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After years of letting baristas bring their full selves to work — tattoos, flannels, colored hair, and all — Starbucks is reining things back in. Starting May 12, the coffee giant is introducing a new, streamlined look that puts the brand’s most iconic symbol — the green apron — back at center stage. The 2025 Starbucks dress code will require employees to wear solid black tops (collared, button-up, or crewneck) paired with bottoms in black, khaki, or blue denim. This shift is being framed as a branding move, part of Starbucks’ ongoing effort to create a familiar and consistent vibe in stores across North America. Each employee, known internally as a “partner,” will also receive two company-branded T-shirts at no cost, including options designed by partner networks. Why The 2025 Starbucks Dress Code Signals More Than Just A Wardrobe Change At first glance, it might look like a simple update to the dress code. But the new dress code is actually doing a lot of heavy lifting. It’s a...
The Trump administration has repealed a Biden-era policy that guaranteed a baseline wage for workers on federal contracts, cutting the federal contractor minimum wage down from $17.75 an hour. However, the move still leaves an Obama-era rule in place that puts the minimum at $13.30 an hour. With that single change, hundreds of thousands of private-sector workers employed by federal contractors are at risk of wage reductions up to 25% — a shift that will disproportionately affect workers without college degrees and those already earning near-poverty wages, the Center for American Progress reports. The Federal Contractor Minimum Wage: A Lifeline Now Lost The now-defunct regulation, established under Executive Order 14026, raised the federal contractor minimum wage in 2021 to $15 and indexed it to inflation, bringing it to $17.75 in 2025. It was designed to ensure that janitors, cooks, maintenance workers, and other federal contract laborers earned a livable wage. More than 327,000...
Will Packer knows a thing or two about spotting a good story. With films like “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” and “Stomp the Yard,” he’s turned everyday moments into box-office gold, built characters we root for, and created cultural blueprints that stick. But when the call came offering a confidential shot at owning a piece of an NFL team — no details, no guarantees — this wasn’t a plot twist in a film. This was real life. And it didn’t come with a pitch deck or press release. It came with a non-disclosure agreement and the vaguest of possibilities. “I said, NFL? National Food League?” Packer joked. “Because I know the NFL doesn’t just let people in.” The terms? Mysterious. The team? Unknown. The risk? High. But Packer signed the NDA anyway. That moment — unflashy, uncertain, but undeniably bold — set off a chain of events that would lead him not just into the NFL ownership circle but into a growing movement to rewrite what power and equity look like in professional sports. Fast...
The U.S. job market is sending mixed messages — and workers are caught in the middle. On one hand, employers are adding jobs at a pace that suggests economic growth. On the other hand, unemployment is rising and confidence in long-term stability is shrinking. It’s a win-loss moment for the American workforce: The numbers are up, but the foundation feels shaky. According to CNN, the U.S. economy added 228,000 jobs in March, beating expectations and extending a 51-month streak of job growth — one of the longest in U.S. history. Yet, in the same report, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%, indicating that while more people are entering the labor force, not everyone is finding a place in it. The Strengths And Limits Of The Job Market March’s numbers were encouraging in many ways. Job creation exceeded expectations, and average wages rose 0.3% for the month, slowing to a 3.8% year-over-year increase. Economists had predicted slower growth — around 130,000 new jobs — but the market...
The Walt Disney Company and its ABC television network have joined the list of media companies the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating for their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced concerns that Disney and ABC might be “promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination” and said the agency’s Enforcement Bureau would examine whether any of their past or current policies violated any equal employment opportunity regulations, according to NPR. “Numerous reports indicate that Disney’s leadership went all in on invidious forms of DEI discrimination a few years ago and apparently did so in a manner that infected many aspects of your company’s decisions,” Carr wrote in a letter to Disney CEO Robert Iger. The inquiry follows Disney’s reduction of diversity efforts , including the termination of some initiatives and changes in the language used to describe DEI. “We are reviewing the Federal...
Let’s be honest—when it comes to beauty, Black women have always been the standard, even if the industry has been slow to give credit where it’s due. But while some are still playing catch-up, Danessa Myricks Beauty has already rewritten the rules—and ensured we’re front and center in the narrative. From melting down drugstore makeup in her kitchen to landing on Sephora shelves across the globe, Danessa Myricks didn’t wait for anyone’s permission. She built her own table—and now the world’s pulling up a seat. From “Accidental Artist” to Beauty Powerhouse Myricks didn’t come from a legacy of wealth or beauty school credentials. She came with hustle, vision, and a deep belief that makeup should be for everyone. According to her Closers 2025 Time Magazine feature, after getting laid off from a publishing gig, she took a chance on creativity and started doing makeup—teaching herself through trial, error, and audacity. Her early kits? Straight-up DIY magic. Melting down products to...
President Trump is back on his trade war wave — and this time, it’s rolling straight through the auto industry. With a fresh round of 25% tariffs on cars and auto parts set to take effect on April 3, people from the auto industry, from C-suites to dealership floors, are bracing for the impact. The administration says it’s about protecting national security and strengthening the U.S. manufacturing base. But if you’re thinking about buying a car this year, or if your job has anything to do with auto production, here’s the truth: You may be paying more, waiting longer, and dealing with fewer options. And that’s just the beginning. Why The White House Is Saying This Is Necessary According to an official statement from the White House, these tariffs on cars are aimed at keeping America safe. The administration is emphasizing that too many imports are “undermining” the “domestic industrial base” and weakening the U.S. supply chain. The idea is to hit foreign-made cars and parts with a 25%...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. DEI has become a conservative buzzword to target anything that doesn’t appeal to straight, white, male ideals. The Trump administration has gone after every federal agency, academic institution, and corporate entity to eradicate any semblance of DEI. Whether through affirmative action, hiring laws, or ensuring equal representation of all races and genders, Trump has made DEI the hill to die on. Everything is DEI, from Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime show to plane crashes. However, diversity has not been effectively implemented recently, nor applied in the appropriate context. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are designed to create a more balanced and fair society, particularly in the wake of the civil rights movement, by addressing systemic inequalities and ensuring equal opportunities for all. But now, conservatives have equated DEI policies with lower standards, a false narrative that President...
On March 15, 2025, the U.S. bombed Houthi terrorist targets across Yemen. But two hours before the world knew, a Signal message had already mapped the strike. The sender? Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The recipients? Top intelligence officials, but also Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic — a journalist inadvertently folded into the highest levels of American military planning. This wasn’t a clandestine leak. It was a raw, unfiltered display of the fragility of power in the digital age. It was a breach not orchestrated by a hostile foreign actor but self-inflicted — executed casually, almost thoughtlessly, by the nation’s top security officials on a consumer messaging app. For those of us who approach these matters with a deep understanding of U.S. statecraft and a critical perspective shaped by intellectual and resistance traditions, the story may demand more than mere procedural outrage. It calls for an unflinching analysis of how an empire, when unmoored from...
For decades, Ben & Jerry’s has been more than just an ice cream company — it’s been a loud, proud, and unapologetic advocate for progressive causes. From climate justice to racial equity, the brand has built an identity around speaking truth to power. But now, that identity is at the center of a corporate power struggle. Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company, Unilever, of firing CEO David Stever, not because of poor performance but because he refused to back down from the company’s social mission. According to the New York Times, the lawsuit, filed in a Manhattan, NY, federal court, claims that Unilever violated a key part of its 2000 merger agreement by removing Stever without advisory board approval. What started as a quirky Vermont ice cream shop with a social conscience has now turned into a legal battleground, with Unilever allegedly trying to muzzle the very activism that made Ben & Jerry’s a cultural force. A Brewing Corporate Clash Ben & Jerry’s alleges that...
It appears a four-year partnership between Buy From a Black Woman and H&M has come to an end. According to a press release, the nonprofit, founded by Nikki Porcher in 2016, has partnered with H&M since International Women’s Day in 2021. Together, they have supported 30 Black women through accelerator programs and helped over 15 founders obtain their Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification within two years. On its own, Buy from A Black Women has hosted over 100 workshops and trainings, awarded 45 business grants, and provided 20 relief fund stipends to Black women business owners. Between 2022 and 2023, Buy From a Black Woman was able to drive more than $2.7 million in revenue towards Black woman founders. In 2023, Buy From a Black Woman and H&M hosted the The Inspire Tour, which was the brainchild of Porcher since 2019, and it reached various cities including Philadelphia, PA ; Charlotte, NC ; Houston, TX ; Los Angeles, CA; and Atlanta, GA. The aim was to amplify...
Jamie Foxx is not here for the anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) narratives circulating in Hollywood . Foxx — born Eric Marlon Bishop — is the producer of Apple TV+’s “Number One On the Call Sheet,” a documentary that explores Black achievement in the film industry and the challenges Black women face in finding success. At the Los Angeles, CA, premiere on March 13, 2025, the Academy Award-winning actor emphasized the film’s importance, stating that it is more relevant now than ever. “Look what’s going on out there. They trying to erase everything we do… They talking about the DEI , affirmative action, we don’t need Black history . Why you picking on our history?” Foxx told Extra. “So, we just do more history. The more you erase, the more we replace. So, that’s all it is. We ain’t gonna be shy about it. Leave us alone. Let us enjoy. Let us all be American.” Since 2024, several high-profile companies have scaled back or eliminated their DEI programs , citing pressure from...
The Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) is among several organizations impacted by President Donald Trump’s termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across various sectors. According to The Brown Daily Herald, every January, RIBBA, a Providence, RI -based nonprofit dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through business development programs for small business owners , requests funding packages from its larger company partners, typically ranging from $7,500 to $100,000. However, some partners have indicated that their funding pool has been reduced this year, with many delaying their funding decisions until April and offering reduced financial packages. “This trend aligns with broader shifts in corporate giving and budget constraints that many nonprofits are experiencing nationwide,” RIBBA President and CEO Lisa Ranglin said in an email to The Herald. According to WPRI Channel 12, Ranglin stated that following Trump’s rollbacks of DEI...
A middle school teacher in Meridian, ID, reported being forced to remove signs reading “Everyone is welcome here” and “Everyone in this room is welcome, important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued, and equal” from her classroom display. West Ada School District officials believed sixth-grade world civilization teacher Sarah Inama’s signs violated a policy mandating neutral classroom content and respect for others’ right to express differing opinions, according to KTVB Channel 7. “They told me that they were in violation of district policy because, in today’s political environment, they’re considered a personal opinion,” Inama said. Initially, she removed the signs but later changed her mind, believing the message reflects a fundamental value of public education. Inama said her signs are consistent with district posters encouraging students to “welcome others and embrace diversity.” “I just feel like as a teacher… I would do anything to protect my students. I love all of them...
TJ Maxx is a popular budget store that many people have come to love. As shoppers are increasingly drawn to retailers that offer both value and variety, TJ Maxx thrives thanks to its mix of designer brands and discount prices. It’s not just about the thrill of finding a great deal for fashion enthusiasts – it’s also about the experience of uncovering hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for trendy clothing, home decor or even unique accessories, they offer an ever-changing treasure trove of options. Although the store has been a reliable favorite for years, there has been some speculation about the popular chain recently as consumers keep an eye out for their stance on diversity, equity and inclusion. In the past, TJX Companies (the parent company of TJ Maxx) has publicly stated its commitment to building a more inclusive and diverse workplace . Yet with the DEI frenzy over the last few weeks, shoppers are not entirely convinced that the budget store is fully onboard with the DEI...