T he beauty industry is expected to be worth $390 billion by the year 2020 and Black entrepreneurs are making sure they have a piece of the pie. The Black-owned startup Mayven—a popular hair brand—recently raised $23 million in venture capital funding, Black Enterprise reported. . @MayvennHair , a company that got its start selling quality virgin human hair & extensions trusted & recommended by over 100,000 stylists, just raised $23 million in a Series B funding round. https://t.co/BXLNAcJX8g — Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) November 7, 2018 Since the company’s inception in 2013, it has experienced exponential growth, the news outlet writes. Essence Ventures, Cross Culture Ventures, Impact America Fund, and 16z were all instrumental in helping them secure the new funds. Diishan Imira , Co-founder & CEO, Mayven says that the money will go towards the creation of a new service for the company which will allow customers to have their hair installed by Mayven-certified hairstylists for free. Mayven is also planning on launching a new wig line next year. “Mayvenn has been well received by the investment community because it’s different,” Imira said in a statement, according to Black Enterprise. “Investors saw that we had traction and an ownable stake of a large, fragmented market that has been highly overlooked with millions of dollars in buying power who wanted a better way to find and purchase hair. Additionally, as founders, we’re not only passionate about our mission, but have very unique and complementary skill sets to go out and solve these problems.” Mayven isn’t the only Black-owned business in the beauty industry that is making waves and securing venture capital. Amanda Johnson and KJ Miller —the two women behind the makeup brand Mented Cosmetics —broke barriers for Black women in the realm of entrepreneurship after becoming the 15th and 16th African-American women in history to garner $1 million in venture capital funding for their startup. SEE ALSO: Mented Cosmetics Founders Garner $1M Capital, Making Black History In The Process Entrepreneur Helps Black Women Get Access To Venture Capital [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835116″ overlay=”true”]
T he lack of affordable healthy food options in underserved communities has been an ongoing issue across the country, and a Brooklyn-based millennial entrepreneur is looking to change that. Francesca Chaney , 22, opened up a restaurant called Sol Sips in an effort to introduce affordable vegan cuisine to Bushwick, Live Civil reported. #LiveCivil : 22-Year-Old Opens Sol Sips, Affordable Vegan Restaurant In Brooklyn https://t.co/x5JheCbT4l pic.twitter.com/8375m8xK71 — Live Civil (@LiveCivil) November 10, 2018 Chaney was inspired to open her own restaurant after noticing the lack of healthy dining options in her community, the news outlet writes. She started making her own juices at home and eventually began selling them at local food festivals. After seeing success with the festivals, she decided to open a brick-and-mortar store earlier this year. To ensure that her meals and beverages are affordable, Chaney’s restaurant allows customers to pay what they wish on Saturday afternoons. “I guess there was this assumption that I was doing this to be a hero or something,” she said in an interview with Elle . “[But] it was for me first and foremost. Then it extended to community because just living in East New York in high school… and knowing that there were not options for me to have a healthy vegetarian meal outside of my home… just because the option isn’t there doesn’t mean that we’re not seeking the option.” She hopes that her entrepreneurial journey will inspire other Black millennials to become business owners and that they will create ventures that will positively impact their communities. There has been a major effort to bring juice bars and other affordable healthy food options to impoverished neighborhoods. Hip-hop artists Styles P and Jadakiss launched Juices For Life, a chain of juice bars created to bring healthy meals to neighborhoods that are considered food deserts. Earlier this month, it was announced that Styles P would be partnering with PETA to promote plant-based diets. SEE ALSO: 10 Veggie Binging Male Stars You Probably Didn’t Know Were Vegan Here’s What African Americans Are Doing To Address Mental Health And Its Stigma This Year [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835757″ overlay=”true”]
Ford Takes Over NCCU’s Homecoming Ford closed out its next-level F-150 Truck Tour at North Carolina Central University’s Homecoming in Durham, NC with a campus-rocking performance by rising superstar A-Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, fun-filled spin wheel and hula hoop challenges and a “Drive 4 Ur Community” initiative that raised $20 for every test drive to support the Tom Joyner Foundation. Before breezing from hit to hit to chart-topping hit, A-Boogie joined Ford’s Multicultural Communications Manager Dee Guerrero at an exclusive breakfast to honor NCCU student Jordan Thomas who makes a difference by going further on his campus through community service. The nationwide tour allowed attendees to support HBCUs by simply test-driving the latest lineup of F-150 pickups, including the XLT and Lariat. For each test drive, Ford donated up to $6,000 to the Tom Joyner Foundation to support the dreams and goals of HBCU students. This tour was another big and bold reminder of Ford Motor Company’s longtime commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For more info on the magnificent new fleet of F-150 trucks, visit here . Photos by Nigel Degraff
(Photos via Getty Images) Black Panther And Tupac Come Together For New Merch Collection Well this is an….interesting combination. 2Pac’s estate and Marvel Comics have come together to launch a new Black Panther collaboration collection, available exclusively via POP by Foot Locker. “The intersection of music and Black Panther is such a vital part of that property, so it is fantastic to co-brand with an influential artist like 2Pac on a new collection of Marvel apparel,” Paul Gitter, SVP of Marvel Licensing, told the people over at Complex . The nine-piece collection just launched on Friday (November 9) and includes everything from hoodies, to tees, to long sleeves emblazoned with iconic imagery from both brands meshed into one. Prices on these items range from $25 for tees to $50 for hoodies. More information about the collection can and each individual item can be found here . Phrases on the clothing include different mashups like “Wakanda Forever…Until the end of time.” The retailer posted a few photos to their Instagram page of the pieces, which you can take a look at below. How do you feel about these two brands combining Tupac and Black Panther for a clothing collection? Will you be copping any of these pieces? You can take a look at all of the available pieces from the collaboration on Foot Locker’s website .
Source: Richard Cartwright / Getty On tonight’s episode of How to Get Away With Murder, we get handed the memo from Captain Obvious that the governor played Annalise. But let’s start from the beginning. The episode starts with a report about the investigation. In short, they claimed that while Nate Sr. was being transported to the next facility, one of the two escorting officers (30-something White women) tried to take a letter he was writing. Remember that atonement letter he was writing to the family of the man he killed? The letter he was writing because he was in a better, more peaceful place? So, yeah, one of the officers tried to take the letter, which agitated him to the point of trying to stab the officer with a pen. It all goes downhill from there and ends with the guards shooting him to death. There were no other witnesses to verify the officers’ accounts, security cameras at the psion were broken, and Nate Sr allegedly stopped taking his antipsychotic drugs prior to this incident, which caused his behavior so this is considered a justifiable homicide. So, we’re supposed to believe that a frail 71-year-old-man overpowered two 30-something prison guards? We all know this is a bald-faced lie and Annalise and Nate are not letting this go. The next step is getting Ron to seek an inquest, which he does. However, it’s not going to be easy, even with Annalise’s students on the job. They end up digging up dirt on at least one of the officers related to domestic violence to demonstrate hot temper. It’s a start, but the inquest is already looking like it’s not going to go well. As a result of the bad press and the inquest not going well, the governor wants to can the Fair Defense Project. Now do you see why we all believe issa setup? Plus, the governor would be committing career suicide by actually pardoning a violent offender. This becomes even clearer when both women get antagonistic toward each other. Annalise tells her she can’t wait to take her down. The gov then says she has more dirt on Annalise, it’s the adoption paperwork. But what adoption paperwork? Lordt. This is scandalous, but Annalise ain’t never scared and she will be preparing to fight the governor. The governor ain’t scared either, make no mistake about that. Back at the inquest, Annalise takes the stand. She gives a passionate plea for people to see that this is the usual okie doke where it’s a coverup. She even sites Emmett Till, The Central Park 5 and the Scottsboro Boys cases as examples of how the so-called justice system thrives on the myth that Black men just live to harm White women all day and must be locked up and/or killed. However, the jury isn’t moved enough and still finds that the homicide was justifiable so the case is discharged. In kind of good news, Annalise convinces her boss at Caplain and Gold to take her back. She plans to help him get rid of some misconduct charges in his file. He’s a hard sell but Annalise is determined to get back in so that she can use her pull (and some protection) at Caplain and Gold to get back at the governor. Then, Michaela stops by Gabriel’s apartment right quick and he comes out shirtless looking all good and invites himself to the wedding with her as his date. Then he starts talking all that yang about how gorgeous she is and how he admires her, etc. Mind you, he has literally been stalking her online this entire season. Michaela tries to resist because there’s a tiny piece of her that still values her situationship with Asher but she can’t and they end up making out. It’s also important to note that Asher is listening to this entire situation from his apartment on the other side of the wall. Frank and Laurel are also watching this (because Frank has Gabe’s place bugged) and Laurel says that Gabriel is playing them so he needs to tell Annalise who he is already. Then Bonnie pops in on this conversation and is like, “Tell her what?” The episode concludes at the wedding again. We see Bonnie kneeling over what is clearly a man’s body. We don’t see his face but he’s wearing a tux. She steps away from him toward someone else who seems to be in and out of consciousness (we pick up this person’s point of view as viewers, but still don’t know who it is). Bonnie tells that unseen person to take his car and “him,” and drive away, and she’ll figure everything out later. There’s only one episode left until the fall finale! Who died? Who is Gabriel and what does he want! The suspense is ridiculous! RELATED POSTS ‘HTGAWM’ Recap: Annalise Gets Played By The Death We Didn’t See Coming ‘HTGAWM’ Recap: Annalise Pisses Off The Governor With Another Major Win
A s NewsOne reported yesterday, Brian Kemp ‘s campaign claimed he won the governor race of Florida. However, the Associated Press , NBC and CNN did not call the race. Stacey Abrams ‘ campaign has now spoken out. See Also: Bill Cosby Sentenced To 3 To 10 Years In Prison For Sexual Assault Conviction According to CNN, the Abrams campaign said, “Our opponent has had his office declare himself the victor and we do not accept that.” They continued, “They are trying to force an outcome … without proof … and expecting everyone to go along with it.” Cody Hall, the Kemp campaign’s press secretary, stated earlier, “Based on counts released by the Secretary of State’s office, Brian Kemp’s margin is so large that the number of provisional ballots and overseas ballots will not change his Election Day victory. Simply put, it is mathematically impossible for Stacey Abrams to win or force a run-off election.” Brian Kemp is also the secretary of state of Georgia, which means he is supervising his own election. Kemp has been sued repeatedly for voter suppression and even former President Jimmy Carter called on him to resign from his position as secretary of state. Late Tuesday night Abrams said, “I’m here tonight to tell that votes remain to be counted. There are voices that are waiting to be heard. Across our states, folks are opening up the dreams of voters and absentee ballots and we believe our chance for a stronger Georgia is just within reach but we cannot seize it until all voices are heard. I promise you tonight we are going to make sure that every vote is counted. In a civilized nation the machinery of democracy should work everywhere.” See below: Stacey Abrams: “We believe our chance for a stronger Georgia is just within reach but we cannot seize it until all voices are heard and I promise you tonight we are going to make sure that every vote is counted” pic.twitter.com/YeyAWJ5pUG — Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) November 7, 2018 SEE ALSO: All The Ways Cops Are Still Trying To Cover Up LaQuan McDonald’s Execution Outrageous! Figurines Of White Cherub Crushing Head Of Black Angel Removed From Dollar Store Meet Jogger Joe, The Man Who Took Racist Cue From BBQ Becky In Tossing Homeless Man’s Clothes [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3828001″ overlay=”true”]
B lack candidates were instrumental in helping the Democrats win the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, enabling Democrats to end one-party rule and turn up the heat on President Donald Trump . But it was a mixed result, with disappointments in places like Florida where Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum lost in a close race for governor. At the same time, several Black candidates made history, like Ayanna Pressley who become Massachusetts’ first Black woman in Congress . Some of the elections were plagued with a number of instances of attempts to suppress the Black vote, including a concerted effort in Georgia ahead of Election Day that continued on Tuesday . See Also: ‘Dirty Tricks’: Stacey Abrams Voters Won’t Be Denied As Brian Kemp Rigs Voting Machines Here are five takeaways from the 2018 midterm elections: Black women candidates are winners While some African-American female candidates like Jahana Hayes were victorious and others such as Vangie Williams came up short, they are all winners. Some of these women made history by winning competitive primary elections, as they overcame racism, gender bias and obstacles within the Democratic Party. Congratulations to Jahana Hayes, the former national teacher of the year who just became the first Black women ever elected to Congress in Connecticut. #ElectionNight #Midterms2018 #RepresentTheVote https://t.co/BFuTdEpje8 — NewsOne (@newsone) November 7, 2018 Racism was an effective GOP tool The Republican base responded to racist dog whistles in several elections. Ron DeSantis infamously warned Florida voters not to “ monkey this up ” by electing his rival Andrew Gillum, who is African American. Within days, Florida residents began to receive racist robocalls that mocked Gillum. Stacey Abrams was also targeted with racist robocalls in Georgia shortly after Trump called her unqualified to be governor of Georgia before holding a rally for her GOP rival Brian Kemp . “I heard people were making racist robocalls in my name against Stacey Abrams, who I am one hundred percent for, in Georgia,” Oprah said on Instagram. “I just want to say: Jesus don’t like ugly … And we know what to do about that: vote. Tomorrow show up and show out, and vote.” pic.twitter.com/CvK5VP60Az — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 6, 2018 Triumph for anti-Trump activism “This was a remarkable wave of grassroots activism that swept across the country — with women and people of color leading the way. From a U.S. House of Representatives that reflects the will of the people to the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, which restored voting rights to convicted felons, this election was an overwhelming rebuke of Trump and Trumpism, and a show of support for candidates who look like America and campaigned on a bold, forward-looking and inclusive vision,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson . Vigilance needed to combat voter suppression Fighting against voter suppression is an ongoing struggle that requires tenacity. Georgia emerged as the epicenter for voting rights, where activists filed lawsuits against Kemp to ensure the votes of African Americans were counted. Kemp desperately used every trick in the book to win his election. “Voter suppression played a huge role in the silencing of the political voices of the Black community and all people of color,” the NAACP president said. “As we saw in Georgia and Tennessee, Republicans engaged in a massive voter suppression strategy that has included further rolling back the Voting Rights Act.” GA Secretary of State Brian Kemp stooped to new low in his ongoing efforts to keep black people from voting for @staceyabrams . Voting machines, which fall under his responsibility, were delivered to majority black precincts without any power cords. https://t.co/IxvD4Usoo5 — Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) November 6, 2018 Black folks will turn out for midterm elections Black voter turnout was high in 2008 and 2012 when President Barack Obama was running. The numbers tumbled in 2016 . It was unclear what would happen in 2018. Early exit polls suggested that African-Americans showed up in strong numbers for the midterms, according to ABC News . SEE ALSO: Andrew Gillum Barely Loses Florida Governor Race By The Slimmest of Margins Bakari Sellers Shuts Down Trump Worshiper Who Tries To Act Like Race Doesn’t Exist [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835026″ overlay=”true”]
White Models Cosplay As Black Women It started pretty innocently with a video of the above model, Emma Hallberg, going viral online. Everyone who saw the video assumed she was black. Why wouldn’t they? She’s damn near mahogany and speaking in all sorts of code-switched black vernacular. One problem: she’s not even close to black. As more pics and profiles hit the net, it became clear: there’s a whole a$$ epidemic of white women going all out to dress up as black women. And, no, we’re not just talking about Jennerdashians. These women do the hair, the makeup, the eyes and darken their skin. It’s a whole black woman aesthetic. These women are getting dragged for it, too. What do you think? Is this blackface? “Blackfishing” as the internet calls it? Or are they just following trends? Take a look…
T here was a big win for African-Americans on Election Day even as tight election races appeared to minimized the anticipated Black wave. SEE ALSO: Here’s What Happened In Alabama When Voting Rights Were Restored To Ex-Felons Florida voters approved Amendment 4, which automatically restores voting rights for people who served their time in prison for felony convictions. “The passage of Amendment 4 tonight in Florida is a victory for democracy. An estimated 1.4 million people will now have a second chance and be able to exercise their right to vote, having paid their debt to society by completing their sentences. We applaud the people of Florida for making the right choice tonight,” People For the American Way said. Florida, which banned more felons from voting than any other state, was blocking 21.5 percent of African Americans from casting ballots , achieving the goals of felony disenfranchisement laws that were historically intended to reduce Black voting power . BREAKING: Amendment 4 in Florida has just PASSED! YES! YES! YES! 1.4 million former felons who had been banned from voting for life will all now be granted back their voting rights. A HUGE and hard fought victory. One of the most important of our lifetime. — Shaun King (@shaunking) November 7, 2018 Looking ahead to the 2020 elections, there’s plenty of reason for Republicans to stay awake at night worrying about the potential political impact of Amendment 4. With voting rights restored, an estimated 258,060 felons would likely register as Democrats and just 46,920 would join the Republican Party, according to a study reported by the Sentencing Project . In the purple state, where presidential elections and statewide races are usually razor thin, this could swing elections in favor of Democrats. President Donald Trump won just 1.3 percent more votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016. Florida was one of a handful of states that does not automatically restore voting rights after its citizens finish serving their time in prison. Approximately 6.1 million felons across the country have lost their right to vote, according to the Sentencing Project . Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia are among the states with large populations of Black felons who must petition their states to restore their voting rights . SEE ALSO: Make Massa Happy! Ben Carson Campaigning Against Mayor Andrew Gillum In Florida ‘Dirty Tricks’: Voters Won’t Be Denied As Brian Kemp Rigs Voting Machines [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835026″ overlay=”true”]
G eorgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp stooped to a new low, even for him, in his ongoing efforts to keep Black people from voting for Stacey Abrams , the Black woman running against him for governor. Voting machines, which fall under the responsibility of the secretary of state, were delivered to majority Black precincts without any cords to provide them with electrical power for voters to cast their ballots. Kemp’s “dirty tricks” caused delays of up to four hours at polling places where hundreds of voters at a time were left waiting. See Also: Coincidence? Black People In Georgia Typically Get The Oldest Voting Machines, Increasing Chances Of Error “Brian Kemp is playing in the game and he’s also the referee!” Rashad Robins , president of the racial justice group Color of Change, told NewsOne Tuesday afternoon. “The word we’re hearing is about suppression and dirty tricks, long lines and broken down polling places.” Kemp, who has President Donald Trump ’s endorsement, oversees the election system. He’s also been on the receiving end of multiple federal lawsuits over his attempts to suppress Black votes. They range for rejecting certain absentee ballots , blocking approximately 53,000 voter registration forms and purging some 700,000 voters from the state’s voting rolls—all targeting African-American voters. Here are just a few of the reports that flooded social media about suppression in Georgia. No power cords for voting machines in African American majority neighborhood in Georgia. This is a disgrace. I don’t believe in coincidences. Everyone should assume this is all orchestrated by Kemp. Who’s the biggest cheater in Georgia politics in years. pic.twitter.com/zmv24R7TJ3 — Scott Dworkin (@funder) November 6, 2018 There’s only 3 voting machines at this Atlanta polling place. SMH! @tomreganWSB pic.twitter.com/YTXdXLAHzG — Everything Georgia (@GAFolIowers) November 6, 2018 Many of the reported problems apparently stemmed from old, decrepit voting machines that are concentrated in poor communities. “The counties and cities with the fewest resources are voting on the oldest equipment that tend to have the most problems,” Edgardo Cortés , an election security advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice’s Democracy Program, confirmed to NewsOne during an interview on Monday. Kemp and Abrams were locked in a neck-and-neck race. Abrams has the chance to become the nation’s first African-American woman governor—in a red state that has not elected a Democratic governor in two decades. “Stacey Abrams’ opponents recognize that the only way they could win—when our folks are fired up—is to suppress the vote,” Robinson, of Color of Change said. “What I do think is really exciting is that folks, in the face of all that, are still turning out in large numbers.” SEE ALSO: Make Massa Happy! Ben Carson Campaigning Against Mayor Andrew Gillum In Florida Brian Kemp Pops A Blood Vessel After Stacey Abrams Is ‘Endorsed’ By The New Black Panther Party [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835357″ overlay=”true”]
