💖Good Black News #2💖

here's what you missed last week

Jun 05, 2024

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

Planet Detroit, “Meet the Black vegan chefs driving Detroit’s plant-based food scene”

“Emerging Black chefs are making a significant impact in Detroit’s plant-based food scene, where veganism—a lifestyle that excludes all animal products—is gaining popularity.”

Forbes. “Fawn Weaver’s $1.1 Billion Whiskey Playbook”

“Uncle Nearest is the fastest-growing whiskey in U.S. history—its sales have tripled since 2022—and the best-selling Black-founded and -led spirit of all time.”

Education

WUNC, “Wake County school board will vote to embrace, protect students with natural Black hairstyles”

“The Wake County school board’s policy committee added new language last week to the student dress code and anti-discrimination policies, impacting both students and employees.”

AP, “New Orleans valedictorian lived in a homeless shelter as he rose to the top of his class”

“Hogan recently graduated as one of two valedictorians at Walter L. Cohen charter high school, despite living in a homeless shelter for youth for more than a year.”

Tech

TechCrunch, “Pinterest expands its Creator Fund to allow founders”

“Pinterest teamed up with Shopify’s Build Black and Build Native programs to allow small business owners who are from or who serve underrepresented backgrounds to now apply for the Creator Inclusion Fund.”

Andscape, “South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson partners with Black *tech hair care brand on new NIL deal”

“Johnson is … thrilled about her first beauty ambassadorship and the fact it’s with a Black beauty brand, Parfait … [Isoken] Igbinedion launched Parfait with her sister Ifueko Igbinedion. The line of wigs and extensions can be customized to customers’ head sizes based on their skin tone, using artificial intelligence.”

Politics

The Guardian, “Diane Abbott says she intends to ‘run and win’ as Labour candidate”

“Keir Starmer said last week that Abbott was ‘free to stand’ as a Labour candidate after regaining the whip after a long suspension. It followed days of speculation that Abbot would be blocked from standing, culminating in her accusing Labour of carrying out a ‘cull of leftwingers’.

Science

WLOX, “Gulfport teen receives National Geographic award for plan to save Mississippi’s oyster reef population”

“As an environmental project, [Demi] Johnson started her oyster farm at Schooner Pier in Biloxi when she was in the seventh grade. Once a week, she visited her farm to clean debris and predators off the oysters with the help of the Department of Marine Resources.”

Entertainment

Essence, “NPR’s Tiny Desk Celebrates Black Music Month With All-Female Lineup As A Tribute To The Women Who Shaped Music”

“NPR is celebrating Black Music Month with a lineup that includes Chaka Khan, SWV, Tems, Flo Milli, and Tierra Whack.”

AP, “Idris Elba helps uncover the WWII soldiers of color who never got their due”

“[The actor will] narrate and executive produce the four-part National Geographic docuseries “Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color,” which premieres Monday, days ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when the Allies landed on the coast of France, on June 6. Episodes will also later be available on Disney+ and Hulu.”

Celebrity

Financial Times, “Bridgerton star Victor Alli takes us to his Hackney manor”

“Despite being born in Lambeth, I’m from Hackney at heart, with Nigerian heritage. My parents got married in east London in 1992, and have remained here ever since. I love it so much because it’s very familiar.”

Rolling Stone, “How Food Critic Keith Lee Went From MMA Fighter to TikTok Star”

“He has 16 million followers and can turn a restaurant around with a single TikTok — just don’t tell him he’s famous.”

Sports

ABC News, “Simone Biles wins 9th US Gymnastics championship”

“Simone Biles dominated at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, winning her ninth all-around title on Sunday ahead of the Paris Olympic Games this summer.”

ESPN, “Alonzo Mourning had prostate removed, urges checks for men”

“Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame center Alonzo Mourning underwent surgery to remove his prostate after a diagnosis of Stage 3 prostate cancer, Mourning told ESPN. Additional testing revealed that the cancer did not spread beyond his prostate capsule, and his mid-March procedure has left him cancer-free.”

Culture

AP, “A Ghana toddler sets a world record as the youngest male artist. His mom says he just loves colors”

“His mother, Chantelle Kukua Eghan, says it all started by accident when her son, who at the time was 6 months old, discovered her acrylic paints.”

Pitchfork, “Meshell Ndegeocello Announces James Baldwin Tribute Album, Shares New Songs: Listen”

“The new album is a tribute to James Baldwin and will be released on the 100th anniversary of the iconic author’s birth, August 2.”

What you might have missed

Google, “Improving connectivity and accelerating economic growth across Africa with new investments”

“To help increase the reach and reliability of digital connectivity for Africa, today we’re announcing Umoja, the first ever fiber optic route to directly connect Africa with Australia.”

Essence, “Kentucky Governor Makes Juneteenth A State Holiday, Bans Hair Discrimination.”

“Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has signed executive orders establishing Juneteenth as an official executive branch holiday and enacting protections against discrimination based on natural hairstyles, such as braids, locs and twists. The state is now one of among at least 28 others and Washington, D.C., that have recognized Juneteenth as a public holiday, according to Pew Research Center.”

Misc.

Rise by Barclay is having its June mentorship breakfast with storied investor Kenneth Goodwin. You can register for it here.
In the UK, The Open University has created a scholarship for Black students.
Monica McNutt roasted Stephen A. for his lack of supporting the WNBA.
Designer Heron Preston and retailer H&M partner to mentor emerging designers.
Julia Sarr-Jamois and Rhia Nottingham have launched Best Represents, an agency representing creatives.
Nateisha Scott is now a beauty editor at Vogue Business.

The Black Cat