The Bajan superstar has been on hiatus but she took the time to appear on more than a few Harper’s Bazaar covers
As if she isn’t already winning at life, this week it was revealed that Rihanna has snagged the cover of not just one September issue, but all 26 editions of Harper’s Bazaar being released around the world.
Tuesday, the U.S. edition of the publication dropped featuring both a cover and an accompanying spread featuring the 32-year-old icon in a collection of portraits shot by Gray Sorrenti with creative director Jen Brill.
Inside the Fenty Beauty founder models designs from Chanel and Miu Miu along with some of her very own Fenty and Savage x Fenty pieces. While sitting down for the cover story with writer Kahlana Barfield Brown, the pop star turned mogul opens up about Fenty Skin, the latest addition to her beauty empire.
“I’ve always seen the Fenty brand as more than just makeup and I knew I wanted to make skin care from the very beginning,” she explained. “It was just about getting it right. You have to live with the formulas for a while and test them in different ways. It’s very different from makeup in that sense. It takes a long time.”
“Rihanna’s unapologetic determination to make beauty an inclusive industry—and her insistence that beauty be democratic—changed the game,” actress Tracee Ellis Ross, who last year launched her own beauty brand, Pattern, is quoted as saying in the piece. “She seems to imagine from a world where there are no limits, inviting us all to do the same.”
The nuanced profile echoes Ross’ sentiments, taking note that, “Rihanna has opened doors for women of all races, sizes, orientations, and creeds to be both seen and heard, which is not just a concept she has grasped and capitalized on but a reality she has lived. Like the hug from one Black girl to another, you can’t fake that. Not with all the foundation or concealer in the world.”
After catching heat on social media for stealing a Black girl’s magic, the singer decided to change her logo design.
Following accusations that she ripped off a Black woman’s brand, Taylor Swift has changed the design of her “Folklore” merchandise.
Swift wasted no time taking action after entrepreneur Amira Rasool, owner of New York City-based The Folklore, noted on July 24 that the singer’s logo on her new album merch was quite similar to her own brand’s trademark, New York Daily News reports.
“I am sharing my story to bring light to the trend of large companies/celebrities copying the work of small minority-owned business owners,” Rasool wrote in an Instagram post. “I am not going to let this blatant theft go unchecked.”
After catching heat on social media for allegedly stealing a Black girl’s magic, Swift decided to change the design for the merchandise promoting her seventh album, “Folklore,” which dropped July 24.
In the statement, Swift’s rep explained that the “The” in the phrase “The Folklore Album” was removed on four merch items following Rasool’s criticism.
“Yesterday, we were made aware of a complaint that the specific use of the word ‘the’ before ‘folklore album‘ on some of the folklore album merchandise was of concern,” the statement read. “Absolutely no merchandise using ‘the’ before the words ‘folklore album’ has been manufactured or sent out.”
The statement continued, “In good faith, we honored her request and immediately notified everyone who had ordered merchandise with the word ‘the’ preceding ‘folklore album’ that they will now receive their order with the design change.”
Amira, I admire the work you’re doing and I’m happy to make a contribution to your company and to support the Black in Fashion Council (launching on 8/3) with a donation 💗@thefolklore@amirarasool@bifcglobal#blackinfashioncouncil
Rasool responded to the statement in a follow-up post.
“I commend Taylor’s team for recognizing the damage the merchandise caused to my company,” Rasool wrote post. “I recognize that she has been a strong advocate for women protecting their creative rights, so it was good to see her team is on the same page.”
Swift responded to the tweet, saying she donated to the Black in Fashion Council, which launches Aug. 3.
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The racist past of Manhattan Beach is revealed as Black Lives Matter movements urge cities across the country to confront their history.
A popular resort for Black travelers formerly on Manhattan Beach was shut down by racist white residents, a relatively unknown historical fact. Now, the community is faced with confronting its anti-Black legacy.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Bruce’s Beach in a community of 35,000 residents, now has less than 1% Black residents and its disgraceful past has been glossed over in the town’s historical accounts.
“Bruce’s Beach was an injustice in our town’s history,” said Gary McAulay, president of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society, said the Los Angeles Times. “The facts are tragic enough, but in the nearly 100 years since then, the facts have often been corrupted in the retelling.”
According to the LA Times, Bruce’s Beach began with the Tongva, a Native American people who used the area to gather seafood. After that, the Spanish arrived, and by the early 1900s, George Peck and others developed the coastline known today as Manhattan Beach.
Willa Bruce purchased the first of two lots along the Strand between 26th and 27th streets in 1912. Her husband Charles worked as a train dining car chef. She operated a lodge, cafe, and dance hall for Black families to enjoy the coast. The area became known as Bruce’s Beach and more Black families came to dwell in the community.
“They did what every other Californian was doing during that time,” historian and author Alison Rose Jefferson said to the LA Times.
AS Bruce’s Beach grew in popularity, it was met with resistance from the Ku Klux Klan. Members of the racist organization set fire to a mattress near the beach and to a home owned by Black people. Signs falsely claiming “10 minutes only” parking were posted, forcing visitors to make a 1/2 mile trek through unwelcoming neighborhoods.
When the Klan’s harrassment didn’t work, city officials took over the beach in 1924, seizing over two dozen properties through eminent domain citing the need for a public park. The Bruces and other families sued, claiming racial discrimination.
According to Robert Brigham, a resident and historian, The Bruces asked for $120,000 in compensation – a total of $70,000 for their two lots and $50,000 in damages, while another couple asked for $36,000. In the end, the Bruce family received $14,500, and the others, one Black plaintiff, and one white received between $1,200 and $4,200 per lot.
The city of Manhattan Beach made it impossible for the pioneers to move their business elsewhere and they lived the rest of their lives as chefs for other businesses.
Through the 1950s, Bruce’s Beach remained vacant until officials erected City Park, fearing further lawsuits from the family’s descendants. As time went on, the park became known as Beachfront, then Bayview Terrace Park, then Parque Culiacan, named after a sister city in Mexico. In 2006, the beach finally regained the Bruce name after an appeal by Councilman Mitch Ward, the city’s first Black elected official.
Anthony Bruce, a Florida resident and a descendant of Willa and Charles, recalls the division the beach caused in his family. He is the only family member who will publicly speak about the beach, according to the LA Times. He is appreciative of new calls for justice for his family.
“People are out there because they want to see justice too,” he says to LA Times. He continues, “They know that what happened to Charles and Willa is still happening every day in different parts of the world.”
Today, current residents are demanding action from their city officials. Kavon Ward recently moved to Manhattan Beach with her infant daughter and has had her own fair share of unpleasant, racially driven experiences.
After learning the history of Bruce Beach she and other moms started a group, Anti-Racist Movements Around the South Bay. They also held a Juneteenth event and memorials for Emmett Till and Breonna Taylor.
“It’s like: You kicked the Bruces out, but you’re not going to run me out,” Ward told the LA TImes. “So if I’m not leaving, I’ve got to fight to make it better.”
Another resident launched an online petition which currently has over 11,000 signatures, demanding the original Bruce’s Beach plaque be returned, restoration and restitution be made to the Bruce family, and a public statement from the city of Manhattan Beach.
Duane Shepard Sr., a Bruce family representative, says he is working on researching what the family originally owned, hoping to turn it into a historical center that provides scholarships. Also a member of Bruce family on his mother’s side, he and 150 others gathered a the park for a reunion for the first time in 2018.
“I declared the land sacred that day and promised that I would do everything I could in the world to get justice for our family,” says Shepard, a Pocasset Wampanoag chief and tribal elder on his father’s side.
Manhattan Beach mayor Richard Montgomery is open to aspects of the petition’s demands.
“We all agree there were some things that happened in the past that we’re not proud of,” he said to the LA Times. He continues, “But the temperament and the people and the times have changed. We’re a different city today than we were 100 years ago.”
PPP loans meant to help small businesses stay afloat in the midst of the pandemic also went to Chinese businesses
The economic stimulus CARES Act had provisions to help small businesses survive as the coronavirus pandemic raged. One of them was the Paycheck Protection Program or PPP, which provided loans to businesses to allow them to keep their employees on the payroll. If certain conditions were met, the loans wouldn’t need to be repaid.
AstheGriohas reported, some of that money went to big businesses like Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris steakhouses. These were large companies that could be expected to not have such urgent financial needs.
CHICAGO, IL – JANUARY 28: A sign hangs outside of a Shake Shack restaurant on January 28, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The burger chain, with currently has 63 locations, is expected to go public this week with an IPO priced between $17 to $19 a share. The company will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SHAK. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
However, while many businesses waited for their PPP, it has also been revealed that some Chinese businesses also received PPP funds.
According to the Treasury Department, as reported by NBC News, Continental Airspace Technologies, a subsidiary of the behemoth Chinese company Aviation Industry Corporation, received between $5 and $10M.
A joint venture of AVIC, Aviage Systems, headquartered in Arizona, received between $150K and $350K. The American corporation, General Electric is a partner in that joint venture.
HNA Group North America LLC along with HNA Training Center NY LLC were also recipients of funds ranging from 350K to $1M, reports NBC. They are part of the Chinese company HNA Group that works in transportation, real estate, airports, hotels, and more.
In a letter from a bipartisan group of lawmakers, President Donald Trump was asked to penalize the companies who received the aid. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, both Republicans, urged the president to penalize the companies.
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
There has been no comment from the State or Treasury Departments or the White House national security council about what can done now that the money has been disbursed. The only comment was from the Treasury Department who basically said that there are provisions to deny loan forgiveness to any of the PPP loan recipients.
Trump has been contentious with China for much of the year, blaming them for what he refers to as the “Chinese flu,” alleging they allowed the coronavirus to spread by withholding information about its severity. He recently threatened to ban the TikTok app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
Trump says that because of the app’s widespread popularity in the U.S, it could lead to internet security issues. According to CNN Business, he says he will shut down the app in the U.S. if the company does not find an American buyer by September 15.
“Right now they don’t have any rights unless we give it to them. So if we’re going to give them the rights, then … it has to come into this country,” Trump said at a press conference on Monday. “It’s a great asset, but it’s not a great asset in the United States unless they have approval in the United States.”
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said the solution to the shooting crisis requires cooperation between police and the communities.
A drive-by shooting at a park in Brooklyn’s Cypress Hills neighborhood late last month left two teenagers dead and another wounded.
Kleimer Mendez, 16, was one of two teens shot in the head and killed near a basketball court on July 26, New York Times reports. 18-year-old Antonio Villa was also shot in the head and taken to Kings County Hospital where he died the following day. The third victim, a 17-year-old, was shot in the leg and is in stable condition.
The incident occurred on one of the deadliest days in NYC. Seven people were fatally shot on Sunday, July 26 and one was stabbed to death, the report states.
“We can solve our problems,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news briefing. “We have the ability to do it, but everyone has to come to the table.”
The mayor said the solution to the shooting crisis requires cooperation between police and the communities.
“We know there has been an uptick in shootings in recent weeks, we know there has been a real problem with violence that must be addressed,” he said. “The best way to address it is with communities. You see all over the city, community members stepping forward, elected officials, clergy, Cure Violence movement and crisis management system, a whole host of people and organizations occupying the corners, taking back the neighborhood, making clear that violence will not be acceptable.”
While the mayor noted that the city’s court system must fully reopen, Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea called out the broken criminal justice system.
“It’s going to take all different parts,” he said. “It’s going to take prosecutors, courts, people participating in the system coming forward as witnesses. When you receive that summons to take part in the grand jury process. We have to get our hands around what is going on right now.”
BROOKLYN, NY – NOVEMBER 10: New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (R) looks on as wife Chirlane McCray speaks onstage during the “Made In NY” Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
The city reportedly recorded 745 shootings through July 26, compared to 431 in the same time period from last year, according to the Times report.
“What we’re seeing is almost a perfect storm,” said Michael Sean Spence, policy and implementation director at the nonprofit group Everytown for Gun Safety. “The pandemic has exacerbated the root causes of gun violence.”
Shea noted, “Every available resource is being used to quell this gun violence,” he said. “But there’s a lot of balls up in the air that we’re balancing.”
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The Orlando Magic player generated controversy when he stood for the anthem while his teammates kneeled together in a show of solidarity for racial justice
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac probably did not want to make the news this way. Since the restart to the NBA season in the midst of a global pandemic has gone mostly smoothly so far, Isaac likely believed that he’d be focused more on helping the Magic make the playoffs than anything else.
Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic stands as others kneel before the start of a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Orlando Magic on July 31, 2020 at The HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images)
But first, Isaac sparked controversy when he stood during the national anthem while the rest of his Magic teammates kneeled in Black Lives Matter T-shirts to show their support for social justice issues. Despite backlash from some quarters and an increase in jersey sales from others, Isaac, a devout Christian, said that he just didn’t believe kneeling was the way to show his support.
Two days later, Isaac made news again when he went down with a torn ACL during a game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The player was wheeled off the court and will not return for the rest of the season.
Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic reacts after an injury against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of a NBA basketball game at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
Isaac, 22, averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals this season but missed 31 games with an injury in his left knee. It is the same knee he tore the ACL in.
Isaac tweeted that he was encouraged by prayers and support from his fans and expected to make a comeback.
IT IS WELL!!! 2 Kings 4! Thank you for all of your prayers and concerns I’m encouraged. Remember our God is not just a God of the hills but a God of the valleys! (2 Corinthians ch 4 vs 9!) MY COMEBACK WILL BE GREATER THAN MY SETBACK!!!! I STILL STAND IN JESUS NAME!!!! pic.twitter.com/9Icv0WULQ6
It is Isaac’s faith that led him not to kneel with his teammates during the playing of the national anthem. He said after the game that while he believes that Black lives matter, he didn’t think wearing a T-shirt or kneeling was the way to represent it.
“A lot went into my decision, and part of it is, I thought that kneeling or wearing the Black Lives Matter t-shirt doesn’t go hand-in-hand with supporting Black lives,” he said at a press conference.
“So I felt like, just me personally, what is that I believe is taking on a stance that, I do believe that Black lives matter, but I just felt like it was a decision that I had to make, and I didn’t feel like putting that shirt on and kneeling went hand in hand with supporting Black lives.”
He continued that his faith guided how he viewed the situation.
“I believe that for myself, my life has been supported by gospel, Jesus Christ, and everyone is made in the image of God and that we all forge through God’s glory,” he said.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 02: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic shoots the basketball against Richaun Holmes #22 of the Sacramento Kings and guard Corey Brewer #13 in the first half of a NBA basketball game at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat’s Meyers Leonard, who is white, was the other NBA player who stood for the anthem. He also said that while he supported the BLM movement, he didn’t believe kneeling was the right way to do so. His brother, Bailey is in the military and served two tours in Afghanistan and he equates supporting the anthem and flag to supporting the military.
“I think I can be a beacon of light … not only for my voice or platform and action, but in everything I’m doing,” Leonard told The Undefeated. “I certainly support Black Lives Matter. … I am very aware of what is going on. But I can be both. My patriotism runs deep.”
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Like many other businesses, the mandatory shut-down during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the retail giant. In March, Lord & Taylor temporarily shut down all of their brick-and-mortar operations, relying only on their website for sales.
The stores have been closed as a measure to oblige by the governors’ across various states have ordered their residents shelter in place.
Last year, Le Tote had to sell its flagship Lord & Taylor on New York’s Fifth Avenue, NBC News reported.
Lord and Taylor, 5th Ave. NYC (Getty Images)
The company saw an “increased expenses associated with the acquisition, as well as the brick-and-mortar assets which were unusable for a substantial period of time,” Ed Kremer, the company’s chief restructuring officer, said on Monday in court filings.
At the time of the filing, Lord & Taylor had about $138 million of debt, with 38 stores and 651 employees, according to Bloomberg.
Other retail giants like J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, and Ann Taylor are facing the troubles as the notable department store.
“As many people have switched to working at home, brands that sell clothes targeted at office workers have had a particularly hard time. Brooks Brothers and the parent company of Ann Taylor are among those that have also filed for bankruptcy,” according to NBC News.
Fortunately, Le Tote is expected to reopen some Lord & Taylor locations, recalling 400 of its employees.
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مـلـهـاش مـعـنـى | Mohamed Hossam Khedr | TEDxManaratAlFaroukSchool Seizing every opportunity to leave a great impact and cause a remarkable change in different fields is the true essence of life. We should acquire the skill of seeking solutions and putting ideas into actions to solve various problems in our community. Mohamed Hossam Khedr is the founder of the famous internet forum "Fatakat" which was a huge success. He is sharing his own experience in various fields of management, entrepreneurship, investment, marketing, and information technology through his talk. He managed to create a meaning to his life and he is challenging the rest of us to have a meaningful life. Mohamed Hossam Khedr is an author, a business and investment consultant and a digital transformation expert. He owns a software company that was established in 1997, Internet Plus, and manages Khedr W Business, a consultancy firm. He had several startups with several successful exits like Bentelhalal for matchmaking, Shams Games and Fatakat (the largest Egyptian website and the most famous Arab women forums). Mohamed graduated from Engineering in Cairo University and got MBA from AAST and Autonoma de Barcelnoa University. He gives talks, workshops and mentoring sessions at all startups events like ArabNet, RiseUp and TechneSummit as well as startups accelerators like TIEC, Flat6Labs, GESR, EdVentures and Falak. He believes in portraying the realistic view of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to entrepreneurs and he breaches the merits of digitization and managerial science to business owners and managers. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://ift.tt/102EAFM
هـيـثـم المـتـنـقـل | Haytham Shokry | TEDxManaratAlFaroukSchool Oprah Winfrey once said "Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." Haytham is a storyteller who loves reading from the very beginning of his childhood. Haytham found his passion in the art of storytelling so he decided to follow this urging passion. Following his passion had a great influence not only on him but also on our society and on children. Haytham has drawn hundreds of smiles on children's faces. Surprisingly, storytelling acted as a life jacket that helped him and children to face daily challenges and upheavals. Haytham believes in the power of storytelling. His journey started as a storyteller in a private TV Channel then he conducted various workshops and TOT training in Goethe-Institute (in various governorates) about "The storytelling project in Egypt (with PASCH initiative) with the interactive tasks" for German Teachers. His passion was to help children in enhancing their skills through storytelling, so he merged the storytelling techniques with some interactive games to maintain their full engagement. From 2014 up to date, he conducted a lot of TOT training workshops for the mobile library project partners (NGOs, small social schools, small villages, parents in public spaces, orphanage houses) in 5 governorates about” How to be creative with children using books and interactive games” and “ how can I handle open space kids events”. Currently, he is working on " Esma3my on Tour Project " with Goethe-Institute Alexandria about how to transfer a radio drama to an interactive drama. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://ift.tt/102EAFM
Peter Thomas has diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, and chills.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Peter Thomas announced that he contracted the highly contagious coronavirus on his social media.
The reality star explains the importance of wearing masks and gloves and urges his followers to practice social distancing as he painfully describes what life is with the coronavirus.
On his Instagram, Thomas reveals that for over a week he has been bedridden by the virus.
The Jamaican club owner and former music industry staple said that he had taken the COVID-19 test five times before testing positive for the disease. Speaking with low energy and measured breaths, while lying down and resting on a pillow he detailed how severe his symptoms are.
He states that his side-effects are gastroparesis and that he is experiencing symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, and chills.
“I am going to tell you something, wear your masks, wear gloves, practice social distance,” Thomas said.
In his explanation, Thomas shares that he ignored some social distancing practices, admitting he removed his mask and surrounded himself with fans.
“People come up to me, asking for pictures all of the time. They want me to have the mask off and they want to hug me because they say they like me. And I took those pictures.”
Despite accommodating his fans, Thomas was nervous about contracting the virus.
“Every time I took those pictures, I am just praying to God that I am not going to get [COVID-19].
“My stomach has been a complete wreck,” Thomas said.
Thomas said he has to stay inside for an additional seven days. After that, he is scheduled to take two tests. Only if his latest test results are negative will the influencer be allowed to go outside.
It is unclear where Thomas was when he recorded his video.
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Diversity and inclusion have been hot topics as of late, inspiring an onslaught of reactive commentary, corporate initiatives, and organizations scrambling to behave thoughtfully and with a sense of urgency in response to the current state of affairs. Employing a more proactive approach, especially informed by a seasoned practitioner, generally yields greater returns. Enter Korn Ferry Executive Search Consultant and Practice Leader Louis Montgomery Jr.
Black Enterprise sat down with Montgomery to discuss key issues associated with D&I and how organizations can successfully chart the way forward. Having held multifaceted roles in the human resources and D&I space with several major Fortune 100 firms including IBM, Celanese Corp., PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, Altria, AES, and Serco, Montgomery knows his way around the issues that have emerged front and center in today’s volatile business climate. An author and frequent speaker on topics related to workforce talent acquisition and management, leadership and diversity management, Montgomery offers a nuanced approach to navigating the ins and outs of diversity and inclusion.
Explain the difference between “diversity” and “inclusion” and why do you think there is so much confusion around the terms?
Diversity is about representation; its goal is to assure an organization has a good mix of various groups (i.e. men, women, whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, LGBTQ, generations, etc., as well as socioeconomic backgrounds, education, viewpoints). Improving representation was the goal of affirmative action, which was the initial focus of efforts we now categorized as “diversity.” Inclusion is an extension of that focus and is all about ensuring that these groups feel welcomed, included, and valued inside their organizations. It’s really about belonging, which is another term we’re starting to hear more and more. Another equally important term we’re hearing reverberate in this space is equity. It means equality of opportunity. It’s not uncommon today to see all three terms in position titles—roles that are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. We now know all three are important in the workplace and in society more generally.
I think the reason for the confusion is that this is still a relatively new and evolving field and people do not necessarily know what’s meant by the terms. For example, the first job title I had in this area was Associate Director, Affirmative Action and Diversity in the 1990s. I had oversight responsibility for the organization’s affirmative action plans, which are legally required for government contractors and for the organization’s Diversity Management Program. Sometimes the terms diversity and inclusion are used interchangeably although as I previously mentioned have very different objectives.
What are some of the biggest challenges to D&I within corporate America?
I think there are three major challenges within corporate America.
First, is to acknowledge that racism is real and if it were not the case, organizations would be further along in terms of their representation of senior-level people of color in corporations.
Second, is to realize we cannot “train” our way out of this problem. There have been various forms of “diversity” training around since the 1980s. While all of these efforts are well intended, they have not meaningfully impacted the status quo.
Third, is to take a more systematic and holistic approach to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organizations. There are two significant ways to do this. The first is to eliminate bias throughout their people, systems, and processes to include talent acquisition, development, promotions, and total rewards systems. The second is to teach people how to become more inclusive. This is not the same as awareness training, but it is teaching people how to understand, eliminate, or at least minimize bias in their behavior. Just as some people have learned to become racists, we have to teach them to become anti-racists. I define this as someone willing to confront racist behavior when they encounter it, including within themselves.
What’s your best advice for companies serious about improving in the areas of D&I?
Improvement in diversity and inclusion is about being willing to evolve an organization’s culture. As we know, change is hard and takes sustained effort over time. It also takes an unwaveringly strong commitment by senior leaders within an organization to change both as individuals and as an organization. Many of us have come to rely on trainers and coaches to help us achieve the kind of personal change and improvement we desire. Coaches usually perform some level of diagnostic to determine the gap between where we are currently and our desired state.
The thing is, however, very few organizations can do this kind of work without outside assistance. I suggest they seek the help of an organization like Korn Ferry or individual consultants with deep expertise in this area—those willing to invest the time and energy to understand their organizations and propose solutions based on where the organization stands relative to their desired outcomes. Organizations must realize this is a journey that will take time and a commitment to real change. I believe the long-term benefits for those willing to put in the work will be tremendous. But, for those who are not, they may find themselves at a long-term competitive disadvantage: they may be unable to attract and retain the very people needed to advance growth and attain long-term organizational success.
Do you think the increased focus on D&I reflects current events or is there something more insidious at play?
First, I’m an optimist. As Winston Churchill said, “To me it doesn’t make sense to be anything else.” Clearly this increase in recent interest in diversity and inclusion is a result of current events; however, I think it’s deeper, more emotional and visceral. The police killing of George Floyd was caught live on video and it has been seen all over the world via social media. We have all been stuck at home because of the pandemic and have seen it and are aware of the killings of other innocent Black people. A majority of us from various backgrounds have been deeply moved by what we’ve seen and heard.
History also reminds us that heightened awareness increases empathy and spurs us to action. The beatings of recently deceased Representative John Lewis and the group of the civil rights marchers crossing into Selma, Alabama, was televised. It led to a public outcry by many Americans of all racial backgrounds. It ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
I have recently had conversations with white friends and colleagues about race unlike I’ve ever had in my life. Polls show most Americans support the protesters against racial injustice. I believe many corporate leaders want to address racial injustice and realize they have a role to play. Also, more rank and file people inside of organizations are pushing for change inside their firms. This feels different to me than any other time in my career.
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The president gives 45 days to the tech company to strike up a deal with ByteDance to acquire the popular short-video app
Microsoft wants to buy TikTok following President Donald Tump‘s threats of banning the video-sharing app.
After the tech giant expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, a Chinese owned app that collects its users’ data while users create wonky videos, the president put a pause on his decision to ban the popular social media platform in America.
As theGrio previously reported, Trump, alongside reporters onboard Air Force One, said he intended to ban TikTok. His concern is that the foreign-owned company is breaching the cybersecurity of American people.
Trump had previously planned to use an executive order in efforts to shut down the popular app, even though many are uncertain that if a mandate to do is possible. However, according to Reuters, the White House has agreed to allow Microsoft a window of 45 days to negotiate the popular short-video app’s acquisition.
Over the weekend, Microsoft to openly plead with ByteDance, a Beijing-based company that owns TikTok, to make a deal that could save TikTok’s American presence.
“Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” Microsoft said in a statement, The Hillreported.
Immediately after Trump’s July 31 declarative statement, a spokesperson for TikTok denied allegations that anything user information is inappropriately shared with China.
The representative said that U.S. user data is stored in the U.S. and is strictly controlled by employee access.
Microsoft representatives say they want to “move quickly to pursue discussions” with ByteDance. Their hope is that the company can complete its negotiation by Sept 15.
Microsoft is also committed to securing American users’ info, saying it “appreciates the U.S. Government’s and President Trump’s personal involvement as it continues to develop strong security protections for the country.”
“Microsoft would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States,” Microsoft wrote in a statement. “To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”
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Vegan food and plant-based diets continue to gain traction within the U.S. as Americans move to become more and more health-conscious. As more people want to try plant-based substitutes to change their eating habits, one woman became inspired by her journey to lose weight and stumbled upon a new recipe to make a dessert that is both healthy and delicious.
Emily D. Edwards is the owner of Paradise Snax, an organic vegan food brand serving sweet protein icings, dips, and snacks to maintain a healthy diet. Edwards took a chance to pivot to vegan foods and decided to sell her mental health business to start her company, Emily’s Foods, in 2018.
“During this time I also went on a weight loss journey and soon discovered that it was hard to find snacks low in sugar and high in protein that satisfied my taste buds,” said Edwards in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “As a native of Mississippi, I took what I’d learned from my mother and grandmother and developed my own protein muffins which were 100 calories or less using whey protein powder. I now had this burning desire to help others but from a food perspective.”
After spending time developing her signature recipe, Edwards started to study more about natural ingredients to expand her product options. “I spent several months in my home kitchen developing a prototype,” added Edwards.
“After finally developing the prototype, and acknowledging that I would need help to develop the prototype into a most viable product, I spent a year at Purdue University Department of Food Science Skidmore Lab located in Lafayette, Indiana. My work there consisted of research and product development. The first and most important information I received was regarding food safety. I also learned how icings and frostings are made, and how and why ingredients work together.”
to dip into Paradise Icing
. ******************************* Visit our new Snax website to order. Link in the bio. ******************************* #paradisesnax #paradiseicing #paradisedips #allergyfriendly #momsofinstagram #glutenfree #snacks #nongmo #kidapproved