The last few years have seen the sorts of changes to cannabis legislation across America that would have been simply unimaginable in previous decades. Whether for personal or medicinal use, in its pure or refined form, it’s a booming industry which generated over $50 billion in sales in 2018.
It’s also proving to be a very fruitful industry for businesses set up and run by people of color, although this is a group that still remains under-represented at only 9% of the total number of owners and founders. But there are signs that minority-owned businesses across the United States are starting to thrive which can only help to overcome at least some of the effects of this disparity. Here are just four of them.
Panacea Valley Gardens
Based in Oregon, the business is owned and run by Jesce Horton, the chairman of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. The business specializes in medical cannabis cultivation in its 20,000 sq. foot growing area and also includes an adult-use dispensary. With extensive water recycling, solar paneling and a heat exchange system, it’s also a very ecologically sound enterprise.
Supernova Woman
Formed in 2015 by the group Women of Color in Cannabis, the aim of Supernova Woman has always been educational rather than being a producer and retailer. They run regular courses on everything from influencing legislation to building up cannabis businesses and how to stay in compliance, for example, if you are producing your own oil, such as Rick Simpson oil (or RSO), which you can read more about here.
Simply Pure
Founders Wanda James and her husband Scott Durrah ran a number of businesses including Caribbean restaurants and consultancy companies before alighting on cannabis production due to personal circumstances that brought the issue home. It is their hope that Simply Pure will help to change the public’s view of the relationship between people of color and the drug.
Apothecarry
When Whitney Barry, a Michigan State University graduate, set up Apothecarry, her aim was to take marijuana smoking away from the traditional “stoner” image and to make it a more aspirational and respectable activity. This led to the design of the “Apothecarry Case” – a stylish and discreet hardwood case designed to hold a user’s paraphernalia. The business is all the more remarkable for not just being founded by a woman of color, but also being fully funded by minority investors.Over the coming years, we can expect to see many more minority-owned cannabis businesses emerging which, hopefully, will have a role to play in the overall war on irresponsible drug use. And for any young entrepreneurs wondering what field to enter after graduation, this could well be a great choice offering almost limitless potential. Though there may be some way to go, this industry certainly has the potential to prosper, and with changing attitudes being cultivated alongside the business itself, it’s
Atlanta, GA – February 5, 2020 – The Morehouse College Polo Club has received official notice from the United States Polo Association of their membership into the organization, making it the first Historically Black College & University (HBCU) to have a polo team.
“We would like to officially welcome Morehouse College to the I/I Family! Morehouse is in Atlanta, and will be playing out of The Atlanta Regional Polo Center with Jolie Listonand Frankie Questel,”
Morehouse Polo Club members with rapper Waka Flocka at the 2nd Annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic // Photo credit: ETV Media Solutions
said Amy Fraser, Director Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo, in a letter addressed to the Morehouse Polo Club.
Co-founded by Atlanta entrepreneur Miguel Wilson and Morehouse students Rian Toussaint, Justin Wynn, and Caleb Cherry, the Morehouse Polo Club was started in 2019 due to the help of Wilson’s Ride the Olympics Foundation.
The idea originally came from Cherry’s polo coach, who suggested that he start a team at Morehouse. A veteran equestrian, Cherry competed in dressage for ten years before and started playing polo five years ago. He’s the only player on the team with prior experience with horses.
Through Ride to the Olympics, the students received scholarships that support their membership of the Morehouse Polo Club, giving them access to horses, riding lessons and appropriate gear; allowing them to compete against other polo teams, both domestic and international.
“Just so there is no confusion this is the first HBCU team in history,” Wilson said.
Last September, Wilson’s foundation raised additional funds for the team through its annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic event, where high-profile Atlantans and celebrities attended to support the Morehouse Polo Club.
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About Morehouse Polo Club
Founded in 2019, The Morehouse Polo Club was co-founded by Miguel Wilson, founder of Ride to the Olympics Foundation with Morehouse students Rian Toussaint, Justin Wynn, and Caleb Cherry serving as its first members.
Certified by the United States Polo Association, the Morehouse Polo Club is officially the first polo team at a Historically Black College & University (HBCU).
About Ride to the Olympics
Established in 2017, Ride to the Olympics’ (RTO) primary mission is to empower youth who aren’t exactly born into great means with the opportunity to learn the art of equestrian sports, fashion and leadership development. RTO is also committed to increasing awareness and exposure to horse-related sports such as polo, showjumping and dressage throughout the country; eliminating barriers and strengthening community engagement.
BALTIMORE — Morgan State University (MSU) is slated to establish an international presence on the African continent by way of a new pilot program. During the recent public session of the MSU Board of Regents’ winter quarterly meeting, the Board unanimously approved a proposal for the university to begin offering three degree programs — a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Global Multimedia Journalism and Communications, and a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship — in partnership with the African University College of Communications (AUCC) in Adabraka, Accra, Ghana. The pilot program is scheduled to begin in fall 2020, creating opportunities for western African students to pursue degrees from Morgan. The collaboration marks a first of its kind for an HBCU in Ghana, with Morgan poised to join only a select few American universities offering degree programs in Africa.
“Over the past five years, we have been very interested in Africa and have been eyeing expansion into new markets. We look forward to piloting these three academic degree programs in Ghana, and if this initiative is successful in attracting top-notch students and awarding them highly valued Morgan degrees, we will consider establishing a more physical presence in Africa,” said Morgan President David Wilson. “So long as I am the president of this institution, Morgan will never be in stasis. We cannot afford to stand still. It is incumbent upon the university to always lean forward and continuously explore all viable opportunities in this rapidly transforming higher education environment.”
Coinciding with the expansion abroad, domestically the Board also authorized the University to pursue the addition of a new Master of Science in Advanced Computing degree program. Pending Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approval, the M.S. in Advanced Computing would be the only degree of its kind offered at a Maryland university, and Morgan would be the sole HBCU in the nation to offer it. The availability of the program at Morgan would offer students a solid foundation in emerging areas of computer sciences such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, machine learning and cloud computing.
In January, an administrative team, led by Morgan’s provost, traveled to Ghana for a site visit at AUCC, a University of Ghana affiliate institution, and to finalize the remaining details of the proposed collaboration. The arrangement calls for Morgan professors from the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management and the School of Global Journalism and Communication to travel to Ghana to teach courses throughout the year to incoming cohorts. Each of the three degree programs would be offered in a hybrid delivery consisting of face-to-face and online instruction. Morgan is seeking at least 20 students to begin the pilot. An evaluation of the programs is slated for the end of the inaugural year.
Recent economic trends indicate that Africa will be the top emerging market of the 21st century. With 1.2 billion inhabitants (up from 447 million in 1980), more than 50 percent of them under the age of 30, Africa is projected by the United Nations Population Division to witness an accelerated population growth in the immediate future. Most African governments are allocating a significant amount of their annual revenue to increase access to primary and secondary schools for their young and rapidly growing populations. One area that the majority of African governments have not been able to expand rapidly is access to “tertiary education,” or colleges and universities. At present, public higher education institutions in Africa can accommodate less than 5 percent of the overall demand.
“Morgan State University will deliver highly innovative M.S. and B.S. programs that fully prepare individuals to be global leaders,” said Lesia Crumpton-Young, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Morgan State University. “These program graduates will serve as catalysts for economic growth and development throughout the African continent and beyond.”
In response to a national need for a workforce skilled in computing, Morgan proposes to offer a Master of Science in Advanced Computing degree program, available both online and in a traditional classroom setting. Based on an innovative curriculum, the new program would be designed for students who have recently completed a bachelor’s degree program in computer science and/or related fields and who wish to enhance their careers, explore research opportunities in computer science or apply their acquired skills in transdisciplinary teams or for a specific focus. With a one-year completion option, the M.S. in Advanced Computing would serve as a complement to the new B.S. in Cloud Computing.
“Morgan understands what employers, particularly those in the technology sector, are looking for from our graduates,” added Dr. Wilson. “They need talent with particular skill sets, and we are bringing forth degree programs to provide those skills. Our students who are matriculating in these programs are going to be highly sought after, the world over.”
With the terms of a strategic collaboration agreed to in principle, the final affiliation agreement will require approval from the MSU Board of Regents. The Board’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled for May 5, 2020.
About Morgan Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
Ruth Carter, the Oscar-winning costume designer for Black Panther, is now partnering with H&M to roll out her first fashion collection.
The fun, 11-piece Ruth Carter x H&M collectionharkens back to the late 1980s and early 1990s era and seems to draw inspiration from Do the Right Thing, Carter’s 1989 film with Spike Lee. The Ruthless collection, brimming with the red, black and green colors of the African liberation flag, will be available at hm.com and in select stores on Feb. 13.
Carter said she named her line Ruthless because that’s her on-set nickname, which she calls a “double entendre.”
“I’ve always wanted to turn that around and say, ‘Yeah, that’s right!’ It’s kind of giving you a charge to be ruthless and just go for it!” Carter told The Hollywood Reporter.
Carter noted some color similarities in the outfits that Black Panther’s T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) wore in the movie’s casino scene to the symbolism she is hoping to achieve with the H&M collection. Still, Carter said she had to seriously consider whether she wanted to move in this direction because “fashion was not on my radar.”
“People think that I got into costume design because of fashion, but it was really the vivid stories that I was reading by poets and playwrights that made me want to get into storytelling through costume design,” Carter told The Hollywood Reporter. “Fashion was not on my radar. I was, rather, introduced to fashion through costume design. I started to understand how to use color and fashion and direct it to character.”
Carter said developing the H&M fashion line made her worry that “all of a sudden” she might be considered a fashion designer. “I still wanted to be a costume designer, inserting myself into the fashion world, so I really had to think about how I wanted to communicate that.”
What evolved was an ode to African culture.
“I’ve always been drawn to the Afro future,” Carter said to THR. “It’s been called different things throughout the years; back in the ’90s it was ‘neo-soul’ and there was a lot of interest in colors of the liberation flag (red, black and green) and color-blocking. It’s made a comeback today, which is exciting, because I was always inspired by the messaging that the liberation colors represented — being independent and strong, knowing about the authenticity of your culture.”
“I am reintroducing the big, strong, saturated liberation colors and the idea of learning to trust my voice as an African American woman who went the distance creatively,” Carter added in the interview. “I feel very strongly that trusting my voice is what got me to the Dolby stage to win the Oscar.”
Carter is a 35-year costume design veteran who was also nominated for a costume design
Oscar for Spike Lee’s Malcom X and Stephen Spielberg’s Amistad (1997). Her most recent film work, Coming 2 America, can be seen in December.
Get a sneak peek of the collection below with a little help from social media personality Jay Versace:
It’s been noted in the past that Erykah Badu seems to have a significant influence on the men she has dated, with rappers Common, Andre 3000, Jay Electronica, and The D.O.C., having switched up their styles, creative flow, and lives while engaging with Badu. Now, the rest of the world can experience part of, let’s say, Badu’s essence.
In an interview with 10 Magazine, Badu announces that she will be selling incense that has the fragrance of her vagina. Badu states that she recognizes the power that’s been attached to her for so many years, “There’s an urban legend that my p***y changes men,” she says about the rumors that’s been going around for years. “The men that I fall in love with, and fall in love with me, change jobs and lives.”
Later this month, the eclectic artist has plans to launch Badu World Market. Items that will be available for purchase will include bespoke clothing and accessories, as well as apothecary goods and traditional music merch. And, of course, what Badu calls her “superpower”—that incense that smells like her vagina.
“I took lots of pairs of my panties, cut them up into little pieces and burned them,” as she describes the method for her new product. “Even the ash is part of it.” She insists that the finished product, Badu’s P***y, will smell as advertised. “The people deserve it!”
Badu tells InStyle that the goal of the online store is to “encourage networking among smaller brands and prestigious art houses. It’s a hub to share space with all people.” She also tells the magazine that Badu World Market is inspired in part by the New York City bootleg parody art store and streetwear label Chinatown Market.
OSLO, NORWAY – AUGUST 8: Erykah Badu performs on stage at The Oyafestivalen on August 8, 2019 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Per Ole Hagen/Redferns)
“I think I’m a nonconformist,” she says. “If [there’s] something that I’m told I’m supposed to do, I am very much inspired to go the other direction.” Check out Badu World Market to sign up for information leading up to the Feb. 20 launch of the online store.
This post was written by Cedric ‘Big Ced’ Thronton, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
WASHINGTON — Larry Scott is the new head football coach at Howard University.
Scott comes to Howard after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach in the SEC with stints at Tennessee and most recently Florida.
Before coaching at Tennessee, Larry Scott was an assistant at Miami for three seasons which included a six-game stint as the Hurricanes’ interim head coach in 2015.
Coach Scott’s landing with the Bison comes as somewhat of a surprise. Florida head coach Dan Mullen told reporters that Larry Scott had been in the mix for other jobs before.
But for Scott, Howard is the perfect school to be at.
“Why not Howard,” said the new head coach of the Bison. “The great tradition academically. The opportunity to take this football program, be a part of the athletic community as a whole, and push that brand up to the top where we match the academics. We talked about wanting to make Howard one of those universities that are synonymous with the universities that have high academic standards, but also play and raise the level of athletics to a level too. We want to have great balance, and when people say the word Howard they’ll be like ‘Wow they’re excellent in everything.’”
Howard will be Larry Scott’s first opportunity to be a full-time head coach at any level, and the new leader of the Bison got emotional when talking about what it means to be a coach.
“It’s one of the most awesome things that a young man can experience in his life,” said Scott during his introductory press conference. “To have another man wrap his arms around you and tell you he loves you. Having the opportunity to be called coach, and to call yourself a coach, I think is one of biggest responsibilities that a man can have. When a young man acknowledges you as coach he’s not just giving you a name, he’s allowing you in to impact his life. What a great responsibility that is.”
Recently, I read an article that stated only one out of 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Morehouse College, is known to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that helps prevent the transmission of HIV, to its students. As a Black Gay HBCU scholar, I applaud the fact that Morehouse is making advances in providing HIV prevention but I am also saddened by this fact because PrEP is one of the most important medications of our time and only 1 out of 107 HBCUs offer it.
In a country where Black Americans account for nearly half of all new HIV infections each year despite representing only 13 percent of the U.S. population with estimations that half of all Black Gaymen will contract HIV in their lifetime, the need for PrEP on is at an all time high. According to the CDC, when taken daily, PrEP can reduce an individual’s risk of contracting HIV by 99%. Although the HIV prevention pill has been approved for use for nearly seven years, it’s disappointing that only Morehouse is offering PrEP to HBCU college students despite the fact that Black college students are at a greater risk of acquiring HIV.
On February 7th, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we need to remember that there are still barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care for Black youth on college campuses — and work to be done to break these barriers down.
Introduced in 2012, PrEP, under the brand name Truvada, has cemented itself as one of the most effective tools to combat the spread of HIV. Despite its effectiveness, PrEP is still unknown to many and consequently underprescribed to the people who need it the most. Although black men and women accounted for approximately 40% of persons with PrEP eligibility, a recent study found that nearly six times as many white men and women were prescribed PrEP as were black men and women. Furthermore, nearly 700,000 young people in the USA could benefit from PrEP. Unfortunately, there have only been 27,330 prescriptions issued to this group since 2012.This disparity should motivate us all to increase our efforts to ensure Black youth have access to PrEP.
Even when PrEP is known about and available, other factors such as cost, transportation, and the persistent stigma surrounding HIV prevent people from actually using it. In addition, young people aged 18-29 years have lower rates of health insurance than older individuals.
HBCUs can eliminate these barriers for students by providing PrEP at student health centers. By providing PrEP, HBCUs will not only empower students to take charge of their sexual health but will also show that as Black people we will not allow this epidemic to continue its reign of terror as we embark into a new year and decade. Naysayers of providing PrEP on HBCU campuses might argue that providing PrEP will create a false sense of security among students that would allow them to think that they are immune to other infections that come from sexual activities by taking PrEP. This problem will be alleviated through properly educating students about the uses of PrEP and providing other tools and resources that will help students make informed decisions about their sexual health. Another concern is that providing PrEP may encourage students to engage in more sexual activities in general. This may be hard for some people to accept but the odds of college students experimenting with their sexuality is high, regardless of whether PrEP or even condoms are easily accessible. It is the safest option to give students everything they could need to haveconsensual, hopefully fun, and affirming sex where vital resources like PrEP are an option.
As a Black Gay man, hearing that half of all Black Gay men may contract HIV in their lifetime is very alarming. But instead of just worrying, I am choosing to act by advocating for policies that are inclusive of LGBTQ+ health, including making PrEP available at my illustrious HBCU, Dillard University. By providing PrEP, HBCUs will not only help me but they will also help every single Black student that is at a higher risk of contracting this infection. So on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I ask you to urge HBCUs, near and far, to put the health of students first and provide PrEP on their campuses.
Jermany Gray, 20, is a YouthResource activist with Advocates for Youth, an organization that works alongside thousands of young people in the U.S. and around the globe as they fight for sexual health, rights and justice.
Central State University has named its next president, this time deciding to be led by a male leader.
The black college’s new man Jack Thomas is the biggest announcement that CSU has made since it spoke on the stepping down of the current president Cynthia Jackson-Hammond late last year.
Thomas will take office on July 1.
According to WHIO.com, Jackson-Hammond spoke to attendees, and to Thomas directly, on the occasion about the role he is stepping into, saying, “Will there be challenges? Heck yes,” And, “But guess what? Central State University eats challenges for breakfast. In the coming months, you will learn many things about this great institution. … Today marks the recognition of ‘Go Red Day’. On this day, we pay attention to our health and our heart. How fitting it is that you are being introduced today because you are being charged with taking care of our heart. We are all in great care because the good doctor is here.”
Thomas resigned from his position as president of Western Illinois University after eight years at the school. While he faced unprecedented fiscal challenges during a certain period of time at the college he was able to manage a budget of $224 million.
“I’m honored to have been chosen as the next president of Central State University,” Thomas said. “This institution has such a rich tradition and noble legacy. … We have so many future goals to accomplish, and I know we will have the courage and audacity to do it with excellence.”
Jeremiah Chapman, a graduate of JCSU, originally shared this story via Post and Courier. As an artist/activist, I’m forever indebted to the confidence instilled in me by my historically black university, Johnson C. Smith University. As a first-generation college graduate, it gave me a pathway to power by educating and providing me tools to understand who I truly was, am, and would be. The economic impact of my school was apparent, literally feeding and keeping a roof over my family.
It was at JSCU that I got my start as an
activist and spoken word artist. I also used the university’s facilities
to host community events/initiatives. My HBCU also exposed me to the
vast network of camaraderie, like my friendship with the late
artist/activist Tywanza Sanders (Allen University ’14), who died in the
2015 Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston. His abrupt death further
inspired me to take my music and activism more seriously, and take on
the stage moniker Prophet X.
My story is not unique as a young black man born to a single mother. What is unique is the impact HBCUs have on others like me. These institutions turn the most oppressed into the greatest leaders this country has ever seen and create the bulk of black professionals in the workforce. Much of the magic is in the unlearning that happens at HBCUs, where black students get a clearer sense of history that doesn’t glorify their oppressors, but rather honors the contributions of their ancestors.
As Tom Steyer’s social impact director, I look back to my roots and dream of a better future for all of us.
I
worked with senior policy adviser Arnie Sowell to develop a policy that
would allow HBCUs to have autonomy over their fate, increase funding to
drive down tuition costs, support racial justice, and be centers where
future leaders could be cultivated.
Steyer’s planned $125 billion investment would be a game changer for HBCUs and the communities they serve. Read the full story via Post and Courier.
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Someone you know enjoys playing video games. The numbers increase moment to moment, and so do the potential profits. Published reports place revenue from video games in 2018 somewhere north of $43 million.
“It’s a really good time to be into games or interactive media, augmented reality and those types of things. So we’re just trying to keep up with the demand that’s already there,” said Hilary Huskey, who teaches at North Carolina Central University.
She and Kwame Hawkins, an associate professor at NCCU, are hard at work developing the first gaming degree program offered by an HBCU in North Carolina.
“Our goal is to produce students who are ready to go work in any studio,” said Hawkins, “So that if they have the ability to work on a triple A title they have the skills to do so, and to apply for those jobs.” Read the full story via ABC 11.
(LOS ANGELES, CA) – 15-year old producer, entrepreneur, and award-winning actor Marsai Martin (Black-ish, Little) is among the honorees for the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College – Los Angeles Chapter’s Sisters’ Awards Brunch. In its 26th year, the brunch has raised more than $530,000 in scholarship funds for incoming Spelman freshman from the Los Angeles area. The full story is shared by LA Sentinel.
Karl Ferguson, Jr.
Martin, at just 15-years-old, is already on course to be a
whirlwind sensation. At the age of five she landed her first national
commercial and shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, she was cast as
Diane Johnson on the ABC Emmy-nominated hit comedy “black-ish.”
Alongside an all-star cast, the young starlet has stolen the hearts of
viewers who tune in every week to see her hilarious and witty antics on
the show. Her work on the show has earned her ten NAACP Image Awards as
well as a Screen Actors Guild Award. At the age of 10 she conceptualized
and pitched a movie idea to Will Packer and Universal which became the
feature film, Little. As the star and Executive Producer on the film,
she has become a part of Hollywood history as the youngest person to EP a
major Hollywood film. With opportunities presenting themselves daily,
Marsai is excited about uplifting diverse and young voices through her
production company, Genius Productions, who signed an overall deal with
Universal. In addition to acting, she loves producing, singing, dancing
and creating her own content for social media.
NEWSONE — An Alabama-based historically Black college (HBCU) has taken the necessary steps to ensure that pieces of historic Black art are preserved. According to the Associated Press, Talladega College opened a new museum that will house paintings that visually capture the story surrounding the Amistad slave ship.
A historically black college in Alabama is unveiling a new home for murals that depict a famous revolt by African captives aboard a slave-trading ship more than 180 years ago. https://t.co/EyWQ792WDP
The murals—which were created by artist Hale Woodruff—were commissioned by the institution 82 years ago. They lived in the college’s library for almost 70 years. In 2008, after undergoing restoration with the help of the Atlanta-based High Museum of Art, the poignant pieces embarked on a national tour. Now the paintings—which are worth $50 million—have returned to Talladega. Read more via Newsone.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries today announced a $50 million multi-year initiative to provide students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with scholarships, internships, leadership development, and access to technology and innovation to support career readiness. This initiative will provide support for students attending select HBCUs within the Southern Company system’s service footprint in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
“This investment is a statement of our belief that America needs these HBCU graduates in order to ensure a thriving economy for generations to come,” said Thomas A. Fanning, chairman, president and CEO, Southern Company. “We invite others to partner with us to create the scholarships, internships, and opportunities to train the leaders of tomorrow.”
Southern Company acknowledges that building the talent pipeline at HBCUs cannot be done by one corporation –additional partners are needed to join in support with matching gifts.
HBCUs have a longstanding tradition of graduating compelling and impactful leaders. Founded before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, HBCUs were created, primarily, to provide African Americans with high quality education and skills development when laws prohibited them from being admitted at predominantly white colleges and universities. As a result, HBCUs have become incubators for innovative and bold leadership. The legacy of HBCUs includes pioneering leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Morehouse); Alice Walker (Spelman College); George Washington Carver (Tuskegee Institute); and many others. With an influx of support, HBCUs can grow this legacy by ensuring students have the resources and support not only to graduate, but to excel.
“Southern Company’s initiative is a tribute to the legacy of HBCUs as difference-makers for the American workforce. With this investment, we aim to foster a generation of graduates ready to disrupt industries and offer solutions to address the needs of our changing world,” said Chris Womack, executive vice president and president of external affairs, Southern Company.
Southern Company’s $50 million HBCU initiative is envisioned as a leadership development platform. It seeks to provide funding for programs that address four priorities necessary for producing HBCU graduates who are ready to become innovative leaders:
Provide critical scholarship dollars to ensure talented students can attend and complete college;
Equip HBCU students with access to new technology and train them to use the technology to solve real-world problems;
Expose HBCU students to curricula, mentoring, and pathways to funding that increase their access to entrepreneurship; and
Develop a corporate pipeline for leadership and career development, beginning with internships provided by Southern Company and corporate partners, to create avenues to prosperity.
Further details on this competitive program will be announced by May 1, 2020. The first round of funding will be awarded in time for the academic year beginning in fall 2021.
Southern University and A&M College, the largest historically black university in Louisiana, has made its mark in a major way with the launch of its own hemp-derived CBD product: ALAFIA.
Southern is the first historically black university to launch a hemp product line. The CBD will be available at dispensaries in Louisiana as well as other retail locations. In addition, ALAFIA is available nationwide for sale and distribution. Leaders from both organizations held a press conference and ribbon cutting at H&W Drug Store Dispensary in New Orleans and witnessed the first purchase of ALAFIA.
According to Forbes, ALAFIA, which comes from a Yoruba language meaning “inner peace,” is a result of a partnership between the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge and Ilera Holistic Healthcare.
“This is an exciting time for healthcare and business here in the state of Louisiana, and Southern University is honored to be a part of it all,” said Ray L. Belton, president of the Southern University System. “Southern has been a leader in agriculture and the sciences for 140 years while staying true to its mission of access. This CBD venture with Ilera encompasses all of that. We look forward to advancing this vision and serving as a model for other universities.”
Since the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, or the Farm Bill was passed, hemp-derived CBD is legal for sale in all 50 states. ALAFIA — which means ‘inner peace’ in the Yoruba language — is scientifically formulated, lab tested and pesticide free. “We are excited about the launch of ALAFIA,” said Osagie Imasogie, chairman of Ilera Holistic Healthcare. “Our team created a superior hemp derived product with patients in mind. We are proud of this partnership with Southern and look forward to announcing the next phase of this groundbreaking rollout.”
MOBILE, Alabama – The Central State Marauders earned a crucial road win over Spring Hill, 94-92, on Monday night. With the win, CSU improves to 10-10 overall record with a 7-6 ledger in SIAC play. SHC falls to 6-16 overall and 5-8 in the conference.
In a high scoring first half, CSU and SHC both shot over 50% from the field. CSU led by as many as six. SHC went on a 8-0 run late in the half and took a 50-48 lead at the end of 20 minutes.
In a back and forth second half, the teams were all square, 85-85, with 4:54 to play. CSU went on a 12-2 capped off by a Tom Johnson dunk. Up by seven with 1:27 to play, CSU committed two turnovers on its next two possessions. SHC capitalized on both offensive trips to cut the deficit down to two. With 22 seconds left, CSU came up with the defensive stop and held off SHC for the victory.
The Marauders forced Spring Hill into 17 turnovers while CSU recorded nine giveaways. CSU outscored SHC, 17-11, in points off turnovers. CSU converted 22 of 30 free throws (73.3%) and made 30 of 61 field goals attempts (49.2%).
Freshman Darweshi Hunter made eight of 13 shot attempts for 26 points. Harris Brown scored 22 points. Orion Monford chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds. CSU was able to overcome a 30 point – 15 rebound performance from Spring Hills’s Chase Shellman. Gresyn Rogers added 20 points and seven rebounds.
CSU returns home to host Spring Hill on Saturday.
THE BASICS Score: Central State – 94; Spring Hill – 92 Records: Central State (10-10; 7-6); Spring Hill (6-16; 5-8) Location: Mobile, Alabama
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
CSU’s 94 points ties a season-high. Harris Brown has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games. Darweshi Hunter recorded his eleventh game of 20 or more points this season. Orion Monford’s 13 points is a season-high.
CSU recorded its first win at Spring Hill since February of 2016. Monday’s game was the fourth time Hunter and Brown have scored 20 or more points in the same game.
UP NEXT
The Marauders host Spring Hill on Saturday at 3 pm.
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When you are next on Google, type into the search box something like ‘the most-watched TV shows in history.’ You may be amazed to note that – spoiler alert – in the US, 19 of the 20 most-watched broadcasts have been separate editions of the Super Bowl.
On the all-time list, Super Bowl XLIX – which took place in 2015 – was watched by a staggering 115 million people. If we take a broader snapshot and look at the highest viewing figures for 2019, seven of the top ten most-watched were football games. Even the New England Patriots versus the Kansas City Chiefs playoff game was watched by more peoplethan Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address.
And yet, on a global scale, American football struggles to make inroads into other countries as a mainstream sport of choice.
There’s undoubtedly scope for growth. Just take a look at the attendance figures for the NFL International Series, which routinely sells out huge stadiums like Wembley Stadium in London and the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
However, the attendees are typically hardcore fanatics willing to travel to watch a live NFL game. The real test comes when looking at TV viewing figures in non-North American countries. Here, the problems that the sport’s organizers have become evident.
In the UK back in 2017, the Miami Dolphins took on the New Orleans Saints in an International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Some 84,000 people attended the game in person, and yet only 386,000 viewers tuned into the coverage on BBC 2 – a channel that comes with the low-cost UK TV license and is available on every single television set sold in the United Kingdom.
For context, the final of reality TV dating show Love Island got 2.6 million viewers. So why doesn’t American football travel well outside of North America?
Scrum Down
As we know, European audiences will always have their version of football – soccer – as the number one sport in their hearts. There are a number of reasons for this: tradition is one of them, but its popularity worldwide also means that commercial partners are desperate to get involved in the sport by sponsoring teams and competitions. That flow of money helps to improve the standard of play in the major European leagues, and so the cycle continues.
Soccer is also incredibly popular because there really isn’t another sport quite like it, and yet American football can be said to have a direct competitor in the shape of rugby, a popular sport across Europe and in the southern hemisphere.
Rugby shares some common characteristics with American football. Firstly, it’s a full-contact sport, played on a similar size pitch to football with familiar line markings. And while the ball cannot travel forwards in rugby, the object is still to try and cross the end zone (known as the ‘try line’) and then add further points with a field goal (or a ‘conversion’ as it is named).
In Australia, there is even more competition in the public’s consciousness. This is a country that loves rugby – there are two codes of the sport, League and Union – as well as Aussie Rules football, which also shares many characteristics with rugby.
And then there’s soccer, which also continues to grow in popularity. For evidence of that, look no further than the latest A-League betting odds offered by the sportsbooks: in Australia, as well as the UK and parts of Europe, the standard A-League soccer game had more betting markets available than the Super Bowl.
That just goes to highlight the difficulties that the head honchos at the NFL face in growing the game on a global scale. There is such comprehensive competition from a wide variety of sports that American football doesn’t really get a look in – even when it is given a chance to shine on terrestrial television.
It’s a shame that the Super Bowl, the self-styled ‘Greatest Show on Earth’, fails to attract the attention it deserves outside of North America.
