Harlem’s Fashion Row Uplifts Diverse Designers With ICON360
Harlem's Fashion Row's nonprofit ICON360 is launching a grant problem for Caribbean designers in addition to its latest HBCU scholarships.
ICON360, a nonprofit founded by Harlem’s Fashion Row, is doing its part to support diverse designers. The organization is launching a grant program benefitting Caribbean fashion creatives and partnering with Nordstrom for a new HBCU scholarship.
One Caribbean designer will get their chance to further promote their work and artistry through ICON360’s “One Love” fashion grant. In partnership with Paramount Pictures, the program will exclusively support designers from this background, paying tribute to the production company’s latest film, Bob Marley: One Love. The movie, a biopic on the life and art of the famed Jamaican musician, will celebrate those of Caribbean descent by providing an opportunity for their fashions to be showcased on a grander scale.
For aspiring designers earning their stripes at HBCUs, another opportunity has been spearheaded by ICON360 and Nordstrom. The 360 Fashion Scholarship seeks to combat the obstacles that limit the careers of fashion enthusiasts and creatives. The scholarship will be allocated to five students, each receiving monetary allotments ranging from $5,000 to $2,500.
Students will receive financial support and a one-on-one mentorship opportunity with diverse retail fashion professionals. This additional facet will bridge the gap in accessibility within the fashion world, with recipients gathering invaluable insight and portfolio reviews from those already accomplished in their field. Brandeis Daniel, founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row and its nonprofit branch, released a statement via the organization’s website.
“As the founder and CEO of HFR, I know firsthand the barriers in our industry. ICON360 is excited to partner with Nordstrom to provide more pathways for the next generation of Black designers and HBCU fashion students,” expressed Daniel in a statement obtained byBET News.
Harlem’s Fashion Row and ICON360 continue their mission to support Black designers and provide ample recognition for their efforts and creativity within the industry. For those eager for either or both opportunities, the Caribbean designer’s grant is exclusive to those of that ethnic background who have been in business for two or more years—applications close on Feb. 1, with a winner to be announced during New York Fashion Week. Regarding the HBCU scholarship, students must be U.S. residents in their sophomore or junior year of study, majoring in a fashion-related discipline. The application deadline is March 15.
Menthol Cigarettes Could Finally Be Banned In March
Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of death among Black Americans.
Menthol cigarettes appear to be on the verge of being banned by the FDA, driven by mounting pressure from advocacy groups such as the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. Bloomberg reports that the council staged a “menthol funeral” on Jan. 18 to push the White House into fulfilling its pledge to address the issue of menthol cigarettes.
A final ruling on menthol cigarettes has been pushed back several times, most recently to March 2024. An FDA spokesperson told MedPage Today via email that the organization “remains committed to issuing the tobacco product standards for menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars as expeditiously as possible; these rules have been submitted to OMB [the Office of Management and Budget] for review, which is the final step in the rulemaking process. As we’ve made clear, these product standards remain at the top of our priorities.”
States like California and Massachusetts have already banned all flavored cigarettes, including menthol.
Experts say that due to aggressive advertising campaigns specifically targeting the Black community, Black people are much more likely to smoke menthols than other groups of people. Menthol-flavored cigarettes also work differently than regular cigarettes, both removing the harsh profile of traditional cigarettes and making menthols easier to inhale, as well as enhancing nicotine’s already addictive qualities.
The unique impact that menthol cigarettes have had on Black smokers has led to a healthy debate about what to do about this flavor of cigarette. The 2009 Tobacco Control Act failed to ban the nicotine flavor outright, leaving the matter in the hands of the FDA, giving the government program broad authority over regulating tobacco products and a mandate to consider doing something about menthol cigarettes.
According to the American Lung Association, tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of death among Black Americans, killing 45,000 people each year. Furthermore, their research indicates that ending the sale of menthol cigarettes would result in approximately one million smokers kicking the habit within 17 months, including 250,000 Black Americans. In April 2013, the American Lung Association asked the FDA to eliminate menthol flavoring from cigarettes.
The petition was updated in 2021. The update reads, in part, “On Apr. 12, 2013, the Public Health Law Center and eighteen co-signers filed a citizen petition calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add menthol to the list of prohibited characterizing flavors for cigarettes and cigarette smoke. The citizen petition included extensive information on the impacts of menthol in cigarettes, including the scientific evidence gathered by the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC).”
The update continued, “The original petitioners and the undersigned organizations maintain that the FDA has had more than enough information to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes since the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA or the Act) was signed into law. Because the FDA has yet to substantively respond to the citizen petition nearly eight years later, we are filing this supplement.”
Producer Swizz Beatz Talks Roller Skating In Saudi Arabia And His New Art Exhibit With Alicia Keys
The legendary hip hop producer and art connoisseur is bringing his immersive skating experience back to Saudi Arabia following a great first year.
Grammy Award-winning record producer and artist Swizz Beatz joined BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Selena Hill on The New Norm, where he discussed his recent skating rink installation in Saudi Arabia, “Alula on Wheels II,” and his soon-to-be-unveiled art exhibition in Brooklyn, New York.
Brimming with arcade activities and house music, Alula on Wheels is the brainchild of Beatz and his long-time collaborator Noor Taher. Together, the two conceived the idea of an immersive roller skating experience, which can only be referred to as an homage to his love for the Middle East. “It started as a fun conversation, and being in Saudi and seeing the amazing landscape of Alula, it’s like, ‘Man, you know what? There’s a lot of activation, but what if we did a skating rink where the locals fly in and have a skating experience,” said Beatz. After a successful inaugural year in 2023, the project is returning for a second round.
Source: Alula on Wheels (Photo by Sherif Elhalafawy)
Beatz, whose real name is Kasseem Dean, is a Bronx native, and he revealed that the joint venture partially arose out of a desire to bring that same sense of New York community and joy from skating to the Middle Eastern country. “You know, I grew up in the Bronx where we had Skate Key and, if you were from Jersey, you got Branch Brook,” he shared. “There were just so many skating activities that we were able to have growing up, and I was like, ‘Damn, imagine bringing that to the desert and people having fun with their families.”
Similarly, the legendary hip hop producer also wanted to give back to the region as it has been exploited for so long.
“Many people go not only to Saudi but to other places just to take things. We wanted to bring something that the people can feel, whether we’re there or not, and it’s been an amazing journey so far,” he said.
Source: Alula on Wheels (Photo by Sherif Elhalafawy)
Dean chose Alula as the site for the project for a simple reason — its landscape. Alula is a prime destination for any traveler with its rolling yellow plains and picturesque scenery. For Dean, he viewed the natural landscape as the perfect backdrop to the skating rink. “I’ve never been to a skating rink with that background. We’re flying in DJs from around the world and I think it’s a great introduction to Saudi, although the whole region is becoming so familiar with the world. So many great things are happening there.”
During the interview, Dean also opened up about his upcoming collaborative project with his wife, singer Alicia Keys, who he has been married to since 2010. The Grammy Award-winning duo is launching an art exhibit entitled “Giant: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” which is slated to open at the Brooklyn Museum this February. “That’s a big big deal,” said Dean.
“Giant is the title. We named the show Giant because we’re not really giant collectors of our own culture. There are always other people owning our culture, and we wanted to use this show to double down on ‘It’s OK to own your culture.’ You know, a lot of people want to go outside of things that don’t look like them.”
First-Ever White House Chief Diversity Officer Steps Down
The first-ever Special Assistant to the President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the White House is leaving his post, as the Administration touts the most diverse White House staff in U.S. History.
Michael Leach, appointed the first-ever Special Assistant to the President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the White House, is leaving his post. Leach is credited with pioneering efforts that built and sustained the most diverse White House staff in U.S. History.
“President Biden committed to building a federal government that looks like America and he has kept that promise with the help of leaders like Michael Leach,” Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “As the first ever White House Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Michael has set the bar high as an exemplary public servant and he will be missed.”
Leach led staff recruitment and diversity efforts on President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, then took on the inaugural White House position in 2020. He previously spent a decade at NFL headquarters in a host of roles, including managing labor relations and operations, serving in leadership on the NFL Diversity Council, and serving as the administrative lead for the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship Program. He was also the assistant to the Chicago Bears’ head coach. Most recently, Leach was named to the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Power 50 Under 40 List.
Photo by Official White House Photo by Stephanie ChasezPhoto by White House Photo OfficePhoto by Global Black Economic Forum at Essence FestPhoto by White House DEIA teamPhoto by Damith de Silva PhotographyPhoto by White House Photo Office
“Serving as the White House’s first-ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer has been the honor of a lifetime,” Leach wrote in a statement to BE. “I remain inspired by the people I had the privilege of serving alongside, and I am encouraged by the progress we have made together. It has been a journey marked by faith, resilience, shared commitment, and a profound belief in the price and promise of diversity, equity, inclusion & accessibility (DEIA). This role has taught me never to stop learning because life never stops teaching.”
Leach’s work to boost diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts comes at a pivotal time where such efforts have continually come under attack at federal and local levels. The Supreme Court overturned the use of affirmative action in university admissions last summer. Just yesterday, Florida’s Board of Governors voted to ban using state or federal dollars for diversity programs at state universities.
Efforts to thwart DEI programs continue to creep into academia. This week, one of Cornell University’s most prominent donors called on the school’s president to resign, saying he would no longer donate to the institution if they continue to implement DEI initiatives. And earlier this month, Dr. Claudine Gay resigned from her position as Harvard’s first Black president, citing “personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus,” in a move The Harvard Crimson noted was forced by a select group that included a Republican congresswoman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, and conservative activist Christopher F. Rufo. Upon Dr. Gay’s resignation, Rufo wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Today, we celebrate victory. Tomorrow, we get back to the fight. We must not stop until we have abolished DEI ideology from every institution in America.”
A Diverse Workforce that Reflects Society
During Leach’s tenure in the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration, President Biden signed Executive Order 14035 to advance DEIA in the federal government, and released the Government-Wide Strategic Plan to Advance DEIA in the Federal Workforce. During the second year of the Administration, inaugural DEIA-specific roles were created, including hiring the first-ever full-time American Sign Language interpreters. Leach said hiring-manager trainings were regularly implemented to help reduce implicit bias in interviewing. Additionally, the White House launched the first paid White House Internship Program, considered a win for first-generation college students as well as those from communities of color and low-income backgrounds.
Reports show the White House has consistently grown more diverse in staff with 44% of staff identifying as racially and/or ethnically diverse in 2021 and 2022. As of last year, the White House had the most diverse staff in history with roughly half of all staff identifying as racially and/or ethnically diverse.
Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, Chief Diversity Officer in the U.S. House of Representatives, has been Leach’s “counterpart, colleague, and comrade” for the past two years. Although her role is non-partisan and non-legislative in scope, the two have been able to find “synergetic points across branches to help grow a qualified and representative federal workforce that reflects the full tapestry of all segments of society,” Dr. Moon told BE.
“Beyond his leadership in helping to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, also known as DEIA, for the Biden-Harris Administration, he has exampled the benefits of the acronym on behalf of the American people — which is belonging,” Dr. Moon said. “Beyond his title and tailored suits, he’s a good person who cares about people — and he will be sorely missed from the White House to Capitol Hill.”
Leach has not yet announced his next move, but said he looks forward to “exploring new opportunities for making a broader impact by contributing to the enrichment of lives across the world.”
Bilt Rewards Nets $3.1B Valuation As Roger Goodell, Ken Chenault Join Board
Bilt Rewards, a New York-based startup that uses a loyalty platform where users earn points on rent payments, has doubled its valuation to $3.1 billion.
The New York Postreported NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and businessman Kenneth Chenault have become board members for Bilt Rewards. The startup netted a whopping $200 million during its latest funding round. Bilt Rewards is led by former Tinder executive Ankur Jain.
Bilt makes its revenue by partnering with rental firms, processing their payments, and taking a cut of customer spending. Bilt has also partnered with Mastercard, allowing customers to rack up points on transactions.
Chenault, a Morehouse graduate who served as the CEO and Chairman of American Express from 2001 through 2018, helping pioneer rewards programs at the credit card giant, is joining the startup as its chairman of the board. Goodell, meanwhile, will join Bilt as an independent director.
“There’s nobody in the world who understands this type of rewards platform, candidly, better than Ken,” Jain told The Post. “He built it with local merchants back in the day, and now we get to create a version that is focused really on neighborhood and local because of our platform with the apartment buildings.”
Jain added that Godell could provide expert advice on how Bilt can effectively tap “neighborhood pride and loyalty” while expanding its rewards program to local communities.
The startup will use the funds from its latest funding round to expand its “Neighborhood Rewards” program, which allows users to earn points and additional benefits through transactions at local businesses.
Bilt plans to expand its service to include restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and more and is mulling a further expansion into single-family and condo housing as well as an entry into the mortgage market by the end of 2024
Less than two years after its debut, Bilt has a presence in all 50 states, has partnered with hundreds of housing firms, and is a profitable business with nearly $20 billion in annual spending.
Trump Expected To Pull More Black Votes Than Any Other Republican Candidate In U.S. History
Do we really want a repeat of 2016?
After four years of Donald Trump in the Oval Office, he is pressing his way back to Washington, D.C. – with the help of Black voters.
Poll results from both national and swing states find the former president is holding anywhere between 14 and 30% of the Black vote – the most Black support received by any Republican candidate in history, according to Newsweek. That’s a huge jump from the 8% received during the 2020 election.
Looking back on past Republican candidates, in 1960, an estimated five million Black people voted when Richard Nixon was on the ballot, winning 32% of the Black vote. Since then, the Black population has grown tremendously. Census data shows Black people now represent 46,936,733 people, or 13.6% of the population.
So what has changed? The Black voting turnout has jumped in presidential elections from 58.5% of the eligible voting population in 1964 to 58.7% in 2020. If Trump secures just 13% more, he will hold the title of the highest proportion of the Black vote since Nixon in 1960.
As Black voters are more prone to vote blue, President Biden seems to be losing grip on the minority voter. One in five Black voters are willing to support a third-party candidate in November 2024, according to USA Today. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll shows Biden’s failure to work on key issues that got him elected in 2020 isn’t helping his support, leaving him trailing behind Trump, 39%-37%.
Some voters still support Biden but feel he needs to step it up in his “hopeful” next term. “I think he’s done a reasonably sound job, but it’s not been a ‘wow’ administration,” Democrat Michelle Derr said. “For me, it’s disappointing that we have two old white guys in this race again. I want to look forward to the future.”
Biden’s advisors know how the leader is underperforming in the demographic but have a strategy to turn things around in early February 2024. Biden’s deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks says the campaign isn’t “parachuting into Black communities a few weeks before the election” but “is investing earlier and more aggressively than ever before.”
Angel Reese Continues To Score NIL Deals With Recent Dick’s Sporting Goods Collaboration
The LSU star made history when she collaborated with Dick's Sporting Goods to present her own branded apparel at a major retailer
Since the National Collegiate Athletic Association removed the restrictions to student-athletes capitalizing on their name, image, and likeness (NIL), students have thrived and continue to do so. Last week, it was reported that Louisiana State University (LSU) basketball phenom Angel Reese made history when she collaborated with Dick’s Sporting Goods to present her own branded apparel at a major retailer, according to Basketball Insiders. The items in her collection can be purchased at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Baton Rouge as well as online.
College basketball star Angel Reese makes history as the first college athlete with personal branded apparel at a major retailer. Her apparel is available in Dick’s Sporting Goods in Baton Rouge, LA. pic.twitter.com/AwZkLxeQvk
The “Bayou Barbie” has a self-named collection that features casual and athletic wear, including t-shirts, hoodies, and crop tops.
The successful athlete, who drove her team to win the NCAA Women’s Championship last season, is doing so well in the NIL game that On3.com has listed her value as $1.7 million. That makes her the highest-paid female athlete, just ahead of her teammate, Flau’jae Johnson, who trails her with $1.1 million and places Reese at No. 7 overall. Essentially Sports reported that Reese also secured a NIL with Reebok, and the sneaker giant will debut her first shoe collection later this year. It’s been reported that she will design the collection, and the line will be named Angel’s Picks.
Meanwhile, LSU Wire has reported that she was just named the SEC (The Southeastern Conference) Player of the Week. Reese was instrumental in victories posted against the University of Alabama, where she scored 20 points and snatched 16 rebounds in the 78-58 blowout win, and the University of Arkansas, when she put up 16 points along with securing 17 rebounds in another blowout, 99-68. The LSU Tigers are now 18-2, in second place behind the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks (17-0).
Angel Reese is the SEC Player of the Week and Mikaylah Williams is the Co-SEC Freshman of the Week!
Ye gets caught up in a random man's rant while strolling the streets of Los Angeles with , Bianca Censori.
Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, got slammed by a random man while walking about Los Angeles. The rapper was with his wife, Bianca Censori, as the passerby unleashed his harsh words.
The couple were walking back to their car on Melrose Place on Jan. 21 when the unknown man began his tirade, pointing his remarks at Ye. Video obtained by The Neighborhood Talk showed the encounter, in which the man started his rant against the father of four, TMZ reports.
“You think you so smart, so new, so nifty” started the random aggressor. “You ain’t sh-t boy.”
The man kept going despite the couple seeming to ignore his rant, taking an even more outlandish approach.
“I am a god homie, Lucifer homie,” he told the Yeezy founder, as he then began making “666” references and hand signs to even more confusion.
While a large portion of what he is saying is inaudible, West seemed to be interested in what the man had to say. After both he and his wife were inside their Range Rover, West lowered the window to continue listening to the critique.
However, commenters were concerned about safety, especially for Censori, who walked by herself to the other side of the car once Ye was inside. Users were quick to note how close the random man got to the SUV, who was revealed on the camera wearing a dark outfit and beanie.
“Why is his wife not being protected in this situation? I don’t like that,” questioned influencer Jayla Korian.
“Why he ain’t make sure his wife got in the car safe,” shared another user, whose handle is @ayeyo_kie.
Fortunately for both parties, the incident did not escalate into anything physical. What started the issue, if there was any direct catalyst at all, remains unclear.
Proposed Loan Repayment Plan Offers Hope For Low-Income Borrowers’ Path To Homeownership
The SAVE plan aims to substantially decrease monthly loan payments for borrowers.
The Biden Administration’s recently proposed repayment plan, known as the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, has the potential to significantly assist low-income loan borrowers in achieving their aspirations of homeownership.
As outlined in a recent report by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and California Policy Lab (CPL), the SAVE plan aims to substantially decrease monthly loan payments for borrowers, thereby improving their debt-to-income ratio. This improvement could enhance an individual’s chances of qualifying for a mortgage loan. Notably, the repayment structure under the SAVE plan would be tailored to borrowers’ income levels and family sizes, providing a more manageable approach to loan repayment.
“The recent student loan crisis, as well as higher mortgage rates, have prevented younger and low-income borrowers from accessing this wealth-building mechanism,” said senior researcher at CRL Christelle Bamona, who co-authored the report. “It is critical for the administration and federal agencies to work together to implement underwriting standards that accurately reflect borrowers’ payment obligations. Effectively adjusting the way DTI is calculated will contribute to a healthier and more vibrant economy that benefits all Americans.”
The idea first arose in 2023 after the White House proposed the system. If successful, this plan has the potential to substantially impact the financial growth of loan borrowers, allowing them a greater chance to acquire homeownership and close the economic gap among Americans. Still, for this to occur, the CRL has emphasized that the underwriting criteria for federally insured mortgages “must reflect actual payments.” Experts who worked on the study the study have discussed just how effective this plan could ultimately be.
“SAVE will protect more borrowers’ incomes and help them achieve homeownership, especially if complementary policy changes are implemented in mortgage underwriting,” said Lucia Constantine, a researcher at the CRL who also co-authored the report. “Our analysis found that enrolling in SAVE could provide a needed boost toward homeownership for low- and moderate-income borrowers. Thus improving their overall financial health and helping Americans get a step closer to closing the racial wealth gap.”
Illinois Police Tased 14-Year Old Autistic Black Boy After Mistaking Him For Suspect
The officer could be heard on the video recording saying to Thompson “Don’t move. Don’t move. You move, you’re going to get some more.”
The family of 14-year-old Avarius Thompson from Dolton, IL, has leveled accusations against local police, alleging that their son was tased after being mistaken for a suspect. According to The Chicago Defender, the incident occurred as law enforcement officers were in pursuit of four Black males, believed to be armed and dangerous, suspected of stealing and crashing a vehicle. In a case of mistaken identity, Thompson was pursued by the police, who yelled at him to raise his hands as he fled, ultimately leading to an officer extending a taser towards the teenager, as captured on body camera footage.
After Thompson jumped a fence, the officer tased him, and then tased him again when he tried to get up. The officer could be heard on the video recording saying to Thompson, “Don’t move. Don’t move. You move, you’re going to get some more.”
According to Calvin Townsend II, the attorney for Thompson’s family, Thompson is autistic, which may have added another level of terror to the teen’s experience. “He’s a 14-year-old kid, and having officers rush toward you with what we know are Tasers but could be perceived as guns is scary,” Townsend said. “Then you add the autistic aspect. Again, it’s very confusing.”
The family said their teen son, Avarius Thompson, was coming home after getting snacks from a grocery store when an officer used a taser on him in his own backyard. He was later hospitalized. pic.twitter.com/iVzYRU88i6
Officers who were on the scene expressed doubt that they had pursued the right person, at least two could be heard expressing some variation of “We have the wrong guy,” but at that point, Thompson had already been hit with the taser. Later, at the hospital, Gwendolyn Toran, Thompson’s mother can be heard telling one of the officers, “You can’t arrest an autistic kid, man! Y’all tased him. Y’all did that.”
Following his treatment at the hospital, Thompson was arrested and released to his family later on that day. The family also says that Thompson obtained multiple injuries, including a fractured hip. According to Townsend, the family is planning to pursue legal action against the Village of Dolton.
Village officials released a statement on Jan. 17, saying in part, “Our thoughts are with Avarius Thompson and his family. Safety and well-being, especially for our vulnerable community members, are paramount.”
The statement continued, “The Village of Dolton responded to a call for assistance from the Riverdale police department, who was the lead law enforcement agency for this matter, and engaged Avarius Thompson during the encounter. The incident is currently under investigation, and we are committed to a thorough and transparent investigation with external reviews to determine this regrettable event.”
Thompson’s father, Eric Thompson, told ABC 7 that as he watched the video unfold, he could see that his son was confused, saying. “It was frightening. It was very scary,” Eric said. “I could see he was confused. He didn’t know what was going on.” He added that he is relieved that his son is still alive, saying. “You see so many stories of things like this happening to kids, and they go to jail and they do come up. Something happens, and they end up dying,” Eric said. “That happens every day in this world, and I don’t want to see that happen to my son or anybody’s kid.”
