Rosa parks, George santos, monument, EJS legacy plaza, civil rights, movement
by Stacy Jackson

February 16, 2024

Equal Justice Initiative Memorializes Rosa Parks With New Monument At Montgomery’s Legacy Plaza

The seated statue of Rosa Parks is the first of three monuments at the Legacy Plaza honoring civil rights leaders.

Alabama’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) immortalized civil rights icon Rosa Parks with the unveiling of a new monument at the Legacy Plaza in downtown Montgomery.

The sculpture was revealed before EJI staff and local community members on Feb. 14. EJI said the activist’s figure is the first of three planned monuments honoring leaders of America’s civil rights movement to be erected at the plaza across from EJI’s Legacy Museum.

“This Black History Month, on Valentine’s Day, there are many of us who want to express our love, appreciation, and gratitude to Mrs. Rosa Parks, whose extraordinary leadership inspired the whole world,” EJI Director Bryan Stevenson shared during the ceremony. “As someone who had the privilege of spending time with Mrs. Parks, I can affirm that she had the kind of power and conviction that could absolutely change the world. We are thrilled to honor her at Legacy Plaza.”

According to AL.com, future statues at the Legacy Plaza will memorialize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Congressman John Lewis; however, Stevenson said starting with Parks is significant because she played a crucial role in the early stages of the city’s activism. “Mrs. Parks, of course, was the force behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was really the beginning of the most dramatic era of civil rights activism in Montgomery,” Stevenson said. “And while Dr. King led the community during that time, it was Mrs. Parks’ act, it was her character, it was her reputation that allowed the entire community to say ‘we’re in.’”

The meaningful event brought together many who knew Parks first-hand, including fellow civil rights champion Doris Crenshaw, Montgomery’s Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute founder; Georgette Norman, ex-director of Montgomery’s Rosa Parks Museum; and Dr. Tommie Tonea Stewart, Dean at Alabama State University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Created by esteemed Atlanta-based sculptor Basil Watson, famous for his MLK monument near Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the seated monument of the “first lady of civil rights” resides alongside Legacy Plaza’s existing brick sculpture that salutes civil rights. A mural created by Kevin King is also on display at the plaza.

RELATED CONTENT: Congress Introduces Bill To Make Rosa Parks Day A Federal Holiday

small business, big business, operate, corporate
by Safon Floyd

February 16, 2024

How To Operate Small While Supplying Big In Business

There is most certainly a way to get in the game operating small, and a way to supply big in business.

Originally Published Mar. 31, 2016

Aspiring business owners are often on a constant quest for the big leagues. Their hope is to start by making small moves that will lead to big movers with even bigger players. What keeps these aspiring business owners going is that this hope of theirs is attainable. There is most certainly a way to get in the game operating small, while supplying big. Corporate America is always looking for new links in their supply chains. There is a place for you.

Though navigating the supply chain can be challenging, and in some cases, costly, if you have the will, you can certainly find the way.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Think like a buyer

Ask yourself why the buyer would want or even need what you have to offer. Why should they do business with you? What’s your upside? Know that. Deliver that. Buyers, too, like money; make them some, and, in turn, make you some.

Invest in relationships

Sometimes the best way to get your foot in the door is by already knowing who’s behind it. Companies want to know that you know their organization and how you would bring value to it. Not only would they like for you to know them, but they’d like to get to know you, too.

Be honest

Don’t over-promise. We know you’re dreaming big, but let that big dream reflect reality. If you don’t have what it takes to supply what an organization needs, fall back and wait until you do.

Partner

Partnerships can take you a long way in the supplier game. Collaborating with a tier one firm may be the best way to learn the ropes and build necessary relationships.

Be sure to follow Black Enterprise on social media (@BlackEnterprise) for Entrepreneur Summit news, highlights, and updates.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Firms Help Run New $20 Million Fund In New Jersey To Supply Diverse Businesses Capital

Sandra Douglass Morgan, NFL
by Stacy Jackson

February 16, 2024

Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan Discusses Her Role As A Leading Lady In The NFL

As Douglass Morgan leads as the Raiders president, she continues to shatter barriers in the male-dominated sports industry.

Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, underscored the importance of her barrier-breaking leadership role during Super Bowl weekend in her hometown..

Douglass Morgan, who made history as the first Black woman to be named president of an NFL team when she took the helm of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, spoke to The Cut about her career experiences and goals to open doors and encourage others to pursue a career in sports.

“It wasn’t something I was actively seeking,” the Vegas native clarified about the NFL’s call. “But with my preparation and career, it was an incredible opportunity I wouldn’t turn down.” With 50% of the NFL fan base being women, Douglass Morgan said it’s important “to have someone in a leadership position that can actually relate.”

Since joining the Raiders, Douglass Morgan has spearheaded community initiatives that partner the team with women and various businesses. “With flag football now an Olympic sport, we know more girls and women will be fans,” she explained. Together, the team is investing in its brand by growing the game of football while encouraging mental and physical health.

Before becoming the third woman or Black president in the NFL, BLACK ENTERPRISE noted Douglass Morgan was the first person of color to chair the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the first African American City Attorney in Nevada. “…There’s a responsibility, I think, not only within the organization but also externally,” Douglass Morgan said in 2023. The pioneer discussed how she motivated herself to recognize that her position can inspire other girls, teenagers, and women to see new possibilities and opportunities for themselves.

Douglass Morgan expanded her list of historic firsts as she and the Raiders hosted thousands of Super Bowl LVIII guests this past weekend at Allegiant Stadium. According to Raider Nation, the big game marked the first time the event was hosted in Las Vegas.

RELATED CONTENT: As Black Team Presidents Increase In The NFL, A Luncheon Seeks To Give Them Their Flowers

career, switch, mistakes, dreams, goals, SMART, negotiate, salary
by BlackEnterprise.com

February 16, 2024

How To Successfully Rename Your Business

Why would any business owner want to change the name of their company?

Originally Published Mar. 24, 2016

Any time you give something a new name, especially the name of your business, it’s a big deal. In our case, we’ve had several years of sweat and equity in our previous name, AQB, with year-after-year growth and lots of recognition.

Why then would we, or even any business owner, want to change the name of their company? While it felt risky to toss our name aside—and made me more than a little nervous as to what our customers might think—our new name, FourLane, really makes sense.

Here’s why:

Generic names are hard to remember

People were always confusing us with the software we support rather than the services we offered. Our goal is to change this trend.

Low brand equity

With a hard-to-remember name, brand equity suffers; no one is going to buy our old name anytime soon. While we have been successful, our former name is a neutral component of our success. People hire us because of our reputation and the services we provide; not the name on our website.

Legal concerns

Our former name consisted of three initials, AQB. The last two initials represented the software we most frequently work with, QuickBooks. We were concerned that, eventually, Intuit would want us to call ourselves something else.

Brand confusion

Many companies who use QuickBooks also use QB in their names. It was hard to for us to distinguish ourselves from other players using the same initials.

Our name limited us

We want to expand our products and services. A new name better positions us for the future.

In the process, we’ve found “renaming more complex than “rebranding. I don’t want to make light of rebranding as a strategic part of anyone’s business, but coming up with a new name means asking our clients, competitors, and partners to remember a new name, rather than just recognizing a new symbol or different colors.

How We Found Our New Name

Once the decision was made, we had to find the right name. Easier said than done! People pay thousands of dollars to choose a name, and we just didn’t want to do that. We landed on FourLane, with the tagline: Driven by our client’s success.

Here are the criteria we used:

  • Two syllables. Having two syllables makes a name easy to say and easy to remember.
  • Conceptual. We wanted something that was visual and conceptual, rather than something literal, that told of our services. There are debates about which approach to take, but we chose the way of Apple and Google, esoteric names that, in turn, become the company story.
  • Easy to remember. One of the reasons we changed our name was to establish a more unique brand identity. We didn’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot by using a name that is hard to remember.
  • Available domain name. One of the hardest things about establishing a name, new or not, is finding an available URL. We also wanted to buy any similar URLs with different extensions and other spellings.
  • Legal concerns. Once we had all the above criteria met, we needed a defensible trademark. Our attorney researched the trademark requirements, and as soon as we got the green light, we made plans to announce the new name.

We chose FourLane because we loved the imagery of a four-lane highway, images of driving and getting in the fast lane. We can also tie the number four to our four service areas.

The name also fits the above criteria: two syllables, conceptual, available domain name, easy-to-remember, and an available trademark.

Is Renaming Right for Your Business?

Changing your business name is a risk. It can either generate a lot of interest in your work, or make people forget who you are and how to find you. We sincerely hope this is the case with FourLane. Again, our strength is in our clients and service delivery. In your case, think long and hard before making this kind of major change. Engage the right players in conversation before making a decision. Talk to your team, clients and partners. Consensus is a good thing.

Article Written by Marjorie Adams for BusinessCollective. 

RELATED CONTENT: Sheryl Lee Ralph Rebrands The DIVA Foundation

Makeup Maven Tisha Thompson Built An Empire On Clean Beauty
by Julaiza Alvarez

February 16, 2024

Makeup Maven Tisha Thompson Built An Empire On Clean Beauty

LYS Beauty is the first-of-its-kind Black-owned clean makeup brand in Sephoras nationwide.


Love yourself is the motto that LYS founder, Tisha Thompson chooses to live by. So much so it is the namesake of her brand.

Founded in 2021, LYS Beauty is not only making clean beauty affordable for all and accessible to melanated skin tones, but it is also the first-of-its-kind Black-owned clean makeup brand in Sephoras nationwide. However, Tisha’s journey to creating her successful brand is a personal one. 

Born and raised in a military family most of her life, Tisha learned how to be her own biggest advocate at a young age. After having to move around a lot and adjust to new life, she found her safe space playing with makeup. 

“I did not see anybody who looked like me,” Thompson told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Definitely, no plus size girls, I think I was in my 20s before I saw a makeup ad with anybody like it was who looks like me.”

Originally a corporate maven, Tisha had always dreamed of starting her brand.

“I was doing finance for a makeup company…while I was freelancing as a makeup artist,” Thompson shared. “I had this passion and excitement about beauty. It’s what I wanted to do, but finance paid the bills.”

Thompson noticed that very little attention was given to marketing and nuances that pertained to makeup for women of color, and began to share her thoughts with colleagues. Thompson’s insight led to a more inclusive role as market coordinator within the company. It was her way of getting her foot in the door.

“I took a demotion,” Thompson told BE.

“I would say, within seven years, I was a director, and then I was a VP. It was a great boot camp for me to learn everything about the industry,” the makeup maven shared.

At the peak of her corporate career, Thompson packed up her office and started laying the foundation for LYS, pulling from her own experience with makeup.

“I broke out a lot,” Thompson said.

“It wasn’t until I began doing product formulation, getting into my career and spending over a decade in product development, that I really, truly understood and learned the benefits of certain ingredients [and] the cons of certain ingredients.”

Thompson continued: “People of color in general, are two times more likely to be exposed to harmful ingredients in their products…the lack of diversity within these brands caused them to create products that excluded us, and maybe not always intentionally.”

From MAC employee to accountant and then a longstanding career in the beauty industry, Thompson’s curiosity and dedication has fast-tracked her and LYS, the company she worked hard to bring to fruition. LYS was placed in Sephora in the early stages of launching the brand. 

“I never thought in a million years, I could have a brand in Sephora,” Thompson said.

“When I made the decision to come up and launch this brand I had a concept, I reached out to Sephora, and I emailed them a PowerPoint presentation it wasn’t even final. But it was this vision. I was just like, ‘Hey, I’m a beauty executive, I’ve been in this space, I’ve done this, I’ve built brands, I’m a makeup artist. I have this idea. I think I can fill a white space in your stores as a Black woman helping drive change and diversity to clean beauty because we are being left out of the conversation. You don’t have anything like this. Most of all, your clean brands have [only] a few options,”

Thompson continued. “It’s amazing to see how many amazing Black founders are now in Sephora because they’ve made that commitment to offering shelf space, because we too deserve to have our products and our brands in Sephora. And so they’ve done a phenomenal job, elevating and being a catalyst for diversity and inclusion within beauty.”

Now $12 million later, the brand launched its newest edition to the LYS beauty collection, The High Standards Glow Blush Stick in seven different colors. All the colors are inspired by amazing personality traits that continue to remind us to have self-love and positive affirmations.

RELATED CONTENT: 10 Black Businesses That Stand On Love

Ye Drops Surprise Endorsement Of Donald Trump Despite Past Beef 
by Sharelle Burt

February 16, 2024

Ye Drops Surprise Endorsement Of Donald Trump Despite Past Beef 

Are we really surprised here?

Ye gave Republican former President Donald Trump his endorsement for the 2024 presidential election.

In a video circulating on social media, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, said Donald Trump will have his support in November 2024.

When someone asked the Chicago-born artist if he was still supporting Trump, he responded, “Yeah, of course, it’s Trump all day, what you talking about? You know what it is!” 

The Late Registration rapper first pledged his allegiance to Trump after infamously appearing at the White House in 2018 sporting a red “Make America Great Again” hat. Lunch with the then-president turned into a bizarre press conference on appearances and deals.

“What I need ‘SNL’ and liberals to improve on is, if he don’t look good, we don’t look good. He has to be the freshest, the flyest, have the flyest planes. He has to look good!” Ye said. “When we make everything in China and not America, we’re cheating on our country.”

The “Jesus Walks” emcee’s tone changed in 2022 during a dinner at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago, where Ye allegedly asked Trump to be his 2024 running mate. But things took a negative turn once Trump insulted Ye’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, calling her “the World’s most overrated celebrity.”

Trump also accused Kardashian of voting for “crooked Joe.” According to 2023’s tell-all book Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party, Trump said he “did help with prisoner commutation, but only if deserving, and much more so for Kanye West than for Kim, who probably voted for Crooked Joe Biden, and look at the mess our Country is in now.” 

Since then, Trump has been drowning in a slew of legal battles for defamation and sexual assault. Shortly after the release of his album Vultures I, a collaboration with singer and rapper Ty Dolla $ign, Ye was called out by the estate of the late Donna Summer and by rock legend Ozzy Osbourne for using their music samples without receiving clearance. Vultures 1 was removed from but later reinstated on iApple Music and Spotify. 

Oklahoma, Traci Soderstrom, judge, texts, step down, resign
by Sharelle Burt

February 16, 2024

Oklahoma Judge Accused Of Sending Over 500 Texts Mocking Participants During Murder Trial 

This might deserve a retrial...

An Oklahoma judge stepped down from the bench Feb. 9 after allegedly sending more than 500 texts during a June murder trial she’d presided over, CNN reports.

Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom agreed to resign as part of a settlement with the state after being accused of inappropriate conduct on the bench and was petitioned to be removed from office.

During the trial, Soderstrom allegedly exchanged more than 500 texts with her courtroom bailiff in which she mocked trial participants and used offensive language to talk about the state’s attorneys. 

The petition, filed in October 2023, cited text messages in which Soderstrom made fun of attorneys, jurors, and witnesses.

The investigation by the Council on Judicial Complaints also found that Soderstrom and the bailiff mocked a prosecutor’s appearance. In one of their exchanges, the judge wrote that the district attorney was “sweating through his coat.” In another text message, Soderstrom asked, “Why does he have baby hands?… They are so weird looking.” At one point, Soderstrom speculated as to whether one of the jurors was wearing a wig.

Soderstrom evidently liked the defense attorney, texting the bailiff “She’s awesome” before later asking, “Can I clap for her?” She also showed her appreciation of a police officer who took the stand, writing that he was “pretty” before adding, “I could look at him all day.”

She even offered her opinion of the outcome of the trial, writing that there would be “no way they get guilty on murder” due to a lack of DNA evidence against the defendant.

Soderstrom was elected in November 2022 and served on the bench for only six months before texting nonstop during this trial. Her lengthy list of accusations includes gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office, and oppression in office, according to the filing.

As part of a press conference, Soderstrom took some accountability for her actions. “There were some things that I did inappropriately,” Soderstrom said, according to ABC News. “I texted during a trial. It doesn’t matter whether it was a traffic case or whether it was a divorce case or whether it was a first-degree murder case. I texted during the trial and that was inappropriate.”

However, she said that despite her texting she remained unbiased.

“The content and the insinuation and the volume and the length of those things I am not agreeing to it because it doesn’t matter,” she added. “And it didn’t make up my mind. Even if I had, it wouldn’t have mattered because I was not the fact-finder.” 

The defendant on trial was eventually found guilty of second-degree manslaughter by the jury.

Tyler Perry Expands Netflix Partnership to Include First-Look TV Deal 
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 16, 2024

Tyler Perry Expands Netflix Partnership to Include First-Look TV Deal 

Tyler Perry has expanded his first-look film deal with Netflix to include a multi-year first-look series deal.

Tyler Perry has expanded his first-look film deal with Netflix to include a multi-year first-look series deal.

Announced on Monday, February 12, Perry and Netflix extended their creative partnership and will kick it off with the 16-episode hour-long drama series Beauty In Black. The Angi Bones and Tony Strickland-produced scripted series tells the story of two women who live completely different lives and find their lives intertwined.

Kimmie faces hardship while struggling to support herself after her mother kicks her out, whereas Mallory is a self-made businesswoman enjoying a prosperous life. The new series joins Perry’s upcoming Netflix films Six Triple Eight, a World War II-set drama starring Kerry Washington, and the thriller Mea Culpa, starring Kelly Rowland.

His previous Netflix films include A Jazzman’s Blues, A Madea Homecoming, and the thriller A Fall from Grace. Perry’s Netflix deal follows his Amazon Studios deal to write four features for Prime Video.

The producer, director, writer, and actor remains in partnership with BET, which includes creating content for the cable network and its streaming platform, BET+. Under the deal launched in 2019, Perry has produced hit series like Sistas and The Oval and their spinoffs Zatima (from Sistas) and Ruthless (from The Oval).

He also remains part owner of BET+ and was in talks to purchase BET from Paramount Global last year. Last October, Endeavor and TKO CEO Ari Emanuel teased Perry’s Netflix deal during Bloomberg’s Media Screentime conference, Variety reported. Emanuel revealed his involvement in helping to close Netflix deals for Perry and David Ellison.

When asked about the deal, Perry played coy.

“He talks too much,” Perry jokingly said while noting that the deal hadn’t been announced yet. “I’ll wait for them to announce it. But yeah, Netflix has been an incredible partner to work with, and so is Amazon. It’s been really, really, really incredible, and that’s all I’ll say about it.”

Jay Z, Roc Nation, Versace
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 16, 2024

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Debuts Multiyear Partnership With Versace At 2024 Super Bowl

Jay-Z's Roc Nation debuted its new multiyear partnership with Versace during Super Bowl weekend, Hypebeast reports.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation debuted its new multiyear partnership with Versace over Super Bowl weekend, Hypebeast reports.

The joint venture will come in the form of event sponsorships and “cause-focused initiatives” aimed at supporting the next generation of talent, a press release states. Versace will also begin supporting scholarships at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sport, and Entertainment at Long Island University, a program focused on entrepreneurship, music, and sports management.

“Central to both Versace and Roc Nation is human capital and a commitment to creative empowerment, celebrating individuality and fuelling positive change,” the announcement says. “Championing artists across music, entertainment, and broader cultural landscapes will be underscored through the partnership.”

The deal kicked off at Super Bowl LVIII as Versace sponsored the Roc Nation Sports 2024 Super Bowl event, Complex reports. Jay-Z and Versace have a long history of working together, dating back to Donatella Versace’s runway shows in 2008.

In 2019, the NFL announced its five-year, $25-million deal with Roc Nation aimed at revitalizing the Super Bowl halftime show and enhancing the NFL’s commitment to social justice, among other objectives.

“The NFL has a great big platform, and it has to be all-inclusive,” Jay-Z told The New York Times. “They were willing to do some things, to make some changes, that we can do some good.”

Since then, Roc Nation has served as the NFL’s “live music entertainment strategist,” resulting in growing viewership of the Super Bowl halftime show with performances by Dr. Dre and as well as his friends Rihanna and, most recently, Usher.

“We don’t want people to come in and necessarily agree with us; we want people to come in and tell us what we can do better,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “I think that’s a core element of our relationship between the two organizations, and with Jay and I personally.”

AME Council Of Bishops Calls For The U.S. To Withdraw Financial Support Of Israel
by Lauren Nutall

February 15, 2024

AME Council Of Bishops Calls For The U.S. To Withdraw Financial Support Of Israel

The Council of Bishops called for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire."

The American Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Council of Bishops has urged the United States to withdraw financial support toward Israel amid its continued bombardment of Rafah. The coalition released the statement on Feb. 15.  

“The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church calls on the United States Government to immediately withdraw all funding and other support from Israel,” it read. “Since 1954, Israel has shown a willful disregard for the human dignity of Palestinians. Since October 7, 2023, in retaliation for the brutal murder of 1139 Israeli citizens by Hamas, Israel has murdered over 28,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The United States is supporting this mass genocide. This must not be allowed to continue.”

The statement coincided with the birthdate of the church’s founder, Richard Allen, who spearheaded a mutual aid and anti-racism initiative when he first established the institution in 1787. In the letter, the group also called for an immediate ceasefire and a “grassroots solution that affirms the dignity and humanity of all God’s people in Palestine and Israel.” 

“We weep for the suffering being inflicted upon the children of God in the Holy Land and all the earth. We cry for freedom and implore those who say they love God to demonstrate a tangible love for their neighbors. We will travail in prayer and pursue justice until freedom reigns for all,” it continued. 

The AME Council of Bishops is the most recent Christian leadership organization to condemn the ongoing fighting in Palestine. According to The Washington Post, several Black Christian faith leaders from across the country issued a full-page advertisement in The New York Times in Nov. 2023, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian aid. “We are faith leaders in the African American faith tradition, in the Black church prophetic tradition, and we are people familiar with pain and suffering enacted by state actors,” said the Rev. Michael McBride, a California pastor who helped create the letter when speaking to The Washington Post. 

The Council of Bishops’ letter was signed by Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, President of the Council Bishop Stafford J. N. Wicker, and both the Chair and Co-Chair of Social Action, Bishops E. Anne Henning Byfield and Francine A Brookins. 

RELATED CONTENT: Former President Obama Weighs In On The Israel-Hamas Conflict

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