Good evening. I hope you had a terrific Tuesday.
The relationship that Black men have with our barbers is a special one. The Black barbershop cultivates a level of closeness that, if only for the 45-60 minutes that we're in the chair, rivals that of the most trusted family and friends. The conversation topics that I have with my barber range from the deep to the shallow, but our discussions are always meaningful. If I was having a bad day when I sat down in the chair, I'm often in a more positive space when I get up.
At the NABJ Convention last week I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher A. Daniel, a freelance journalist and the author of an inspiring article on HuffPost about Lorenzo Lewis and The Confess Project, an organization committed to building a culture of mental health for boys and men of color. Lewis hosts workshops with barbers and their clients to help create safe spaces in Black barbershops for boys and men to discuss their issues with depression, anxiety, and trauma. Keep reading for more on how The Confess Project is using the Black barbershop to end the stigma around mental health.
And while you're here, learn more about Jay-Z's latest money move with the NFL, the Black Girl Magic on Google's homepage today, and the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind Terri's Cakes Detroit.
Travers
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––Russell Wilson and Ciara are now owners of the Seattle Sounders FC soccer team. Other members of the new ownership family include Macklemore and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
––Nike is launching a subscription service for kids' shoes called Nike Adventure Club. The "sneaker club" is designed to make shopping easier for parents who struggle to keep up with their quickly growing children’s shoe needs, and is aimed at children ages 2-10 years old.
––Research shows that the more "woke" a company claims to be, the more likely it is to attract boycotts. Equinox and SoulCycle, take note.
––Denver City Council voted to end contracts with for-profit prison companies last week.
––CBS and Viacom announced a $30 billion merger today. CBS Corp. (which owns the CBS Television Network, CBS News, Showtime, and Simon & Schuster publishing) bought Viacom (the home of major cable networks like BET, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount movie studios) in an all-stock transaction.
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How Barbers Are Getting Black Men Talking About Mental Health
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Photo credit: Marcus Ingram/HuffPost
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By Christopher A. Daniel (published originally on HuffPost)
Stephan “Step the Barber” Swearingen and his staff of barbers do more than just operate clippers. The four-member team at Plush Midtown Barber and Beauty Salon in Atlanta banters with customers about sports while ESPN is on TV, politics as they check Twitter and Instagram on their phones, music that’s playing over the Bluetooth speakers, and the lunch menu from the food truck that dropped by.
The talk gets personal. Once clients sit in their barbers’ chairs, they open up about family and relationship drama, careers and educational pursuits. Like so many Black barbershops in the U.S., Plush Midtown is a safe and warm space, where men of all walks of life gather as much for gabbing as for grooming.
“It’s a place where clients can come unload,” Swearingen told HuffPost. “Barbers become therapists. We hear about clients’ issues. If clients trust you with their hair, then they trust you with what’s going on inside their mind.”
In his case, the therapist metaphor is particularly apt. The staff at Plush Midtown participated in a workshop last January led by mental health advocate Lorenzo Lewis, founder and CEO of Arkansas-based nonprofit The Confess Project. The four barbers, each with a client in his chair, clipped and buzzed away, and a handful of others sat in a semicircle on stools and plush furniture as Lewis gave a 45-minute presentation sharing personal stories of his history with depression and post-traumatic stress. He distributed pamphlets on mental health awareness and played a video clip featuring radio host Charlamagne Tha God addressing his own mental health struggles. Then he asked the patrons and barbers to open up, too.
Read the full article at HuffPost.
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Today's Google Doodle was Designed by 18-year-old Arantza Peña Popo
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When you visit the Google homepage today you'll be welcomed by a beautiful illustration drawn by a talented Black teen. Arantza Peña Popo is the National Winner of this year's Doodle for Google contest. Her drawing, “Once You Get It, Give It Back,” depicts a framed picture of her mother carrying her as an infant behind a depiction of an adult version of Artantza caring for her mother as she ages.
A rising freshman at the University of Southern California, Arantza will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology scholarship for her high school. Now that's what I call Black Girl Magic!
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Jay-Z and Roc Nation are forming an "entertainment and social justice partnership" with the NFL
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Photo via Bleacher Report
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It was announced today that Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation will be signing a deal to partner with the NFL on "entertainment and social justice." Here are they key takeaways:
- Jay-Z will be the NFL's "live music entertainment strategist
- Jay-Z will consult on and Roc Nation will be co-producers of future NFL Super Bowl Halftime Shows
- Roc Nation will also choose performers for other NFL events and content
- Jay-Z will contribute to the NFL's social justice campaign, "Inspire Change"
- This is seen as a good business deal for both parties, as it gives Jay-Z a chance to get paid to influence social change and it gives the NFL a chance to look like they actually care about social justice
- Some are speculating that this may create an opening for Colin Kaepernick to rejoin the league
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Terri's Cakes Detroit is the baking brainchild of mother-daughter duo Terri Conerway and Garnet Terri Conerway. The boutique bakery is known for their delicious custom cakes, specialty cakes, and cupcakes for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other events. Their family baking tradition spans three generations: Garnet fell in love with baking after observing her mother Terri make sweet treats in their kitchen growing up, and Terri learned the craft from her father who was also a talented baker.
Since officially launching in 2014, Terri's Cakes has become a Detroit favorite and will soon be moving in to their flagship storefront location. On August 30th, they will be celebrating their 5-year anniversary and hosting their "Fifth Fridays" party. You can buy tickets here. Noirnomics salutes Terri's Cakes Detroit and wishes them continued success!
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