💖Good Black News #1💖
here's what you missed last week
There is so much negative news out there, especially when it comes to the Black community. It seems like only doom and gloom follows us and our stories, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I decided to expand the newsletter to create a hump day edition of The Black Cat. Here is some Good Black News I’ve come across this week to keep you charged up.
Business
Essence, "The Future Of Journalism: These Black Media Executives Illuminate A Path For Black-Owned Media”
“Evolving consumption patterns pose pressing challenges for journalism and Black-owned media, demanding strategic interventions.”
Inc. “Court Dismisses Anti-DEI Lawsuit Against Hello Alice”
“An Ohio judge has dismissed a case against one of Hello Alice's grant programs for Black entrepreneurs. The company's co-founder calls it a victory for small businesses.”
Education
The AJC, “Kenyan government signs HBCU agreement during visit to Spelman”
“The Kenyan government signed a framework agreement for future exchanges between Kenyan universities and American HBCUs”
Tallahassee Democrat, “FAMU moves to add new graduate degrees in aerospace engineering beginning fall 2025”
“Future graduate degree programs are expected to leverage the joint engineering school’s existing faculty and resources while also supporting the Florida Board of Governors' goal of increasing degree offerings in the STEM field (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), according to the university.”
Tech
TechCrunch, “Harlem Capital is raising a $150 million fund.”
“The successful raising of this $150 million fund will be not only a show of success for Harlem Capital and its founders but also a testament to the industry’s appetite for still believing in and backing talented, underrepresented communities.”
TechCrunch, “App developer Crowdaa raises €1.2M and plans a US expansion”
“Vigile Hoareau is a musician, cognitive psychologist and computer programmer. Jimmy Thomas is a multi-platinum rap producer who has worked with Tupac and Motown Records. Together, they are the founders of Crowdaa, a French company that allows non-developers to easily create and release apps on mobile.”
Politics
Bloomberg, “Kamala Harris Is Gaining Swing-State Voters' Trust to Step In for Biden”
“The vice president also was the top choice among Democratic rising stars to run for the White House should Biden be unable to continue his campaign.”
The Guardian, “Refugee braves racist abuse to become Northern Ireland’s first black mayor”
“Lilian Seenoi-Barr, who arrived from Kenya in 2010, will make history when she receives chain of office in Derry.”
Entertainment
Vanity Fair, "The Bear Made Ayo Edebiri a Hollywood Darling. Now She’s Making Hollywood Her Playground.”
“The Bottoms star talks acting with Jeremy Allen White, big Emmy moments with her friends, what really happened at SNL, and much more.”
The Hollywood Reporter, “Romeo & Juliet’ Theater Review: Tom Holland Disappoints in Return to the Stage, But Another Star Is Born”
“Francesca Amewudah-Rivers is magnificent in Jamie Lloyd’s overly subdued, minimalist take on Shakespeare’s doomed romance, playing in London’s West End.”
Culture
Art News, “Sable Elyse Smith Wins $200,000 Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize”
“The award comes with $200,000, a solo exhibition at the Texas art space that will then travel to the FLAG Art Foundation in New York, and an accompanying catalogue.”
W Magazine, “With a New Show, Theaster Gates Brings Freedman’s Town Out of Obscurity”
“The Chicago artist examines the dynamics behind the historic Houston municipality built in 1865 by newly freed Black people.”
Sports
Yahoo! Sports, “Negro Leagues statistics to be officially integrated into MLB historical record”
“Negro Leagues statistics will officially become part of Major League historical record on Wednesday. The move comes more than three years after Major League Baseball announced it would be elevating the Negro Leagues to major-league status.”
AP News, “NBA great Dwyane Wade launches Translatable, an online community supporting transgender youth”
“Wade hopes Translatable, which is funded by the Wade Family Foundation, will provide a community to ‘support growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversations leading to greater understanding and acceptance.’”
What you might have missed
“New York-based ALTR was co-founded by CEO David A. Wilson, creator of Black news site TheGrio (now part of Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios), and CTO Brandon John-Freso, who previously worked as a software engineer at WeWork and OkCupid.”
Misc.
Ruka Hair has expanded to now offer extensions for those with gray hair.
Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi is now the Africa Correspondent for The Economist. She previously was a co-host for the outlet’s flagship podcast.
Have you heard of Grown Folks? It’s a Black-woman owned hard seltzer brand, perfect for the summer season.