NASA’s latest class of astronauts, including two notable Black graduates, Andre Douglas and Christopher Williams, marks a milestone for the agency: it has enlisted 20 Black astronauts since the beginning. A Milestone For Black Astronauts NASA’s recent ceremony at the Johnson Space Center in Houston celebrated the graduation of 10 astronauts, now eligible for various flight assignments. This diverse group is set to participate in future missions, ranging from the International Space Station to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The graduates were selected from an impressive pool of over 12,000 applicants, demonstrating exceptional talent
Jalon Hall, Google’s only Black Deaf employee, has claimed mistreatment and discrimination at the company and has filed a lawsuit. Hall’s Story As reported by the WIRED, in 2020, Hall, an enthusiastic criminal justice master’s graduate, was surprised to receive a LinkedIn message about a job opportunity at Google. Despite her initial skepticism, the offer was genuine, and Hall was soon hired to join Wolverine, a new in-house team tasked with moderating YouTube videos. Her journey to this role was untraditional, as her previous job was at a law firm, where she delved
A federal judge has ordered the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to extend its services to all racial and ethnic groups, not just minorities. Judge Mark T. Pittman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas made this landmark decision. MBDA: What Has Happened? Founded during the Nixon administration, the MBDA’s primary mission has been to assist minority-owned businesses. However, Judge Pittman’s ruling challenges this focus, stating that the presumption that white business owners are not disadvantaged violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. As
Kiesha Garrison, a former Microsoft director, has launched ‘Hey, Black Seattle!’, a platform designed to bolster the African diaspora within the Seattle area. Where Are All The Black People? ‘Hey, Black Seattle!’ is Garrison’s answer to the often-heard lament, “Where are all the Black people?” “When people repeat the popular hyperbole “there are no Black people in Seattle,” they do so out of genuine frustration, but it is clear they are missing out on the important work of the deeply committed Black leaders here,” said Garrison. However, the city does have Black-led organizations, businesses,
Regina Lawless is a former Instagram executive and the founder of Bossy and Blissful, a collective for Black female executives. Meet Regina Lawless Her journey to becoming the first director of diversity and inclusion at Instagram was marked by personal loss and professional insights. According to The Grio, after her husband’s sudden passing in 2021, Lawless found herself reflecting on the complexities of Black women’s success in corporate America. While she felt her role was supported, there needed to be a more comprehensive commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. Bossy And
Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and JP Morgan are among the Wall Street giants that have modified their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As DEI faces scrutiny and right-wing backlash, with accusations of reverse discrimination, companies are cautiously navigating the landscape to avoid potential legal pitfalls. Changes To DEI Programs Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has changed its “Possibilities Summit” from exclusively being for Black college students to opening the program to white students. According to Bloomberg, lawyers have also advised senior executives to remove references to race and gender
RuPaul, the iconic multifaceted celebrity, has embarked on an innovative venture with the launch of Allstora, an online book marketplace. Allstora This 100% author-owned platform empowers and showcases storytellers from underrepresented communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and people of color. Allstora, co-founded by RuPaul alongside bestselling author Eric Cervini and his partner, Adam Powell, hosts an impressive selection of over 10 million titles. Before Allstora, Cervini, and Powell were involved with ShopQueer.co, a precursor to this new initiative. As the chief creative officer, RuPaul will also spearhead RuPaul’s Book Club, focusing
Gerald Black, an acclaimed figure in the African tech ecosystem, has recently been appointed as a Partner at Black Ops and is launching a new initiative: Black Ops Catalyst. This marks a step in Black Ops’ mission to extend its influence across Africa’s tech landscape, emphasizing the importance of operators in shaping and scaling successful ventures. Meet Gerald Black With over a decade of experience as a founder and operator and a background in computer engineering, Gerald is no stranger to the tech world. His journey has seen him navigate the challenges of
Black-owned businesses can help close the racial wealth gap in the United States, a report has found. The “Gather Against the Gap” report marked a significant step towards addressing the racial wealth gap that critically impacts Black Americans. The Racial Wealth Gap The data found a $10 trillion racial wealth gap in the United States. The gap was illustrated by the median wealth of Black households at $20,000, in contrast to $180,000 for white households. This wealth disparity, coupled with an employment and income gap, significantly hinders the economic progress
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is leading a significant initiative to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain central as AI technology evolves. CBC Chairman Steven Horsford, D-Nev., and Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., announced the launch of an artificial intelligence policy series in a recent virtual press conference. The AI Policy Series The series aims to shield Black Americans from potential injustices arising from AI systems. Recognizing the influence of AI technologies, Horsford emphasized Congress’ responsibility to lead the way in understanding and shaping trends that profoundly affect their constituents’ lives and livelihoods. Clarke told reporters, “True innovation
