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After four years, Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, founder of the clean beauty brand Ami Colé, announced on Instagram on Thursday (July 17) that she’s winding down the company. What began as a mission to create makeup that truly works for melanin-rich skin, grew into much more. It became a movement and a metaphorical home for many, just like the salon her mother once built, she noted. In the heartfelt post, N’Diaye-Mbaye called this moment “another love letter, not a goodbye.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ami Colé (@byamicole) “We were a brand rooted in purpose, storytelling, and the bold celebration of who we are,” she wrote. “Let’s not forget bomb ass products!” From the earliest sketches in her Brooklyn, NY, apartment to seeing Ami Colé’s products on Sephora shelves across North America, she noted, N’Diaye-Mbaye turned a vision into reality. “This moment is bittersweet… Thank you for everything you’ve taught me about living your dreams out loud,” she wrote. She also...
Chris Paul’s plant-based venture is making its way into another major retailer. In 2019, the NBA player, who was in his 15th season at the time, made the decision to adopt a plant-based diet, GQ reports. While the initial switch was performance-driven, he made the change indefinite after noticing a reduction in routine inflammation and body aches, along with improved stats on the court. “It’s been a good lifestyle change for me,” he told the outlet. Paul, who according to Spotrac has reached $400.9 million in career earnings, has also made plant-based living a central part of his business strategy. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he invested in Black-owned plant-based brand Misha’s, which is also backed by Jay-Z. In 2021, Paul also struck a deal with digital delivery service GoPuff to expand its “Better For You” product category in the interest of making plant-based products more accessible. A year later, this led to Good Eat’n being introduced with offerings such as chips,...
Despite growing backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the corporate world, shareholder support for these efforts remains strong. Shareholders at 30 of the largest U.S. companies just delivered a powerful counterpunch to the anti-DEI movement. During the 2025 proxy season, every single one of the anti-DEI proposals filed at these corporations’ shareholder meetings was rejected, according to a news release. The companies represent over $13 trillion in market value and include prominent names such as Apple, Costco, Mastercard, Levi Strauss, McDonald’s, Walmart, and Coca-Cola, per Impactivize data. According to the nonprofit, most of the proposals failed by wide margins, with 98% to 99% of votes against cutting DEI initiatives. “Shareholder voting margins send a clear message: Investors understand that diversity is good for business,” Impactivize Founder Nancy Levine Stearns said in the news release. “The overwhelming tallies are significant, corporate...
Target is once again under fire — this time not just from consumers but from activists within the Black community. The backlash follows a $300,000 donation Target made to the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. (NBCUSA), as USA Today reports. Target says the gift is part of its ongoing investment in community development, but leaders behind two major boycotts are calling for the funds to be returned. Backlash Over Strategy And Solidarity Minnesota-based civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong launched a boycott of Target in early 2025. Months later, Pastor Jamal Bryant, senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, GA, called for a 40-day boycott, and then urged permanent disengagement from the retailer unless it made major changes, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Now, both leaders say Target’s donation to NBCUSA undermines their push for meaningful corporate accountability. “This $300,000 payment does not heal—it deepens the wound,” wrote...
After months of political pressure and headlines about companies cutting diversity programs, it looked like corporate America was backing away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Some businesses walked back hiring goals or closed departments. Others changed job titles or removed DEI language from their websites altogether. It felt like a full-on retreat. But now, a new study, according to USA Today, shows that corporate DEI rollbacks in 2025 might be slowing down. And the reason goes beyond politics. A Slowdown After The Backlash When former President Donald Trump returned to the White House, his administration quickly went after DEI. One executive order even threatened to pull federal contracts from companies that kept DEI programs in place. That caused a scramble. According to Gravity Research — a group that provides insights on how companies can anticipate risk and respond to political and social pressure — about 80% of DEI-related changes happened right after Trump took...
South African brewer Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela wants to see more diversity within the beer industry. Nxusani-Mawela is the founder of Tolokazi Premium Beer & Cider, which offers a variety of beers and ciders that honor the legacy of African female brewers and is inspired by the Tolo Kingdom’s history of brewing, according to information shared on her LinkedIn. She began brewing back in 2007 after obtaining a microbiology degree from the University of Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria, mentions AP News. She also found that she was able to put her science background to good use with brewing. “I sort of fell in love with the combination of the business side with the science, with the craftsmanship and the artistic element of brewing,” she told AP News. This led Nxusani-Mawela to receive further education at the Institute of Brewing and Distilling between 2006 and 2014. By 2019, she positioned herself as a founder within the brewing industry and also owns a brewery that sits in...
If you’ve bought household items, fitness gear or tech accessories from Costco in the last few years, now is the time to double-check your purchases. The company announced on its website that several manufacturers have issued product recalls for some of their products, issuing a warning that urges customers to stop using the products immediately due to safety concerns. The recalls affect a range of popular items, including air conditioners, dumbbells, power banks, and even tires. Here’s a closer look at the items being pulled from shelves, the associated risks, and how to handle them if you have one of these products at home. Danby Air Conditioners Could Pose Mold Risk One of the most urgent recalls comes from Midea America Corp., which is recalling its Danby U-shaped window air conditioners sold at Costco between June 10, 2021, and Feb. 2, 2022. The company said the units may retain standing water that doesn’t drain properly, creating an ideal environment for mold to grow inside...
Target boycott efforts are intensifying as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) steps up its push for corporate accountability. CBC Chairwoman Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) and members of the caucus’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force recently met with Target CEO Brian Cornell, according to a press release from the Caucus. The meeting focused on the company’s rollback of DEI commitments, especially those affecting Black-owned businesses. Lawmakers Say Target’s Explanations “Fell Woefully Short” The CBC described the conversation with Cornell as “candid and direct,” but ultimately stated that members were left disappointed. “The Congressional Black Caucus met with the leadership of the Target Corporation on Capitol Hill to directly address deep concerns about the impact of the company’s unconscionable decision to end a number of its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,” Clarke said in a lengthy statement in the press release. “Like many of the coalition leaders...
A trip to Italy led this couple on a journey to making moves in the wine space. Married couple Carissa and Kenneth Stephens shared a bottle of wine in 2014 that changed their trajectory forever. According to their Pur Noire website, the founders were surprised when they learned that the bottle was from a minority-owned wine brand, and from there they were inspired to widen their palates. This led to a trip to Todi, a town in Umbria, Italy, notes Travel Noire. The pair indulged in various wines such as Barolo and Chianti Classico and also solidified they no longer wanted to solely be consumers in the industry. “While in Italy, we fell in love with wine. We fell in love with the communal aspect of it, and when we got back to the States we really wanted to dive in and explore that,” Carissa told Houston Life. Pur Noire In 2018, the Houston couple decided to enter into business together and form their winery and tasting room, Pur Noire. An official launch had been set for 2020, but like...
Tyra Banks is dedicating her latest business move to her mother. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the supermodel is the proud founder of the ice cream shop Smize & Dream, which had planted its seeds in Dubai and Washington, DC. The venture is very dear to the mother and daughter. Carolyn London, Banks’ mother, sacrificed in her earlier years to provide for both her children after a divorce, Today reports. Grabbing ice cream weekly would be a way to convene and reflect on a more hopeful future. “Years ago, when I was working so hard as a single mom, I worked more than one job,” London said in an Instagram post. “I worked two jobs. I worked three jobs. I did whatever I could. And the way we would celebrate each week that I got through is I would take her for ice cream in Hollywood. We live near Hollywood, and we would go for ice cream, and we would sit in the car and talk about what we wanted out of life, and where we wanted to go and how we wanted to live and her dreams, and try to...
If you own an Anker PowerCore 10000 power bank, now’s the time to check your device. Anker issued a major recall after receiving 19 reports of fires and explosions, pulling more than 1 million units from the market. The recall, announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), highlights growing concerns about the risks tied to lithium-ion batteries. What Devices Are Being Recalled? Anker’s website states the recall covers PowerCore 10000 power banks (model A1263) sold between June 2016 and December 2022. These portable chargers were widely available online and in stores across the U.S. To check if your device is impacted: Find the serial number on the bottom of your charger. Enter it on Anker’s recall website to verify. Double-check letters and numbers carefully (common mix-ups like using “O” vs. “0” or “I” vs. “1” can lead to errors). If your serial number is missing or unreadable, Anker advises reaching out to its support team directly for guidance. This isn’t the...
Jamaica’s largest fast-food chain, Juici Patties, is planning a U.S. expansion, with 57 franchise agreements signed and locations set to open by 2027, Black Enterprise reports. Founded in 1980 by Jukie Chin in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica, according to its website, Juici Patties began with one standout product: the Jamaican beef patty, a flaky pastry filled with spiced beef. What started as a teenage side hustle in his mother’s kitchen has become a household name with more than 60 locations across the island today and exports throughout the Caribbean. The chain had already begun branching out into the U.S. market, launching locations in South Florida in 2024 and more recently in Brooklyn and the Bronx, according to Eater. The strong response to these locations shows that the appeal of Jamaican cuisine reaches far beyond diaspora communities. “This is more than just a business. This is an opportunity for a Jamaican company and brand to expand on the global stage and show the world...
Slutty Vegan has named tech executive Lauren Maillian as its new president, signaling the company’s latest chapter of expansion and innovation, Founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes announced. According to Black Enterprise, the first outlet to break the news, Maillian officially stepped into the role on June 4, a strategic shift for the Atlanta, GA-based vegan fast-food chain . The move, which Cole Hayes told the outlet is “Slutty Vegan 2.0,” comes after she recently reclaimed control of the company following a challenging stretch, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Marked by a car accident and internal ownership issues, that chapter left her with some powerful lessons. Starting a new leadership direction, Maillian is a seasoned entrepreneur who will bring a wealth of brand and marketing knowledge to the role, having spent over two decades working in venture capital, media, technology, and the food and beverage industries. Cole Hayes told Black Enterprise that Maillian’s appointment makes...
A new center is set to be the first of its kind for Black-owned businesses and professionals in Charlotte, NC. Innovation Center According to The Charlotte Observer, a project called the Innovation Center is underway, guided by a mission to promote economic growth and combat food disparity. The initiative is led by Cathay Dawkins, an entrepreneur and chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce, along with other members of the organization. “Think of it as a one-stop shop for professionals and small businesses,” Dawkins told the outlet. Why It Was Needed After visiting similar establishments in cities such as Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC; and Durham, NC, Dawkins says he felt it was essential for Charlotte to have a center of its own. Now, the Innovation Center is set to become the city’s first hub specifically geared toward amplifying Black business people. “As things in the community get taken away, like federal funding and grants, we want to be a safe space,”...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have rocked industries across the globe, from manufacturing to fashion and retail. The current crop of tariff policies will do damage to retailers, large and small and one of the retailers that has gotten caught in the crossfire is Nike . Nike has been an American staple in the world of business and fashion since the company was founded in 1964 by University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman and his former student Phil Knight as Blue Ribbon Sports. The company originally started as a distributor for the Japanese shoe brand Tiger (now ASICS) but began making its athletic footwear in 1971 and rebranded as Nike, named after the Greek goddess of victory, as reported by The Street. The iconic “Swoosh” logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson, a student at nearby Portland State University, for just $35 as reported by Reuters and became one of the world’s most recognizable...