One member of France’s soccer team is using his win to help others.Kylian Mbappe will donate his World Cup earnings to charity, according to Sports Illustrated. The money will go to the Preiers de Cordees Association, an organization dedicated to introducing sports to disabled children.Mbappe earned about $19,915 per game and could receive about $310,2017 in bonuses. In all, the 19-year-old footballer would be donating approximately $449,606.According to Sebastian Ruffin, general manager of the organization, Mbappe has an ongoing relationship with the children.“Kylian, he is a great person,” Ruffin told Le Parisien. “When his schedule allows it, he intervenes for us with pleasure. He has a very good relationship with the children — he always finds the right [words] to encourage them.”According to L'Equipe, some of Mbappe's teammates plan to follow his lead and donate a portion of their earnings. In other wholesome World Cup news, Paul Pogba found a special way to pay his respects to his late father as he celebrated his victory. As he gripped the iconic World Cup trophy, Pogba clutched his shinguard that had been customized to include a picture of his father. Papa et maman c’est pour vous 🙏🏾❤🇫🇷 mom and dad, it’s for you! @equipedefrance #fiersdetrebleus pic.twitter.com/Gyh9lTfuL5— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) July 15, 2018#PaulPogba made sure that his father gets to hold the glorious World Cup trophy. pic.twitter.com/QrauYxqzks— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) July 15, 2018Pogba also hit the dab:Il manquais que ça 😜 had to dab 🤪 @equipedefrance #fiersdetrebleus #WorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/9oUmvexvMT— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) July 15, 2018As a whole, the team is living their best lives following the victory:On dab paaaas noooouuuus @EmmanuelMacron ❤️🇫🇷😂 @paulpogba @equipedefrance pic.twitter.com/PRtsGKABOS— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) July 15, 2018Shark swim 🦈 #lesrenoisetleaucestdur 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/pOj0FPySN8— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) July 15, 2018Kyky, do you love me ? 🇫🇷 @KMbappe #InMyFeelingsChallenge #DoTheShiggy 🕺🏾 pic.twitter.com/bd16FFRxYC— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) July 16, 2018#NouvellePhotoDeProfil pic.twitter.com/gx1V9vLLhW— Djibril Sidibé (@DjibrilSidibeS3) July 15, 2018Congrats, fellas! Like this content? Check these out:The Internet Can't Get Enough Of Senegal's World Cup Dance, And You Won't Be Able To EitherFor The First Time Since 1982, There Will Be No African Teams In The World Cup's Round Of 16Messi, Fly Kits And Naija: The Black Folks Guide To The FIFA World Cup...

The many incidents of children separated from their parents and families at the U.S. border are incredibly upsetting. Seeing families reunited is supposed to be joyous, but reporting of reunifications shows that the separations have taken a toll on families, especially on the young children snatched from their parents.Such is the case for 31-year-old Hermelindo Che Coc, who came to the U.S. seeking asylum from Guatemala with his son, Jefferson Che Pop. The two were detained on May 28, 2018, and separated the next day.Authorities took Jefferson to Cayuga Centers in New York, and he spoke to his father only three times in 46 days.“Papa, I thought they killed you,” Jefferson sobbed to his father during one phone call. “You separated from me. You don’t love me anymore?”“No, my son,” Che Coc responded. “I’m crying for you. I promise, soon you will be with me.”During their last video call, Che Coc inquired about a bruise on Jefferson's forehand, and the 6-year-old cried and told his father he had fallen out of bed. The two finally reunited at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Saturday, July 14.Los Angeles Times staff writer Esmeralda Bermudez captured the highly emotional reunion and posted it to Twitter on Sunday.Tonight, Guatemalan asylum seeker Hermelindo Che Coc was reunited w/ his 6-yr-old son, Jefferson at LAX. The two were separated at the border, didn’t see each other nearly 2 months. The boy had a vacant look in his eyes. Also a cough, bruise on his eye & rashes all over his body. pic.twitter.com/322p9WiIBr— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018Bermudez also recounted every significant moment leading up to Che Coc finally getting able to see his son:We spent the evening w/ Hermelindo as he prepared to see his son for the 1st time since they were separated at the border. The father was excited. He mopped the floors, cooked him chicken soup & bought him new clothes with money given to him by his father in law. pic.twitter.com/WdNf3cHOGW— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018In a drawer alongside Jefferson’s new clothes, Hermelindo keeps a bible, his immigration documents and this: A few phrases he’s trying to learn in English. # 1 on his list: Yo quiero mi niño. I want my child. pic.twitter.com/VgJ45PviAo— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018Hermelindo rides to LAX with his @ImmDef attorney. He’s in awe of the downtown skyline. “Is the beach nearby?” he asks. “What’s it look like?” His lawyers bought Jefferson a balloon & soccer ball to celebrate his boy’s upcoming 7th birthday on July 20. pic.twitter.com/qqqzERfOTC— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018Hermelindo waits at a lounge set up by the airline. Surrounded by first class luxury & fancy coffee table books all the father can think of is his son. He cried & prays & sets a timer to track the minutes. He sees a photo of an aircraft & asks if that’s how big his son’s plane is pic.twitter.com/CfitwWajsh— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018Is that how big my son’s plane is? Yes. He laughs. He can’t believe his tiny 6-year-boy is inside such a huge plane. pic.twitter.com/Q2stZS810p— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018Hermelindo waits down a long corridor to finally reunite with his 6-year-old soon, Jefferson. “He’s the love of my life, my hero,” he said. pic.twitter.com/ZJMtvk7V1z— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018On the drive home, Jefferson’s mama calls from Guatemala. How are you, my love? Happy to be with papa, he says. Then he dozes off with the phone in his hands. As he sleeps, his body jolts every few minutes. He’s scared. “I’m here, I’m here,” Hermelindo whispers. pic.twitter.com/9vyGvgJXtA— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018After a long odyssey and a full of traveling from New York, Jefferson arrives at the small home where he will be staying with his father and grandfather. Papa Jacinto took him in his arms the moment he saw the boy. pic.twitter.com/lhdv8ffJFk— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018The moment Hermelindo & his son saw each other. Jefferson stopped down a corridor, several feet from his father. He stared at the floor. When he looked up, his eyes were vacant. He didn’t reach for Che Coc, didn’t lift his arms to hug him. “Papa,” Hermelindo cried. “Papa.” pic.twitter.com/EtcCl4Kq29— Esmeralda Bermudez 🦅 (@LATbermudez) July 15, 2018Che Coc's attorneys, who are with the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, are now fighting to secure asylum for him and Jefferson. His lawyers took on the case when they became aware Che Coc could be deported without his son. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials have not yet provided comment regarding this situation. “These families are in for the fight of their lives, as are their lawyers,” said Lindsay Toczylowski, executive director of Immigrant Defenders.Now, check these out:With Only 4 Separated Children Reunited With Their Families By Deadline, Texas Nonprofit Offers $20M To Speed Up ReunificationsThe Photographer Behind This Heartbreaking Photo From The Border Reveals The Story Behind The Image5 Things You Need To Know To About What's Being Done To Immigrant Families At The...

Britain has crowned its first black Miss Universe Great Britain.Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, a native of Anguilla, accepted the crown on Saturday, July 14. She will go on to compete in the famed Miss Universe pageant later this year.This happened! My heart is full!! Thank you so much for all of your love and support. The hard work continues NOW!Miss Universe Great Britain 2018-2019 pic.twitter.com/kXkjE5aokP— Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers (@AsToldBy_Dee) July 16, 2018 “It really hasn’t sunk in – it feels a bit surreal, I feel like I’m walking on an invisible cloud right now, I’m really buzzing,” Kentish-Rogers told Buzzfeed News.Despite her shock, the 25-year-old believes this milestone was inevitable and is an important showcase for the diversity of the British diaspora.“I think it’s really humbling and I think it’s also a privilege for me to become the first black woman who is crowned Miss Universe Great Britain,” she continued."I believe that this is the direction that the pageant has been going in for the last couple of years because Britain is a diverse nation, we are a multicultural society, and it is time that that diversity is seen on a stage where other young black girls and girls of all ethnicities can see that this is something for everybody not just some of us.”In addition to wearing the crown, the former Miss Anguilla has passed the bar and is on her way to becoming a lawyer.Paula Abbandonato, national director of Miss Universe Great Britain, expressed her joy for Kentish-Rogers in a statement.“I am absolutely delighted that Dee-Ann has won the title this year. I took over this role in 2008, and I can honestly say there is no better gift than having our first black winner to celebrate 10 years in the job,” Abbandonato wrote.“Dee-Ann is a true role model for all women of all skin colors, and with her dynamism off the stage, coupled with her presence on the stage, I genuinely believe Great Britain has a chance at the Miss Universe crown this year.”We’re always rooting for everybody black and can’t wait to see Kentish-Rogers compete for the Miss Universe crown.Like this content? Check these out: Somali-American Teen Makes History As First Woman To Compete In Miss Minnesota Pageant Wearing A Hijab And BurkiniNewest Miss Black America Says She Entered The Competition As Research For Her Ph.D. Dissertation16-Year-Old Sydni Dion Bennett Becomes First African-American To Win Miss Illinois Teen...

Azealia Banks is beefing with Nick Cannon after an appearance on his show, Wild 'N Out.According to a post on her Instagram page, Banks was reduced to tears after the cast joked about her skin complexion.I did Wildin’ out today. There were tons of pre-planned colorist jokes and of course .... cry baby cried. Some little scrawny black Atlanta twink was prepared for me. They planned this - hit me on short notice, told me I didn’t have to participate in the coon ass freestyle battles ,(not my style) and I was to sing my song and go home. I show up and some guy who’s darker than me starts calling me ugly and being colorist, then all of a sudden a choir of the most disgustingly basic, local, cattle call “urban” pseudo comedic “FAT BECause You sit in a chair all day” greasy soul food induced south of the mason Dixon ,self hatred. Ass It#backwards, post-Jim crow , post traumatic slave disorder true self esteem less, Ward of the state CLOWNS with their low scale and highly UNimpressive resumes, start going off about how the beautiful Azealia Banks looks! I’ve never felt so much hate and rage for anyone else than I did in that moment. Yemaya was really on stage . Yemaya .....A post shared by Azealia Banks (@azealiabanks) on Jul 14, 2018 at 9:19pm PDTBanks claims she was ambushed by "tons of pre-planned colorist jokes" after being invited to perform a song. She wrote that the hurtful jokes made her cry.She also talked about the incident in her Instagram stories, calling out potential hypocrisy from her critics."If I were to make fun of Nick Cannon for having lupus and being weak and sickly ... if I made a joke that said he'd be dead by the end of the year ... Then Azealia Banks is the bad guy ... Right?" she wrote.Nick Cannon posted a screenshot of her Instagram story and captioned it with a vague statement about the situation:Don’t you hate when you create your own storms but forget your umbrella??? 🤦🏾‍♂️ @azealiabanks We are praying for you Queen 🙏🏾 #speedyrecovery #Healing She #Wildnout for real 😳 🤣 #KarmaA post shared by NICK CANNON (@nickcannon) on Jul 15, 2018 at 9:44am PDTAlthough Cannon is cryptic about the situation, a person who claims she attended the screening is spilling some tea, and it appears Banks ain't telling the whole truth. According to Facebook user Riesa LB, the cast did some run of the mill roasting and didn't mention her complexion:According to Riesa, the cast played a game making fun of Banks called "How Petty is She?" One comedian allegedly said, "Azaelia is so petty that she called up Cardi to congratulate her on being a single mother.” Riesa claimed Banks vehemently denied doing this, and no colorist jokes were made.While it is unclear what happened, it is clear the "212" rapper has canceled her upcoming album Fantasea II.azealia banks cancelled her album after the whole situation with “Wild’n Out” .. 😐 pic.twitter.com/mERUU3Nt7M— peggy sue*** (@DELVINWINTOUR) July 16, 2018“Album is canceled. I need some time to relax and bounce on d*ck. I’ll release new music when I feel like it…” she wrote in her Instagram story.Like this content? Now, check these out:Why Azealia Banks Is My Favorite Hard-To-Like Person In MusicAzealia Banks Is Anti-Black And Needs To Retire From Her Career Of Trolling15 Of The Funniest Black Women On...

Jahana Hayes grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut's Berkeley Heights public housing project and became pregnant at 17. She went to community college and became a history teacher, which led her to be honored by President Barack Obama as the national Teacher of the Year in 2016.Now she has made it her goal to become the first African American woman to represent Connecticut in Congress, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hayes will be running in the state's 5th District.“I’m a fighter,” said the 45-year-old. “Time and time again, I have had doors shut in my face and have had to walk around and knock on the back door.’’Hayes faces off against Mary Glassman, who has a 30-year career in public office and the Democratic Party's backing, in the August 14 Democratic primary.While she may not have the professional political experience, Hayes believes her personal experience makes her the right person for the job.“I know what it’s like to go to bed to gunshots outside; I know what it’s like to wake up in the morning to a dead body in the hallway,’’ she said, as she spoke at a candidate's forum in Washington, Connecticut. “No job gives you that kind of experience. Life gives you that kind of experience."While she does not have the support of her party, Hayes does have ties to Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), who is considered to be one of the most powerful Democrats in the state. Murphy has not officially endorsed Hayes, but some of his closest allies are assisting her with her campaign.“I have a strong opinion that we need to add voices of color to the delegation and leadership in the state,’’ noted Murphy during an interview in May. “I wanted to make sure that we had a real choice for delegates and voters in the 5th District.”Roughly 20 percent of Waterbury's residents are African American."Jahana got us a little riled up,’’ said Aletha Minnis, a 49-year-old Waterbury police officer who also grew up in the same public housing as Hayes. “She’s a go-getter, and she’s willing to make changes.”We're certainly looking forward to following her political journey! Now, check these out:Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Hits Back After Conservative Tries Claiming She’s Not From The BlockTwo Of The Youngest Black Republicans Ever Were Just Elected In ConnecticutA Connecticut Town Has Just Made African American Or Latin Studies A Requirement For All High School...

Update: Darshaun RocQuemore Simmons, the 15-year-old forced to leave a pool last month, spoke about the incident to CBS News on Saturday, July 14. He said his friend invited him before Stephanie Sebby-Stremple attacked him. "This lady walked up to us and was like, 'Y'all have to leave,'" Simmons said. "We said, 'yes ma'am.' When I started walking out, she just started hitting me... It was shocking." "She called me the N-word and she called me a punk," Simmons said.As she harassed and physically assaulted him, no other adult intervened to stop her, Darshaun's father told CBS This Morning."It hurts. I could never imagine putting my hands on somebody else's child," Simmons' mother, Deanna RocQuemore told the outlet."Of all of those adults there, there was nobody to step up and stop this lady. Say, 'Hey why are you hitting this young man?'" RocQuemore added.Sebby-Stremple was fired from her job and charged with third-degree assault and battery but has since been released on $65,000 bond. She is expected to appear in court on August 13, according to CBS News.Original story: One South Carolina woman landed herself a spot in the Dorchester County Detention Center after going off the deep end of her privilege. The woman told a group of black teens they didn't "belong" at a public pool. Her 1960s Jim Crow ideology lead her to repeatedly strike one of the teens and spew a series of racial slurs. The woman, Stephanie Sebby-Strempel, is currently facing assault charges amid her racist antics on Sunday, June 24. According to WCIV,  she assaulted her 15-year-old victim at the Reminisce neighborhood pool in Summerville, South Carolina. He was one of several children who was invited to the pool by a friend in the neighborhood. After telling them they didn't belong, she then said the black kids had to leave. According to the victim, he and his friends were respectful saying "yes ma'am" and getting up to leave. However, witnesses say Sebby-Strempel continued to harass them using racial slurs. In a video posted to Facebook, she can be seen yelling, threatening to call 911, striking the cameraman and calling the teens “little punks.” Based on the video, investigators say the assault was unprovoked. According to the sheriff's office, when two detectives showed up to her home Monday, June 25, to charge and arrest her, Sebby-Strempel also assaulted them. She reportedly pushed one detective into a wall, injuring his knee, and then bit the second detective on the arm, breaking the skin.Sebby-Strempel's racism, inability to mind her own business and sheer cockiness have gained her one count of third-degree assault and two counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer. She was slated to appear before a magistrate for a bond hearing Tuesday.Now, check these out:These Hysterical Memes Of The Becky Who Hates Black Barbecues Deserve Some Kind Of Twitter AwardAfter Winning $148K Settlement, Teen Violently Arrested At 2015 Pool Party Plans On Hosting Another To 'Redo The Experience'Someone Called The Police On A 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur And His Crew For Accidentally Mowing Part Of Their...

During my first few weeks of college, I had one objective and one objective only — don’t be the quiet one. My quietness had followed me around all of my life, and I was finally ready to rid myself of its burden. I told myself that wherever I went, my presence would be known and quiet was the last word people would think of when they were reminded of me.While I had never been a shy person, I was always undeniably introverted, and every introverted person knows the struggle of being deemed quiet. Friends forcefully attempt to pry you out of your reserved nature. Strangers feel obliged to investigate you after the inevitable “why are you so quiet?” Family members even introduce you with a warning, as if your quietness is something to be feared.With time, I found myself trying to overcompensate in social situations, going to outings I wasn’t particularly interested in and joining discussions for the sake of having my voice heard. However, despite these efforts, my quietness always found ways to manifest itself. In one instance, a classmate even explained that I didn’t “act like a black girl” because I was too quiet.Living in a world full of praise for those who are loud, proud and opinionated can sometimes make it feel as if quietness is a burden. For black girls, stereotypes about being sassy and outspoken make the burden seem twice as heavy.Growing up, I felt there was a standard of outspokenness I had to live up to. In everywhere from television to politics, the only images of black women I saw were images of lively, extroverted, and bold women. If there was a quiet girl, she wasn’t black, and she definitely didn’t represent me.Outspokenness isn’t a quality to look down upon, and even the quietest of people have moments where their hearts move them to speak out on something. However, it is harmful to uphold all women to a racialized ideal, especially when that ideal is used to measure someone’s proximity to their racial group.For one, doing so leads to alienation and overcompensation. Being set apart as someone who didn’t “act like a black girl” fueled my own efforts to step out of my introverted nature. Not only was I internally and externally embattled, but I felt efforts to be more vocal were tied to efforts to reclaim my blackness.In addition, accepting positive or neutral stereotypes about people opens the door to accepting negative stereotypes. Outspokenness, as an example, can quickly be associated with anger. Throughout college, it was common to hear stories from black women who were reluctant to be outspoken in class because they didn’t want to be seen as angry or overemotional.I began to accept my introversion when I realized that no matter how outward or how inward my personality was, there would always be someone who would view me through the lens of the stereotypes they’ve encountered. Embracing my true nature instead of the one others expected me to have not only made me feel more in tune with my blackness, but it made my blackness my own.When it comes down to it, there is not a one-size-fits-all label for black women. A person’s lack or excess of vocalness is not a measure of their blackness. Black women come in a range of vocalness, a range of energy and a range of disposition. We’re black when we’re outspoken. We’re still black when we’re not.The outspoken ones, the quiet ones and the ones who seem to navigate between all have important things to say — you just have to be willing to...

In the United States, the median household income is just over $59,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, that number changes across racial lines, and when statisticians break out black households, an entirely new number is found: less than $39,500. Black Americans are making a fraction of what white Americans make.On top of that, black Americans inherit less savings, own less property and have fewer safety nets in place to protect them from poverty. In the United States, the racial wealth gap has existed since the beginning of American history, when the first white farmers began purchasing the first black slaves. Since the Emancipation Proclamation, black Americans have had the right to earn money, but not necessarily the means.There has never been any form of reparations paid to black Americans, and partially as a result, black Americans have never had an opportunity to rise out of widespread racialized poverty. There are a number of factors in play to explain the persistence of the racial wealth gap in the United States, but in short, the answer boils down to racism.Inherited cycle of povertyIn the United States, black families have a median net worth of $17,600. White families, by comparison, have a median net worth of $171,000. The disparity is astounding. Black Americans struggle to get ahead because while white Americans often get to inherit the wealth of their parents, black Americans, instead, get saddled with the poverty and debt of their parents. Black Americans can often trace their family poverty back across generations to the end of slavery — a line that demonstrates how few opportunities the black population of America has had to claim new wealth and financial opportunity.And inheriting poverty is more than just not inheriting money — it also means inheriting the habits and education, or lack thereof, that can come with and aggravate poverty. It means not understanding how to navigate financial institutions that have historically been unwelcome to black Americans. It means being the first person in one’s family to go to college and therefore deal with student loans, only to discover afterwards that student loans are far more predatory than institutions have signers believe.It means returning to predatory institutions that prey on ignorance and poverty because that’s what other people in the community do, and turning to the options presented instead of seeking new ones that may be able to break the cycle.Concentrated wealth disparityThe racial wealth gap is in part aggravated by the fact that the wealth gap in the United States — across races — is widening significantly. As wealth increasingly concentrates at the top, fewer and fewer Americans have opportunities to inherit wealth or generate new wealth. Black Americans, faced with a double whammy of institutional racism and inherited poverty are most likely to see their family wealth shrink over time in such brutal conditions.The 2008 financial recession, for example, served as an economic boon for businessmen who came in and snatched up thousands of foreclosed properties, turning them into lucrative renting businesses that now dominate the market. And whose homes did they snatch up? Those of former black homeowners, who were some of the hardest hit by the economic recession. The recession itself was created out of predatory lending practices and promises of economic opportunity made to desperate communities, negatively affecting black communities all the more.Lack of black-owned businessesUltimately, the reason black Americans struggle to retain wealth is because the wealth is controlled almost entirely by white Americans. A lack of funds in black communities, a lack of wealth to start businesses due to background  checksand a lack of black-owned businesses, that provide economic opportunity and community support, help reinforce decades and decades of racialized discrimination and economic disadvantage.More black-owned businesses would provide a more welcoming and positive environment to black Americans, rather than a predatory environment tinged with racism. However, black businesses often struggle with obtaining and retaining the capital necessary to thrive without access to financial backing from powerful institutions. As a result, the gap persists and the cycle continues....

Most 12-year-olds are trying to get through the hustle and bustle of middle school. But Dorothy Jean "DJ" Tillman has recently graduated college with her second degree. DJ earned her bachelor's degree Friday, July 13, from upstate New York's Excelsior College, according to News 10. “My child care provider, Miss Mary, first noticed, she said, 'You got a special baby that you need to understand that this baby been here before,” her mom, Jemelita, said. “Dorothy, I believe, started doing double digits by four or three, and we were really excited about the way she loved learning.”  Before obtaining her first bachelor’s, DJ had already earned her associate’s degree. “In our culture, intellectualism is an academic achievement that has been diminished over time, and I think it’s incredibly important, particularly at a time when there are questions about the value of a higher education,” her mother added.When she was younger, DJ started picking up on math faster than her peers. It has paid off in many ways, and she is now looking forward to attending graduate school to earn a master’s in environmental engineering.  “With environmental engineering, it’s all about helping people, the environment, and that’s just what I love to do, that’s what makes me happy,” DJ said.Jemelita, who is from the South Side of Chicago, said her daughter overcame great odds to achieve what she has and does not plan to stop. “There are some great things coming out of the South Side of Chicago and this, my baby, is one of the greatest of them all.”Liking this content? Check these out:  We’re Loving It: Meet The Youngest Black Woman To Own A McDonald’s FranchiseThe U.S. Navy Is Just Now Allowing Black Female Sailors To Wear Their Natural HairAt Just 14 Years Old, This STEM Activist Will Be Honored With Her Own...

The movement to bring more business and economic opportunities to the black community is growing, and for black entrepreneurs, it’s growing in key locations across the United States. While cities like San Francisco, California and Charlotte, North Carolina rank at the top of lists for “best cities for entrepreneurs to start businesses in,” they’re not necessarily the best locations for black entrepreneurs.Which places are? Cities in the South, where black Americans are most likely to congregate and where deep roots and community support can help bolster new businesses. On the top of the list is Atlanta, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee. Cities across the south-east fill the charts in Blacktech’s 2017 list of Best Cities for Black Business Owners, from D.C. to Miami, Florida, but the three hot spots in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee represent ripe opportunities for the business-savvy and creative.Here’s why businesses owned by black Americans do best in these cities.Black community presenceYou won’t find a higher presence of black Americans anywhere in the United States than in the south-east, where black Americans have historically made up a significant minority of the general population. For a while, marketers and demographic analysts assumed that the effects of the Great Migration, when freed black Americans moved to the North by the millions hoping to escape racism, would be in play forever.But new data shows black Americans today are eschewing the North and returning home to the Southern states their ancestors may have migrated away from. As black Americans discover that the North is equally capable of dishing out racism, they’re opting for black community over beliefs about Northern liberalism. And the south-east still bears the largest proportion of black Americans in the United States, statistically.Black communities are increasingly prioritizing supporting black-owned businesses, which means black entrepreneurs looking for community support are most likely to find support in states with concentrated black populations.Black business networkingOne of the biggest disadvantages black entrepreneurs face is attempting to secure the funding to open or sustain their business. With a lack of family wealth to inherit or draw from and systematic racism reinforced by most major or national banking institutions, it can be a struggle to obtain the cash necessary for a start-up. Black business owners are more likely to find empathetic investors or lenders from black-owned banks and institutions across the south-east.Black-owned banks like Liberty Bank and Citizens Trust Bank, which are more often found in the south where black communities are located, are often committed to supporting the local black community, which means they often serve as safer, more welcoming environments for black entrepreneurs to seek opportunities.Booming business townsAlthough black communities exist across the south-east, not every city with a major black community is a hub for business. However, cities like Atlanta, Montgomery and Memphis offer vibrant economic opportunities for entrepreneurs. Memphis has a low cost of living index and unemployment rate, and one of the highest rates of black-owned businesses in the nation. Organizations like the Black Business Association allow black business owners to have a cost-effective VPN solution, organize and address community issues, and offer networking opportunities for people looking to develop their own businesses.Montgomery and Atlanta both have Chambers of Commerce dedicated to bolstering black or minority business owners, and lots of business activity to boot. These cities provide all the elements needed for a great business to grow: ample competition to keep the game moving forward, economic opportunities that exist to support black communities and a community in place that wants to advocate for itself.Black Americans face unique challenges when it comes to starting a business, and picking the right location might make or break a business. An entrepreneur looking for the best start should consider a city that offers all the right elements — and the south-east is a good place to start looking....

There's nothing doper than watching our FLOTUS Michelle Obama and Tina Lawson hanging out like the cool moms they are at a Beyoncé concert. While the world was going crazy after France's 4-2 win over Croatia in the World Cup, Obama and Beyoncé stans came together to bring the internet to a standstill. The world's most famous moms were stageside in the best seats in the house as Bey and Jay took the stage for a second time during their On the Run II tour in Paris. Sasha Obama was there, too, in the crowd dancing along to the megastars' hits, Elle reports.  The fact that they just brought out 2 random chairs for them RIGHT next to the stage! Peak black mom request. https://t.co/obntUNrmyB— Obeehave, B Δ K Spr. 18 (@SylviaObell) July 15, 2018This is such an elite cool mom picture. Omg I feel so blessed looking at it pic.twitter.com/x4PDnL7QZs— bolu babalola (@BeeBabs) July 15, 2018#INFO #MichelleObama et #SashaObama sont à Paris et ont assistés au concert de @Beyonce & #JayZ pic.twitter.com/YCsUhXC9CQ— Celebrities in Paris (@celebsinparis) July 16, 2018@mstinalawson, @michelleobama, @nickjonas @joejonas @kevinjonas & @sophiet at the show tonight. ❤ • @beyonce #OTRII #Paris #Round2 #beyonce #jayz #thecarters #nickjonas #jonasbrothers #sophieturner #michelleobamaA post shared by @ beyonceaccess on Jul 15, 2018 at 3:29pm PDTFormer President Barack Obama wasn't on hand because he is taking his first trip to Africa since leaving the White House.The only thing that can upstage the World Cup is Queen Bey, Michelle Obama and Tina Lawson in the same place at the same time. Liking this content? Check these out: Beyoncé's And JAY-Z Are Turning Their OTR II Paris Concert Into A World Cup Viewing PartyBeyonce's 'On The Run II' Dancers Turned Up In A U.K. Bar, It Was LitBlue Ivy’s Hilarious Reaction To This Reportedly Risqué ‘OTRII’ Performance Has The Internet Rolling...

After the fatal shooting of a man believed to be a local barber, Chicago residents took to the streets in a series of protests demanding answers. On July 14, around 6:30 p.m., three to four officers encountered a man in the South Shore neighborhood that they claimed exhibited characteristics of an armed person. They approached him, a confrontation ensued and a police offer shot him according to ABC 7 Chicago. "Some officers working a foot post, walking along 71st Street, saw a subject they thought might have been armed from the bulge around his waistband," Chicago Police Chief Fred Waller said at a press conference Saturday night.The victim was pronounced dead at Jackson Park Hospital, according to officials, and has identity has yet to be confirmed. Heavy reports the victim is a man by the name of Harith Augustus, also known as “Snoop.” In the vicinity of the shooting, protesters began to gather and clash with authorities. Protests went well into the night. Reporter Nader Issa captured video of police attacking a protester with batons, using what could be perceived as excessive force.  Here's the rest of the escalation, including multiple Chicago Police officers on top of one man, hitting him, and then dragging another man. This is also the start of where I get shoved to the ground. That video is coming next. pic.twitter.com/AJ7t85nEHP— Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) July 15, 2018Journalists on the ground reported a number of instances where unnecessary violence took place. At one point, police K-9s were used to confront the demonstrators. Police in Chicago killed a barber. Then rushed the killer off the scene. Then charged protesters. Then tried to set dogs on them. All the while brutalizing journalists documenting the event. Tell me where policing isn't broken. pic.twitter.com/9P9btHqMJU— Kim Tran (@but_im_kim_tran) July 15, 2018A crowd of protesters sparred with a group of #Chicago police officers Saturday evening near the street where an officer fatally shot a man during a confrontation in South Shore. (WARNING: Sensitive language) READ THE STORY: https://t.co/flwZR2qr4Z pic.twitter.com/1Zyucs76T9— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) July 15, 2018 ABC News reports police found a semiautomatic-type weapon and magazines on the victim. The officer responsible for the shooting will be placed on desk duty as an internal investigation is underway.UPDATE:The victim's name is Harith Augustus (aka, Snoop).CPD murdered #HarithAugustus aka #Snoop. Snoop was a barber, a father and a friend. His co-worker Rev shared with us what #Snoop meant to his community. #StopTheCops pic.twitter.com/LLRlmwaQz9— BYP100 (@BYP_100) July 15, 2018Now, check out these related stories:  Ommm No She Didn't: Woman Calls The Police On Black Man Sitting in His Car Listening To Yoga CD Massachusetts Man Speaks Out After Bus Driver Said He Wouldn't Pick Him Up 'Because He's Black' Bestselling Author Tomi Adeyemi Says Cops Came To Her Home, Threatened Her, Then Joked That They're Discriminated Against...