Black Business and Economic Stories for the week of March 22nd to 28th 2021

Top Stories

  • Guaranteed Income in Jackson Designed By Black Moms for Black Moms, Showing Results for Black Moms (Next City)
  • Evanston, IL becomes the first city to pay reparations for its anti-Black housing policies (Upworthy)
  • Building Wealth While Black: How Atlanta Fueled a Family Fortune (Bloomberg)
  • NY Mayor pushes cannabis revenue as gateway to racial equity (The Grio)
  • Greenwood banking platform geared toward Black and Latino people raises $40 million in funding (CBS News).
  • Fintech Startup Greenwood Raises $40 Million in Funding to Provide Black and Latino Banking Services (PR Newswire) — Press Release. Investors include: Truist, Bank of America, PNC, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Mastercard, Visa, and SoftBank
  • “Hood to Hire” Addresses the Unemployed and Displaced Workforce. (Chicago Defender)
  • Monique Greenwood , DC native creates chain of successful bed and breakfast inns (WTOP) — Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns
  • Black female contractor builds million-dollar business in Columbia (Cola Daily) – South Carolina
  • Apple shares new data about diversity (9 to 5 Mac)
  • Powell ‘not at all happy’ with Fed’s diversity (The Hill) – Only 2 out of 417 fed economists are Black. Why Are There So Few Black Economists at the Fed? (NY Times)

Stories

Coronavirus / Covid-19 / Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

  • Year after COVID crisis hits, some small businesses see ‘400 percent growth’ (ABC)
  • COVID-19 economic recovery remains slowest for communities of color in Wisconsin (WTMJ) – Milwaukee
  • Black-Owned Businesses Aim for Post-Pandemic Rebound (VOA)
  • As Black-Owned Businesses Struggle Through Pandemic, Many Find Lifeline Online (Nasdaq)

Jobs / Workers / Unemployment / Gig Economy

  • Black workers, hammered by pandemic, now being left behind in recovery (Politico)
  • Guaranteed Income in Jackson Designed By Black Moms for Black Moms, Showing Results for Black Moms (Next City)
  • “Hood to Hire” Addresses the Unemployed and Displaced Workforce. (Chicago Defender)
  • Four Ways to Support Racial Equality in the Workplace (D Magazine)
  • COVID pushed Black unemployment higher in Pa. than anywhere in the nation, report says (WHYY) – PA unemployment rate was almost 20% in Q3 2020.
  • New Analysis Reveals 20 Years of Stagnant Wage Growth for American Workers (PR Newswire)

Inequality / Systemic Racism / Economic Justice

  • A convergence of racial reckoning for Black and Asian Americans (Washington Post)
  • Is the tax code racist? (Marketplace)
  • UK businesses may be forced to reveal ethnicity pay gap (The Guardian)
  • ‘I felt like I was singled out.’ Two people who claim racial bias at Facebook describe their experiences (Fortune)
  • Black, Asian leaders in Atlanta hope tragedy sparks better understanding between Communities (WSBTV)

Black Business

Black Business General / Interesting Businesses Stories

Black Business Specific

  • Monique Greenwood , DC native creates chain of successful bed and breakfast inns (WTOP) — Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns
  • Killer Mike’s Black-owned bank, Greenwood, raises nearly $40 million in funding (Revolt)
  • Black-owned firm says new training program will help make clinical research more diverse (Cincinnati Business Journal) – This is a great business startup. The idea is brilliant.
  • Family-Owned Business Awards 2021: Black Classic Press (Baltimore Business Journal)
  • Black Classic Press is a Book publishing business in Baltimore, MD.
  • Milligan Group and other Black-owned businesses face access-to-capital puzzle (Philadelphia Business Journal) – “We cannot get to the next level without it”
  • Black female contractor builds million-dollar business in Columbia (Cola Daily) – South Carolina

Big Business / Corporate

  • Black San Francisco man says Starbucks singled him out for removal, company Apologizes (NY Daily News)
  • Apple shares new data about diversity (9 to 5 Mac)
  • M&F Bank using funds to promote an inclusive pandemic recovery (WRAL)
  • Fifth Third awards $1.2 million to help Black, women entrepreneurs (Cincinnati Business Journal)
  • AT&T’s Jalayna Bolden secured $3.1B for Black businesses during the pandemic (Rolling Out)

Discrimination

  • Nielsen settles lawsuit with Black executive over alleged discrimination (Chicago Tribune)

Reparations / Affirmative Action / Diversity / Inclusion

  • Chicago suburb’s plan to pay Black residents reparations could be a national model (NBC News) — The city council, which has already committed $10 million over a decade to the effort, will vote on Monday to begin with a $400,000 round of payments.
  • Evanston, IL becomes the first city to pay reparations for its anti-Black housing policies (Upworthy)
  • Evanston’s reparations plan is more symbol than substance (Chicago Tribune)
  • Absurdity of the ‘black reparations’ wokery (The Conservative Woman)
  • Reparations in Chicago? (Bloomberg Next City) – Chicago was looking at a guaranteed income plan.
  • Reparations for bias and slavery gains momentum (RawStory)
  • Where to shop? Business Diversity Directory shows you options led by women, Minorities (Cambridge Day)
  • DivInc CEO: What Austin businesses get right about diversity, what still needs to be done (Austin Business Journal)

Economics

Black Economics

  • Powell ‘not at all happy’ with Fed’s diversity (The Hill) – Only 2 out of 417 fed economists are Black.
  • Why Are There So Few Black Economists at the Fed? (NY Times)
  • Self-Help Credit Union, Kiva partner with local cities on microloan program for minority entrepreneurs (Charlotte Business Journal)
  • Building Wealth While Black: How Atlanta Fueled a Family Fortune (Bloomberg)
  • Invest in Children and Equality: Hand Out Baby Bonds (Bloomberg)
  • Students, UGA Faced With Tough Decisions After Receiving New Funds (Grady)
  • Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ economic reform package
  • (Chicago Tribune)
  • Transcript: The Path Forward: Economic Mobility with Raphael W. Bostic, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Washington Post)
  • Inside JPMorgan’s $30 billion push for racial equity in the economy — and within its own walls (Business Insider)

Straight up Econ / The Economy

  • Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse, and Member of the Council of Economic Advisers Heather Boushey (Whitehouse.Gov) on March 24, 2021. The topics covered are Equal Pay Day for Women.
  • Reasons behind the ongoing challenge in attracting and retaining women in economics (Yahoo)

Industry Stories

Marketing / Advertising / Sales / Consumer Behavior

  • Black Americans are buying more guns while navigating ‘landmines of white supremacy and racism’ (Michigan Live)
  • Blacklisted Bingo: Month-long event encourages support of Black-owned
  • Businesses (Daily Advertiser)

Alcohol / Marijuana / CBD / Gambling

  • The First Black-Owned Multinational Cannabis Brand: Al Harrington’s Viola To Launch In Canada (Forbes)
  • NY Mayor pushes cannabis revenue as gateway to racial equity (The Grio)
  • How These Long-Lost Sisters Launched The Largest Black-Owned Winery In The US (Refinery 29)
  • Will the State Marijuana Bill Pay Off for Black and Brown New Yorkers? (The City)
  • New York Mayor Proposes Using Marijuana Taxes To Fund Guaranteed Income As Reparations For Black Community (Marijuana Moment)
  • Springfield To Spend Some Cannabis Tax Money Supporting East Side Small Businesses, Homeowners (NPR)
  • FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative hosting forum on Minorities in Marijuana (Tallahassee Democrat) – Story near the bottom
  • Recreational Marijuana Sales Race Ahead, But Industry Equity Falls Behind (MSN.Com)

Beauty / Fashion / Retail

  • A Year Into the Pandemic: How Black-Owned Hair Salons Are Keeping Their Doors Open (Popsugar)

Technology / Apps / Innovation

  • Greenwood banking platform geared toward Black and Latino people raises $40 million in funding (CBS News)
  • Black-Owned Tech Company Creates Safety App to Help Prevent Police Brutality (Black Business)
  • Tech Players Move to Promote Black-Owned Businesses (The Daily)
  • TikTok Is Boosting Black Content Creators (Los Angeles Business Journal)

Finance / Investing / Venture Capital

  • Majority Black-Led MaC Venture Capital Raises Inaugural $110 Million Fund To Invest In Emerging Tech Disruptors (Forbes). Another story from USA Today. Adrian Fenty, former mayor of DC, is a partner. The business is called MAC Venture Capital.
  • Asset Management: Racial Wealth Gap Between Black, White Americans Remains Wide (Chief Investment Officer) — Survey finds 71% of white Americans own stocks, compared with 55% of Black Americans.
  • Ariel-Schwab Black Investor Survey 2020 – Released February 2021

Real Estate / Finance / Development / Housing / Segregation

  • Town of Orange Park, Florida, says Blacks’ homes aren’t being targeted for development (News 4 Jacksonville) – Jacksonville, FL
  • Economic & Community Development Committee’s request for vacant land map creates confusion Policies (Upworthy)
  • Data Spotlights Pernicious Savings Gaps by Race, Ethnicity (Plan Advisor) – Fifty percent of Whites have a retirement savings plan while only 35% of Blacks. In addition Whites have an account balance of about $80,000 while Blacks have a balance of $35,000.

Construction / Jobs / Discrimination

  • In West Baltimore, two Black women developers take novel approaches to tackle Blight (Baltimore Business Journal)
  • Tacoma Water unfairly picks white management applicants over Black ones, complaint says (KIRO 7) – Tacoma, WA

Cities / Urban Planning / Local Government

  • Panel: Diverse leadership matters as Boston deals with racist reputation (Boston Business Journal)
  • Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama Tax Credit Has 3% jobs credit for Majority business and a 4%credit for Minority business (Birmingham Business Journal)
  • Southeast Side Organizers Say Solution to Pollution Problem Includes Clean Industry Jobs (WTTW) – Chicago, IL

Politics / Government / Federal, State and Local

  • Here are some of the key measures in the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ economics package signed by Pritzker (Chicago Tribune)
  • Biden Administration Ramps Up Debt Relief Program to Help Black Farmers (New York Times)
  • Obama Foundation President Wally Adeyemo picked to be deputy Treasury secretary (Chicago Sun Times)

Law / Legal / Non-profits / Philanthropy / Non-Profit

  • Biden Expected to Name First Black Manhattan U.S. Attorney (Bloomberg Law)

Education / Healthcare

  • Non-White Students Twice As Likely To Desire Virtual Internships, Jobs Upon Graduation (Forbes)
  • A Novel Way to Finance School May Penalize Students From H.B.C.U.s, Study Finds (NY Times) – Discusses income sharing as a payment option
  • Cohort Sistas 3.1% campaign celebrates Black women with doctoral degrees (The Grio)

Farming / Agriculture / Food

  • Returning to his roots: Award-winning Carter brings Africulture to Orange County farm (Orange County Review) – Virginia. Long story about Black Farmers using “Africulture” – growing crops from Africa in Virginia. To learn more about Carter Farms visit www.thecarterfarms.com and to shop for seeds you can grow in your own garden visit www.carterbrothers.net.
  • ‘Systemic’ USDA discrimination against Black farmers gets scrutiny (Missourian)

People and Careers

Career / Professions / Entrepreneurship / Businesses You Can Start

  • Black-owned firm says new training program will help make clinical research more diverse (Cincinnati Business Journal) – This is a great business startup. The idea is brilliant.
  • Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance’s Pathways to Black Franchise Ownership Initiative (PR Newswire) – Press Release. Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) is kind of interesting.
  • Glamping: Women-led, Black-owned business opens luxury camping season (Startland News)

People / Motivation / Leadership / Success Stories / Ideas

  • Meet Kerin John, the Woman Putting Black-Owned Canadian Businesses On (Complex)
  • MESO names Umpqua Bank exec Cobi Lewis as new executive director (Portland Business Journal)
  • Daymond John (Shark Tank) talks evolution of FUBU, importance of small Black businesses (Yahoo)
  • Meet one of the few Black women in charge of an Atlantic City casino (NJ)
  • DC native creates chain of successful bed and breakfast inns (WTOP)
  • A Black Architect Is Transforming the Landscape of Golf (New York Times)
  • Dante Lee, This HBCU Grad Has Helped Over 1,000 Black-Owned Businesses Generate Revenue (AfroTech)

All Other

Caribbean / Africa / International

  • Meet Kerin John, the Woman Putting Black-Owned Canadian Businesses On (Complex) – Toronto, CA

Travel / History

  • Red pill or blue? Historic Charlotte neighborhoods are getting new life — in virtual reality. (Greensboro)
  • The Black CPA Centennial: Meet the first Black CPA (Accounting Today)
  • Why the Roaring Twenties Left Many Americans Poorer (History)

Black Business and Economic Stories for March 15th to March 21st 2021

Top Stories

  • Black Women Are More Likely to Start a Business than White Men (Harvard Business Review). A lot of statistics regarding type of business, funding, and education.
  • Corporations vowed to fight racism after George Floyd, but many still don’t have a single Black board member (USA Today)
  • Maggie Walker: Why America’s First Black Female Bank Founder Is Still Owed A Great Debt (Forbes) – a very good long piece on Maggie Walker.
  • The Brands Reimagining Natural Hair Care (NY Times)
  • ‘Silver linings in this mess of a pandemic’: Telecommuting allows Black women in Maryland to build wealth (Baltimore Sun). The pandemic has opened labor markets which allows Black women to secure better-paying jobs.
  • She was tired of seeing Black stereotypes on TV. So she started her own streaming service. (CNN). This article highlights the story of DeShuna Spencer and Kweli.TV.
  • ‘The Banker” movie: Review And Plot Explained (Otakukart) – A movie everyone should watch.
  • Sir Arthur Lewis and His Enduring Legacy (You Tube) – London School of Economics. Sir W. Arthur Lewis: A Lasting Legacy (You Tube) – Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Very good.
  • Legacy of Nobel laureate Sir W. Arthur Lewis commemorated at Robertson Hall (Princeton) – Press release. Arthur Lewis at LSE – one of our best teachers(LSE)
  • Michael Strahan, Pharrell, Join To Educate Athletes About Their Finances At NKSFB Sports Wealth Summit (Black Chronicle)
  • 333 years needed to erase equity gap for minority-owned businesses at current growth level (PRNewswire). Original report from the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council

Stories

Coronavirus / Covid-19 / Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Jobs / Workers / Unemployment / Gig Economy

  • For Black workers, age discrimination strikes twice (Washington Post)
  • Tucker: Curb unemployment by paying a living wage (Telegraph Herald)
  • Biden calls on employers to help get more workers vaccinated, saying it will boost the economy (Washington Post)
  • Almost 2 million Americans will lose supplemental unemployment benefits in 16 states (CNBC). Workers will lose a $300 weekly supplement to unemployment benefits. 
  • Uncounted in the Unemployment Rate, but They Want to Work (NY Times)

Inequality / Systemic Racism / Economic Justice / UBI

  • Cesca: Geography and public policy are strongly influencing racial inequality (Baltimore Sun)
  • How Businesses Can Drive the Systemic Change They Say They Want (Barrons)
  • Our America: The history of the model minority myth and its impact on Asian-American communities (ABC) – Model minority myth used to make unfair comparisons, pitting Asian Americans against Black and Latino people.
  • 333 years needed to erase equity gap for minority-owned businesses at current growth level (PRNewswire). Original report from the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council

Black Business

Black Business General / Interesting Businesses Stories

  • ‘There Are No Words For It’: Husband And Wife Duo Behind Frugal Bookstore Reflect On Their Whirlwind 2020 (WGBH)
  • How Will You Market Your Business in this Economy (Nasdaq)
  • This Black Women-owned Brand Makes Some of the Most Unique Travel Accessories Out There (Travel and Leisure)
  • ‘We Didn’t Have Time To Pause’: Entrepreneurs Of Color Reflect On The Pandemic (WGBH) – Basic Black
  • Second Round Of PPP Brings More Success For Some Minority-Owned Businesses (WFAE)
  • There Are Valuable Lessons To Be Learned From Black Business Icons (Forbes)
  • Black Women Are More Likely to Start a Business than White Men (Harvard Business Review). A lot of statistics regarding type of business, funding, and education.
  • Memphis aims to financial help 500 black business over the next three years (Commercial Appeal)
  • Black-Owned Food Establishments Struggle In Nation’s Capital (NPR) – Discusses Washington DC food with Anela Malik from Feed the Malik blog.

Black Business Specific

  • Black’s Life Center offers a personalized funeral experience, expert care (Marshall News Messenger) – Texas
  • Mother, daughters create tiny resort business in Lee County (WSFA12)
  • AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL: Detroit Restaurant Business (PBS North Carolina) – Discusses Kuzzo’s kitchen in Detroit.

Black Economics

Black Economics

  • Sir Arthur Lewis and His Enduring Legacy (You Tube) – London School of Economics
  • Sir W. Arthur Lewis: A Lasting Legacy (You Tube) – Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Very good.
  • Legacy of Nobel laureate Sir W. Arthur Lewis commemorated at Robertson Hall (Princeton) – Press release
  • Arthur Lewis at LSE – one of our best teachers(LSE)

—————————————————————————————————————————-

  • The Two Women Fixing the Pipeline for Black Female Economists (Washington Post)
  • Breaking Barriers For BAME Entrepreneurs (Forbes)
  • Inclusive Economy (NAACP) – NNACP introduce and inclusive economy program.
  • How businesses can heed Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call to support Black banks (CNN Business)
  • Could one road project change the future of Alabama’s black belt? (AL.COM) – Route 43.  A look inside rural development in Alabama’s Black belt.
  • How Systemic Racism Continues To Determine Black Health And Wealth In Chicago (NPR). Original article is from the New York Times.
  • ‘Silver linings in this mess of a pandemic’: Telecommuting allows Black women in Maryland to build wealth (Baltimore Sun). The pandemic has opened labor markets which allows Black women to secure better-paying jobs.
  • Maggie Walker: Why America’s First Black Female Bank Founder Is Still Owed A Great Debt (Forbes) – a very good long piece on Maggie Walker

Economics / The economy

Co-Ops / Employee Owned / Cooperative Economics (UJamaa)

  • Decolonising race and class (Barbados Today) – Advocates coops and employee ownership.

General Business

Big Business / Corporate / Business Strategy

  • Rosalind Brewer officially takes the helm at Walgreens, becoming the only Black woman Fortune 500 CEO (CNN)
  • Will Walmart’s early payment program be a difference-maker for minority vendors? (Retail Wire)
  • Coca-Cola is at the center of a debate over corporate social justice, with an anti-affirmative-action activist threatening to sue over its supplier diversity program (Business Insider)
  • Corporate brands stepped up during 2020’s racial reckoning — now comes ‘the hard work’ of real equity and inclusion (MarketWatch)
  • Black Lives Matter holds rally Saturday for Amazon union vote (AL.com) – Gotta be careful.  This might backfire.
  • Black Workers at Amazon Warehouse have the Power to Keep Making History (Tennessee Tribune)
  • Goldman Sachs commits billions to impact black women’s lives (Business Chief) – Have to keep an eye on GS. Goldman Sachs does not have a good record on social justice, helping poor people or supporting the government.
  • Goldman Sachs Commits Additional $500 Million to Launch With GS for Total of $1 Billion (Black PR Newswire). Goldman Sachs program Launch with GS is here.
  • ‘Racial bias runs deep’ at America’s big banks, study says (CNN). The study covers discrimination against workers. Here is the Better Banks Accountability Project and the study.
  • Solar project aims to deliver training and equity to North Minneapolis (Energy News Network)
  • Board Prospects Releases Report Highlighting Lack of Black Board Members in Russell 3000 (PR Newswire) — The report shows that more than 60% of companies in the Russell 3000 have no Black board members. — Board Prospect is a recruiting firm specializing in minority board members. Read report here.

Discrimination

  • Corporations vowed to fight racism after George Floyd, but many still don’t have a single Black board member (USA Today)

Real Estate / Housing / Segregation

  • Commercial Real Estate: Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Are Paramount for Smart Business at Lument (Commercial Observer) – NYC commercial real estate news.  CRE Industry is basically devoid of minorities.
  • PACE loan program gives loans to underserved communities in ST. Louis (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Reparations / Affirmative Action / Diversity / Inclusion

  • Monday numbers: A closer look at the case for reparations for Black Americans (NC Policy Watch)
  • Chicago suburb’s plan to pay Black residents reparations could be a national model (KFGO) – Reuters
  • Amherst creates fund to pay reparations to Black residents (The Westerly Sun)
  • New Ford Bronco Sport ad spotlights Black women, challenges stereotypes (Detroit Free Press)
  • ‘There were six. And now there’s zero’: Restaurant industry grapples with lack of diversity in executive ranks (USA Today)
  • Still Too Few Black Executives In SA, Sectors Not Doing Enough – 2021 Sanlam Gauge Report (iafrica)
  • Diversity in the Workplace: Accelerating Change in the Boardroom with Ursula Burns, Senior Adviser of Teneo & Former CEO of Xerox (Washington Post)
  • Charleston ports agency could get more oversight, add minority contractors (Post and Courier)

Industries and Categories

Beauty / Fashion / Retail

  • Engineer Aliyah Powell takes fashion industry by storm (Afro.Com). Here is Fit Fashionista website as mentioned in the article.
  • The Brands Reimagining Natural Hair Care (NY Times)

Sports / Media / Entertainment

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

  • IPG pledges to spend 5% on Black-owned media by 2023 (Marketing Dive)
  • Marketers are reportedly underpaying Black influencers compared to white people with less followers (Business Insider)
  • Report: Kyle Lowry’s Investments Motivated by More Than Capital Gains (Sports Illustrated)
  • NBA stars like Kevin Durant and Kyle Lowry are increasingly pouring money into startups for the thrill of investing and a chance to break down barriers for people of color (Business Insider)
  • She was tired of seeing Black stereotypes on TV. So she started her own streaming service. (CNN). This article highlights the story of DeShuna Spencer and Kweli.TV.
  • New report shows Black, Hispanic workers underrepresented in creative jobs (NYN Media)
  • Black Workers Find Little Opportunity in Growing Video Game Industry (Yahoo Finance) – Well, Bloomberg

Alcohol / Marijuana / CBD / Gambling

  • Cannabis Advocates Rip Arizona’s Draft Rules for ‘Social Equity’ Licenses (Phoenix New Times)
  • The cofounder of Colorado’s first Black-owned cannabis dispensary (Business Insider)
  • How will Plainfield handle marijuana? City wants public input (My Central Jersey)
  • Meet Florida’s first Black female winemaker. Desriee Noisette founded Mermosa four years ago (Click Orlando)
  • Phil Long of Longevity Wines (South Florida Reporter)

Food / Restaurants

  • Organization brings Black Restaurant Week to Nashville’s culinary scene (Nashville Business Journal)
  • Cereal bar brings Saturday morning nostalgia and encouragement to other Black-owned businesses (Spectrum News)
  • As barbecue booms, Black Southern pitmasters claim their rightful place (Tennessean)
  • Entrepreneur creates a welcoming environment for women to purchase hair care Supplies (Philadelphia Tribune)
  • Black-Owned Food Establishments Struggle In Nation’s Capital (NPR) – Discusses Washington DC food with Anela Malik from Feed the Malik blog.

Finance / Investing / Venture Capital

  • Women and minority investors are taking matters into their own hands (Chicago Booth)
  • American Express puts $40 million into a fund to provide loans to small business owners of color (CNBC)
  • Minority-Owned Investment Banks Are Underwriting More Corporate Bond Offerings (Wall Street Journal) (MorningStar)
  • ‘Racial bias runs deep’ at America’s big banks, study says (CNN). The study covers discrimination against workers. Here is the Better Banks Accountability Project and the study.
  • U.S. Bank Access Fund to Focus $25M on Women of Color in Business (Philanthropy Women)

Real Estate / Finance / Development / Segregation

  • Local partnership aims to assist BIPOC community members looking to start businesses and buy homes (Ithaca Voice)
  • Are renters—and the U.S. economy—hurtling toward an ‘eviction cliff’? (Phys)
  • Black Americans and The Racist Architecture Of Homeownership (NPR)
  • A new study shows anti-Black racism is costing American homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars (Business Insider
  • New crowdfunding rules set to boost investment in diverse startups and founders (Impact Alpha)
  • Marcia Fudge Assumes HUD at Critical Time for Housing, Reverse Mortgages (Reverse Mortgage Daily)  — It’s funny to see how a publication, of the disreputable reverse mortgage industry, treats a regulator who might crack down. 
  • Maggie Walker: Why America’s First Black Female Bank Founder Is Still Owed A Great Debt (Forbes) – a very good long piece on Maggie Walker
  • ‘The Banker” movie: Review And Plot Explained (Otakukart) – A movie everyone should watch

Technology / Apps / Innovation

  • From Silicon Valley To Nairobi: Sote Founders’ Startup Dream Spans Two Continents (Crunchbase)
  • 3 Ways Technology Can Help Minority-Owned Businesses Recover (LMT)

Science / Math / Statistics / STEM

  • Gerald Johnson: Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA Stem Conference) – Executive Vice President Global Manufacturing, General Motors

Cities / Urban Planning / Local Government

  • The Neighborhood Fighting Not to Be Forgotten (The Atlantic)

Politics / Government / Federal, State and Local

  • Biden senior advisor Cedric Richmond on how American Rescue Plan benefits Black communities (The Grio)

Education / Healthcare

  • Community College enrollment drops 10% (Amarillo Globe-News)
  • Historically Black colleges need equal access to the bond market (The Hill)

Farming / Agriculture / Food Production

  • Black Farmers Have Long Faced Discrimination. New Aid Aims To Right Past Wrongs (NPR)
  • A $5 billion down payment on what America owes to Black farmers (CNN)

People, Careers and All Other

Career / Professions / Entrepreneurship / Businesses You Can Start

  • Matice Wright-Springer rejoins Booz Allen as partner (Consulting US) – It’s nice to see Black people cashing in on the revolving door of government consulting.  Consulting Magazine offers a peak inside the world of consulting.  Consulting is like the cheese cake factory of the knowledge service industry.
  • Vanessa Whiting owns 16 popeye’s franchises (Cleveland.Com)
  • ThirdLove Announces Bright Black as Second Winner of The TL Effect Incubator Program to Continue Advancement of Female Entrepreneurs of Color (Business Wire) – Press Release
  • Solar project aims to deliver training and equity to North Minneapolis (Energy News Network)

People / Motivation / Leadership / Success Stories / Ideas

  • Eventnoire, a Black-owned ticketing platform, just won first place in a $1m startup Competition (Face 2 Face)
  • 28-Year-Old Shares 3 Wealth Tips That Helped His Family Go From Welfare to Millionaires (Entrepreneur)
  • Lily Adeleye, the six-year-old behind the youngest Black-owned brand on Walmart’s shelves (Face2Face Africa)
  • This Black Mom Entrepreneur Is Paving The Way For Other Women-Led Companies (Forbes). Story about Monique Rodriquez and Mielle Organics.
  • Two Black Dads Celebrate Diversity By Creating Their Own Line of Black Dolls (Essence)
  • Mary T. Washington Wylie in 1943 became the nation’s first Black woman to earn the CPA license. The first Black woman to become a CPA (Journal of Accountancy)

Caribbean / Africa / International

  • New network aims to create opportunities for African Nova Scotians (CBC) – Canada
  • ‘It’s a matter of opening our eyes,’ Black-owned creative agency hopes to change the marketing environment (CTV) – Montreal, Canada
  • South African banks under fire over their exclusion of black businesses (IOL)
  • PIC has funded much less black-owned businesses than white – Dr Iqbal Survé (IOL)
  • Diversity advocate calls out “subtle racism” in Scottish finance sector (Insider) – United Kingdom
  • Snapshot on African Economy as of March 19th, 2021 (Proshare Investing) – Nigeria. Interesting site with a daily take on African financial markets. Nigeria is know for it’s advanced financial system.

Travel / History

  • Statue of “King” William Lanson (Atlas Obscura) – Statue honors a pillar of early New Haven Black Community.
  • 9 Entrepreneurs Who Helped Build Tulsa’s Black Wall Street (History)
  • A guide to the sites of the civil rights era encourages travelers to engage with Black history (NBC News) – Here is the website referenced in the article.
  • National Park Service Civil Rights Trail Website – Outstanding !!!
  • Maggie Walker: Why America’s First Black Female Bank Founder Is Still Owed A Great Debt (Forbes) – a very good long piece on Maggie Walker

Conservative / Alternative

  • Is it legal to prioritize women- and minority-owned restaurants for COVID-19 relief? A lawsuit alleges white men are ‘pushed to the back of the line.’ (Chicago Tribune)

Opinion

  • One People, One House: Help eliminate Black fatigue (Guest viewpoint) (Mass Live)
  • Black People Are Far More Powerful Than Critical Race Theory Preaches | Opinion (Newsweek)
  • Remove Governor Stitt from Tulsa Race Massacre Commission for signing HB 1775 (Black Wall Street Times)
  • America is having a Black Renaissance. We should learn from it. (Washington Post)
  • Why more Americans should leave home and move to other states (LA Times)

Other

  • Black and Hispanic Americans See Their Origins as Central to Who They Are, Less So for White Adults (Pew Research)