Milani Cosmetics Debuts the Salt-N-Pepa Collection

Indie beauty brand Milani Cosmetics has partnered with hip-hop legends Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, aka Salt-N-Pepa, on a makeup collection celebrating the iconic style of the famed duo.

“Milani was one of the first brands to champion diversity and stand behind the mission of offering prestige quality to all,” said Evelyn Wang, CMO of Milani Cosmetics, in a press release. “Throughout their career, Salt-N-Pepa have achieved many notable ‘firsts’ – first female rap act to gold and platinum status; first female rap act to win a Grammy Award. It’s been a collaboration that celebrates breaking barriers and true confidence. It was only fitting to launch during Black History Month and upcoming Women’s History Month.”

The limited-edition collection has been available since February 16th, when it launched on Ulta.com and then milanicosmetics.com on February 20th. It can be purchased in stores–including Walgreens and CVS–starting March 15th. To learn more about the collection, click here.

“Makeup has always been a form of self-expression for us. I love to experiment and play with different looks and have been a long-time Milani makeup user. My mother and sisters also use the brand, so this partnership took things full circle,” said Pepa (Sandra Denton). “Milani’s message of diversity and inclusivity really resonated with us,” Salt (Cheryl James) shared. “It was extremely important for us to create products that represent us and are accessible to our fan base.”

SALT-N-PEPA’S HERE Get ready for the most epic collaboration: Milani x @TheSaltNPepa! #MilanixSNP⁣
⁣
Available NOW online at @ultabeauty! Shop here: https://t.co/L45VltQyfU
⁣ pic.twitter.com/CVKQ2KiNVV

— Milani Cosmetics (@milanicosmetics) February 16, 2020

The collection includes:

• The Hot, Kool and Vicious Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette ($19.99): Twelve shade eye shadow (nine matte / three shimmer) “CD” palette with an illuminating champagne highlighter.
• The Very Necessary Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette ($19.99): Multi-use “CD” palette with twelve bold eye shadows (four soft metallics, two mattes, two bold metallics, two shimmers, one pearlized shimmer, one pearl matte) with a shimmering golden highlighter.
• The “Push It” Lip Kit ($11.99): Universally flattering red lip liner and lipstick kit.
• The “Shoop” Lip Kit ($11.99): Iconic ’90s nude lip liner and matte lipstick kit.

Salt-N-Pepa, the first female rap group to attain platinum status, has sold more than 12 million albums to date. The duo’s industry accolades include a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo/Group, various MTV Video Music Awards, and the “I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award” from BET.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2Vqzq7M

University of Southern California Announces Financial Aid Expansion to Benefit Lower Income Families

University of Southern California President Carol L. Folt announced two new policies to make a USC undergraduate education more affordable for those who may not ordinarily meet the financial constraints of the university: families with an annual income of $80,000 or less will attend USC tuition-free and owning a home will not be counted in the calculation used to determine a student’s financial need.

These new actions will start with first-year students who will enter USC in the fall of 2020 and the spring of 2021.

“We’re opening the door wider to make a USC education possible for talented students from all walks of life,” said Folt in a written statement, who has promised to make access and affordability a priority since she became president. “This significant step we are taking today is by no means the end of our affordability journey. We are committed to increasing USC’s population of innovators, leaders, and creators regardless of their financial circumstances. Investing in the talent and diversity of our student body is essential to our educational mission.”

These changes will allow the university to provide more viable opportunities for low- and middle-income students both in California and throughout the United States. Eligible students who apply will receive up to $45,000 more aid during their undergraduate studies.

“Financial barriers should not be a deal-breaker for students with the merit and motivation to attend a top-tier research university like USC,” said Undergraduate Student Government President Trenton Stone. “This plan will help make our incredible university community more accessible to a wider range of individuals from diverse financial, geographical, and cultural backgrounds.”

As part of this new expansion, USC will increase undergraduate aid by more than $30 million annually, which will allow the university to provide stronger financial assistance to more than 4,000 students every year once the program is in full effect. It is anticipated that approximately one-third of the fall 2020 and spring 2021 entering class will benefit from this increase in financial assistance.

“USC is committed to educating the strongest minds, independent of background or ability to pay. For decades, USC has invested in this commitment,” provost Charles Zukoski said. “With this new initiative, we will be even better positioned to recruit students from all backgrounds and strengthen the USC experience for everyone.”

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

Report: Georgia Ranks No. 1 in “Best States for Black Entrepreneurs”

Georgia is the best state for black entrepreneurship–with Texas, Florida, California, and North Carolina rounding out the top five–according to FitSmallBusiness.com, which recently compiled the list.

The study found that the top-ranking states had high numbers of African American-owned businesses as well as fair average corporate tax rates. With black-owned businesses steadily increasing, these states offer assets to black entrepreneurs. States were ranked according to social and financial equality, black-owned business success, economic health, and startup climate and opportunity.

According to research done by the Kaufman Foundation, blacks between the ages of 24-35 are 50% are more likely than whites to engage in entrepreneurial activities. In other words, the most active group of entrepreneurs in America is black men and women. Black entrepreneurship is on the rise in general, but particularly for black women. The number of businesses owned by African American women grew 322% since 1997, making black females the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Overall, the number of women-owned businesses grew by 74% between 1997 and 2015—a rate that’s 1.5 times the national average, according to the “2015 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report,” commissioned by American Express Open. Women now own 30% of all businesses in the U.S., accounting for some 9.4 million firms. African American women control 14% of these companies, an estimated 1.3 million businesses, according to Fortune.com.

FitSmallBusiness.com also polled over 1,300 adults in the U.S. about their opinions regarding black entrepreneurship. Roughly 39% agreed that the economy would be in a better position if black entrepreneurs had more opportunities.

“With this being the inaugural study, our goal was to focus on the data that paints an overall picture of what the African American entrepreneur faces in the business world. While we weren’t surprised by certain findings, some of the state rankings told an interesting story of the unique journeys that African American entrepreneurs have to traverse,” said Michael De Medeiros, FitSmallBusiness.com’s special project editor, said in a press release.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/3ce8fD8

Report: Georgia Ranks No. 1 in “Best States for Black Entrepreneurs”

Georgia is the best state for black entrepreneurship–with Texas, Florida, California, and North Carolina rounding out the top five–according to FitSmallBusiness.com, which recently compiled the list.

The study found that the top-ranking states had high numbers of African American-owned businesses as well as fair average corporate tax rates. With black-owned businesses steadily increasing, these states offer assets to black entrepreneurs. States were ranked according to social and financial equality, black-owned business success, economic health, and startup climate and opportunity.

According to research done by the Kaufman Foundation, blacks between the ages of 24-35 are 50% are more likely than whites to engage in entrepreneurial activities. In other words, the most active group of entrepreneurs in America is black men and women. Black entrepreneurship is on the rise in general, but particularly for black women. The number of businesses owned by African American women grew 322% since 1997, making black females the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Overall, the number of women-owned businesses grew by 74% between 1997 and 2015—a rate that’s 1.5 times the national average, according to the “2015 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report,” commissioned by American Express Open. Women now own 30% of all businesses in the U.S., accounting for some 9.4 million firms. African American women control 14% of these companies, an estimated 1.3 million businesses, according to Fortune.com.

FitSmallBusiness.com also polled over 1,300 adults in the U.S. about their opinions regarding black entrepreneurship. Roughly 39% agreed that the economy would be in a better position if black entrepreneurs had more opportunities.

“With this being the inaugural study, our goal was to focus on the data that paints an overall picture of what the African American entrepreneur faces in the business world. While we weren’t surprised by certain findings, some of the state rankings told an interesting story of the unique journeys that African American entrepreneurs have to traverse,” said Michael De Medeiros, FitSmallBusiness.com’s special project editor, said in a press release.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/3ce8fD8

Heartbreaking bodycam video shows 6-year-old girl being arrested at Orlando school

On Monday, February 24, a body camera video was released that showed last year’s arrest of a 6-year-old Black girl by Orlando police. The child had thrown a temper tantrum in school, resulting in three school employees reporting that they were punched and kicked.

Kaia Rolle had calmed down and was listening as a woman read her a book inside an office at Lucious & Emma Nixon Academy on Sept. 19, 2019, when two Orlando police officers approached her with ‘zip tie’ handcuffs to place her under arrest.

READ MORE: Florida cop who arrested 6-year-old girl for throwing tantrum, suspended

“What are those for?” Kaia reportedly asked the officers, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

“They’re for you,” Officer Dennis Turner reportedly replied back as the other officer tightened them around Kaia’s wrists.

The first-grader immediately started crying. “No… No… Don’t put handcuffs on!” Kaia told officers, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The school staff member who was reading to Kaia told her to go with the police officers and that her grandmother would pick her up.

Kaia’s and another 6-year-old’s arrests at the school last September, caused national backlash for the Orlando Police Department because of the student’s young age. Ultimately, Turner was fired.

Now, bodycam images and video have been released to the public and it’s sure to stir up even more condemnation.

“Help me, help me, please!” Kaia can be heard crying as officers placed her in a police SUV to be transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center and school employees looked on.

Turner reportedly told school officials that he had arrested 6,000 people throughout his police career and that the youngest was 7. When they informed him that Kaia was six, he seemed to take it in stride, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

“Now she has broken the record,” Turner reportedly said.

“The restraints, are they necessary?” one school employee asked Turner.

“Yes,” he replied, adding: “If she was bigger, she would have been wearing regular handcuffs.”

The body cam shows officers walking with Kaia to the squad car as she cried, “I don’t wanna go in a police car.”

The other officer, who has not been identified, responded: “You don’t want to? … You have to.”

“Please, give me a second chance,” Kaia begged. Still, they put her in the squad car and ultimately took her to the county Juvenile Assessment Center where she had to stand on a step stool so her photo could be shot. Her fingerprints were also taken.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Kaia the next day.

Meralyn Kirkland, Kaia’s grandmother, said it was tough watching the bodycam footage but that she’s glad it has been released so everyone can see how traumatizing this was for her grandbaby. Kirkland told the Orlando Sentinel she wants the video to prompt people to support a proposal that makes 12 the minimum age for officers to arrest a child.

READ MORE: Florida cop who arrested 6-year-old girl over school tantrum fired

“I knew that what they did was wrong, but I never knew she was begging for help,” Kirkland said to the newspaper. “I watched her break.”

Kirkland said Kaia had sleep apnea, which was causing her some problems in school. Despite that, she said she had been working with school officials on the issue, prior to Kaia’s arrest.

The young girl is now enrolled in private school.

The post Heartbreaking bodycam video shows 6-year-old girl being arrested at Orlando school appeared first on TheGrio.

from TheGrio https://ift.tt/3cbTpwT