Black-Owned Specialty Coffee Brand Expands Into Whole Foods and Amazon

At a time when black businesses are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, a black-owned coffee company announced a major distribution deal with Whole Foods Market and Amazon.

Blk & Bold, which claims to be the first-ever black-owned nationally distributed coffee and tea brand, has officially launched in Whole Foods Market and Amazon as of late April.

“The seemingly overnight shift of the retail landscape and store operations have no doubt impacted the flow of emerging brands entering and expanding in the market. This is also why the alliance with Whole Foods and other key retailers continues to showcase the support and belief in BLK & Bold as a coffee brand,” said the Blk & Bold co-founder and CEO Pernell Cezar in a statement to BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Blk & Bold launched in 2018 after Cezar and his childhood friend Rod Johnson each left their careers in higher education fundraising and retail merchandising. They launched BLK & Bold coffee from their headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

Blk & Bold

The brand, which had a test run of 15 locations in Whole Foods as of mid-April, is expected to continue its expansion into Whole Foods Midwest Region to over 31 locations to Nebraska, Illinois, and Iowa markets.

The product lineup consists of three whole bean coffees with features ranging from medium and dark roast blends, single-origin light roasts, and fair trade or direct trade sourcing integrity.

In conjunction with the Whole Food expansion, BLK & Bold is making its products available on Amazon.com after launching its official Amazon storefront last month.

With every cup of coffee sold, the brand donates a portion of the proceeds to several different non-profit organizations and social causes, including the eradication of youth homelessness and food insecurity.

“As our national and regional retailer partnerships grow, so do the opportunities for anyone to participate in supporting at-risk youth, the demographic in most need,” said Johnson. “Creating a pathway for everyday consumers to become contributors to the most vulnerable communities is as personally fulfilling as it is motivating for BLK & Bold’s growth.”

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Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Issa Rae, and Yvonne Orji Team Up With Budweiser to Stress the Importance of Check-ins

After weeks of social distancing, Budweiser teamed up with a collection of black athletes and stars to revamp their iconic “whassup” commerical to remind people to check in with their loved ones.

The original “whassup” ad debuted back in 1999, becoming a pop culture phenomenon that created a widely-used catchphrase. Now, more than two decades later, Budweiser has reimaged the commercial with a modern-day twist as the country comes to grips with the coronavirus crisis and social isolation.

The campaign’s first episode launched on April 23, featuring NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, retired NBA star Chris Bosh, WNBA star Candace Parker, and DJ D-Nice.

The second ad in the campaign was released Wednesday, starring Wade and Union, along with actors Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Broadway star Daveed Diggs. In the ad, the celebrities chat about living in isolation before yelling out “whassup.” Afterward, Union asks the group how they seriously feel about the pandemic. Budweiser says the goal of the campaign is to connect people with each other in order to stave off isolation and loneliness.

“My wife and I wanted to partner with Budweiser because we believe the message is crucial,” said Wade in a statement sent to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We both remembered the original ‘whassup’ ads and love the idea of bringing them back as a genuine PSA to connect with each other. We encourage everyone to take a moment out from their day to check-in with their friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”

As part of the campaign, Budweiser will make a donation to The Salvation Army for essential support of those in need due to COVID-19.  The Salvation Army launched a nationwide hotline in April in response to rising levels of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the pandemic.

“Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to remain virtually connected in ways that otherwise we would not have been able to within the current distance-mandated climate,” said Monica Rustgi, Vice President of Marketing for Budweiser. “In times like these, something as simple as a hello, or in this case ‘whassup,’ means a lot.”

According to Rustgi, the spot serves to remind people of the power of human connection, especially in times of crisis. “Following the unbelievable success of the original ad campaign, we found this to be a meaningful opportunity to revisit the original spot’s simplicity and focus on human connection in a time when people may be feeling hopeless, uncertain, and alone,” she said. “Our hope is that by getting people to check in, we can play a small part in bringing the world closer together during these trying times.”

Watch Budweiser’s latest ad below.

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Monica speaks out on potential Verzuz battle with Brandy, says it must be ‘celebratory’

Verzuz battles have taken the country by storm as male music producers and songwriters go song-for-song on Instagram Live.

As music fans await the first female acts and first artists’ battle of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott to take place next week, the possibility of a Brandy and Monica pairing would be big.

The two singers’ 1998 iconic duet “The Boy is Mine” went double platinum and topped Billboard charts. Fans are asking for this event, but Monica has some reservations, Madamenoire reports.

When asked in a radio interview about a potential Verzuz session with Brandy, Monica took issue with the idea of a “battle.”

READ MORE: Erykah Badu and Jill Scott to battle on Verzuz

“The reality is, I think ‘Boy Is Mine’ is such a phenomenal record because we’re polar opposites. And I think that’s dope,” Monica told Atlanta’s V-103.

“[I]t would have to be a celebratory form of it. It would just have to be. I just don’t see it any other way,” the Grammy-winning singer said.

Monica recognized that fans have been taking sides between her and rival Brandy. She said the event would have to be in the vein of the Teddy Riley vs. Babyface session that more than half a million people tuned in for on Instagram Live.

“They knew each other’s records, they gave each other love the whole time and I think that’s what made it so dope,” Monica said about the battle of the new jack swing pioneers.

“People have put us against each other for twenty-something years,” she continued. “I’ve been trying to tell people for about 25 years you can like both! You’re going to turn this into 1998 all over again, and I have no interest in that.”

READ MORE: Brandy’s rivalry with Monica is deeper than you think

Musing of a possible Brandy and Monica clash was first brought up by Brandy’s brother Ray J. During an interview with Wendy Williams, he spoke about his sister’s abilities.

“Brandy, she could battle,” he said. “A good Brandy and Monica battle? Ooooooh!”

When Brandy was asked about a battle with Monica by Essence Magazine, she stated during a Facebook Live session that she was open to it.

“I don’t know. I’m open. I’m open for sure. I’m not closed-minded,” she said.

The post Monica speaks out on potential Verzuz battle with Brandy, says it must be ‘celebratory’ appeared first on TheGrio.

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R. Kelly says he’s ‘likely diabetic’ in third attempt to be released from jail

R. Kelly has twice requested a release from jail to no avail and he is now making a third attempt, citing medical concerns.

Legal representation for the disgraced singer is fighting again for his release from a Chicago lockup until his tentative trial later this year after medical tests in March showed that he is “likely diabetic,” as reported by TMZ. Kelly faces multiple federal charges of sex crimes.

A lawyer for the “Bump and Grind” hitmaker in a court document accused the Bureau of Prison of failing to disclose information of the medical information. It was also said that Kelly suffers from high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

READ MORE: R. Kelly claims he’s not a flight risk due to owing IRS nearly $2M

Kelly’s lawyer claims that he should be released because he is vulnerable to COVID-19, the fast-spreading virus that has infected more than 1 million people and killed tens of thousands in the United States.

Kelly is currently awaiting trial in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. After the coronavirus pandemic hit America, he asked a judge for bail in April in fear of contracting the virus. U.S District Judge Ann Donnelly denied the request on April 7, concluding that she had “no compelling reasons” to release Kelly and that he was still a flight risk, USA Today reported.

A second attempt to be released was filed and denied by the same judge on April 21, this time stating that Kelly could potentially “intimidate prospective witnesses.”

The third request addressed this issue, stating that Kelly received a visit from an unnamed girlfriend, who’s listed as one of his victims, and has made no attempt to intimidate her.

READ MORE: Coronavirus hits U.S. prisons, putting imprisoned populations at risk

Despite growing numbers of convicts testing positive for coronavirus in America, Judge Donnelly said that MCC in Chicago has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Kelly’s trial is set to begin in October. The crooner, who has been in detention since July, faces 18 federal counts in multiple jurisdictions, including Illinois and New York. Those counts include sexual assault, child pornography, kidnapping, forced labor, racketeering, and obstruction of justice.

He faces a maximum of 30 years if convicted in Illinois and 25 in New York.

The post R. Kelly says he’s ‘likely diabetic’ in third attempt to be released from jail appeared first on TheGrio.

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Mental Health Month Takes on New Meaning for Black America Amid COVID-19

Today marks the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month. And it’s fair to say that mental health and wellness is being taken more seriously amid COVID-19. As millions of Americans stay home and practice social distancing, there is a national conversation about the importance of self-care and mental wellness.

We recently spoke with Tonya Ladipo, founder and CEO of The Ladipo Group L.L.C., based in Philadelphia about the mental and physical impact the pandemic is having on people mentally. And during that conversation, she urged black people to not put their mental health on the back burner during these uncertain times.

Black Health Matters

Someone once said, “When white America catches a cold, black America catches the flu.” Others have even gone as far as to say pneumonia. A recent study by Dr. Cato Laurencin, CEO of the Connecticut Convergence Institute and Editor-In-Chief for the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities outlines the health disparities blacks are facing amid the coronavirus.

In addition to the virus, pre-existing social inequities are attributed to the decline in the overall health of black people.

To that point, Ladipo told BLACK ENTERPRISE that self-preservation is key. “We have been through so much that the need to make sure we are well is not optional.”

She also said, “They can’t take our minds. I feel as though we have to fight to protect it [our mental health] especially through COVID-19 because we’re on lockdown—and because it’s hard. We have to protect our mental health and wellness like a job right now. We have to make sure that when we come out of this—and we’re bruised and maybe having broken bones—that we’re not fully broken.”

Although black people and those living in underserved communities are being hit the hardest by COVID-19, there are a number of actionable steps that people can take to practice self-preservation during these times.

Here’s advice we’ve collected from mental health professionals.

Preserve Your Mental Wellness:

• Find a virtual therapist
• Unplug from your screen for a period of time daily.
• Turn off the news and/or mute your news push notification.
• Know your limits. — Be able to set limits and don’t overload yourself. We live in an overload culture and it’s very easy to do more and take on more. Sometimes we find our significance in the amount of things that we do and we find ourselves wearing ourselves out
• Take vacations or staycations. – Know how to step away and take a real vacation or staycation and do what reenergizes you and things that nourish your mind and body. If what you need is to be away from everyone, do that.
• Watch what you eat. – Don’t give your taste buds over what your body really needs.
• Maintain a regular cycle of 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night
• Exercise for 30 minutes.
• Journal about how you are feeling.
• Read books that take your mind to other places.
• Check-in with family members and friends.
• Take time for yourself.
• Minimize or manage the amount of stress in your life—recognize what things are stressful to you and have a way to minimize them.

To read more about how COVID-19 is impacting the black community, click here.

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