Fresh Bourbon wins the appeal to have the right to say that they distilled the first Black-produced bourbon in Kentucky, at least for now, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. Black-owned Louisville-based Brough Brothers sued Fresh Bourbon’s marketing, alleging that the claim from Fresh Bourbon “to be the first Black-owned distillery in Kentucky” was false advertising because they didn’t have their own distillery at the time. The appeal Sean and Tia Edwards released a bourbon in 2017, distilled at Hartfield Distillery in 2018. The Kentucky General Assembly recognized the brand
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from asking universities to collect race information when admitting new students, according to Reuters. Colleges that participate in federal student financial programs were asked to share data on students’ race and sex. The department would use the information to monitor its compliance with the US Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that ended affirmative action in higher education. But US District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston issued a temporary restraining order. Trump’s adminstration asking colleges to collect data about race The data
London-based live entertainment platform for African music and talent, The Malachite Group (TMG), has launched its Culture Investment Program in partnership with Republic Europe. Investors and supporters can now share in the platform’s ownership. TMG’s portfolio includes Afro Nation and Piano People, both of which have sold tickets in several countries. The company has become one of the fastest-growing festival-led social media brands globally and co-launched the official Afrobeats Charts with the BBC in the UK and Billboard in the US, cementing its role in shaping the global narrative around
Fenty Beauty has launched Rose Amber,” an AI-powered beauty advisor built for WhatsApp, as reported by Glossy. Users can get reviews, product recommendations, and tutorials through the chat. This marks the brand’s first partnership with Meta in the US. “We’ve always wanted to partner with Meta more deeply,” Nanette Wong, global VP of marketing and communications at Fenty, told Glossy. “WhatsApp is so widely used all over the world, and our community and accessibility are important to us. So, we’re always thinking of new ways to connect with them.” What
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is scrapping grants helping farmers secure land, according to POLITICO. Around $300 million was set aside to support nonprofits, tribal governments, and other organizations. These programs were created by The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program and gave underrepresented farms access to capital, planning, and efforts to reduce land loss. A letter shared with POLITICO said that the program “involved discriminatory preferences based on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” and “wasteful spending.” Scrapping grants for underserved farmers “USDA will prioritize unity, equality, meritocracy, and color-blindness in furtherance
Victor Glover will be the first Black astronaut to travel to the moon. Clover is part of NASA’s Artemis II mission, which includes Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen. The four astronauts will embark on a 10-day trip around the moon. The launch will be the first time astronauts have traveled to the moon in more than 50 years, according to NBC News. Whilst the astronauts will not land on the moon, the launch hopes to pave the way for a moon landing in two years. Glover will
Barbados has launched the Child Wealth Fund, an investment given to every newborn, according to The Voice. Every eligible child will receive BBD$5000 ($2484.16) to help reduce inequality in Barbados. The investment plan was announced in the country’s 2026-27 budget. Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn said an estimated $52.1 million had been set aside for the fund, according to Barbados Today. “The grant, payable to the families, is as follows: $300 per month for twins up to age five and $600 per month for triplets and more up until age
Black Creator Launches App That Allows Creators To Film Vertical and Horizontal Video Simultaneously
Black creator Derrick Downey Jr. has launched DualShot Recorder, an app that allows creators to film vertically and horizontally, according to PetaPixel. The app creates videos in both portrait (9:16) and landscape (16:9) from an iPhone’s dual rear cameras in a single take. In just 24 hours, DualShot Recorder has created such a buzz that it has reached number one on the Apple App Store. Several content creators create videos for different platforms. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts videos are shot vertically, whilst long-form YouTube videos are filmed horizontally.
The Black-founded membership club The Gathering Spot has closed its Los Angeles location, according to AfroTech. The Gathering Spot closing its LA location Co-Founder and Gathering Spot CEO Ryan Wilson said in an email addressed to its members that the LA location is shutting down after failing to reach an agreement with the property’s landlord to resolve ongoing issues. The West Coast location experienced flooding that halted elevator operations and created an ongoing odor, according to Wilson. But he is already looking for a new location in LA. About The
BKR Capital, previously known as Black Innovation Capital, recently announced that its Fund II has closed CA$20 million (around $14.5 million), as reported by TechCrunch. The Fund II Managing partner Lise Birikundavyi told TechCrunch that the fund, which is close to reaching its CA$50 million target, will support “high-growth technology companies led by founders from the Black community, building solutions for the future of work, living, and global connectivity.” It will focus on backing companies in Canada, but will also consider supporting companies worldwide. Companies will receive $250,000 and $1.5 million
