Companies can no longer get away with performative allyship, especially adidas. On Tuesday, following widespread uprisings sparked by the murder of George Floyd , the apparel giant pledged to donate $20 million to investment programs that support Black communities, among other measures, to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, CNN reports . Internally, however, their gesture wasn’t enough. According to FN , last Friday (June 5) a group of 13 staffers at adidas North America formed a coalition to completely restructure the organization in support of its Black team members. Now, the 13-person coalition now represents over 200 employees. In a 32-page deck, titled “Our State of Emergency,” the document lists four major asks: invest in its Black employees, invest in the Black community, invest in the fight for racial justice and change for Black people, and demonstrate accountability. A source close to the situation reports that every Black employee in adidas’ corporate...

Influencer marketing is a huge business, and for some talented social media gurus, it’s their main source of income. However, with the recent coronavirus pandemic causing a domino effect of economic and social issues, this lucrative marketing method is taking a major hit. According to Business Insider , brand integrations and campaigns are coming to a screeching halt. The U.S. recently enforced a European travel ban to help stop the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. It’s a new strategy that directly affects Instagram travel bloggers. “I think a lot of people in the travel industry are holding their breath,” said travel blogger Oneika Raymond. “Companies are reluctant to take on anything new and therefore that is impacting the income of creators.” Paid trips and brand deals with luggage companies are postponed due to the severity of the deadly virus. “We aren’t wanting to travel much as we don’t want to set a bad example and be worsening the issue by thinking it’s OK to...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Significant layoffs have been a consistent theme throughout the world of work for over three years. Whether you work in tech, media, or finance you have seen the news or know of those who have been impacted. Gone is the employment heyday of the pandemic, when firms across the board ramped up their hiring efforts in 2020 and 2021. This led to people embracing new opportunities and getting bumps in compensation that were not previously available. Unfortunately, when the boosts to businesses and balance sheets went away, firms started laying off their workforces in droves. Initially, the reasons behind the cuts were due to overhiring, and companies were looking to streamline their workforces and management in order to move the organizations more nimbly. The media started to refer to it as a “White-Collar Recession” because while other sectors like hospitality and health services saw employment...

Chris Paul has shared an exciting update about one of his investments. According to its LinkedIn page, the former NBA star is an investor in PlayersTV, the first athlete-owned media network and content provider. As previously reported by AFROTECH™ , the network was launched in 2020 by Deron Guidrey and Collin Castellaw. PlayersTV offers athletes the opportunity to hold a stake in the company, with many also owning production companies. Notable athlete investors include Travis Kelce, Dwyane Wade, and Damian Lillard. “Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard are just a few of the 50+ athletes on PlayersTV’s roster. All of our athletes each have their own production companies and unique content they want to share with their fans,” Guidrey previously told AFROTECH™. “PlayersTV unlocks this opportunity and enables them to share their content in an authentic and meaningful way . By partnering with PlayersTV, these athletes are able to connect with their fans on a larger scale through...

Wall Street day traders found themselves shocked and confused last week when Reddit’s stock price climbed to heights of 58 percent, surpassing the expectations of even the most liberal investors on r/WallStreetBets. The social media site , which is primarily used for sharing opinions, discussing niche topics and delivering daily news to millions of user-generated in-groups, reported $348.4 million in Q3 revenue according to data on Yahoo Finance . While these sky-high figures would be a bit surprising to most financial analysts, they were especially shocking to Wall Street insiders , who were reportedly planning to short the RDDT stock based on their expectation that the site would lose money during the most recent earnings report . In order to understand why and how the Reddit stock was able to surpass expectations, we’ll have to take a brief look at what’s changed in the site’s business model in recent months, watch similar stocks such as META and NVDA, and study the industry...

We all lead busy lives and often find ourselves on empty by the end of each day. While a certain amount of fatigue is normal and expected, many people experience chronic tiredness and lack of energy that prevents them from being as productive and active as they’d like. Could some of your everyday actually be sabotaging your energy levels without you even realizing it? Let’s get into how some common daily routines , behaviors, and habits are draining your energy. Not Taking Breaks It’s all too easy to get swept up into a state of constant activity with no time for rest. However, our minds and bodies badly need brief periods of low-energy recovery in order to recharge. Taking small yet regular breaks throughout the day to relax, even for just five to ten minutes, can make a world of difference. Make sure to step away from your desk at work for a quick walk outside. Taking short meditation or breathing breaks when you start to feel stressed can help you re-center and focus again with...

Antonio Brown worked at six barbershops and decided to open his own storefront. ABC Action News reports he is the founder of Central Station Barbershop and Grooming in St. Petersburg, FL. The decision to open his own shop was driven by a desire to have ownership and forge a legacy. “Seeing the things that were impacting our community, I understood the importance of ownership and entrepreneurship and different things like that,” he reflected, according to ABC Action News. “So, I wanted to step out on my own and build my own reputation and my own barbershop my way.” For nine years Central Station Barbershop and Grooming has been making its mark in the community through services that include haircuts, beard trims, hot shaves, and facials for men and women. “We have a safe space here,” Brown told the outlet. “This is a place where a barber and a client have an opportunity to have one-on-one time.” The business is also attached to a higher calling. Per the business’ website, children can...

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are making waves at the box office. The on-screen duo are back for the latest installment of their hit “Bad Boys” franchise. Released on June 7, 2024, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, takes fans on the journey of characters Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence), who are tasked with resolving a mounting case against their late police captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano). “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” maintains the franchise’s balance of action and comedy as fans watch the cop duo navigate a new story. “This movie, in really beautiful ways, is the culmination of all three,” Smith said during an interview with Hot 97. “For fans who have been down from the first one, I promise you there’s a moment in this movie where you stand up out of your seat and throw your hands in the air with the level of perfection of the call-back that we have. It’s as good as it’s ever been done… It is...