Lifestyle
Aurora James Discusses the Honor of the New York City League and the Fearless Fund Ruling: ‘We Live in an Attention Economy’

When Aurora James, the founder of the brand Brother Vellies and Fifteen percent oath and vice chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, when she heard the news of the Fearless Fund ruling, she immediately shared it on social media.
IN Video from TikTok published after the news, the founder elaborated on a federal appeals court ruling that suspended the program, which largely awarded funds to businesses owned by Black women, after it was sued by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a gaggle led by Edward Blum, conservative activist behind the Supreme Court case that ended affirmative motion in college admissions.
She noted that talking about what is going on on and “mobilizing” people through her platform is very important at a time like this.
Because of this support, together with the impact she has made on behalf of black businesses through the Fifteen Percent Pledge, she was amongst those honored by New York Municipal League at the 58th annual Frederick Douglass Awards on Thursday. This yr’s gala honorary co-chairs are Meagan Good, Tonya Lewis Lee and Bethann Hardison. Others honored alongside James included George Gresham and Renee McClure.
When asked how he felt receiving the honor, James replied, “It’s a little bittersweet, honestly.”
“The last six to eight months have been somewhat challenging as people have tried to undo some of the progress we have made in the equity and inclusion space,” she continued. “But I think this award is really important because it speaks to the work.”
The first Black designer to ever win an award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, James founded Brother Vellies in 2013 with the ambitious goal of creating an exploitation-free brand. The result’s a widely known brand offering one-of-a-kind luxury shoes and accessories made by African craftsmen in which customers can feel good.
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She didn’t stop there. After seeing high-profile brands and corporations committing to Black and Brown people in this country during the race unrest surrounding the death of George Floyd, James founded the Fifteen Percent Pledge Foundation in 2020. Its mission was to get major retailers like Nordstrom, Sephora and Macy’s to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black brands. Since its launch, 28 corporations have joined the effort, including Nordstrom, Sephora and Macy’s.
“We’ve all heard the saying that talent is distributed equally, but opportunity and access are not,” James said. “I think the commitment, or rather the initial call to action that I put out on social media four years ago, is simply about giving people some access. And these are people who are brilliant.”
James realizes that there are people like the Blums in the world who may view initiatives like the Fifteen Percent Pledge or the Fearless Fund as someway exclusionary. Many people say things like, “Why can’t this go to the best candidate?” He challenges this fashion of pondering by highlighting how these funds actually help be sure that the best get a platform.
“Previously, so many groups have been historically excluded,” she noted, adding: “Many of these stores would just buy whatever the next Heinz product or the next Estee Lauder product is. It’s easier to just connect with these giant companies that you already sell and have relationships with than to take a chance on a small company.”
However, taking this chance can profit all parties. James noted that her involvement gave brands an opportunity, which made a difference in the lives of founders and their brands. Recently, one of the founders contacted her and said that due to his work, he was capable of buy a house for his family.
James said moving the needle for Black and brown businesses ultimately comes right down to where we focus our attention. Paying attention can appear like the way you vote in the upcoming election, what you spend your money on, and even what you literally concentrate to online and in culture.
“We live in an attention economy. People compete for your attention more than anything else,” she said. “Whatever you focus your attention on will win. The Kardashians win because they capture our attention across multiple platforms. This is difficult. America has many various ways. So if we redirect our attention, we also can redirect much of the power in this country.
Lifestyle
Tabitha Brown refers to negativity after he talked about the influence of the target boycott on black authors: “I pray for love to find you”

Tabitha Brown will all the time be in favor of black authors, black corporations, content creators and creations, regardless of what haters can say.
After Backlash after she told about how the target boycott affects black authors on Tuesday, May 20, a 46-year-old web personality and the writer doubled her support of her peers in the film sent Instagram.
“This is my prayer for you”, the founder of “Donny’s Reptipe” began in a movie, returned to all users flooding her comments and DM “uneducated” hate news.
“I pray for love to find you, true love. I pray that she finds you and keeps you tightly,” she continued. “I pray that somebody will love you sufficient to see you, see you whenever you do not feel good, see you whenever you need real support, to see you whenever you need sympathy to see you whenever you need kindness. I pray that somebody loves you sufficient to sacrifice your life.
In the video signature, Vegan influence on food explained that he was not withdrawing from his support in the near future.
“There is no hatred and ignorance that will stop me from using my platform and voice to support and raise small companies, black companies, black content creators, black authors,” said. “Take it with God because he gave me my voice, blessed me with a platform and I’m going to use it.”
Earlier on the same day, Brown devoted a moment to share an insight into how the destination boycott, began at the end of January after the retailer announced that he would withdraw the DEI initiative, influenced some of her peers. In the filmShe noticed that she had just received a plaque from the New York Times bestsellers on the occasion of her kid’s book “Hello Im, Sunshine”, and made her think about other black authors who try to move the titles from the shelves at the Big Box seller.
“Target is a huge seller of books that sells our books, so because of the boycott, many books of our black authors did not sell well, because people did not buy books because they are sold in target,” explained Brown. “This influenced their sale. This affected their ability to be on the New York Times bestseller list. But the bigger problem is that it also affects the next contract.”
Although she noticed that she wanted boycotters to be “attentive” on the impact of not shopping in Target, she also encouraged people to support black authors through other channels “because if not, they may not display their number.”
She also turned to publishers, calling them not to consider selling the last five months for the “truth” of these authors.
“These numbers do not reflect … their truth,” said the actress. “They are talented writers with beautiful stories and they have something that they did not do on them.”
When a boycott began for the first time, Brown was one of the first to defend black corporations. In January she received a bottle when she called for consumers to consider black corporations and black authors, trying to send a message to the seller.
In his film on Tuesday, Brown updates the followers of a boycott, saying that “he prays that it has soon ended and we receive resolution.”

(Tagstranslate) Tabitha Brown
Lifestyle
Schools announced to the National Battle of the Bands

Another national battle of bands will happen in Houston on August 23 at the NRG stadium.
According to Webber Marketing, he accomplished a press conference. The company is working With the unit of Harris – Houston Sports Authority and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment to bring the public the national battle of the Pepsi Battle of the Batts. It shall be the eleventh anniversary of the event.
Eight schools will present talents of musicians participating in the National Battle of the Bands.
“Officially, there is the composition of the National Battle of Pepsi in Pepsi in Pepsi and we bring 8 most dynamic marching teams in the country to the NRG stadium in August!”
“We try to raise the platform and experience each year,” said Derek Webber, general director of Webber Marketing and executive producer of the National Battle of the Bands. “NBOTB is more than a performance. It’s a move that celebrates tradition, talent and impact of HBCU throughout the country.”
Recommended schools are:
- Alabama A&M University – Marching Maroon & White
- Albany State University – Marching Rams Show Band
- Florida A&M University – “100” marching
- Jackson State University – sound boom in the south
- Langston University – Marching Pride Band
- North Carolina A & T State University – Blue & Gold Marching Machine
- Prairie view a & m university – Marching Storm
- Texas Southern University – “Ocean of Soul”
The event will include several functions for the community except and in reference to NBOTB.
2025 nbotb Weeknitowe Wydłody includes:
- Emerging Experience Conference: Powered by JPMorgan Chase, combining innovators and small business leaders. Free of charge with registration.
- Fan experience (Saturday, August 23 at NRG Center from 12:00 – 15:30):
Free, community -oriented event that enlivens the energy of the NBOTB weekend. The impressions of the fans are the following foremost activations: - Pepsi experience: Interactive experience with national performances of artists, live entertainment and the living market of suppliers and partners.
- HBCU College & Career Fair: An event wealthy in resources that mix students with HBCU and profession possibilities through details about parties, representatives on the spot and lots of others.
- Walk from the competition: Dynamic showcase of step and walking culture, celebrating black Greek letter organizations and HBCU tradition.
- Nbotb cares community outreach: Transfer of initiatives corresponding to feeding the involvement of the homeless and youth.
To get details about the event, people can go to the website www.nationalbattleofthebands.com. Information can be available through social media: @Nationalbattleoftheofthebands on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube. @Nationalbotb on Twitter.
(Tagstotransate) Battle of the Bands
Lifestyle
Prayer led Bobby Brown to search for therapy after losing Whitney Houston, daughter of Bobbi Kristina and son Bobby Jr.

Over the years, Bobby Brown had to endure great regret, including the worst nightmare of every parent, the death of a baby.
During the looks ofJennifer Hudson Show“On Monday, May 19, a 56-year-old R&B singer opened on how he moved in regret after the death of his daughter Bobbi Kristina, son of Bobby Brown Jr. and his ex-wife Whitney Houston.
“First of all, a lot of prayer, which absolutely took me to the point where I accepted therapy in my life,” said Brown Hudson. “I accepted going to the therapist and really solve all the problems I had in me.”
Brown, who was married to the manager Alicia Eteredgedge since 2012 and has five additional children, assigns her family and stays near his family members, “when times become” as a source of strength.
“They are still there because (regret) doesn’t end. It’s not like it is going to simply disappear. It will likely be with you ceaselessly, nevertheless it’s about coping with it and really being attentive to yourself. Paying attention to how you’re feeling that day and informing someone how you’re feeling.
Brown and Houston, who had a famous but passionate relationship, were married for 14 years from 1992 to 2007. They welcomed Bobbi Kristina, their only child together, in 1993 on February 11, 2012, Houston died by accidental drowning related to the use of drugs on the hotel on the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills. She was 48 years old. Bobbi Kristina died in an especially similar way on July 26, 2015, on the age of 22, and on November 18, 2020, Bobby Brown Jr., whom Brown shared with Kim Ward, also died of drug overdose. He was 27 years old.
From the death of Bobbi Kristina, who in July in July within the tenth anniversary, Brown honored his heritage while launching Bobbi Kristina Serenity HouseNon -profit, which provides resources to victims of domestic violence.
Brown told Hudson that his daughter was not largely due to domestic violence.
“What happened to my daughter, I don’t want it to happen with a child of another man or a woman,” said Brown. “That is why we have Bobbi Kristina Serenity House to be a safe haven for those who undergo domestic violence.”
He added: “It’s time to speak. You know, people have to speak and ask for help. And when you don’t ask for help, a friend must ask for help. We must watch out for themselves. House of peace is there, as I said, be a safe haven for those who have to escape from a situation that is not healthy.”

(Tagstranslat) Bobby Brown
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