Byron Allen has become the majority owner of Buzzfeed after finally closing the acquisition of the digital media brand. Allen will take over as CEO of the company, with former CEO Jonah Peretti serving as “president of BuzzFeed AI.” In this role peretti “will bring his strategic focus to applied AI research, product innovation and the development of new technology-driven media formats,” according to Variety. BuzzFeed’s transaction with Allen Family Digital was closed on Wednesday, 27 May, with Allen Family Digital acquiring 40 million shares of BuzzFeed common stock. Buzzfeed
$942 million — or just 0.32% of total US venture funding went to companies with a Black founder or co-founder in 2025, according to Crunchbase data. The tide has turned slightly in 2025, with US-based startups founded or co-founded by a Black founder raising $643 million. Most of this funding was raised in the first quarter of the year, marking it the most raised in a single quarter since Q2 2022, when $653 million was raised by a Black founder or co-founder. However, Crunchbase highlights that this is still a
Black Women’s unemployment rate has reached 7.3% in 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last year, Black women’s unemployment rate increased from 5.1% in March to 6.1% in April, reached an all-time high of 6.2% in May, then dropped to 5.8% in June, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data reported by The 19th. DEI and AI affecting Black women’s employability Black women are more likely to be in departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, which have been targeted for cuts by DOGE.
Kevin Hart shared that his confirmed Hartbeat has downsized, but it is here to stay. When asked whether Hartbeat is still operating on The Breakfast Club, Hart said, “Hartbeat is never going anywhere.” This came after reports from employees who told Bloomberg that Hart was absent from his company, leaving employees worried after layoffs. Hart has also changed his phone number since the layoffs that eliminated almost 25% of his workforce. The current status of Hartbeat Hart told The Breakfast Club that his company did downsize, saying, “My executive team is still
Kenya is seeking KES 2.7 billion ($20.8 million) from the government to develop an AI-powered system to monitor social media. The State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications told the National Assembly’s ICT committee that the tool will help curb misinformation on social media. The AI tool would analyze social media conversations and public opinion on government policies, according to MEXC exchange. Kenya building an AI tool Officials state that the tool will improve the way the government communicates its work to the public, as reported by Techpoint Africa. It would
The Virginian Church, Alfred Street Baptist Church, has agreed to provide financial support to the Legion of Black Collegians following the University of Missouri’s announcement that it will end funding for several organizations. In April, the university shared that the Legion of Black Collegians—its historic Black student governing body — and other minority-associated groups would no longer receive funding. Additionally, these groups will not be recognized as university-sponsored organizations, according to Inside Higher Ed. The University of Missouri scrapping funding for minority groups In April, the university announced that the
Wells Fargo will settle a $100 million lawsuit alleging discrimination in loan approvals and misrepresentation over its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, according to Banking Dive. The lawsuit states that Wells Fargo approved less than 50% of Back homeowners’ refinancing applications in 2020. It also stated that the bank held fake job interviews with women and people of color to satisfy internal DEI requirements, without a genuine intent to hire them. The settlement The bank has agreed to pay $110 million, of which $100 million will go towards the Borrower
Uganda’s communications regulator has given Starlink a provisional license to operate in the country, as reported by Techpoint. The license was granted to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, but Airtel Uganda had previously started testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) LEO satellite service. Starlink operating in Uganda Starlink could improve connectivity in locations where terrestrial network infrastructure is limited, as the direct-to-call l technology allows standard mobile handsets to connect directly to satellites without specialized equipment. Airtel Uganda’s testing of the D2C service underscores the growing interest among established telecom operators in
South Africa’s Minister for Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, is planning to introduce legal changes to the country’s Electronic Communications Act to allow Starlink to operate in the country, according to Techpoint. Starlink was blocked from operating in South Africa due to its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules. South Africa created the BEE laws to address racial inequalities stemming from apartheid. The policy is supported by the African National Congress Party (ANC), a political party in South Africa known for its opposition against apartheid. Changes to the Electronic Communications
The word “Black” has been erased from a set of bills aimed at addressing the Black maternal health crisis, according to The 19th. The Momnibus Act, which was filed in March, was called the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2023, and was previously known as the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020. Changes to the word ‘Black’ in the bill References to the word “Black” in the bill have changed over time. In 2020, the text included numerous references to Black women. These were
