Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. In today’s rapidly evolving economy, equitable policies that support Black-owned and minority-owned businesses are not just a moral imperative, but a necessity for national growth. Despite their resilience and innovation, systemic barriers continue to block the full potential of these businesses. From access to capital to securing federal contracts, the current policy landscape often fails to reflect the challenges minority entrepreneurs face. To foster real economic progress, we must push for comprehensive policy changes that promote equity and empower these businesses to thrive. Black-owned businesses account for about 2.2 million firms, contributing $150 billion to the U.S. economy. Yet, they still face significant obstacles, particularly in securing financing. Research from the Federal Reserve shows that Black and minority entrepreneurs are disproportionately denied loans. Black entrepreneurs...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The tech industry has been experiencing a wave of layoffs, with many companies citing economic uncertainty and restructuring as the reasons. However, this trend has disproportionately affected Black tech professionals, who are already underrepresented in the industry. According to a report by Layoffs.fyi, Black employees are 1.5 times more likely to be laid off than their white counterparts.. In this article, we’ll explore the challenges faced by Black tech professionals in the current job market and provide guidance on how to stay resourceful and adaptable in the ever-changing tech landscape. The Rise of Layoffs for Black Tech Professionals The recent layoffs have been particularly devastating for Black tech professionals, who have worked hard to break into the industry. Some of the most notable layoffs include: Twitter’s layoffs, which affected 25% of its Black employees. Meta’s layoffs, which...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s (Lisa Mae Brunson) own and not those of AFROTECH™. The power of community. For many of us, showing up at events like AFROTECH™ Conference isn’t just about collecting business cards or finding the next big career move — it’s about immersing ourselves in a space that validates and celebrates our unique experiences as Black professionals, creators, and innovators. But here’s the thing: to truly make the most out of AFROTECH™ (or any other event for that matter), we have to show up with a plan. With years of experience organizing conferences and building spaces for marginalized communities, I’ve learned that being intentional about your goals and tapping into the power of community can make the difference between a fleeting connection and a transformative experience. Here are seven ways you can create impact and community at this year’s conference. Set Your Intention Before You Arrive I can’t emphasize this enough: Before you step...

Your all-access pass to a community of change-makers in tech is here — AFROTECH™ Insider, a membership program designed to empower professionals to foster authentic connections, exchange invaluable insights, and drive one another toward elevated leadership and business success. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) On Sept. 27, AFROTECH™ Insider commemorated its launch, celebrating innovation, leadership, and success at Harbor NYC Rooftop in New York City, NY. During the launch event, Blavity Co-Founder and COO Jeff Nelson welcomed attendees and doubled down on the Insider’s purpose. Its benefits were also echoed in a later fireside chat held by Blavity’s General Manager of Community, Charles Kuykendoll, and Catalyst Labs’ Chief Experience Officer and Co-founder Harold Hughes. Remember, there are levels to this! AFROTECH™ Insider membership is available in two tiers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) AFROTECH™ Insider is...

AFROTECH™ is all about fostering a community for Black techies. At our annual AFROTECH™ Conference — the largest Black tech homecoming — Black innovators, disruptors, and leaders are provided with spaces to not only gain insight from esteemed figures in the industry but also network and collaborate with today’s industry leaders, executives and likeminded professionals.

Thomas L. Jennings is the first Black individual to be granted a patent in the United States, according to the National Geographic. Jennings, born in 1791 to a freed family in New York City, NY, would become an entrepreneur, owning his own tailoring business, per Lemelson–MIT. He had worked various jobs before settling on being a tailor, and his popularity grew within his community, allowing him to open a storefront, Black Inventor reports. However, Jennings’ customers, seemingly satisfied with his service, addressed concerns about cleaning the fabric he used. This led him to experiment to create solutions and cleaning agents, and he developed the “dry-scouring” method, which lifts stains and dirt from fabrics through solvents without the worries of shrinkage or comprising the fabric, per GreenEarth Cleaning. Today, the technique is more commonly known as dry-cleaning. Black Inventor noted that Jennings applied to patent the method in 1820. At this time, to adhere to the Patent Act...

In light of recent legislative changes and the evolving social and political climate, AFROTECH™ continues to stand firm in its commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the technology and business sector. Our mission, to highlight the talents and achievements of Black professionals in technology, has never been more critical. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to overturn affirmative action and recent laws enacted in some states pose challenges to DEI initiatives, particularly at colleges and universities. However, it’s important to emphasize that this decision does not alter the law governing corporate diversity programs (New York State Bar Association Report on Advancing Diversity, 2024). Abandoning diversity initiatives at this juncture can pose significant risks for companies, including discrimination litigation, pay equity enforcement, public relations backlash, shareholder derivative suits, and more. We are immensely proud of our partners who have...

It was always bigger than football for Jaylon Smith. Raised in a town like Fort Wayne, IN, Smith connected with his purpose early on, describing himself as a natural-born visionary. By age 11, he developed aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur, following in the footsteps of his mother, who ran a daycare business for 13 years, he told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Yet, that was not his only early-seeded vision. He also hoped to play in the NFL when he was 7, but he knew his calling would extend beyond the field. “I never wanted to be remembered as just being a great athlete,” Smith told AFROTECH™. Sports agent Eugene Parker, who worked with football greats including Deion Sanders, guided Smith and taught him valuable lessons. The two connected through Smith’s grandmother, Parker’s aunt. “I had to take a lot of principles of what I learned from him and just from observing him,” Smith said. “He had a huge impact on a lot of Hall of Famers, a lot of the greats that played the game. So,...

What better time to give Black women their flowers than during Women’s History Month? Although the recognition should be 365 days of the year, the annual observance is a special time. As the celebration continues throughout March, AFROTECH™ is spotlighting Black women in technology and across various industries. On Nov. 13-16, AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 will return with its Women’s Summit. During last year’s conference, the Women’s Summit’s topics ranged from disrupting the beauty industry with technology to redefining leadership. In the meantime of finding out this year’s panel lineup and discussions, here are five women speakers who have previously graced AFROTECH™ Conference 2023’s stages, held memorable sessions, and spread gems of wisdom. AFROTECH™ 2024 speaker applications now open!

The late Dr. Patricia Bath is a distinguished Black woman in the science and medicine field. Early Days Dr. Bath, born in Harlem, NY, on Nov. 4, 1942, is recognized as the inventor of laser cataract surgery — her road to the groundbreaking feat dates back to her childhood. Young Bath’s early exposure to science and medicine was when she learned about Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s impact on lepers in the Congo, according to a biography shared by Changing the Face of Medicine. Dr. Bath’s father, Rupert, was New York’s first Black motorman. Her mother, Gladys, was a housewife and house cleaner who led Dr. Bath to become interested in science by buying her a chemistry set, Biography reports. Both parents would motivate her to pursue academics, which paved the way for her educational success at age 16. Education The Lemelson-MIT Program notes Dr. Bath performed well in biology and served as Charles Evans Hughes High School’s science paper editor, earning various awards. According to the...

If the lyrics to “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp” sound familiar, then it’s likely because of its connection to the 2005 film “Hustle and Flow,” starring veteran actor Terrence Howard. Critics and fans could argue that his portrayal in the Memphis, TN-based movie is one of Howard’s most recognizable roles. In it, he makes a solid effort to adapt to the culture and lingo of the mid-Southern city. “My ability to connect with an audience, I feel, was born in Memphis with ‘Hustle & Flow’ and what we shot,” Howard said ahead of the 2023 premiere of “Showdown at the Grand,” per The Daily Memphian. He continued, “Something about that city brings out the very best in me, and maybe it’s just because the city is no frills. It is what it is.” While “Hustle and Flow” may be a high point in his career, it is not the peak. Howard has starred in several films and television shows, including the drama series “Empire” (2015) and movies such as “The Best Man” (1999) and “Iron Man” (2008). The...

Today, it remains a mystery when, or rather if, Rihanna will release her ninth studio album. Although it’s been nearly a decade since she released a new music project, the Bajan superstar came back from being MIA in music to attend a star-studded event. On March 1, Rihanna performed at a pre-wedding party for Anant Ambani, the son of multi-billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, India — marking her first full show in a while, per Billboard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by COMPLEX (@complex) “The show was the best,” Rihanna shared following her performance, according to the outlet. “I haven’t done a real show in eight years.” What’s more, Rihanna’s gig reportedly earned her a check of about $6.3 million , according to Forbes. A private show that brings Rihanna to a stage outside of her Super Bowl 2023 halftime performance is a bill that may only be footed by a public figure with wealth — in this case, Mukesh Ambani, who also paid for Beyoncé to...

For six seasons between 2014 and 2020, Shonda Rhymes had television audiences on lock every Thursday, partially due to the thrilling drama series “How To Get Away With Murder.” Starring the iconic Viola Davis, the hour-long show chronicled the complicated daily life, career, and antics of its main character, Annalise Keating. Although Viola Davis gave viewers a captivating weekly performance, her time on the ABC series was not the first nor last time she would have audiences in a proverbial chokehold, enamored by her acting chops. According to an interview with the Harvard Business Review, Viola Davis was born on a former plantation in Saint Matthews, SC, and raised in poverty. She faced continued racism after moving to Rhode Island. However, her humble beginnings didn’t stop her from discovering her love of acting and using that as a tool for her success. “I had a passion for acting because it was therapeutic. Art heals the mind. Art is supposed to move you, shake you, make you...

In 2006, Yo Gotti released “That’s What’s Up (Intro),” and many from the rapper’s hometown of Memphis, TN, consider it a cultural anthem. The song sets up an open letter to his fans and haters, describing who he is, what he’s been through, and his current and impending impact at the time. Words in the opening lines serve as a preamble and manifest the upward trajectory of Yo Gotti’s success. “…Tha streets been beggin’, so I had to go ‘Back 2 Da Basics.’ This the intro to my life, entry to my world.” Although this mid-2000s track was an introduction of sorts, the song was not his entry point into the rap game. Born Mario Mims, Yo Gotti is a Memphis native who released his first musical work in 1996, titled “Youngsta’s On A Come Up,” under the alias Lil Yo. And a come-up was precisely what he’d experienced. Throughout his multi-decade career, Yo Gotti would release popular songs like “Rake It Up,” “I Know,” “Law,” and “Down in the DM” — working with top artists such as Nick Minaj,...

Whether rap fans agree or not, one thing that cannot be disputed is Nicki Minaj’s commercial success. A proud native of Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj took the rap game by storm with explosive creativity, catchy lyrics, and bass-pounding beats. While the 41-year-old entered the game with mixtapes and songs that still get the people moving, many Hip-Hop enthusiasts would argue that her verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” set her apart. Like her song “Starships,” Nicki Minaj’s career has catapulted her into chart-topping levels and garnered her uncanny influence. According to Billboard, Nicki Minaj has produced three No. 1 hits and had 23 of her songs become top ten singles. Her 2022 single, “Super Freaky Girl,” made history for the rapper. Billboard reports that “The track is Minaj’s first Hot 100 No. 1 as an unaccompanied artist and her third overall.” This was also the first time a Hip-Hop song by a solo woman would chart this way since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998. Minaj...