Bread, the (Gavin) Newsom administration clarified that the wage increase law applies universally, ensuring that workers across the industry benefit from the $20 minimum wage mandate.

Universal Basic Income Program, republicans
by Daniel Johnson

April 1, 2024

Universal Basic Income Programs Gain Traction In More Cities, Republicans Disapprove

In Texas, cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Houston have been experimenting with the idea of UBI.

In recent years, more cities have experimented with guaranteed universal basic income (UBI), and those who have received funds said the programs have given them peace of mind.

As Business Insider reports, Ingrid Sullivan, a 48-year-old grandmother, is among the latest voices joining that refrain after San Antonio created a guaranteed basic income program in 2020.

Sullivan told the outlet, “My life was always just a couple hundred dollars short. For the first time, I can breathe.”

She continued, “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, this is extra money.’ This was money that filled a hole that wasn’t there.”

Universal Basic Income policy was first seriously proposed to answer the holes in the social safety net during Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty in the 1960s. According to Karl Widerquist, the author of Universal Basic Income, several Canadian studies in the 1970s painted a positive picture of the program. In America, the Earned Income Tax Credit, food stamps, and the Child Tax Credit bear some resemblance to UBI. Widerquist notes in his book that the central difference between those programs and UBI is that they have requirements and UBI does not. The lack of requirements is the part of the UBI pilot programs that most appeals to Sullivan and others who have received payments.

The current wave of UBI policies is coming from a more leftist position, so Republicans are less charitable about supporting programs they characterize as “socialist” and “insane.”

In Texas, cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Houston have been experimenting with the idea of UBI, and research has indicated that the programs can benefit low-income families. Rachel Kimbro, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences and dean of the School of Social Sciences at Rice University, co-authored a study examining the use of school-based food distribution by Black low-income mothers. 

According to the study’s conclusion, “Respondents favored the flexibility and practicality of cash assistance. As the women in our study were already experts in stretching food resources, direct cash assistance amplified existing strategies while food distributions introduced new complications.”

The Republican argument against UBI is similar to the arguments they have made against welfare programs in the past. Arizona Rep. John Gillette told Business Insider that he believed the programs would make people lazy. “Is money a birthright now? Do we just get born and get money from the government? Because I think the Founding Fathers would say that is very contrary to our capitalist system and encouraging people to work.”

Gillette continued, “You get out, you get a job, you make money, you pay taxes, you live the American dream,” Gillette said. “We were never designed to have the federal government supply a salary.”

Sarah Cowan, an associate professor of sociology and the executive director of the Cash Transfer Lab at New York University, told Houston Landing that UBI programs are not about a lack of work ethic but freedom of choice.

“The idea behind guaranteed income is that it’s simpler for everyone involved, and then it gives families more autonomy to solve their unique problems with their unique set of resources,” Cowan said. “It’s trusting families to know what they need in order to thrive.”

RELATED CONTENT: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka To Test Out Universal Basic Income Program

Mackenzie Scott, donate, Black-Owned Doula Program In Northeast Ohio, BBC
by Stacy Jackson

April 1, 2024

MacKenzie Scott Gifts $2M To Black-Owned Doula Program In Northeast Ohio

Birthing Beautiful Communities is the only community-based doula program in Northeast Ohio committed to Black mothers and families.

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Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC), a pioneering doula program dedicated to uplifting Black mothers, babies, and families in Northeast Ohio, has been chosen as one of the largest beneficiaries of MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call.

The organization announced the transformative grant of $2 million on March 19 and noted it as BBC’s most substantial donation to date. According to BBC, the funding will bolster BBC’s mission of ensuring equitable care to improve the quality of life for Black communities.

“We’re overjoyed and deeply grateful for this transformative gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call,” stated BBC’s President & CEO, Jazmin Long. “This generous support propels Birthing Beautiful Communities into an exciting new chapter, empowering us to amplify our impact and further our mission of ensuring every mother, baby, and family receives the care and support they deserve.”

Since its inception in 2014, BBC has been at the forefront of addressing and improving systemic and community structures that contribute to adverse birth outcomes. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing culture, education, advocacy, support, and engagement, the program provides an array of free, annual services to over 700 new and expectant mothers and families.

Long further revealed that BBC is poised to break ground on a new birth center this fall, a significant milestone in their journey to reshape maternal health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and beyond. “With this funding,” she added, “we’re poised to continue transforming maternal health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and beyond, ushering in a future where every birth is a beautiful and healthy experience.”

BBC has evolved beyond pregnancy and postpartum support. The organization’s holistic services offer wealth-building opportunities for women from historically economically depressed neighborhoods. The organization works to address the social determinants of health and the circumstances at-risk mothers face as infant mortality ranks high in communities of color.

The donation to BBC is part of Scott’s recent $640 million donation dispersed among 361 organizations, as previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE.

RELATED CONTENT: New Study Finds Black Women Prefer Black OB-GYNs Amid Concerns Of Discrimination And Maternal Mortality

Kitty Black-Perkins, Spartanburg
by Stacy Jackson

April 1, 2024

Spartanburg, South Carolina Dedicates March 30th To Kitty Black-Perkins, 1st Black Barbie Doll Designer

Kitty Black-Perkins created Mattel's first Black Barbie in 1980 and retired from the company as Chief Designer in 2004.

March 30 is officially designated as “Kitty Black-Perkins Day” in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The visionary behind the first Black Barbie doll returned to her hometown on Saturday to inspire young women and girls of her community as a keynote speaker at an empowerment event hosted by Spartanburg non-profit Bloom Upstate. Fox Carolina reported that city officials and council members honored the trailblazing designer with a proclamation and the symbolic key to the city.

“I never dreamed that I would ever make that kind of impact on Spartanburg, South Carolina – where I grew up,” Black-Perkins said. “This is my hometown and will always be my home.”

In 1980, Black-Perkins shattered barriers in the toy industry by designing the first Black Barbie. Her illustrious career at Mattel spanned nearly three decades, according to CBS News, culminating in her retirement as Chief Barbie Designer in 2004. “Everything Barbie was, I wanted Black Barbie to be the opposite,” the retired designer, 76, said in February. “I wanted her to be able to do the same things that the White doll did, but just add a little more spice.” Black Barbie dolls didn’t exist at the time for girls like Black-Perkins, who grew up in the Jim Crow South. The former Mattel designer said she “would actually color the skin of the paper dolls” to make them look like her.

South Carolina African-American History Calendar stated that Black-Perkins’ journey as a fashion designer began in Los Angeles, where she honed her craft at esteemed fashion houses like Miss Melinda of California, Debbie Ross, and A & O Couture. In 1976, a classified ad for Mattel, the world’s largest toy company, piqued her interest, setting her on a path that would take her around the globe.

Her pioneering contributions to the iconic Barbie line extended beyond the groundbreaking Black Barbie. She introduced several diverse fashion doll lines, including Shanni and Friends in 1991, Fashion Savvy in 1997, and the Brandy line. Her exceptional work earned her Mattel’s highest honor, the Chairman’s Award, in 1985 and 1987, as well as the coveted Doty Award, the toy industry’s most prestigious accolade. In 2001, she was inducted into the Black Hall of Fame.

In 2023, BLACK ENTERPRISE mentioned Shondaland and Netflix had acquired worldwide rights to Black Barbie, a documentary celebrating the legacy of the trailblazing Black women at Mattel like Black-Perkins, Beulah Mae Mitchell, and Stacey McBride Irby.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia, election day, ballot counting, rule
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 1, 2024

Sen. Raphael Warnock Blasts Republicans Criticism Of Transgender Visibility Day Falling On Easter

Sen. Raphael Warnock is calling out Republicans who are upset about Biden declaring 'transgender day of visibility,' on Easter Sunday.

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is calling out Republicans who are upset about President Joe Biden declaring March 31st as the official ‘transgender day of visibility,’ since it fell on Easter Sunday.

Warnock appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday where he blasted Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for seemingly trying to “divide” the country, Daily Mail reports. According to Warnock, conservatives like Johnson “think trans people are abhorrent.”

“This is the opposite of the Christian faith,” Warnock quipped.

The Georgia Senator and Baptist pastor noted the change in the Easter holiday each year and the importance of dedicating a day to amplify the transgender community.

“March 31 has been a day to lift up transgender people who endure violence and bigotry,” Warnock said. “Easter – the date changes every single day. But this is just one more instance of folks who have, who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us.”

Warnock’s response comes after Johnson sent out a scathing tweet claiming that the Biden White House has “betrayed the central tenet of Easter – which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ” by declaring the new Trans holiday on Easter Sunday.

“Banning sacred truth and tradition – while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’ – is outrageous and abhorrent,” Johnson wrote in his post.

Other Republicans have joined Johnson in shaming Biden for declaring the day of visibility on a Christian holiday. Former President Donald Trump, who is running against Biden for a second time this November, released a statement bashing Trans Visibility Day falling on Easter Sunday.

“It is appalling and insulting that Joe Biden’s White House … formally proclaimed Easter Sunday as ‘Trans Day of Visibility,” the statement read.

White House speaker Andrew Bates released a statement acknowledging his Christian faith while defending Biden’s decision to bring “people together” despite Republicans alleged attempts to “divide and weaken” the country.

“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,” Bates said.

“Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit.”

International Transgender Day of Visibility was first introduced on March 31, 2009. Created by Rachel Crandall-Crocker who chose the springtime date because she wanted some distance from Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 and Pride Month in June.

With Transgender Day of Remembrance being dedicated to honoring the lives lost to anti-transgender violence, Crandall-Crocker aimed to dedicate a day to celebrate the living. A 2022 study from the Williams Institute, a research center at UCLA’s law school, found that more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. identify as transgender.

R. Kelly, Diddy, Sex trafficking, lawsuit, investigation,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 1, 2024

R. Kelly Expresses Skepticism About Diddy’s Allegations, ‘I’m Not Gonna Believe The Sh*t’

Disgraced singer R. Kelly is seemingly defending Sean "Diddy" Combs amid the federal investigation into his alleged sex trafficking operation.

Disgraced singer R. Kelly is seemingly defending Sean “Diddy” Combs amid the federal investigation into his alleged sex trafficking operation.

If there’s anyone who can understand the allegations Combs is facing, it’s Kelly. Last year, the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer was sentenced to 31 years in prison for child pornography, racketeering, and sex trafficking convictions.

Now, as he serves his time and learns about the investigation surrounding Combs, Kelly is speaking out against the “crazy” allegations.

“The sh*t is crzy. Motherf*ckers out there laughing and making comedian jokes and doing all the other sh*t on the radio and everything else, but they a** could be next,” Kelly told Wack 100 on Clubhouse, as captured by Hip Hop Is Real.

“That’s what’s so f*cked up about. They so stupid they don’t even realize the moves that’s going on. I don’t believe none of this sh*t. You could tell me about Puffy, you could about anybody. You could tell me on the news, the weather, the sky is blue, I’m not gonna believe the sh*t. Cause I’m in it now, and I know what they did.”

Former Death Row CEO Suge Knight has also spoken out about the raids on Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles. While speaking on his “Collect Call” podcast with Dave Mays last week, Knight explained why he believes the Bad Boy founder is going to prison next, TMZ reports.

“I’ll tell you what, Puffy: Your life is in danger ’cause you know the secrets, who’s involved in that little secret room you guys are participating in,” Knight said.

“It’s a bad day for hip-hop, for the culture, for Black people,” he continued. “‘Cause when one look bad, we all look bad… That’s definitely nothing to cheer about. I’ll tell you what, Puffy, your life is in danger… You know they’re gonna get you if they can.”

Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for manslaughter and is eligible for parole in October 2034. His feud with Combs dates back to the ’90s East Coast vs. West Coast battle that ultimately led to the untimely deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.

RELATED CONTENT: Diddy’s Lawyer Slams Federal Raids As ‘Gross Overuse Of Military-Level Force’

BEYONCÉ, beygood, black cowboys
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 1, 2024

Beyoncé Gives Flowers To Black Women In Country Music ‘For Opening Doors For Me’

Beyoncé is celebrating the other women in country music who opened doors ahead of her "Cowboy Carter" album.

Beyoncé is celebrating the other women in country music who opened doors ahead of her “Cowboy Carter” album.

The decorated Grammy winner released her country debut on Friday, March 29, which featured 27 country-inspired songs on what’s become Beyoncé’s longest LP to date. Amid the release, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer took time to celebrate other Black women in country music by giving them flowers.

Singers K. Michelle and Mickey Guyton took to social media on the same day Beyoncé released “Cowboy Carter” to share the handwritten notes and flower bouquets they received from the singer.

“You’re killing it! I love what you’ve been doing and I know it’s not easy to enter a new space. Sending you positivity and respect. I hope to meet you one day. Love, Beyoncé,” the note to K. Michelle read.

Fellow Texas native Candace Mycale “Mickey” Guyton, who made history in 2021 by becoming the first Black woman to ever be nominated in the Grammys Best Country Solo Performance category, followed up with a series of photos showing the flowers and note she received from Beyoncé.

“Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining. Love and respect, Beyoncé,” Guyton’s note read.

Guyton used her 2020 single “Black Like Me” to address the experiences she faced as a Black woman in country music. She tackled more issues related to racism in America on her debut album, “Remember Her Name.” Guyton’s feature on Dean Brody’s “Boys” made her the first Black woman to receive a No. 1 hit on the Canada Country chart.

Since making her musical debut in 2013 with her R&B album “Rebellious Soul,” which debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200, K. Michelle has since transitioned to performing under her country alter ego, Puddin. In 2023, the Memphis native released her country debut “Tennessee” and like Guyton, K. Michelle has been open about the challenges she’s faced as a Black woman in the country music genre.

These are the same sentiments Beyoncé revealed that inspired her to record her country album. In a lengthy Instagram statement, the mother of three shared how the album was spawned after she didn’t feel “welcomed” in the country music space when she initially tried to enter the genre.

“It was very clear that I wasn’t,” Beyoncé wrote. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”

Calling out the “criticism” she faced when she first tried to enter the country music genre, Beyoncé credited it with using the “limitations” to record Act II of her three-part musical “Renaissance.” Act I saw Queen Bey reclaim the house music genre, Act II is country, and Beyoncé fans are convinced that Act III will serve as a reminder of rock music’s Black origins.

RELATED CONTENT: Beyoncé’s ‘Jolene’ Reinterpretation Praised By Dolly Parton

Sherri Shepherd, The Sherri Show, women of power summit, imposter syndrome
by Lauren Nutall

April 1, 2024

Sherri Shepherd Dishes On Being Herself In The World Of TV

Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd spoke at Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit, which took place on March 27-30 in Las Vegas.

Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd spoke at Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit, which took place on March 27-30 in Las Vegas.

The Emmy-winning host discussed being unapologetic, God-fearing, and evolving throughout her years in the entertainment sphere. She was joined by BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Ashlei Stevens. 

Shepherd has credited a significant part of her success to her perseverance, a trait that has only been strengthened as she’s grown older and learned to navigate the industry. Now 56, she’s become a force in the world of television, but revealed that it has not always been this way. 

“Being confident is lessons that I’ve learned in life,” she said. “I don’t think people just wake up confident. It’s the falls and it’s the getting back up. It’s the ‘How many times can you get back up?’” 

“…I think that God gave this to me at this age because I know who I am, I know what I bring, I know who is watching me, and I don’t think I would have handled this blessing very well in my 30s, in my 20s. You have to mature into the reality of that dream, and I think now is that time,” she continued.

Though she’s made a name for herself on daytime television, Shepherd is no stranger to imposter syndrome. She touched on how her faith has been a beacon for her on days when she’s riddled with self-doubt. 

“It’s funny because when people ask ‘How did you do this,’ I can only speak in spiritual terms,” she said. “When I stand behind that door before it opens and before I’m hollering and screaming, my prayer behind the door is ‘Father God, where I’m weak, you’re strong.’” 

Still, despite her steadfast faith, Shepherd doesn’t shy away from living in her truth as somebody whose “heart is with God,” but her mouth is “in the streets,” as she refers to herself. 

“When people criticize me or they say things, it doesn’t bother me as much as it does the young ones because I know where I stand with my father and I know where I stand with my son and my very, very close friends who will call me and check me in a minute,” she said. “Life is too short to be bogged down with the weight of everybody because you can’t please everybody.”


Watch the full interview here.

JaCoi James Pugh, LaToya Gooden, Black Women’s Wall Street
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 1, 2024

The ‘Unapologetic’ Founders of Black Women’s Wall Street Take Charge

The founders of Black Women's Wall Street in Texas focus on uplifting fellow entrepreneurs of their diverse background.

The leaders of Black Women’s Wall Street are taking charge as they push forth on their current initiative.

Speaking to CBS News Texas, Black Women’s Wall Street founder JaCoi Pugh spoke of the vision she had for the organization, starting at the kitchen table. With her business partner, LaToya Gooden, she is impacting and uplifting the lives of Black women entrepreneurs in North Texas.

“Black Women’s Wall Street is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, it was started at my kitchen table with myself and Latoya,” explained the president and founder.

Gooden added to their origin story, “We were sitting there, going back and forth. We are business owners, what in the world could happen? Is there any organization out there that would help people like us?”

Pugh and Gooden, who serves as vice president, launched the nonprofit in 2018 to connect and inspire Black women in entrepreneurship. Moreover, their vision is in the same essence of the original Black Wall Street. Located in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tusla, it became a hub where Black businesses thrived in the early 20th century. However, racial hatred led to a destruction of its many successful Black-owned businesses.

Inspired by the plight of these entrepreneurs, Black Women’s Wall Street seeks to rebuild the community fostered in Tusla. Their mission is to strengthen and train Black women to create sustainable and thriving companies. For Pugh and Gooden, their target demographic is Black women of all backgrounds with ambition to become a CEO. Whether one is a single mother or just starting out, this community serves to promote its members’ professional ambitions.

“We’re unapologetic with the target audience that we’re serving,” expressed Pugh.

Furthermore, Black Women’s Wall Street helps women from idea to inception, providing consultations and networking events to ensure that all parts of this community have the tools to form their business.

Following this, the group recently extended the submissions deadline for their Business Plan Competition to April 7. The competition will gift $5,000, alongside other resources, toward a Black women business owner. Applicants must submit a business plan and a 30-second video, with a winner to be announced via Facebook live on April 12.

RELATED CONTENT: 3 Tips For Raising Capital

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