Detroit-Native & Former Record Exec Launches New Music Streaming & Analytics App Deepr
Detroit-native and former Motown Records Business and Legal Affairs Executive Darrell Thompson is shaking up the music tech industry as co-founder & COO of the music data company, Deepr®. It is a Black-owned tech start-up that has developed a music discovery app for consumers and a data insights platform for creators, the music industry, and the film and television industry. Like Shazam, the Deepr® app utilizes audio recognition and manual search inputs to provide everything you could know about who was involved in making the songs you enjoy.
Black fashion designers win big at Council of Fashion Designers Awards
The Council of Fashion Designers Awards, often called the “Oscars of Fashion” celebrated a number of prominent Black fashion designers at an online ceremony Monday night. Black fashion designers took home of three of the six coveted awards, including Haitian-American Kerby Jean-Raymond, who took home the prestigious American Menswear Designer of the Year. The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962, whose membership consists of 477 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers. Other figures recognized by the
Accenture Introduces Black Founders Development Program
Accenture has created the Black Founders Development Program to aid Black entrepreneurs, especially Black tech startups. According to a statement released by Accenture, the program is designed to "advance and grow technology businesses through greater, more direct access to venture capital, corporate mentorship, and strategic connections with Accenture’s business partners, clients, and people." They are aiming to increase Black access to wealth and fuel the next great innovators. "Black entrepreneurs continue to innovate but face bias and lack access to capital and opportunity in the venture capital community,
Black households earned 61 cents for every dollar of White median incomes
Nationally in 2018, Black households earned 61 cents for every $1 of White household median income. Further, the Black/White median household income gaps ranged from 87 cents per dollar in Maine and Hawaii, down to 32 cents per dollar in the District of Columbia. The disparity in median translates into 22% of all Black Americans living in poverty, a gap of 13% compared to Whites who are poor. Wisconsin’s gap is 23%. “In noting the socioeconomic indicators of median income, poverty rates and health insurance rates, I found
Pinterest Names Tyi McCray as Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity
Pinterest has appointed Tyi McCray its Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity. McCray, who has worked with Airbnb, Twitter, and the New York Times, comes on board to lead programming promoting diverse culture. She will report directly to co-founder and Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann. "We’re very excited to welcome Tyi to Pinterest. She is a proven and compassionate leader who will be a huge asset in advancing the significant work ahead of us," said Silbermann. "I look forward to working with her to build a culture where all
Dana White Is the First Black Woman to Run Comms at a Major Automaker
As Hyundai North America’s first chief communications officer, Dana W. White knows what it is like to have two feet in two worlds. “Growing up I always knew about the power of communication, the power of words,” she said, talking about her childhood in Charlottesville, Virginia. “My grandfather, who was born in 1896, founded the oldest black newspaper in the state. I used to cut ad sheets every month and write copy and process black-and-white photos [at the paper]. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in me and my
Two Black Owned Banks Merge Forming a Billion Dollar Lender
Broadway Financial Corporation (LA) and City First (Washington DC) have merged to create the largest black owned bank in the country. Together they have combined assets to become a billion dollar lender. City First chief executive, Brian E. Argrett, will operate as chief executive of the new company. City First will be the banking brand while Broadway Financial Corporation will maintain its publicly traded identity as the bank's holding company. “The new combined institution will strengthen our position and will help drive both sustainable economic growth and societal
Black Owned Celldration Premium Water Signs Historic Distribution Deal For 1100 Kroger Stores
CellDration Water, one of only a handful of Black-owned Premium water brands in the world, has partnered with Cincinnati based Kroger Inc, Wakefern (NJ), and DPI Specialty Foods (CA) for distribution in over 1100 stores nationwide, represented by six divisions and spanning sixteen states. Kroger corporation includes other retail grocery brands Ralph’s, Smith’s, and Fry’s. Utilizing a proprietary five (5) step process, and founded at the nexus between nature and science, CellDration Water offers an enhanced, mineralized purified water with multiple value-added benefits. CellDration’s game-changing national distribution
Two Brothers Hope to Open Philadelphia’s First Black Owned Brewery
The state of Pennsylvania does not currently have a Black owned brewery. In fact, under 2 percent of American breweries are Black owned. Two West Philadelphia brothers, Rich Koilor and Mengistu Koilor, are looking to change that. "The more we looked into the brewing industry, the more we saw that there weren't a lot of Black brewers or Black-owned breweries," said Rich Koilor. "That kind of pushed us to, why not be the first Black-owned brewery in Philly?" Mengistu adds, "Something that's Black-owned that belongs to us where we
DICK’S Sporting Goods Names NFL’s Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. to its Board of Directors
DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. announced that Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., the 11-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, has been named to the company's Board of Directors. Fitzgerald is an active member in the business community. He joined the Sports Matter Advisory Board of The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation in 2018 to help inspire and enable youth sports participation, and he recently purchased a minority ownership stake in the NBA's Phoenix Suns. "I've long admired DICK'S Sporting Goods, and over the years have had the opportunity