By Special Guest Op-Ed Contributor Tolson Banner |
Thursday, December 24, 2020
See Highly Regarded OP-ED Contributor Tolson Banner Envision How Black Insight Clarifies Black Eyesight
Celebrate The Holidays Listening To R&B Legend Shirley Murdock As She Drops Holiday Classic “Winter Wonderland!"
Checkout Shirley Murdock's New Video "Winter Wonderland," Below |
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Checkout Is the COVID-19 Era "PRESCRIPTION" really The NEW NORMAL?
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged people to wear face masks and acknowledged that it is difficult to correct earlier messaging that masks do not work for the general public. Source The White House |
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Monica Guillemin, A Physician Assistant Makes History With Children's Book Series
Nationwide -- Meet Monica Guillemin, a physician assistant who is perhaps the first Black woman to transcend a career in medicine and law to become a publisher that cleverly introduces young readers to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), and adults, to medical-legal issues surrounding issues that impact African Americans today.
Monica first gained notoriety as a PA specializing in cardiology after co-authoring a research paper published in the Journal of American Cardiology and the Journal of American Academy of Physician Assistants on genomics. She has penned two medical thrillers based on stem cell therapy & cloning and now releases a series of children's books targeting subjects on science, geography, Black history and culture, through the backdrop of a safari in Tanzania: Safari of a Lifetime.
From Watts California, Monica first earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science, completed a Postgraduate Physician Assistant Surgical Residency in Trauma Surgery at Martin Luther King Jr. / Charles Drew Medical center then earned a Juris Doctorate degree. Monica made her debut as a photographer in Safari of a Lifetime Photographs — the companion photography book.
Award Winning Actress Tonya Pinkins Produces "Red Pill" A Horror Film About American Politics
Nationwide -- Tony award-winning Black actress Tonya Pinkins has written, directed, and produced her first feature film that was released this fall. Red Pill, a horror, was from its inception in 2019 a terrifying wake-up call about American politics. The remarkably prescient film about the current political climate is profoundly relevant right now. The weaponization of Whiteness and White Supremacy themes in the film resonate with today’s fervor, particularly following the 2020 election and its aftermath. The Becky/Karen trope known all people of color assumes a place of surprised awareness in White consciousness. Watch the trailer here. Press photos here.
It’s Halloween weekend just days before the 2020 election. An intersectional posse of progressive canvassers drive to Virginia to get out the vote. As soon as they cross the state line it is clear they are not welcome. Distressing clues indicate that they should get out of their rental house while the getting is good. They decide to stay, armed with their heart, humor, and naivetĂ©. But what they really need is heavy artillery.
“I wrote my own personal get out,” says Pinkins, “#Uprising2020 is White people waking up to the world Black and Brown folks have always known. Black women are intimately familiar with “Becky” and “Karen,” White women, who on the low end of the spectrum treat us as invisible, and on the high end weaponize their whiteness and sometimes cost us our lives. Red Pill’s #Karensgonewild is a dose of what's coming to America if liberal Whites don't wake up.”
Red Pill was completed in September and features the work of a very talented cast and crew.
Eight-time Grammy award-winning Latin music star RubĂ©n Blades (Fear the Walking Dead), Catherine Curtain (Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things, Homeland), Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Tonya Pinkins (Fear The Walking Dead, Madame Secretary), Colby Minifie (The Boys, Fear the Walking Dead), Luba Mason (Person of Interest, NYPD Blue), Jake O’Flaherty (Criminal Minds, Shameless) and Adesola Osakalumi (Sex & The City 2, Ice).
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
3 Black Dads Launch Roku Channel
Nationwide -- Three years ago, three black fathers, Marquis Lupton, William Way Jr., and Brandon Way Sr. decided to do something about the lack of diversity in their regional news stations. Building off of Marquis’ decade long journalism career, the three fathers decided to launch The Cultured Professional, best known as the TCP Network.
All three of these Lancaster-native fathers noticed, not only a void in diversity with their local news, but also noticed a trend of negativity when it came to covering people of color, especially men. Inspired by media moguls such as Tyler Perry, and Byron Allen, Marquis, William, and Brandon wanted to bring a fresh voice, fresh perspective, and diversity to their regional news scene.
In January of 2021, the three founders will be taking their business up another notch and will be airing on their content on Roku TV. Tilted TCP TV, these black fathers hope the content they were able to build and broadcast these past three years, can reach a larger audience. “We feel as though its important to tell our own stories, deliver our news, in our vernacular,” Lupton says. “So many times as a news reporter, I would be pulled off an amazing story, only to cover another shooting, another fight, or another fire. It gets exhausting covering your people in a negative light constantly.”
Walgreens Partners With Black-Owned Greeting Card Brand
Nationwide -- Dr. Dionne Mahaffey, founder of Culture Greetings, a woman-led and Black-owned greeting card company, announces the launch of a new print-to-store integration partnership with Walgreens.
Through the technology integration with the Walgreens Photo Prints and Store Locator APIs, in addition to the Culture Greetings’ mail-to-recipient delivery option, customers will now have the choice to pick up their customized printed greeting cards in any of the 9,277 Walgreens or Duane Reed locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“The launching of this new partnership and integration reflects a significant first for the Walgreens API team,” said Andrew Schweinfurth, Manager, Walgreens Developer Relations. “As we welcome Culture Greetings and founder Dr. Dionne Mahaffey, we acknowledge that she is the first African American female founder to join the platform.”
14-Year Old Black CEO Makes History
Nationwide Meet Zhanyia McCullough, founder and CEO of Islande Beauty, a Black-owned, plant-based company committed to the empowerment of girls through education and healthy hair care. Despite being only 14-years old and still in high school, Zhanyia has managed to launch the first product from her company's Pracaxi Oil and Kalahari Melon Collection, a hair growth oil for girls with kinky, curly hair.
This hair growth oil helps to improve the circulation in the scalp as well as seal in moisture and shine. What makes this oil amazing is that its multi-use. The oil can be used as a pre-poo, daily oil, hot oil treatment, scalp treatment, blow-dry oil (mild heat protectant), finishing oil, and scalp massage oil.
Islande Beauty comes during a time when the “natural hair movement” is all the talk. Studies have shown that how girls feel about their hair has a direct effect on their self-esteem. The lack of self-esteem has lifelong consequences. Girls who learn how to embrace their natural hair and enjoy the journey to healthy hair growth have positive self-confidence in other areas. The creation of this hair growth oil will accomplish three principles, the benefits of using natural ingredients on kinky, curly hair, the importance of creating a healthy hair care regimen, and most importantly inspiring girls to rock their natural hair and “own their beauty”.
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Black Woman-Owned Line of Organic CBD Products
Nationwide -- NuEvo Organics, one of the few Black women-owned companies in the expanding and competitive CBD industry, offers a wide range of premium-quality CBD products including gummies, tinctures, topicals, and pet products. This business is fueled by passion, purpose, and family.
Founder Odette Christie, an HR executive, first discovered CBD when she sought a natural intervention for her son, who has autism. When he began to exhibit hyperactivity as a young adult, THC-free CBD gummies helped with his stress and anxiety levels. After her whole family experienced incredible results after taking CBD, Odette embarked on a mission to help others experience the health benefits of CBD.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she established NuEvo Organics, a CBD store with a purpose. “Our online CBD store represents a new evolution of premium hemp-derived CBD wellness products. All of our CBD tinctures, gummies, capsules, and other products are made from the highest quality CBD derived from only US-grown and regulation-compliant hemp farms,” says Odette.
Black CEO Using Online Courses to Help Users Build Credit
Nationwide Allen Brown, CEO and founder of DotcomLessons.com, helps users build their credit while taking online courses in various topics. After discovering how many in his community were struggling to advance financially due to low credit scores, he came up with a two-for-one system that will educate you and help you increase your credit score at the same time.
The website is designed to give users an opportunity to take online courses while paying later for the training. Users simply sign up for the kind of training they desire and will be allowed to pay for their education over time. Each user is rewarded favorably for basic credit building activities they perform. Making payments on time, maintaining low credit usage, and following the website’s guidelines will help each user increase their credit ratings.
Checkout Why Cable Star Amara LA Negra Endorses "Waist Forever" The Black-Owned Line of Stylish Waist Trainers
Nationwide Waist Forever, a Black-owned innovative fitness company, has launched a collection of unique waist trainers with celebrity Amara La Negra, who stars in VH1's Love and Hip Hop. The waist trainers give women an instant hourglass figure, and with consistent use, it gives more permanent results by actually molding an hourglass shape.
The newly launched collection is floral in design and is ideal for people who want to achieve or enhance their hourglass figure while also supporting a good cause. Within the collection, there are three different styles, a waist trainer with one, two, or three straps. The Amara Maximillia: 1 Strap Waist Trainer Floral Beauty option offers wearers comfort, style, and can aid weight loss around the midsection.
Waist Forever says the neoprene compression can make the waistline look smaller and can be discreetly worn to the gym, work, or while running errands. The Amara Maximillia collection is designed to create a sauna effect that targets the midsection and core. This increases how much a person sweats during their workout, which can help to burn fat faster, reshape and reduce fat deposits, and support weight loss.
Indie R&B Artist, New Song "Change"
Tampa, FL R&B phenom and chart topper, NWCLR, has dropped a surprise gem called "Change". This smooth tune full of layered instruments and melodies calls for systematic change regarding the continuous fight for Black people in the United States.
Its strategic drop happened 30 days before the Presidential Election and 2 days before the last day to register to vote. It is a direct call out to police brutality and all that is unfair and unequal in our country. With odes to Sam Cooke and a nostalgic draw to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?", this song pulls at your heart strings. It brings music lovers of all creeds and backgrounds together to examine the much needed change that needs to take place in this country for everyone to positively co-exist and live the true American dream.
Black Founder Wins $25K From American Express
Nationwide Samia Bingham, founder of Flavors, a member-based, commercial kitchen and workplace incubator with a focus on elevating culinary entrepreneurs in underserved minority communities, has been awarded a grant for $25,000 by American Express and IFundWomen of Color. “We feel especially grateful this holiday season to be recognized by IFundWomen of Color and American Express. This grant will help Flavors to get that much closer to executing on our vision to open our culinary complex while supporting the hardest-hit industry due to COVID-19 which is food and beverage,” Samia says.
In 2021, Flavors will open their first shared commercial kitchen space as a service to food entrepreneurs large and small throughout the Washington DC region. The Flavors concept blossomed from Samia’s real estate career and her husband’s love for the culinary arts and his shift to a plant-based lifestyle.
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Malika Blessing Shines In "Love On A Two Way Street," First Ever LIVE Stage Play; Pay-Per-View Event
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Parents Buy Black Teen CEO New Headquarters and Salon
Oakland, CA 14-year old Gabby Goodwin now has a headquarters for her business, thanks to her parents, Comedian Mike Goodwin and Rozalynn Goodwin. The successful teen entrepreneur, who is the CEO of Confidence, is looking forward to fulfilling orders for her patented GaBBY Bows and girls’ plant-based natural hair products, as well as hosting entrepreneurship and beauty workshops there. The first commercial property investment for the Goodwin family also has retail space, a salon and office space for MTG Comedy.
“I am so grateful for my parents’ sacrifices, and I am honored to have a building with my family to build generational wealth. I hope to continue to inspire girls to follow their dreams and achieve their goals,” Gabby shared.
December Issue Profiles Top Black Speaker
Nationwide -- Becky A. Davis knows first-hand how fragile life can be - even before the COVID-19 pandemic shook our world. Davis admits for years she wanted to start her own business but was afraid.
When asked how she overcame fear, Becky said, “You take on a whole new sense of urgency when death is as close as the next heartbeat away.”
Davis survived her near-death experience and made a commitment to herself to really pursue her dreams and not let fear stand in her way.
Davis is the Founder of MVPwork and one of the most respected and in-demand experts for small businesses and leadership. She is known for hosting her Annual Bosspreneur All White Holiday Party in Atlanta.
Black Real Estate Expert Closing Wealth Gap
Oakland, CA -- Licensed realtor and young adult mentor Shaquanna Wilson has released a new book titled From Debt to Deeds Planner, which offers readers a cost-effective, easy-to-follow tool for creating a budget, fixing credit, and understanding the process of purchasing and paying off a home.
The book also reveals surprising racial disparities among racial groups in the US, with Black people seeing the lowest rate of homeownership since 1968. One of the primary reasons Black people are denied mortgages, Wilson says, is because of poor credit or lack of income. She says this also stems from a lack of education in Black communities.
Despite the challenges Black people still face in securing mortgage loans and investing in property, Wilson says there is a clear path ahead for those who are ready to read her message and hear her story.
Black Teen CEO of Plant-Based Vaginal Self-Care Product Line
Nationwide Meet Essynce Moore, the 18-year old genius entrepreneur who is redefining the way girls and young women interact with and understand self-care. After recognizing an opening in the market for a vegan, chemical-free yoni care line exclusively for this demographic, she has debuted a trailblazing yoni care brand called Kitty By Essynce.
Transforming the self-care regimens that have been traditionally taught, her Kitty brand delivers a range of vegan products that disrupt and provide all-natural, organic healing and antibacterial effects. Essynce says that her goal is to ensure that teens and young adults are using vaginal washes that are not harsh on their most intimate parts.
She comments, “It’s important to indulge in self-care, which goes hand in hand with self-love. These products are a reflection of that, the idea that you come first. This includes both your happiness and your health. It’s time to show yourself a little self-love, with these pH restoring, body positivity, cleansing products!”
First Ever Therapy Cards for Black Girls
Oakland, CA -- Dr. Ebony Butler, the creator of My Therapy Cards, the first card deck and self-help tool for Black women, has done it again! Because she strongly feels that Black girls should not be left out of the conversation about mental health and self-care, she has also created My Therapy Cards - Teen Edition, the first card deck created specifically for Black girls!
Similar to the original edition, the Teen Edition helps Black girls and other girls of color work through those thoughts, habits, and behaviors that impact their growth and development. My Therapy Cards - Teen Edition does not only provide support for self-exploration and insight but intentionally provides language to teen girls so that they are better equipped to understand their emotional experiences and communicate what they want and need. The Teen Edition also provides an age-appropriate guide for self-care and various activities for emotional self-expression.
The mission is to make sure that Black girls have access to quality tools and resources to take care of themselves and their mental health. Not only does the Teen Edition help make the process of emotional, mental, and behavioral exploration more accessible for teens of color, the deck serves as a valuable resource to help parents, teachers, administrators, and therapists partner with teens in their growth process! Working through the deck is sure to make for great exploration, conversation, and dialogue no matter if the teen chooses to work through the deck alone, with friends, with a teacher, or with a counselor/therapist. The prompts and tasks have been carefully crafted and vetted to provide the type of experience that is sure to guide teens through a deeper level of understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Checkout This Timely Children's Book That Honors Kamala Harris
Oakland, CA -- A new children's book entitled Ella B. Jenkins Meets Vice President Kamala Harris written by authors Eve Lynne Robinson and Whitney Jade Gordy, MFT pays homage to America's first-ever Black and Asian Vice President.
In the fictional story, after meeting VP Harris at a march on Washington, Ella B. Jenkins, a perpetually fun-loving second grader with all-seeing eyes, larger-than-life afro puffs, and passionate perspectives, does what she does best -- takes the reader on adventurous while traversing culture, ability, class, and political climates.
Created in 2009, the force behind this visionary character is Oakland, CA multifaceted mixed media artist Eve Lynne Robinson, who co-wrote this installment with Los-Angeles therapist Whitney Jade Gordy, MFT.
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Checkout The Incredible Story Of Twana Lawler - AIDS Survivor Turned Motivational Speaker
“Conveying information to one's ears, mind, heart, and soul equates to healing,” explains Lawler. “I speak to help the hurting heart that is longing to heal from that which is not real. All of these things are unbelievable for one person to endure,” she continues. “The hurt, the pain, the disease, the abuse, the rapes, my children being kidnapped. It was once real because everything was still there, but now it's not real because I have healed.”
Program to Transform Black Entrepreneurs into Brand Leaders
Nationwide - Shaan Rais, CEO of #BrandedLikeALeader and an executive coach, professional speaker, leadership development expert and industrial and organizational psychologist, is pleased to announce the launch of his 8-week program that will help transform Black Entrepreneurs into brand leaders.
To learn more about the course, whose mission statement is “Don’t prospect, position,” and/or to register, please visit ShaanRais.com.
Through his work as a keynote speaker, Rais is passionate about motivating leaders to not only take ownership of their own development but also to revolutionize others in the organization and in their personal lives.
In his newest course, the inaugural #BrandedLikeALeader 8-week master class, Rais hopes to teach others how to get great results through personal branding, marketing and advertising. As a spokesperson for the course noted, Rais has already had first-hand experience with his own course and has found it to be very effective.
Black Female Ph.D. Launches Dating Service
Nationwide Kunexus, a premiere relationship service for today’s discerning singles, has begun the mission of connecting professional Black clientele for intentional dating and seeks to fill the gap for those frustrated with the ‘hook up culture’ and the quality of Black dating sites. The Kunexus relationship system was created by Black university professors who understand that a strong family unit is critical to improving economic, educational, and health outcomes within the Black community.
What makes the Kunexus system unique is the use of hand-selected matching based, in part, on an extensive assessment questionnaire that gauges client areas, including financial, emotional, life coping, and family planning compatibility. Kunexus member profiles are always confidential, with pictures and profiles that are never publicly accessible.
Vaneesha Dutra, Ph.D., founder of the company, comments, “Kunexus is my most meaningful work to date. It is the product of research that has practical and meaningful implications to a community that I care deeply about, my own. By supporting and promoting healthy relationships within the Black community, Kunexus attempts to improve the likelihood of committed relationship success and ultimately improve the financial, educational, and health outcomes within the Black community.”