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In the vibrant tapestry of Black American culture, a concept emerges that celebrates certain movies as “Blassics.” This term, a fusion of ‘Black’ and ‘Classics,’ is a testament to the unique stories of Black Americans and their experiences brought to life through films starring Black actors. These films, often featuring familiar faces like Angela Bassett, Nia Long, and Taye Diggs, are not just movies but cultural milestones. They have left an indelible mark on the industry and include films like “Waiting to Exhale, “Friday,” “School Daze,” and “The Best Man,” resonating deeply with the culture’s shared experiences and heritage. Of those listed, Diggs may be most recently known for his appearance on the CW’s “All American,” portraying former NFL player and high school football coach Billy Baker. However, his career has roots much deeper than the teenage-themed drama series. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taye Diggs (@tayediggsinsta) Diggs, a native of Rochester, NY,...
Chris Brown is an iconic and well-known singer, songwriter, actor and world-class dancer. Working since he was 16, Brown has continued to thrive within the entertainment industry and has managed to establish a massive nest egg to secure his financial future. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Chris Brown touts a net worth of over $50 million, earned mostly through his music career , brand and endorsement deals, and investment portfolio. Brown has taken home literally hundreds of accolades celebrating his music career, including a Grammy Award, 19 BET Awards, 60 ASCAP Awards and 4 NAACP Image Awards. With over 140 million records sold worldwide, Chris Brown’s biggest contributing factor to his massive net worth is certainly his music career, which has now spanned over 20 years. Without any further preamble, let’s take a look at Brown’s body of work, business and real estate holdings, and other income, and understand how he’s managed to stack his millions. Early Life & Career Start...
David C. Williams’ innovative spirit remained a driving force in his journey to overcome obstacles and significantly impact the tech space. The engineer was born in Dallas, TX, in what he describes as the “poorest corner of the city.” At an early age, he became an avid reader, consuming up to eight books a week at times, he says. Williams’ inquisitive nature was further fueled as he read more books , and he maintained this even in the face of adversity. He lost his home in a fire, and at the age of 8 his father died by suicide. “There’s a quote that Einstein has that says ‘innovation is born out of necessity.’ And when I combine that creativity that my parents started me off with and the hardships that were soon to follow, losing my dad or the house fire — just all sorts of things that went on — I never let go of the creativity,” Williams told AFROTECH™. He continued, “Many people who live or come from underserved communities have a lot of ingenuity. And I figured out that...
The six-year legal battle between Jay-Z and Parlux Fragrances has officially come to an end. Jay Z's legal drama has come to an end. Asked whether he had 98 problems now, he said: pic.twitter.com/y1sjNAvKlU — Victoria Bekiempis (@vicbekiempis) November 10, 2021
The latest and final collaboration from Mercedes-Benz and Virgil Abloh is here. In a press release, the company unveiled an exclusive edition of Maybach’s S 680 sedan designed by the late fashion designer. The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class design features a two-tone color scheme, luxurious fashion accessories, the Mercedes-Maybach and Virgil Abloh logos, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mercedes-Benz (@mercedesbenz) The limited-edition Maybach is Abloh’s third piece of work with the luxury car brand. The first was Project Geländewagen, and the second was the monolithic Project Maybach electric show car, as previously reported by AfroTech. The latter project was under Abloh and his brand Off-White’s partnership to continue innovating the future of Mercedes, which was established prior to his passing. According to the press release, only 150 units of the car, which was designed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener in 2021,...
50 Cent’s commitment to budding entrepreneurs is still going strong! As AfroTech previously told you, the rapper has been keeping busy in the city of Houston after a $300,000 donation to spearhead the G-Unity Business Lab for underserved schools. Now the program has backed Kashmere High School student Kennedy Nelms, donating a $48,000 scholarship to attend The University of Texas at Austin. “My G Stars are no joke, Kennedy from Kashmere HS was just awarded a four year scholarship to the University of Texas!” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram. “I’m So proud of these kids. H TOWN you know the vibes she gonna get to the bread.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CbefpuzuyNt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Salvatore Ferragamo is entering a new fashion era with its latest appointment. On March 14, the luxury brand onboarded Maximilian Davis as its new creative director, according to Robb Report. After initially being in the running for LVMH’s Prize for Young Designers to competitively showcase his talent, the British designer has signed on to an exclusive opportunity instead. “I am delighted to welcome Maximilian at the house of Ferragamo,” Ferragamo CEO Marco Gobbetti shared in a statement, according to Robb Report. “Through his lens of contemporary sensibility, he will write a new, exciting chapter for this house built on a heritage of creativity, craftsmanship, sophistication and outstanding human values.” The British designer, who has worked with the likes of Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Dua Lipa is set to bring his innovative ideas forward to pivot the longtime company to a more modern feel for today’s fashion world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MAXIMILIAN...
When Regina Hall first debuted on the soap opera, “Loving,” few if any believed that she’d ever break out of the world of daytime drama. But she not only survived the daytime world, but thrived thereafter. Since 1997 — when she booked her first commercial — Hall has appeared in countless films and television shows. But it wasn’t until her 2001 role on “Ally McBeal” that she finally broke out into the mainstream. She also made an impact on the big screen, as well. Regina Hall has had roles in such big-time movies as “The Hate U Give,” “The Best Man,” and the “Scary Movie” franchise of films. Despite her success, though, Hall didn’t always set out to be an actress. Initially, she enrolled at NYU and got her master’s degree in journalism. But when her father died of a stroke in her first year of graduate school, everything changed. “It was sudden. And I think when sudden events that are painful happen in your life, you know, they redirect your course,” Hall said in an interview with...
These babies are paid! Not only do celebrity kids get to inherit greatness before they’re even aware of it, but they also have the coins to prove it. According to the U.S. Sun, when it comes to the richest children in America, little Miss Blue Ivy Carter tops the list. The first-born of superstar parents, Shawn “Jay Z” Carter and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter , Blue Ivy has an estimated net worth of $500 million. Just two days after she was born, this little mogul-in-the-making was crowned “the most famous baby in the world” by Time magazine. Embed from Getty Images Blue Ivy may have a net worth that’s greater than most of us will ever make by the age of 50, but she also follows in her parents’ footsteps as quite the barrier-breaker. In 2020 the 9-year-old became the youngest winner of a BET Award at the age of eight when she won the BET Her Award for the smash single, “Brown Skin Girl.” She is also the second youngest person to win a GRAMMY award. Among the list of kids topping the list...
When it comes to wealth, Black Americans have always gotten the short end of the stick. In part, a lot of this is due to the lack of financial literacy which comes from a deep history of racism that has held our community back for centuries. “It is the most important issue facing Black Americans. Period,” said Kevin Cohee, Owner, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of OneUnited Bank. In an interview with AfroTech, he told us the role that the largest Black-owned bank in America plays when it comes to not only teaching the importance of financial literacy but providing the community with the tools and resources needed to survive and thrive in a place where the playing field has been everything except level. “It’s fairly understandable how we got into this situation,” continued Cohee. “We were slaves, then we weren’t but we were given no education, we were given no money, no compensation, and we were denied the opportunity to do things like for example, live in neighborhoods where...
Idris Elba is venturing into children’s books. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the award-winning actor has inked a global multi-book deal with HarperCollins to publish a range of children’s books. The deal includes both fiction and picture books that Elba has developed with his writing partner Robyn Charteris whose credits include a BAFTA-winning children’s drama series for CBBC and creating and writing one of the first 52-episode pre-school series for the launch of digital channel CBeebies. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to bring stories inspired by my daughter to life with my incredible partner Robyn Charteris, and the powerhouse team at HarperCollins,” said Elba in a statement. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Idris Elba (@idriselba) According to The Hollywood Reporter, “world rights were acquired by Ann-Janine Murtagh, Executive Publisher, HCCB UK, and Suzanne Murphy, President and Publisher, HCCB US, from Crystal Mahey-Morgan at OWN IT!...
Bank of America has forged the ultimate partnership with the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, Morehouse College and Spelman College in an effort to build a new Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE) to empower the next generation of Black business leaders. A press release reports that the development of this new project — powered by a two-year $10 million grant — comes as a first-of-its-kind academic center created to “assemble, educate and empower a new class of Black entrepreneurial talent.” The idea behind the CBE is to not only provide more opportunities for young aspiring Black entrepreneurs, but also to show how important it is to come together and support a cause that’s crucial to our future in this country. “The Center for Black Entrepreneurship will help close the opportunity gaps among industry, the investment community and Black entrepreneurs. The CBE will harness the multiplier effect of education, exposure, mentorship, access to capital and opportunity,” said David...
Walmart is standing on its word to fight against racial disparities in the U.S. On Monday Feb. 1, the retail giant announced that Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will distribute the first $14.3 million of its $100 million commitment in June. Grants will be dispersed to 16 various nonprofit organizations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walmart (@walmart) “Walmart has made a commitment to advancing racial equity, finding areas where we, as a company, can best contribute our resources and expertise to change society’s systems that perpetuate racism and discrimination,” said senior director of the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity, Kirstie Simms. “We are excited to announce our initial investment to these deserving nonprofits that help advance racial equity through their organizations every day.” The center’s mission is to extend while also complementing the societal impact of Walmart’s business initiatives in an effort to advance racial equity in the nation’s...