The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media after Skydance agreed to end DEI efforts. The settlement has removed the final step for media and entertainment companies to close the deal. “It is time for a change. That is why I welcome Skydance’s commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement, according to CBS News. Carr mentioned Skydance’s plans to hire a CBS News ombudsman to examine complaints of editorial bias
Rachel Allen, Ebony Cochran, and Jessie Hayes are creating a business school to close the racial wealth gap that hinders Black female entrepreneurs. Detroit has one of the highest concentrations of Black women–owned businesses in the US, but these women will often struggle to access the same financial capital as their white peers. Allen, Cochran, and Hayes are all successful Black entrepreneurs, but they don’t want to leave other Black people behind. “We’ve waited long enough to be invited to spaces that weren’t built with us in mind,” Cochran said.
Etsy Users are urging customers to boycott the online marketplace after “Alligator Alcatraz” merch was found on its website. The term refers to the Trump administration detention centre in the Florida Everglades. Sky News reported that the facility has been compared to a “dog cage” with some detainees saying “not even sunlight gets in.” It’s built from Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers and temporary shelters at the site of a training airport in Miami-Dade County and is situated in the middle of a natural alligator habitat, according to Fast Company.
On Wednesday, 23rd July, President Donald Trump banned “woke AI” and AI models from government contracts. At an AI summit in Washington, Trump condemned “woke Marxist lunacy in the AI models” before signing the orders on stage at the Mellon Auditorium, as reported by The Guardian. The new order states that any artificial intelligence company receiving federal funding must maintain ideologically neutral AI models that are free of “ideological dogmas such as DEI.” This comes after Trump revoked a six-decade-old executive order that prohibited workplace discrimination by federal contractors. President
Black-founded and centered membership club The Gathering Spot has announced its most ambitious plan to date: a 60,000-square-foot space in Atlanta called The Retreat. The new space features a rooftop pool, co-working spaces, and two restaurants, which will cost members $3,100 for an annual membership, according to The Inc. The Gathering Spot’s history The Gathering Spot appears to be on good, solid ground following its shaky merger with Greenwood. In 2022, it announced that Greenwood had acquired it. However, there were reported disputes between the two companies, including reports of a
R&B singer SZA raised the alarm about the environmental impact of AI, especially on Black and brown communities, in a series of Instagram Story posts on July 16. The R&B singer said the only AI she is interested in using is “actual imagination,” according to a screenshot captured by Vibe. “AI is killing and polluting black and brown cities. None of you care cause your codependent on a machine. Have a great life,” the singer added. SZA Calls Out Environmental Racism Fans had flocked to SZA’s page in search of
The Black Founders Matter Fund is eyeing a second fund after fully deploying capital from its first. Launched in 2019, the early-stage fund invests in Black and other underrepresented founders building solutions in sectors such as health, wealth, and economic mobility. Managing Director Himalaya Rao-Potlapally says the experience has offered critical insights, not just for the fund’s strategy, but for how the venture ecosystem can better serve founders long term. Investing in Black startups Black Founders Matter began to gain traction in 2020, coinciding with the resurgence of the Black
Latimer AI, the first inclusive Large Language Model (LLM), and Grammarly are collaborating to help students improve their writing skills and cultural awareness. Grammarly for Education customers will now have access to both services, enabling institutions to enhance students’ academic success and improve learning outcomes. “Our partnership with Latimer helps us further demonstrate this commitment by providing an inclusive LLM to the more than 3,000 educational institutions we work with, supporting equity efforts in higher education,” Jenny Maxwell, Head of Education at Grammarly, said. Increasing students’ cultural awareness Latimer is
Willa’s Books and Vinyl, one of the oldest-operating Black-owned bookstores in Missouri, is about to get a makeover thanks to The Kansas City Defender. The bookstore will transform into a public archive and the new headquarters of KC Defender, a nonprofit digital startup that produces news, digital tools, and public services for Black people across the Midwest. Willa’s struggled with financial troubles, asking for help from supporters across Kansas City so it could remain open. Nina Kerrs, a Mutual Aid organizer with The Kansas City Defender and other team members, started
Loula, a Y Combinator-backed startup, has officially launched with a mission to expand access to doula care by helping providers accept health insurance. The software platform and national doula network also manages credentialing, contracting, and billing, streamlining operations so doulas can focus on patient care. Since its launch in February, the company has expanded from 30 to 135 doulas, served 400 families, and facilitated over 2,000 doula visits. It is experiencing growth of over 50% month-over-month, according to its founder, Lindsey Redd. Supporting Doulas Doulas are trained professionals who give
