This Is What Made Beyoncé A Cultural Force

 

One name says so much: Beyoncé. Throughout her 20-plus-year career, the 28-time GRAMMY-winning artist has inspired awe with a divine voice, top-notch performances and thorough bodies of work, demonstrating a complete mastery of her craft.

JP Morgan Chase Provides $1.7M for Black Businesses

 

In a bid to promote equity in Black neighborhoods, JPMorgan Chase has awarded the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative and the Center for Community Progress a $1.7 million grant, according to a new press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.

California University To Begin Segregated Housing

The move comes nine months after receiving a set of demands put forward by the school's Black Student Union, in an effort to combat against "racist attacks," "racially insensitive remarks," and other "micro-aggressions" against the Black student body.

Gansta Marcus Talks Violent Protestors

Let every city in the world take a look at whats happening in Ferguson. Everything about this whole situation is wrong from the beginning. It started off a shame the way the black community destroyed their own neighborhood that they reside in which also helped to make it easier for prosecutors not to have officer Darren Wilson locked up.

Someone need to give the people supervision, or let them hear something that they need to hear instead of turning on the news everyday and seeing another unarmed teenager shot to death. They need to get a better understanding that attacking police officers gets no support by the people they need support from.

We got a dose of the first protest with Trayvon Martin. Civil rights leaders and parents of teenager attend protests over acquittal of George Zimmerman in Florida trial. Although Zimmerman was cleared on charges, the community in over 100 cities still used peaceful protests to get their statement out. Trayvon Martin's mother choked back tears as a crowd of 2000 New Yorkers chanted We love you.

The actions that are being taken in Ferguson is starting to make the black community look bad as a whole. We now have college student not wanting minorities at their schools, songs and chants are being created that uses the nigger word in it, etc. Do anyone see where this is headed? Their is too much hate from both the race sides that still lives within our communities today.

Now the chief of police has resigned in Ferguson, and behind his resignation, two police officers are shot hours later in a protest that was dying down. I don't know what the motive was behind the shooting or what caused it, but i'm sure this is going to escalade into worst actions than before.

Isabel Eugene, 16, who also attended the rally in Miami, said: “Before Trayvon Martin, we took precautions, but now it's worse. Not just with the police killing minorities, but also with minorities and protestors handling it the wrong way. In some cases, its not good for us to take the upper hand. At some point and time, I hope this all comes to a cease.

Beyoncé Now Helping Black-Owned Businesses

The star has teamed up with the NAACP to found the Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund.

Beyoncé has launched a new fund to give Black-owned businesses grants through her BeyGOOD foundation.

The fund has been started in collaboration with the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP).

The Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund will provide grants of $10,000 (£7,923) for business owners “in select cities to help sustain business during this time”.

Rihanna and Jay-Z Invest in Vegan Cookie Company

After the push from BLM in 2020, many expect 2021 to be the year of immense growth in communities that are predominantly black and brown. The reasoning is that many businesses and corporations started to look within to see if they were being as diverse with their hiring and lending as they should be. The events of 2020 have also influenced many prestigious people to contribute to black-owned businesses.

Also See: Everything You Need to Know About Vegan Fashion

Partake foods, a vegan and allergy-friendly food company, saw a generous investment from Jay-Z last year. Now, it appears that Partake was able to amass a decent amount of funding from a long list of reputable stars, including Rihanna. It is her first investment outside of her own lines, such as Savage x Fenty. Rihanna continues to expand her business ventures while making fans wait for new music. However, it's hard to argue with Rihanna's business mindset; she's been killing it.

Partake completed a $4.8 million Series A funding round in late December, led by investors including Rihanna, Kevin Johnson's Black Capital, Seattle Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner, Black Star Fund, Once Upon a Farm CEO John Foraker, CircleUp Growth Partners, FF2032 and Marcy Venture Partners.

Whitewash Hip-Hop

Rapper Iggy Azalea performs at Irving Plaza on May 5, 2014, in New York. When asked about Forbes’ claim that hip-hop is run by a white, blond, Australian rapper named Iggy Azalea, incumbent queen bee Nicki Minaj laughed hysterically. The financial magazine may be qualified to calculate the $250 million valuation of Nicki’s Myx Fusions Moscato wine coolers, Nicki reasoned, but only the hip-hop community can bequeath the throne to Iggy.

Google Launches Initiatives to Promote Racial Equity

 

The increasing discussions on the impact of AI on economic mobility has led to questions on how it will impact the Black community. A recent study from the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility examines the potential AI could have on widening the racial wealth gap.

To ensure an inclusive move into AI, Google is working to bridge the gap through two new initiatives that promote racial equity and economic opportunity for historically overlooked communities. On Friday, April 26, Google launched the AI Essentials Course and Google.org AI Opportunity Fund.

Master P Gets Into The Food Industry

Entrepreneur Percy Miller better known as 'MASTER P' has been educating the culture on the importance of ownership, building minority-owned brands, producing products and giving back to the community for over 25 years.

He grew up in poverty, built a music empire, sold over 100 million records independently. And now he is doing the same thing in the food market with his Uncle P’s Rice, Uncle P’s Grits, Uncle P’s Oatmeal, Uncle P’s Pancake Mix & Uncle P’s Syrup.

2Pac's Godfather Speaks

Writer/educator and former Black Panther Party organizer Jamal Joseph sat down with AllHipHop.com to discuss the legacy of Tupac Shakur, in an interview released on the 20th anniversary of his death on [September 13]. Having been one of Shakur's mother Afeni's comrades, and an elder whom Pac referred to as "uncle," Joseph, 63, had been in regular communication with the late icon prior to his death.

See What Barack Obama Thinks About African-Americans

Last week, as a part of a series of conversations, President Barack Obama spoke to author Ta-Nehisi Coates about a variety of topics, with one of them being reparations for African-Americans. Many African-Americans have voiced their opinion about the idea of reparations being given to their people, especially considering the lasting impact of the Jim Crow era and slavery on the community. During the interview, Barack Obama mentioned that he felt African-Americans deserved reparations, but that he did not think it would be politically achievable. Obama said that wrongs done to the black community should be acknowledged, and that "society has a moral obligation to make a large, aggressive investment, even if it’s not in the form of individual reparations checks, but in the form of a Marshall Plan, in order to close those gaps [of wealth and education]."

Obama kept it real about getting support from Congress for reparations, saying, "I’m not so optimistic as to think that you would ever be able to garner a majority of an American Congress that would make those kinds of investments above and beyond the kinds of investments that could be made in a progressive program for lifting up all people." He then went on to put his entire idea into a clear perspective, saying, "I have much more confidence in my ability, or any president or any leader’s ability, to mobilize the American people around a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to help every child in poverty in this country than I am in being able to mobilize the country around providing a benefit specific to African Americans as a consequence of slavery and Jim Crow."

Jay Z's House VS Kanye West's House

 

As one of the most influential artists of our time, Jay Z has amassed wealth unimaginable for most people. His house is an incredible 30 000 square foot, 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms estate and sits on just over 1.5 acres of pricey real estate. It’s surrounded by celebrity neighbors and stocked full of premium amenities, including 4 pools, a 15-car garage, a recording studio and bulletproof windows.  The estate is a smart home that includes all of the latest technological features to ensure safety and convenience. 

Lights Out Mississippi

Many people shall miss the great but small Marcus. Cleveland, Ms shall never again see one that is wide spread hated by many. There is not many that like him because of his moral values, but in the black community, he is feared because he represent progress.

On May 1st of 2013, the rap artist Gansta Marcus made the decision to depart Mississippi no matter what the consequences. Although he knows he maybe facing up to three years in prison, The Ohio rap artist is agreed that he is ready to make his appearance.

After being gone for five years, Gansta Marcus has developed many skills from "Building and apartment maintenance" to being a "Online Admin" for multiple websites. He is also a producer and artist who has yet to perform.

Gansta Marcus Speaks On Ferguson, Florida And Ohio Police Brutality

Lima, Ohio producer and website owner of The Wrap-Up Magazine decides to release several new tracks earlier this week. On included a track to speaks of dead teenager Trayvon Martin and Edward Wade. Its about time that a rapper talk more that just prejudice. Listen to the words in the song and check out this writen interview of what Nieman Marcus feels on whats going on in the world.

Federal charges unlikely for Darren Wilson in Ferguson case, officials say. Its sad that this man could not be charged at all in any case. I understand that he is a cop and its a high risk to lock him up, but a charge with at least parole with a guilty conviction is a option that could have taken place.

"The black community members that caused and supported these riots that took place helped to cause this conviction to go free." Ferguson is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

Not only is this is just happening in Ferguson, but also in many various states across the United States. Ohio is no better joining in on the cause of police power. Florida really started the statement that is invloving into a movement with Trayvon Martin.

Two police officers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries recently in Ohio. While just before that releasing the 911 calls and the full surveillance video of the confrontation and fatal shooting of a 12-year-old Ohio boy, The biggest problem that I see in Ohio is not only the prison system, but also local county jail sytems. They don't care if the jail are full and have minor convictions, inmates can sleep on concrete floors exposed to any condition that is at hand.

There is just too much going on in the world. Both sides of color need to put down all protest, police set down all weapons, and raise their hands for a change. Lets all march for a better world standing together no matter how much it hurts.

February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American high school student. Thousands then filled college field houses to hear Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin. Trayvon Martin was shot and killed as he walked to a family member's home from a convenience store.

Malcolm Warner Speaks On Bill Cosby

Warner commented on the slew of allegations plaguing his former TV father Bill Cosby. “He’s one of my mentors, and he’s been very influential and played a big role in my life as a friend and mentor,” Warner tells Billboard. “Just as it’s painful to hear any woman talk about sexual assault, whether true or not, it’s just as painful to watch my friend and mentor go through this.

“I can’t really speak on any of the allegations because obviously, I was not there. The Bill Cosby I know has been great to me and great for a lot of people. What he’s done for comedy and television has been legendary and history-making. What he’s done for the black community and education has been invaluable. That’s the Bill Cosby I know. I can’t speak on the other stuff.”

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Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez Pardoned By Trump

As one of his final acts as president of the United States, Donald Trump issued more than 140 pardons and commutations on Tuesday night (Jan. 19). Among those granted clemency were Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, early Death Row Records backer Michael "Harry-O" Harris and rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, according to the White House.

Perez was granted a full pardon for being involved in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics, the White House said, a conviction that is more than 25 years old. "Since her conviction, Ms. Perez has taken full accountability for her actions and has turned her life around," the White House said in a statement. "She has been gainfully employed and has been an advocate for criminal justice reform in her community."

"I'm grateful to have received a pardon and to have formally closed that chapter of my life in the eyes of the law," Perez said in a statement provided to Billboard. "I have taken full accountability for my mistakes from 25 years ago, but I also take tremendous pride in my personal growth, perseverance and accomplishments since then. This pardon reinforces my lifelong commitment to advocate for criminal justice reform and social justice initiatives."

White Actor Will Play Martin Luther King Jr

The casting of a white actor as Martin Luther King in an Ohio university production of Katori Hall’s acclaimed play The Mountaintop was “a disservice to not just Dr King but an entire community”, the playwright has said.

“I didn’t want this to be a stunt, but a true exploration of King’s wish that we all be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin,” Oatman said. “I wanted the contrast … I wanted to see how the words rang differently or indeed the same, coming from two different actors, with two different racial backgrounds.”

Oatman did not respond to a request for comment, but Hall said she had a respectful phone call with the director about a month after he staged the play at the university’s Department of Pan-African Studies’ African Community Theatre from late September to early October.

“I feel as though a lot of theatermakers were a bit appalled at the choice that the director made – and that it was supported so wholeheartedly by the institution,” Hall said. “So it was really a moment to talk about playwright intention, but to then, beyond that, talk about much bigger issues, about not only being a black artist but also being a black person in America.”

Top 5 Most Jay-Z’s Controversial Moments

 

There have been multiple instances in Jay-Z’s career where he has made headlines for the wrong reasons, either with fans, other rappers, in-laws, or even his wife.

Below, we’ve listed out the top five most controversial moments Hov has endured, ranking them from least significant to most.

Understanding #MoviesWeLove Menace II Society

Menace II Society is much more than your typical hood movie. Caine narrates the story of his life, explaining how after the riots, drugs came into effect, and affected his home life as a child.

Tupac Shakur was originally supposed to play a role in the film but was fired by Allen Hughes, apparently because Tupac was causing problems on the set. Things later escalated on the set of a music video, when members of Tupac's entourage were found beating up on Allen Hughes.

Menace 2 Society is about a young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life. In an unflinching look at the mean streets of the contemporary urban American ghetto, a Black youth--despite his dreams for a better life--ultimately succumbs to the cycle of violence that pervades his community.

Hip Hop & Drug Culture

We make excuses for the negative impact of rap music because it has given so many young black males a way out of the hood; but for every ONE that it gives an exit, it entraps thousands more.