American Express and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Launch ByBlack Certification Program for Black-Owned Businesses

American Express (NYSE: AXP) and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) announced the expansion of ByBlack with the first national certification program exclusively for Black-ownership designation. First created as a directory of Black-owned businesses, the no-cost, digital platform will now unlock more ways to reach new customers and secure contracts for Black-owned businesses across the country. ByBlack provides businesses an approved accreditation trusted by customers and enables consumers and other companies to easily find U.S.-based Black-owned businesses. Businesses can begin the ByBlack certification process or create a directory profile here: https://usblackchambers.org/certification. 

Ron Busby, president, USBC says: “The success of Black-owned businesses benefits the communities they anchor and in turn, the country at large. The Black business community generates more than $150 billion in revenue but has even larger potential. Working with American Express, we are continuing to expand ByBlack across the U.S. to help further propel the growth of Black-owned businesses by creating unparalleled access, visibility and opportunities.”

According to the Shop Small Summer Study from American Express, 44% of consumers seek out Black-owned businesses, and 55% say they would be likely to use an official, easy-to-access digital database that certifies a business as being Black-owned.

 Emmy-nominated actor, writer, producer and entrepreneur Issa Rae recently certified her business Sienna Naturals with the hopes of reaching more customers and encouraging other Black business owners to do the same.

Issa Rae says: “We have only scratched the surface of the collective power of Black businesses, so I am excited to join American Express and the USBC to shine a light on the opportunities ByBlack presents. ByBlack is a powerful platform that connects Black business owners with new revenue streams and helps all of us find and shop at standout businesses. Together we can spread the word to support small Black businesses.”

The certification program also benefits large corporations, which can use ByBlack to find diverse suppliers to fulfill their business needs and deliver on pledges to diversity spending with Black-owned businesses.

Jessica Ling, senior vice president, Global B2B Marketing, American Express says: “American Express is committed to increasing our spending with Black-owned suppliers to at least $100 million annually by the end of 2024, and we will use the ByBlack platform to help achieve this goal. We encourage other corporations to join us in leveraging the ByBlack platform to find certified Black-owned businesses and to enhance their supplier diversity programs.”

Other companies now recognizing the ByBlack certification include Uber and Verizon.

The no-cost certification process is quick and simple. To start the process, businesses need to provide proof of identification, that their business is 51% Black-owned, and is controlled by a Black business owner. It takes about 30 minutes to complete the online application which will be processed and certified in about 30 days. Businesses can also register on the ByBlack directory by creating a profile. The directory enables Black-owned businesses to network, partner with others in the community, increase their visibility and expand revenue opportunities.

ByBlack also provides education and resources specifically for Black-owned businesses, including access to USBC and American Express sponsored events, grantmaking and funding programs, local chambers of commerce in their community, networking opportunities and more.

This initiative is part of the USBC and American Express’ broader efforts to support Black-owned businesses.

As the national voice of Black business, the USBC is committed to a set of principles and programs that lay out a vision and committed action for policymakers and business leaders to empower the Black business community, prepare the next generation of Black entrepreneurs and bolster the American economy.

As part of its $1 billion action plan to enhance diverse representation and promote equal opportunities, American Express is committed to providing access to capital and financial education to at least 250,000 Black-owned small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. by the end of 2024. Additional information about American Express’ support for Black-owned businesses can be found in a detailed fact sheet here.

Additional 9/11 Victims Identified Almost 20 Years After Attacks

Dorothy Morgan

Just days before we mark 20 years since 9/11, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has identified two more victims of the World Trade Center attacks.

One victim has been identified as Dorothy Morgan, of Hempstead.

The second victim’s name is not being released at the request of the family.

“Twenty years ago, we made a promise to the families of World Trade Center victims to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to identify their loved ones, and with these two new identifications, we continue to fulfill that sacred obligation,” Dr. Barbara A. Sampson, Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, said in a statement. “No matter how much time passes since September 11, 2001, we will never forget, and we pledge to use all the tools at our disposal to make sure all those who were lost can be reunited with their families.”

Morgan and the unnamed man are the first victims to be identified since October 2019.

About 40% of those who died in the World Trade Center attacks remain unidentified.

[SOURCE: CBS NEWS]

Lawsuit Filed Challenging New Texas Law Targeting Voting Rights

Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), Reed Smith LLP, and The Arc filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Houston Area Urban League, Houston Justice, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and The Arc of Texas challenging S.B. 1, a new Texas law targeting voting rights.  S.B. 1 includes a series of suppressive voting-related provisions that will make it much harder for Texas residents to vote and disenfranchise some altogether, particularly Black and Latino voters and voters with disabilities.The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, argues that S.B. 1 violates the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by intentionally targeting and burdening methods and means of voting used by voters of color.

The Plaintiffs also claim that the law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act by imposing voting barriers that will discriminate against voters with disabilities and deny people with disabilities full and equal opportunities to participate in the state’s voting programs.

The lawsuit challenges multiple provisions in SB 1, including:

• Limitations on early voting hours and a ban on 24-hour voting.
• The elimination of drive-thru voting centers.
• The prohibition of mail-in ballot drop-boxes.
• Limitations on the distribution of mail-in ballot applications.
• Limitations and possible penalties for voter assistants, including criminal felonies.

Read the lawsuit challenging S.B. 1.

“Despite Texas legislators’ repeated and disingenuous attempts to cite ‘voter fraud’ as their reasoning for implementing S.B. 1, it is clear as day that this law was created to suppress votes,” said LDF Assistant Counsel Georgina Yeomans. “Rather than expand voting access, elected officials are making it harder for Texans to vote – especially voters of color, who will be disproportionately burdened. S.B. 1 was intentionally designed to have that effect.”

“Democracy should make it easier for eligible voters to vote, not harder,” said Ken Broughton, managing partner of Reed Smith’s Houston office. “Democracy should also increase voter turnout, not inhibit it. This legislation will prevent many qualified voters from voting because these laws are anti-voter.”

“Voter suppression is a disability rights issue. People with disabilities have the fundamental right to vote and participate in our democracy, but this right has too often been denied. S.B. 1 disenfranchises voters with disabilities and denies them equal access to voting in violation of federal disability rights laws,” said Shira Wakschlag, Senior Director, Legal Advocacy & General Counsel at The Arc.

“The Houston Area Urban League a long history of supporting the disenfranchised. Any law that makes it harder for them to have their voices heard under the cloak of rampant voter fraud is disingenuous and contrary to our democracy,” said Houston Area Urban League President and CEO Judson Robinson III.

“The law at its core is anti-democratic and clearly designed to suppress the vote,” said Tina Kingshill, Coordinating Director of Houston Justice. “It will further hinder voting rights of low-income, pre-trial defendants of color unable to post bail who comprise over 70% of local and county jail populations. By prohibiting the expenditure of public funds to facilitate third-party distribution of applications to vote by mail, the law burdens non-profit voter outreach organizations with funding the printing costs of the applications. Many organizations will not have the funds for printing, so essentially the right to request and cast a ballot while incarcerated is taken away.”

“Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has been fighting for the rights of all U.S. citizens to vote for 108 years.  It is our honor and responsibility to continue the fight against oppressive voting laws started by our Founders,” said Delta Sigma Theta President and CEO Beverly E. Smith. “S.B. 1 directly threatens the right to vote of over 20,000 members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and their family and friends in Texas, and we are committed to fight against S.B. 1 on their behalf.”

“Texas voters with disabilities are proud to participate in the democratic process and deserve equitable access to the polls, not more barriers,” said The Arc of Texas CEO Jennifer Martinez. “Unfortunately, these same Texans are accustomed to fighting for their civil rights and must continue to do so against the latest voter-suppression measures passed by the Texas Legislature.”

Texas is among more than 40 other states that have enacted legislative efforts to substantially restrict voting access.  LDF and The Arc are also involved in litigation challenging Georgia’s restrictive voting law that also discriminates against voters of color and voters with disabilities. Read more here.

###

Children’s Book Author Tackles Skin Color and Self Care in "You're Going to Like Me, Grumble! Grumble!"

According to the National Center for Education, nearly 1 out of 4 kids say they are bullied each year. While millions of school kids head back to in-person learning after a year on lockdown, the last thing they should be worried about is being different. In “You’re Going to Like Me, Grumble! Grumble!” school children learn positive ways to deal with social differences. The inventive tale, brainchild of child advocate Tiffani Staten, shows little ones, age 5-8 years old, how to cope with difficult situations. The Hampton grad, with a heart for change, weaves a whimsical story of an unlikely hero who finds the answer to peer pressure by accepting himself. Ernest's journey is symbolic of every child who has a challenge like a disability, gender bias or the sound of a new dialect, language or tongue.

Meet Ernest Floofer, a brown, hairy being, with a kind heart and gentle soul. Ernest is just like any other Quarkian, until his family uproots and moves him to Weetown, the land of bright-colored beings. In “You’re Going to Like Me, Grumble! Grumble!” Ernest sticks out like a sore thumb and his brown color is not at all like a Weebly. The classmates laugh and jeer at him, so he tries every trick in the book to fit in, but soon Ernest learns to feel good in his own skin. He finds that his deep mocha hue is just as beautiful as the emerald greens, bright blues, or precious purples of the Weeblies. He is special on the inside and that is what counts. Staten knows this need for acceptance all too well. The brown skinned beauty was often the only African American in her classroom. It was there that she suffered from the "Imposter Syndrome" - always changing her appearance or personality to fit in with the crowd. Now, Staten stands tall just like Ernest and she teaches others to embrace their "quirkiness".

Tiffani Staten

The book, lovingly illustrated by Zachary Gladwin, shows the complexity of the skin color issue in a way only kids can understand. This gentle account of Ernest’s woes helps young readers move through the steps of self-actualization to build confidence in their appearance, as well as their innate abilities. Ernest is more than his brown, hairy covering. He “likes to draw, build things, and play outside.” It teaches youngsters that being different does not have to be “weird” or negative — it is just different from what you are used to.

“You’re Going to Like Me, Grumble! Grumble!” takes the issue a step further by showing kids how to evaluate genuine beauty. In a pilot study conducted by CNN, they found both Black and white children to hold biases against people of differing races. White children labeled Black children as dumb, and Black kids thought white kids were ugly — all because of their skin tone. This groundbreaking book helps to right this systemic wrong by bringing awareness to the underlying pigment issue that separates Americans

This timely tale of self-care and self-confidence is the perfect addition to any library, and can be found at Target, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON

Howard University Installs Chadwick Boseman's Name on College of Fine Arts Building

Howard University has renamed its College of Fine Arts after late actor Chadwick Boseman, who died last year at age 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.

The historically Black university shared a time-lapse video showing the installation of the new letters on the school’s building, which is now the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts.