400 Years Since 1619

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Keron Williams: Tech And Design Entrepreneur Focuses On Accountability

BE Modern Man: Keron Williams

Tech and design entrepreneur, former pro football player (NFL, CFL); 34; CEO, KDW Designs and Technology

As the founder of a tech and design business, I have a passion for collaborating with innovative people to identify solutions at both a strategic and functional level, ultimately enhancing companies and products for front-facing consumers. I make it my priority to create beautiful user-centered applications that deliver an intuitive, organic experience. My efforts have made an impact in the community, as I recently won the Texas Black Expo Millennial on the Move Award presented by the mayor of Houston.

As a tech and design entrepreneur, my appreciation for branding and flair for uniquely aesthetic design stem from a sharp and simple focus on what truly matters: people! This is why volunteerism is so vital to my success, because it allows me to understand people at a cellular level, where I can discover new ways of communication to create change.

HOW HAVE YOU TURNED STRUGGLE INTO SUCCESS?

A stranger to responsibilities, I closed out the end of my freshman semester in college with a 0.75 GPA. These three numbers will never leave my memory because of what followed after: the realization of the importance of accountability and responsibility. I worked rigorously for the next four years to avoid academic probation, stay eligible, and not lose my athletic scholarship.

I never took time off for summers, winters, or spring breaks, to make up for the deficit I placed on myself. Though it was one of the most difficult times in my life, I gained a mindset that carried me throughout the course of my life. The effort that I exerted in the classroom transitioned onto the football field. It was that lesson that opened the door for me to fulfill my dreams of playing professional football and achieving my current success as a tech entrepreneur.

It has been a few years since I’ve left the game, and I have now migrated to Houston, a city that’s not short on opportunity and is quickly becoming one of the biggest tech hubs in America. My journey has placed my tech and design company here, where I can continue to grow and build solid relationships with businesses and people who share a passion for solving problems and setting the tone for creating a better tomorrow. I’m extremely humbled every chance I get to reflect on the transitions of my journey, the ups, the downs, the shortcomings, and the success.

WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST MALE ROLE MODEL AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM HIM?

My greatest male role model is Dr. Dana Carson, overseer of the R.O.C.K. Church. I’ve learned the importance of having a personal relationship with God and what it means to imitate your leader. Dr. Carson is a juggernaut in the arena of academia; he is the only African American clergy to hold an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Duke University. He has written over 200 books and is passionate about equipping leaders to carrying out their calling.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE MANHOOD?

I define manhood in three categories: as a protector, a provider, and a priest. Protector is one who has integrity and honesty, and values the union of family, knowing that their legacy is dependent on his devotion to his sense of responsibility. The provider sees to it that those relying on him are taken care of above himself, but understands that in order for him to take care of others he must first know how to take care of himself. The priest is the government that handles the identity of the minds he is shaping based on his success and failures; knowing that his journey will change the lives of those who choose to follow him.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

The best advice I’ve ever received came from Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, on innovation: Be stubborn on your vision but flexible on the details.

HOW ARE YOU PAYING IT FORWARD TO SUPPORT OTHER BLACK MALES?

Growing up in a single-parent household, with two younger brothers looking up to me for guidance, I faced a lot of disadvantages on our path to adulthood. In our society, I’ve grown to see a pattern of lessons we as black men tend to be deprived of. From being financially undereducated to relationships in broken homes, we tend to be at the back end of a lot of pertinent information. This is why I offer up my time to teach from my own life lessons. I also help other black males who are looking to break into the tech and design industry. I believe it’s important for us to know that knowledge is power, but knowledge coupled with exposure and experience creates the power we need for change.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A BLACK MAN?

I like the fact the everyone wants to be the new black! Black is strong, it’s powerful, it’s decisive, it’s overwhelming, it’s infectious, it’s the mother of all things, and being a black man carries a different level of confidence that comes in the form of an unspoken language.

WHAT PRACTICES, TOOLS, BOOKS, ETC. DO YOU RELY ON FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

One of my go-to books to get back to the fundamentals of tech and design is a Steve Krug book titled Don’t Make Me Think. This book introduces the methods creating of good software program or web site that let users accomplish their intended tasks as easily and directly as possible. Another book that I rely on is Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. This book illustrates the art of negotiating and how to put yourself in position to persuade your audience.

BE Modern Man is an online and social media campaign designed to celebrate black men making valuable contributions in every profession, industry, community, and area of endeavor. Each year, we solicit nominations in order to select men of color for inclusion in the 100 Black Enterprise Modern Men of Distinction. Our goal is to recognize men who epitomize the BEMM credo “Extraordinary is our normal” in their day-to-day lives, presenting authentic examples of the typical black man rarely seen in mainstream media. The BE Modern Men of Distinction are celebrated annually at Black Men XCEL (www.blackenterprise.com/blackmenxcel/). Click this link to submit a nomination for BE Modern Man: https://www.blackenterprise.com/nominate/. Follow BE Modern Man on Twitter: @bemodernman and Instagram: @be_modernman.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2MGZ8A1

Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown dies at age 78

Willie Brown established the bump-and-run style of defense the Raiders used for decades, provided the iconic play in Oakland’s first Super Bowl title, and impacted nearly every player who suited up for the team over the past half-century.

Brown was the consummate Raider.

The Hall of Fame cornerback who helped fuel the Raiders’ success during 12 years on the field before becoming an integral part of the franchise during his post-playing career died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 78.

“Willie Brown was a true Raider and one of the best cornerbacks that ever played the game,” Hall of Fame coach John Madden said. “It was a comfort to a coach to be able to have Willie Brown in the defensive backfield. Willie was a good guy, a team captain, and a true Raider from the day he joined our team in 1967, until he passed away today. He will be missed by me and the entire Raiders organization.”

Al Davis acquired Brown for the Raiders in a trade from Denver in 1967 in one of the best moves he made during his Hall of Fame career running the Raiders.

Brown went on to have a brilliant career with Oakland, highlighted by his 75-yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota that helped the Raiders win their first Super Bowl following the 1976 season.

“His legendary performance on the field changed the way the cornerback position was played and his valued guidance as a coach, mentor and administrator permeated the organization and touched countless individuals both on and off the field,” the team said in a statement. “Willie’s loss will leave a tremendous void, but his leadership and presence will always be a major part of the fabric of the Raiders Family.”

Brown was one of the game’s best lockdown cornerbacks and fit perfectly in Davis’ preferred bump-and-run style of defense on the Raiders. He intercepted 54 passes, was a first-team All-Pro five times in the AFL and NFL and made the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1984.

“I didn’t play DB in college,” Brown told ESPN for a story in 2013. “I just knew that if you beat the hell out of the receivers coming off the line of scrimmage, that was going to affect whether they could catch the ball or not.”

His most memorable play came in the Super Bowl against the Vikings on Jan. 9, 1977. With the Raiders leading the game 26-0 in the fourth quarter, Brown intercepted a pass from Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton and raced for the score, prompting the iconic radio call from Raiders announce Bill King: “He looks and throws … intercepted by the Oakland Raiders Willie Brown at the 30, 40, 50 … he’s going all the way! … Old Man Willie! … Touchdown Raiders!”

“As a player, coach, and executive, Willie served as a tremendous ambassador for the Raiders and football for more than 50 years,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “He will forever be immortalized by NFL Films with his iconic 75-yard interception return in Super Bowl XI as he ran straight into the camera and our imaginations. After a remarkable 16-year Pro Football Hall of Fame career that he began as an undrafted free agent, Willie went on to become a Raiders coach and later a member of the team’s front office. Willie lived the Raiders’ motto “Commitment to Excellence” with integrity and touched the lives of hundreds of NFL players with his wisdom and wit.”

Brown retired two seasons later. He was an assistant coach for the Raiders from 1979-88, was head coach at Long Beach State in 1991, coached at Jordan High School in 1994 and returned to the Raiders when they moved back to Oakland in 1995 as director of staff development.

Brown was a regular presence around the team during that time, working with defensive backs like Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson and Nnamdi Asomugha and in more recent years announcing the team’s picks during the annual NFL draft.

“Going to miss you Willie! I’ll never forget when you called my name on that stage to welcome me into the Raider family 4 life! Prayers to his family,” quarterback Derek Carr wrote on Twitter.

Owner Mark Davis called Brown “one of the greatest to ever play the game.” He thanked Brown for how he treated his mother and Al Davis’ widow, Carol Davis. Mark Davis said Brown always helped Carol Davis up and down the stairs on the plane, joined her for dinners on the road and came to her birthday and Mother’s Day dinners each year.

“It was Willie who was her best friend,” Mark Davis said. “We loved and will miss you Willie.”

Brown played his college ball at Grambling under the great coach Eddie Robinson. He was undrafted after leaving school and was cut by the Houston Oilers in his first training camp in 1963.

He then signed with Denver and became a starter midway through his rookie year and was an AFL All-Pro in his second season.

But his greatest moments came with the Raiders.

“Willie Brown was the epitome of the Raiders motto of ‘commitment to excellence’ that was integral to the team’s sustained success,” Hall of Fame President David Baker said. “He embodied virtues like passion, integrity, perseverance and always led by example. His character, on and off the field, made all those around him better.”

The post Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown dies at age 78 appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://ift.tt/2BEjljr

Megan Thee Stallion and make-up artist argue on Instagram

Megan Thee Stallion is one hot girl who was hopping mad at her make-up artist for trying to take full credit for her beat face.

The “Hot Girl Summer” rapper, who is making waves in the rap game, landed an interview with Vogue that included questions about her make-up regimen and how she manages to look always look flawless.

But Akil McCoy, Megan’s personal make-up artist, felt a bit slighted by her answers. The femcee gave her mom and grandma credit for teaching her the ABC’s of doing make-up, E! News reported.

The rapper was asked, “How did you learn to do makeup?” Megan answered: “One day my grandma just bought me hella eyeshadow from like the Dollar Store probably. I was like 12. When she did that, it was over for these b**ches. My mom arched my eyebrows for the first time when I was in ninth grade and I like took over.”

McCoy left a comment on Megan’s social media page, and called her out for her lack of crediting him for his talent in creating her haute make-up looks, even though she did also mention him in the video.

“I like Akil a lot and we get into it like every day. ‘Don’t do it like that, don’t put it like that friend,'” Megan said in the video. “He’ll be like, ‘I’m not.’ And he doing whatever the f**k he wanna’ do.”

View this post on Instagram

@voguemagazine followed your favorite hot girl around for the day 💁🏽 !!! Link in bio! Ps. they caught Johnathan being the charger thief he really is 😂

A post shared by Hot Girl Meg (@theestallion) on Oct 22, 2019 at 9:40am PDT

Things then got heated online when McCoy took his aggravation out on Megan in her comment section.

He wrote, “By Akilaface,” and credited himself. Megan hit back with a correction, writing, “@akilaface and me.”

“No, you filled in your eyebrows and put on your lighter Mac powder when I was done. This is not a makeup war I always do your makeup and never get credited. That is hurtful,” McCoy replied.

Megan, 24, at this point probably clutched her pearls when her own team member made a fuss on a public forum.

Megan replied, “Woah. First of all if you was really ‘hurt’ you could’ve txt me this. Second you right it ain’t a war bc we all kno I do my makeup and you touch it up or I let you start it and I’ll finish it.”

Things didn’t end there. McCoy then took the issue to his page and shared the Vogue video of Megan along with friend Jordyn Woods with the caption, “#AkilaFace.”

Is it safe to say someone will be looking for a new job in a hot minute?

The post Megan Thee Stallion and make-up artist argue on Instagram appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://ift.tt/2qDLDIO

OPINION: Why an unhinged Donald Trump is simply bad for business

President Donald Trump continues to use racist tropes in his governance of the country, most recently during the House impeachment inquiry on Tuesday when he compared the Ukraine investigation to a “lynching.”

Given that the perpetrators of lynchings were White men, while its victims were typically Black men and women, it is ironic that Trump—who uses racism to appeal to the vilest instincts of his followers—portrayed himself as the victim of Democrats.

Trump’s latest gaffe comes on the heels of yet another unhinged display during a recent rally in Minneapolis. Among many cringe-worthy moments was his insulting characterization of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden as a man who was only successful because as former the vice president he “knew how to kiss Obama’s ass.”

It’s easy to read between the lines. This is Trump’s not-so-hidden message labeling Biden as an “N-lover.”

This term is historically an insult for any white person who does not claim his or her superiority to African-Americans, but instead, chooses to admire them. For white supremacists, this labels a white person as a race traitor in an environment which valorizes racism and the belief that whites are superior to all other races. Trump was directly appealing to racist Americans — those who were apoplectic at having to suffer the indignity of having a Black president.

Donald Trump gestures during a speech to supporters at a rally in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Worse yet, Trump has dared to characterize the push for his impeachment as a “lynching.” And there needs to be a public outcry from as many arenas as possible, particularly the business sector.

During his presidency, former President Barack Obama was repeatedly treated with bias by a mostly white Republican Senate. It is evident that Obama’s election did not turn America into a post-racial mecca, but rather incited resistance among many white Americans.

The staunch resistance to any legislation Obama supported or proposed is an example of racism at its core. While Republicans and Democrats worked together during former President George W. Bush’s presidency, under Obama, Republicans opposed all of his initiatives. This forced Obama to have to use the power of executive action just to enact policy.

Stand up and deliver

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is getting uglier in his quest to rouse his base and ensure his victory. And leaders throughout the country, whether political or business oriented, need to respond.

Leaders of municipalities need to be on the lookout for upticks in racist violence. Studies issued by the Anti-Defamation League suggests racially-motivated hate crimes are already on the rise in major cities as a result of what they call, “the Trump Effect.” Groups supporting Neo-Nazis and racist skin heads are much more active in states with counties that hosted a Trump campaign rally in 2016 and have only been increasing since.

Community leaders and elected officials must step-up and condemn Trump’s racism and position it as un-American, un-Democratic, and un-Patriotic. This is nothing more than a slap in the face of our country’s quest for egalitarianism.

Senior business executives need to come out of their high-rise offices, step from behind their lacquered desks and speak out against racism. While CEO’s have benefited greatly from Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy, they are also aware that more and more consumers expect them to take stands on political issues.

Leaders in industry claim to want workplaces where people of color are able to professionally thrive and contribute to the company’s bottom line. This can only happen if managers and peers treat all colleagues fairly and give everyone the opportunity to reach their potential to innovate and succeed.

President Donald J. Trump and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tour the Pratt Industries plant with Pratt Industries Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

They know that they cannot ignore the power of the external environment on their employees. Black Americans, in particular, are subject to overt harassment by whites who lodge complaints against them simply for carrying out activities of daily living. The stories of “Permit Patty” and “Barbecue Becky,” white women who called police on Black citizens for trivial matters that were not even actually offenses, are unfortunately all too commonplace.

Senior business executives need to come out of their high-rise offices, step from behind their lacquered desks and speak out against racism

Even worse, innocent Black citizens are killed by police at disproportionate rates, including the recent police shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson in Fort Worth, Texas and Botham Jean in nearby Dallas. After such violence, Black employees often suffer anxiety and sometimes “call in Black” rather than go to work and deal with their unsympathetic colleagues.

If corporate executives want to truly lead fairly, then they must use their personalized bully pulpits to speak out against Trump’s unhinged racism. That is, unless they are in alignment with his rhetoric.

A noteworthy exemplar is Kenneth C. Frazier, CEO of Merck Pharmaceuticals, who quit Trump’s advisory council on manufacturing in 2017 after Trump characterized racists in Charlottesville, VA, who led demonstrations resulting in the death of an anti-racist protester, as “very fine people.” Encouragingly, Merck’s Board of Directors supported Frazier’s decision.

Overt racism is on the rise, from the words of our current President to the actions of neighbors across the country. It is time for everyone, from policy makers to business leaders, take a stand and finally say, “No more.”

Katherine Giscombe is the founder of Giscombe & Associates, a research and consulting firm, and has done ground-breaking work on issues facing women of color in business. Katherine has a PhD in Organizational Psychology and trained at the Institute for Social Research, the world’s largest academic social science survey and research organization.

The post OPINION: Why an unhinged Donald Trump is simply bad for business appeared first on theGrio.

from theGrio https://ift.tt/31Botzn

DaBaby Helps a Homeless Mother and her Small Business

Twenty-three-year-old Amanda Rose, who has been living in her 1999 Nissan Maxima with her son, got a boost for her small business when Jonathan “DaBaby” Kirk gave her cash and a shout-out. Rose is a struggling small business owner who sells knit hats. The single mother waited for three hours to see DaBaby after his performance at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. The new rapper showed the encounter on his Instagram account, “GODs WORK. No recognition needed,” as he gives her $1,000 and even promotes her website in the post. Based on that, she received 4,000 new orders for her merchandise, TMZ reported.

In turn, the struggling woman thanked the rapper on her Instagram account.

View this post on Instagram

If I love you than I neeeeddd yaaaaaa !!!!!! I love you so so much thank you from bottom of my heart thank you for supporting me , thank you, thank you, thank you @dababy thank you for believing in me!!! Thank you !!!! Me & my son love you so much, you don’t even know ! Coming from a single mom, a struggling single mom, you are awesome GOD BLESS YOU SO MUCH ! SERIOUSLY!!! it’s only up from HERE !!!! @dababy @dababy #DaBaby

A post shared by @ amanda.rose__ on Oct 16, 2019 at 4:35pm PDT

According to Bossip, his generosity is a regular occurrence. In Washington, D.C., just last week, the rapper approached a group of children who were selling boxes of cookies. After doing some calculations and figuring out it would cost about $230 to buy everything, DaBaby gave the kids more than $300 and he let them keep the cookies.

After releasing his first single “Suge” earlier this year, DaBaby’s debut studio album, Baby on Baby, peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. He then released a second studio album, Kirk, months later and it debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, becoming his first album to top the chart. DaBaby has recently been given the BET Hip Hop Award for Best New Hip Hop Artist and will start the Kirk Tour in Minneapolis on Nov. 16.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/32HBSHz

Pages - HTML

Translate

Where To Start