• Business

by Atiya Jordan

January 9, 2024

6 Powerful Business Quotes From Business Titan Earl G. Graves Sr.

These powerful words from the business titan Earl G. Graves Sr. will resonate for decades to come.

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Originally published Apr. 6, 2022

Earl G. Graves Sr., the visionary founder and publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE, died at 85, but his insights will live on for ages.

In celebration of his legacy, we are reminded that the iconic entrepreneur, corporate board pioneer, activist, and philanthropist continues to pave the way for generations of Black business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives.

Graves, a successful business titan, exuded power in his business and advice for business success. Here are six powerful Earl Graves business quotes that empower Black people to win.

“You can forget who you are as an African American. I mean, unfortunately, we have people who have succeeded and done well in business, and they don’t identify with any of the issues or problems we have at all as a people. I think that is unfortunate, and it’s their problem to our demise as a people if we have people who are successful not realizing who they are.”

“Economic power is the key to success in a capitalistic society. Business is the means to that power. African Americans can play this game, and we can win at it. You can succeed in business without being white.”

“I believe that entrepreneurship is the ultimate smart money move and the surest path toward wealth for African Americans. Far fewer Blacks than whites benefit from inherited wealth or assets. Entrepreneurship is the primary way to create the sort of wealth that can be passed on and built upon by succeeding generations.”

“Excelling in business goes hand in hand with excelling at creating opportunities for others. Any entrepreneur can make money. The very best make a difference.”

“It is the responsibility of all African Americans to help our young people understand the opportunities that entrepreneurship and business offer.”

“We keep going back, stronger, not weaker, because we will not allow rejection to beat us down. It will only strengthen our resolve. To be successful, there is no other way.”

RELATED CONTENT: Earl Graves Sr. Had Something To Say: Cellphones, Text Messages, And Social Media Have Devalued Personal Communication

• News History

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 9, 2024

Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ To Become A Stage Play

Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today. To announce that Prince's Oscar-winning "Purple Rain" musical is coming to a stage near you!

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Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today. To announce that Prince’s Oscar-winning Purple Rain musical is coming to a stage near you!

Just in time for the 40th anniversary, it’s been announced that Prince’s iconic film and soundtrack album “Purple Rain” is being adapted into a stage play that might even make its way to Broadway, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The adaptation is in development, while the world premiere remains in the works.

The upcoming play will feature a score by Prince and a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Lileana Blain-Cruz will direct it. The book is based on the original screenplay of Purple Rain, written by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn.

The announcement comes ahead of the “Purple Rain” film’s 40th anniversary on July 27. Originally released in 1984 by Warner Bros., the musical followed The Kid (Prince), an emerging rock musician in Prince’s native Minneapolis who remains focused on his music career despite the difficult environment he endures at home with his parents. His drive aids him as he performs against a rival band (Morris Day and The Time) and forms a new romance with the film’s leading lady (Apollonia). 

The 1984 film scored major success at the box office, grossing $70.3 million worldwide, against its $7.2 million budget. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score and Best Original Musical and is regarded as one of the greatest musical films ever.

The album of the same name was released as the soundtrack to the film and sold over 25 million units worldwide with classic hits like “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “I Would Die 4 U.” 

“It’s been almost 40 years since Prince’s legendary film, Purple Rain, took the world by storm,m and we can’t think of a more fitting tribute than to honor Prince and the Purple Rain legacy with this stage adaptation of the beloved story,” L. Londell McMillan, chairman of The NorthStar Group, and Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music said. 

“We are thrilled with our Broadway partners and creative team, who are bringing a theatricality to the film’s original fictional story. We can’t wait for a new generation to discover Purple Rain and for lovers of the original film and album to experience its power once again, this time live.”

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 9, 2024

Oprah Doesn’t Have Beef With Taraji P. Henson: ‘I’ve Been The Greatest Champion Of This Film’

Oprah Winfrey is shutting down rumors by confirming that all is well between her and "The Color Purple" star Taraji P. Henson.

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Oprah Winfrey knows about the rumors surrounding her alleged feud with Taraji P. Henson. According to the billionaire media mogul, all is well between her and The Color Purple star.

Henson hasn’t been holding back during the press tour for The Color Purple musical and recently opened up about her advocacy for the cast to make sure they received food, trailers, and safe transportation during filming. While Henson, who played Shug Avery in the film, acknowledged the help and support she received from Winfrey when voicing her concerns, many are still convinced that there might be a feud brewing between the two.

However, the OWN creator, who served as a producer on the film and starred as Sofia in the 1985 original, is shutting down any speculation surrounding her relationship with Henson.

“People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji,” Oprah told Entertainment Tonight. “Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film.” 

“Championing not only the behind-the-scenes projection but also everything that everybody needed,” she added. “So whenever I heard that there was something that someone needed … I’m not in charge of the budget because that’s Warner Bros. That’s the way the studio system works.”

Winfrey says the cast had her full support with any concerns brought to her attention and is adamant that Henson would attest to her claims.

“We as producers; everybody gets their salary, and everybody is negotiated by your team,” she continued. “And so, whenever I heard there was an issue or there was a problem; there was a problem with cars or the problem with their food, I would step in and do whatever I could to make it right. And I believe that [Taraji] would even vouch for that and say that is true.”

Winfrey’s response comes after Henson’s recent Q&A with The New York Times, where she said that she and “The Color Purple” cast only got “a lot of stuff on set” after she spoke up to advocate for them.

“They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous,” Henson said. 

“What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car? So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody! It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for.”

RELATED CONTENT: Taraji P. Henson Called Oprah To Advocate For ‘The Color Purple’ Cast

• Politics

by Daniel Johnson

January 9, 2024

Rep. James Clyburn ‘Very Concerned’ About Black Support Of Joe Biden

Former President Barack Obama has also privately discussed his concerns with Biden's reelection campaign. A source told Politico that Obama's concerns revolved around a lack of clearly delineated authority inside the White House and Biden's campaign headquarters.

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Rep. James Clyburn is worried about the prospect of President Joe Biden’s support from Black voters. Politico reported that Clyburn told the president of his fears, which revolved around a communication failure from the White House to the Black community concerning the Biden administration’s accomplishments on behalf of Black people. 

Clyburn told CNN host Jake Tapper when asked what worries him about the 2024 cycle and the tapering Black support for Biden, “Well, I’m not worried, I’m very concerned, and I have sat down with President Biden and let him know that I saw those reports. I’ve also seen at least one report indicating that I have sat down with President Biden, and I did, with him, and I’ve told him what my concerns are.”

Clyburn focused on the accomplishments of the Biden administration later in the interview, telling Tapper, “He (Biden) stood right across from Emmanuel Church and said if given the opportunity, he would put an African American woman on the Supreme Court, he has done that. And he went even further, putting a South Carolinian African American woman on the second highest court in the land. He has appointed more African American women to the courts of appeal than all previous presidents combined, and that is a fact.”

Former President Barack Obama has also privately discussed his concerns with Biden’s reelection campaign. A source told Politico that Obama’s concerns revolved around a lack of clearly delineated authority between the White House and Biden’s campaign headquarters. Other Democrats have made similar points, which prompted deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks to defend the campaign infrastructure in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Fulks told NBC, “We’ve put innovative organizing programs in place to begin to communicate with voters on the ground, which is why we’ve made investments into constituency media — the largest investments to voters of color, Hispanic voters, young voters — than any other presidential campaign in history. And now we’re in the phase where more Americans are paying attention to what’s going on, and that is why we’re making the choice.”

Echoing the concerns around Biden’s reelection campaign was a row on social media created during his stop at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Biden was interrupted during his Jan. 8 campaign stop by a group of protestors who called on Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. On X, formerly known as Twitter, users noted that the response from Black members of the church, chanting “four more years” in response to the protestors, seemed at odds with the historical role of the Black church as a safe space for dissent from an immoral American government, and the apartheid it tacitly supported until landmark civil rights legislation was passed in the 1960s. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, many have drawn parallels between Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and America’s treatment of Black citizens during the civil rights movement. Biden’s support of Israel’s bombing of Palestinians has been a contentious issue for many, and the event underscores the division between Black voters who are willing to overlook that foreign policy decision and those who will not. 

RELATED CONTENT: Rep. James Clyburn To Release Book On Black Congressional History

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Derek Major

January 9, 2024

Democrats Will Spend $35M In House Races Targeting Voters Of Color

Democrats will spend more than $35 million targeting voters of color in the 2024 House races.

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Democrats said Tuesday they will spend more than $35 million in the 2024 election cycle to “persuade and mobilize” Black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian voters.

NBC News reports that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced Tuesday it would pass the $30 million spent on these groups in the 2022 midterm elections. 

The DCCC has named the effort “Power to the People,” with power standing for “persuade, organize, welcoming, educate, and reach.” 

While Democrats control the White House and Senate, Republicans have a 221-213 majority in the House. One seat that is up for grabs is that of former Rep. George Santos, the disgraced New York freshman rep.

For decades, Democrats have appealed to people of color to get their support. During the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden recruited House Majority Whip James Clyburn, former Rep. Cedric Richmond, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to appeal to Black voters. 

“It certainly is encouraging that they are making the hard commitment now,” Matt Angle, a Democratic strategist in Texas, where Hispanics now outnumber white residents, told NBC. “You can’t expect to realize the benefit of your base voters unless you invest in them—you have to earn that over and over again.”

According to the DCCC, some of the funds have already been spent, including researching where voters are going to get their information from and conducting targeted outreach to understand nuances between groups in different regions and localized by district.

Democratic funding will also go toward:

• Conducting in-depth research and polling in the different communities to understand voters’ priorities.

• Creating media that reaches people in their language of choice — including Spanglish—and for different social platforms.
• Organizing with local leaders and community members to register, rally, and connect voters and build connections between local and national organizations.

• Providing information on voting laws, options, and any changes that may make voting harder, as well as building up trust in voting by mail in places where it’s offered.

“The historic investments from the DCCC are a commitment to expand our coalition,” Rep. Judy Chu, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chair, said in a statement.

RELATED CONTENT: Experts Warn Democrats Need To Adjust Messaging To Black Men

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 9, 2024

A$AP Rocky Enters Not Guilty Plea In Alleged Shooting Of A$AP Relli

The Harlem rapper has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

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Harlem rapper, fashionista, and Rihanna’s longtime boyfriend A$AP Rocky this week pleaded not guilty to firing a weapon at former group member A$AP Relli, Rolling Stone reports.

Last November, during a preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar stated that A$AP Rocky, 35, would have to stand trial. Relli alleges Rocky shot in the direction of his former friend in a 2021 incident in Hollywood. Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, who once represented former President Donald Trump, is confident that the rapper will be vindicated. He also stated that they are eager to get the trial “over with” so that the “LSD” rapper can focus on “enjoying his family.” 

Tacopina is hoping that the trial will get started in September. Outside the courtroom, he also said that Rocky is “cool as a cucumber” as he prepares for his next hearing, scheduled for March 6.

“He’s a very strong character, a very strong individual,” Tacopina said.

Last year, prosecutors arrested Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, claiming he pointed a gun at Relli and fired it twice toward him on Nov. 6, 2021, on the corner of Selma Avenue and Vista Del Mar Avenue.

According to TMZ, Relli filed a defamation lawsuit against Rocky and his attorney in September. In the suit, Relli alleged that Tacopina called him a liar, a money grabber, and an extortionist at Rocky’s direction. He said that Tacopina told TMZ and other media outlets that “Rocky didn’t commit a crime. It was an extortion attempt by a former associate, who threatened to make false, criminal accusations if Rocky didn’t pay him.”

Rocky is facing up to 24 years if convicted on the charges.

RELATED CONTENT: A$AP Rocky Promotes ‘New Collab With My Baby Mom’ For Rihanna’s Lip Balm Launch

• News History

by Daniel Johnson

January 9, 2024

A Latte Nerve: Indianapolis Coffee Shop Bum-Rushed By ‘Pop-Up’ Wedding

Mansion Society noted that the bride offered a $200 donation to the establishment, which management rejected in an email reply to the bride.

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Mansion Society, a two-year old coffee shop in Indianapolis run by a family of Mexican immigrants, recently described a strange sequence of events via its Instagram page.

According to Complex, on Dec. 31, the coffee shop experienced a pop-up wedding in the middle of serving its regular customers. While the shop is accustomed to serving wedding guests on weekends due to its location next to a wedding venue, an entire wedding party descending was not something it was prepared for. 

Videos of the impromptu wedding ceremony made their way to Twitter/X alongside screenshots of the company’s response to the event, first posted to the company’s Instagram page.

Mansion Society wrote that the wedding party had no approval from the leasing manager of Central State (the building housing the coffee shop) or the 1899 building venue located next to the coffee shop, which has sent an invoice to the bride. Mansion Society does not expect payment or a response because the wedding party does not see themselves in the wrong. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mansion Society (@mansionsocietyindy)

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Mansion Society (@mansionsocietyindy)

Mansion Society wrote as part of a series of posts on Instagram addressing the incident, “Soon enough, there was a full bridal & groomsmen party, a wedding officiant, wedding photographers, and patrons leaving personal items including wedding gifts, coats, purses all throughout the coffee shop as they took over.”

The company continued, “We book for private events and are proud to host bridal and baby showers, engagement shoots, parties, and all sorts of private events. We are delighted to be considered beautiful enough to host any special events! The group of about 20-30 people continued to not only have a wedding ceremony but take pictures, videos, and block pathways for customers trying to enter Mansion Society. They were asking us to take costs, purses and watch personal items as if they had rented us out for a private event.”

Mansion Society had withheld video of the event out of respect for the bridal party, but since it saw no accountability from the wedding party, it released the footage via its Instagram account.

The establishment noted that the bride contacted the venue after the post and offered a $200 donation. Mansion Society in an email reply to the bride rejected the offer, informing her that the donation is insufficient to compensate them for the complete take over of their venue without prior warning. 

The email reads in part, “Without asking, consideration and zero care to those patrons around you or us you proceeded to have a wedding at the coffee shop with at least 20 people. Moving sofas, chairs, end tables, cushions, etc. Leaving our staff returned everything to its place. We don’t need a donation of $200, we need you to pay the fee to use a place that you did not previously hire for a wedding ceremony or at least ask if it was okay for it to be held in our facilities. The normal rate for a weekend rental is $500 and we look forward to receiving the payment as soon as possible.”

According to the Mansion Society Instagram account, the bride had not responded to the email as of Jan. 5 and many users on Instagram sympathized with the business, describing the wedding party’s behavior as “tacky” and “disrespectful.”

In a separate post, the co-founder of the coffee shop, Zorayda Lezama thanked people for the support of her business and explained the circumstances of her team, writing, “Mansion Society is a family business where my daughter Barbie is a full time barista who welcomes and prepares coffee with love and respect for each of you. As a result of the ‘Pop Up’ wedding on December 31, two posts have been made, the first was created by the surprise and indignation of our team.”

Lezama continued, “Popular opinion has been supportive, positive & encouraging. There are some who accuse us of ruining a wedding days joy and memories. We decided to post an update because the bride offered a ‘donation of $200’ without an apology or accepting responsibility for the event without consent after the Central state building manager contacted her. As for an update, she responded ‘that’s unreasonable.’ She has not responded to our invoice.”

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 9, 2024

NBA Star Ja Morant To Miss Rest Of Season After Shoulder Injury

"Morant will undergo season-ending surgery and is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2024-25 season," according to the Memphis Grizzlies.

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After being suspended for 25 games due to his controversial off-court activities last season, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant returned and gave his team a much-needed spark to put some hope back into this season.

Now, that spark is out until at least next season.

The Grizzlies announced the superstar guard would have season-ending surgery due to a shoulder injury. 

RELATED CONTENT: Memphis Grizzlies Guard JA Morant Responds To Criticism For Celebration In Win Over New Orleans Pelicans

• Leadership

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 9, 2024

A Visionary: Honoring Business Icon Earl G. Graves, Sr., Founder Of Black Enterprise, On What Would Have Been His 89th Birthday

BLACK ENTERPRISE's founder created an ecosystem of business empowerment and, in the process, made himself synonymous with the audacity of Black entrepreneurs.

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Originally Published Jan. 9, 2023

BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr., was the quintessential entrepreneur who created a vehicle of information and advocacy that has inspired four generations of African Americans to build wealth through entrepreneurship, career advancement and money management.

Born Jan. 9, 1935, Mr. Graves passed away quietly at 9:22 p.m. on April 6, 2020, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Graves was 85.

Graves was widely considered to be the ultimate champion of black business, launching BE in 1970 to not only chronicle the rise of African American entrepreneurs but also provide the tools for African Americans to succeed in the business mainstream and  “achieve their measure of the American dream.”

In his award-winning, now classic, business bestseller, How To Succeed In Business Without Being White, Graves stated his life-defining purpose for founding BE in simple, direct terms:

“The time was ripe for a magazine devoted to economic development in the African American community. The publication was committed to the task of educating, inspiring and uplifting its readers. My goal was to show them how to thrive professionally, economically and as proactive, empowered citizens.”

Driven by that mission, Graves became a trailblazing entrepreneur in his own right, building BE from a single-magazine publishing company 50 years ago, to a diversified multimedia business spreading the message of financial empowerment to more than 6 million African Americans through print, digital, broadcast and live-event platforms.  As such, BE was one of two companies that would appear on the BE 100s—the publication’s annual rankings of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses—each of its 47 years. At one point, Graves would operate two companies on the list, including Pepsi-Cola of Washington, DC, one of the nation’s largest soft-drink distributors owned by African Americans.

Graves’ influence and reach also extended into the mainstream of corporate America. One of the few African Americans to serve on the boards of major corporations such as American Airlines, Daimler Chrysler, Rohm & Hass and Federated Department Stores (Macy’s), he was a staunch advocate for African American inclusion in the C-Suite and corporate governance. Graves was also a tireless champion of major corporations doing business with black-owned companies.

Beyond business, Graves was a force in politics, civil rights, and philanthropy.

In fact, he played a pivotal role in galvanizing support for the election of the first African American president of the United States, Barack Obama, through his endorsement in BE and service as a surrogate campaigning on his behalf. Before that, Graves also championed the historic presidential bids of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Moreover, his fight for racial justice and economic parity earned him the NAACP Spingarn Medal, the organization’s highest honor, in 1999.

Graves was also known for his dedication to family, and especially to his wife Barbara Kydd Graves, who passed away in 2012. Together, they raised three sons, Earl Jr., Johnny and Michael, and were blessed with eight grandchildren.

BE’s legacy lives on now through his son, BE CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr.

RELATED CONTENT: A Moment in Black History: Earl Graves Sr. and Magic Johnson Close $60M Deal to Create Largest Black Pepsi Franchise

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 9, 2024

Draymond Green Reveals Adam Silver Talked Him Out Of Retiring

Silver told him, "You're making a very rash decision and I won't let you do that."

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When Golden State Warrior player Draymond Green was suspended for his latest on-court incident, the forward had time to do some soul-searching. After contemplating retirement from the NBA, Green revealed that one person convinced him to continue his career: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Green admitted having that discussion with Silver on the latest episode of his “The Draymond Green Show.” Without going into the details of the thought process of what needed to take place to allow Green back on the basketball court, he did state that he had told Silver that it was too much for him, and he was ready to call it quits.

“I told him, ‘Adam, this is too much for me. … This is too much. It’s all becoming too much for me — and I’m going to retire.’ And Adam said, ‘You’re making a very rash decision, and I won’t let you do that.'”

He credits Silver with wanting to help players in the NBA instead of punishing them.

“We had a long, great conversation — very helpful to me. Very thankful to play in a league with a commissioner like Adam, who’s more about helping you than hurting you, helping you than punishing you. He’s more about the players.”

“I told him, ‘I’m going to retire’”

—@Money23Green opens up about his conversation with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after the Jusuf Nurkić incident pic.twitter.com/kgJrnJzBS7

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 8, 2024

Through Green’s commitment to better himself and be the type of player that the league expects, he was reinstated after he “demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players” while serving his suspension, according to the league.

The NBA announced on Jan. 6, after it suspended Green indefinitely on Dec. 14. Former NBA player Joe Dumars, executive vice president and head of Basketball Operations, said, “Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face. This outcome takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.”

There has been no reported timetable for Green to return to action, but he was on the bench this past Sunday when they lost to the Toronto Raptors 133-118 at home.

RELATED CONTENT: Draymond Green Starts Counseling