Samantha Dorisca is a Houston-based journalist and photographer whose mission is to impact communities through the gift of storytelling using the written word or visual media. She completed her B.A at The University of Texas at Austin and is pursuing a M.A at The University of Memphis. Her work can be found on platforms such as Houstonia Magazine, Girls' Life Magazine, and Blacque Magazine. Samantha mainly reports on tech, trends, and entrepreneurship.
While fans are focused on new music, Cardi B is focused on creating generational wealth. Cardi B has aligned herself with various endorsement deals over the years from Pepsi, Reebok, NYX Professional Makeup, and Fashion Nova, which she worked with earlier on in her career. As AFROTECH previously told you, Fashion Nova paid the rapper $200 for every post back in 2016, two years before the release of her successful debut album “Invasion of Privacy.” That number went as high as $20,000 per month, according to Vox. In April 2024, she revealed she was earning over $5 million from brand deals. Cardi B has proven she is able to bring in the dough for companies, and over the past couple of years she is now doing the same on her own terms. In 2021, Cardi B launched Whipshots in partnership with Starco Brands, which sold 5 million cans within three years, a press release mentions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Whipshots ™ (@whip_shots) Launching Apparel And Beauty Brands Cardi...
The global economy is not just shaped by technology or innovation — it’s governed by decisions made behind closed doors, often under the guise of economic strategy. One such decision, the imposition of tariffs, is anything but neutral. It is an instrument of pressure, a marker of priority, and increasingly, a reflection of geopolitical posture. Tariffs have reemerged as a centerpiece of American economic policy, not as quiet fiscal levers but as loud, disruptive statements. The Trump administration’s recent directive — a flat 10% base tariff on all imports and a sweeping set of reciprocal tariffs targeting nearly 90 countries — represents a radical reorientation of U.S. trade policy. In an interconnected world already strained by inflation, global supply chain challenges, and diplomatic fragility, these decisions matter deeply — and immediately. What Are Tariffs? At their core, tariffs are taxes on imported goods, imposed by governments to influence the cost and flow of trade. By...
Apple faces its largest decline since 2020, leading the race of significant drops in technology stocks as President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on all imported goods and higher duties targeting specific countries, according to CNBC. Trump shared the news about tariffs from the White House’s Rose Garden after the market closed on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, raising concerns about a potential global trade war . According to a White House fact sheet, the tariffs will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on Saturday, April 5, 2025. “Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency, and his order imposes responsive tariffs to strengthen the international economic position of the United States and protect American workers,” the fact sheet read. On Thursday, April 3, Apple stock declined by over 8%, Meta Platforms and Amazon each dropped about 7%, and Nvidia and Tesla experienced declines of over 4%, per CNBC. The...
The future of tech is being shaped by innovative minds, and at ServiceNow, the spotlight is on the brilliant individuals who are driving change. At the forefront of this narrative is Kendra Bailey, a Generative AI (GenAI) solutions architect at ServiceNow. Her testimony is one of perseverance, growth, and the power of embracing one’s unique perspective. Building skills to provide solutions Kendra’s journey began seven years ago as a tester and intern with a ServiceNow partner. In less than a year, she transitioned into a full-time developer role, taking the reins on her first project. Her trajectory within the ServiceNow ecosystem exemplifies what’s possible when skill meets opportunity. Now, as a GenAI solutions architect, she is committed to advancing generative AI solutions, ensuring customers have seamless experiences and successful outcomes with ServiceNow’s technology. Getting out of her own head For many Black professionals in tech, imposter syndrome and self-doubt can be...
Cost of Doing Business (CODB), the holding company co-founded by Topicals CEO Olamide Olowe and President Sochi Mbadugha, has acquired premium haircare brand Bread Beauty Supply. According to a news release, the acquisition is CODB’s first step in building brands that connect culture, community, and commerce — especially as many companies scale back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts . “At a time when DEI commitments are being rolled back, it’s critical that Black-owned businesses not only survive — we have to win,” Olowe said. “Maeva Heim, BREAD’s Founder, is one of the most talented creatives in the space and has led BREAD to have a major impact in the hair care industry, and with CODB’s resources and expertise, we’re ensuring that it continues to grow while remaining deeply rooted in its mission and creative ethos.” Photo Credit: Gold Owolabi With Bread now under CODB, the brand is set for growth while preserving its commitment to textured hair care. The...
Tariffs on imported goods imposed by President Donald Trump will impact small business owners. AP News reports that the Trump administration has announced new tariff policies, including a 34% tax on imports from China, a 20% tax on imports from the European Union, and a 10% baseline tax on most imports. According to a press release from the White House, the 10% baseline will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 5, 2025, while the countries with higher tariff rates will have to comply by at 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 9, 2025. Trump hopes to restore balance to global trade and believes imposing these tariffs will lead to billions in revenue for the U.S., AP News notes. “I will sign a historic executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on countries throughout the world. Reciprocal, that means they do it to us and we do it to them… This is one of the most important days in my opinion in American history,” Trump said during a “Make America Wealthy Again” event on April 2, according to...
Costco’s consumer base is on the rise. According to Retail Brew, the retailer has continued seeing an increase in its foot traffic, having reached its 13th consecutive week during the week of March 17. Costco’s influx of customers is in part due to its decision to uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It sparked a “buy in” led by Civil Rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton in January 2025 at Costco Wholesale, 1055 Hudson St., in Union, NJ. “We are planning to release a boycott list in the coming days,” Sharpton told TMZ at the time. “But in the interim, we are going to do a ‘buy-cott,’ which means we are going to support those who support diversity.” As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Costco’s board of directors requested for its shareholders to vote against a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) that would dismantle its DEI programs. “Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and...
Target’s foot traffic has taken another decline amid a 40-day boycott. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the retailer reversed its three-year diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, dismantling a program that helped Black and minority-owned businesses secure shelf space. Additionally, the company is no longer required to submit reports to external diversity-focused groups. “Many years of data, insights, listening, and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” said Kiera Fernandez, chief community impact and equity officer at Target, according to NBC News. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future — all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.” This comes as other major companies , like Walmart , have removed race and gender as factors for granting supplier contracts. McDonald’s also discontinued its...
In a political landscape where economic promises often shift with the news cycle, one topic has managed to grab headlines and public curiosity alike: DOGE checks. Tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — an initiative linked to Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s administration — the proposed stimulus would direct billions in alleged government savings back to American taxpayers. But is this an actual policy shift or a high-profile thought experiment? Here’s what we know. What Are DOGE Checks? DOGE checks are a proposed stimulus payout drawn from cost-cutting measures implemented by DOGE. Since its launch in January, DOGE claims to have saved the federal government $130 billion by downsizing federal agencies and eliminating redundancies. According to Newsweek, the Trump administration has set a $2 trillion savings goal, with the potential for Americans to receive direct financial benefits from these efforts. The term “DOGE checks” gained traction following a...
Success comes with its moments, and Pinky Cole Hayes knows this firsthand. Cole Hayes is the mastermind behind Slutty Vegan restaurant, with seven locations, primarily in Georgia. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the company’s market value was estimated at nearly $100 million by 2022, which included $25 million from a Series A funding round. Over the years, the company’s triumphs included expanding to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Spelman College, although the location at the HBCU has since closed. Cole Hayes has experienced roadblocks with the venture in 2024, and those challenges led to her losing the business, she told People. “Right now, in this moment, I’ve really been in a place of peace, but I had a really rocky 2024. Our corporate overhead was about $10 million,” Cole Hayes mentioned to People. “I was chasing something that I couldn’t catch for so many reasons.” Cole Hayes also acknowledged that she had not been “the operational person,” which has led...
Amazon, owned by Jeff Bezos, has placed a bid to acquire TikTok. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the app owned by ByteDance is facing a ban in the United States due to its association with China — although TikTok states it is not tied to the Chinese government. The app will only avoid a ban if it is sold to a company based in the United States. At the time of this writing, ByteDance has shown no interest in selling TikTok, which reaches over 170 million users in the United States, despite the ban’s looming deadline of April 5. The target date was extended by 75 days after Donald Trump signed an executive order upon assuming office on Jan. 20. “We have been fighting to protect the constitutional right of free speech for the more than 170,000,000 Americans who use our platform every day to connect, create, discover, and achieve their dreams,” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said on the platform. “On behalf of everyone at TikTok and all our users across the country, I wanna thank President...
Tesla’s delivery numbers are in. Elon Musk, founder of the electric vehicle and clean energy company, has faced significant setbacks, partly due to his decision to align with President Donald Trump. Musk is working at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), therefore he has access to the sensitive information of American citizens, CBS News reports. Additionally, staffers involved with DOGE — along with employees from Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX — are part of an effort to shut down federal agencies with the goal of decreasing government spending, NPR notes. So far, DOGE has also ended 109 contracts, including those the Department of Energy and Department of Commerce had, with a “ceiling value” exceeding $1 billion, which led to $420 million in savings, Newsweek mentions. DOGE’s efforts have been met with great opposition, which has also impacted Tesla. A survey conducted by NBC news states that while 46% of voters say creating DOGE was a good idea, 47% have a negative...
Timnit Gebru is shaping the future of tomorrow. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Non-Linear Career Journey Gebru has always loved math, science , and music. She attended Stanford University from 2008 to 2017, earning a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in electrical engineering—the same field her father worked in. She combined her interests to launch her career at Apple, first as an audio hardware intern in 2004. A year later, she was hired as an audio systems engineer and worked part-time as an audio engineer from 2007 until her departure four years later. Gebru’s professional journey has not been linear. In 2011, she co-founded Motion Think, a company that leveraged design thinking to create solutions for small businesses. While pursuing her Ph.D. at Stanford, she co-founded and became president of Black in AI after attending one of the largest academic conferences in 2016. At that time, she realized that Black professionals were significantly...
The tech industry faces uncertainty and fear due to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, leading companies to advise employees on visas not to leave the United States because they might not be allowed to return. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the denial rates for high-skilled visas increased to 15%. Law firms have warned that a similar upward trend is possible during his current presidency , according to The Washington Post. “What we’re seeing right now is just a lot of worry and panic,” said Principal Attorney Malcolm Goeschl of Goeschl Law, a San Francisco, CA, firm specializing in business immigration for the tech industry . “It seems like [the administration is] just getting more and more momentum, and we don’t know what’s around the corner.” Silicon Valley , Northern California’s global hub for technological innovation, is known for housing many of the world’s largest tech companies and producing groundbreaking inventions. Tech giants in the...
The restaurant industry remains in a state of constant uncertainty, and Hooters of America is the latest brand to find itself under scrutiny. According to CNN, the fast-casual restaurant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Texas court, formally beginning a 90 to 120-day restructuring process aimed at preserving the brand while retooling its financial foundation. Despite widespread speculation about Hooters’ restaurants closing, the chain clarified that it has no plans to disappear from the casual dining scene. Instead, it’s reorganizing and transferring ownership of over 100 company-owned restaurants to two major franchise groups, one of which includes the brand’s founders. This strategic pivot comes amid a string of high-profile restaurant sector bankruptcies, including Red Lobster and BurgerFi, as businesses grapple with elevated food costs, labor shortages, and shifting consumer behavior. Hooters’ current trajectory reflects economic pressures and deeper, more cultural...
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