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Once again, Beyoncé’s impact is being taught in school. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East offered a virtual course titled “Black Is Queen: The Divine Feminine in Kush” in 2021, taught by Dr. Solange Ashby, who has a Ph.D. in Egyptology and was an adjunct professor at Barnard College at the time. Beyoncé has also been taught at Cornell University, Arizona State University, and Rutgers University, among others. Now, Widener University in Pennsylvania becomes the latest school to feature a course on the “Cowboy Carter” artist, according to CBS News. T his time to a class of nearly 10 freshman students, all young women. “Who doesn’t want to take a course on Beyoncé? I grew up listening to her music,” Grace Schneider, a Widener freshman, said, according to the outlet. Jayla Stone, another freshman at Widener, commented: “This is the class I talk the most in. It’s a small class and we’re able to connect more.” The course is taught by Dr. Richard...
Many singing shows have come and gone since American Idol was in its prime, but few contestants have made as much of an impact without actually winning as Jennifer Hudson. You might recall the Chicago native from season three of the reality series, where she quickly won over the hearts of audiences with her stellar vocals and down-to-earth energy. Much to the viewers’ surprise, Hudson was voted out early in the competition, but she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. Instead, Jennifer Hudson’s net worth is now in the multimillions thanks to her decades of dedication to her craft . The mother of one is the youngest of three on her maternal side but found out as a teenager that her absent father was responsible for 26 other children. She was only seven when she took an interest in singing in the church choir, and it was her grandmother, Julia, who encouraged Hudson to get involved in community theater. She’s cited Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle and the late Aretha...
Vice President Kamala Harris visited a beloved Black-owned restaurant in Atlanta, GA. Harris is currently campaigning after she announced her interest in running to become the next president of the United States. If she succeeds, she will make history as the first Black woman and first South Asian American to do so. Her first campaign stop was in Atlanta, GA, on July 30, 2024. According to PBS station WABE, this was her 15th visit to Georgia and her first as the presumptive Democratic nominee. “The path to the White House runs right through this state,” Harris said in Georgia, per ABC News. “You all helped us win in 2020, and we’re going to do it again in 2024.” While Harris made it her mission to energize Georgia voters, she also did the same for a local Black-owned business. 11Alive mentioned she visited Paschal’s Restaurant in Atlanta, GA. During her visit, she received a warm welcome from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Representative Nikema Williams (D-Georgia), and Democratic...
Preparation for life after death, though daunting, is essential. This can take root in several forms, including a will or trust. A thorough understanding of the differences between the two is paramount to making the right decision for the beneficiaries who will seize control of the mentioned assets.
“The Weekend” hasn’t been the same since 2017. That was the year SZA told the girls she had “it covered for the weekend.” For those not already familiar with her art, “The Weekend” was one of the hit singles off of her debut album “Ctrl” that catapulted SZA and her music into the mainstream. Born Solána Imani Rowe, SZA is a New Jersey native who’s been professionally releasing music since around 2012, with EPs and a list of singles. Since starting her music career, SZA has enjoyed success in the industry, breaking free from the narrative that “ R&B is dead.” Her career has landed her 39 songs on the Billboard charts, seven of which were ranked Top 10 hits, per Billboard. Most recently, her song “Kill Bill” became her first-ever song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. In a Twitter post, she noted how much the moment meant to her. “took me a over week to process cause I dreamt of this my entire career.. didn’t feel real lol, still doesn’t,” she shared. “but I wanna say...
American capitalism would want us to believe that it is never too early to start thinking about and celebrating Christmas. If you are among the people that believe in that way, then you know there is no Christmas season without the sounds of Donny Hathaway and his version of “This Christmas.” From the syncopated beats to his soothing voice, Hathaway gave us one of the original soundtracks for the Christmas holiday season. But don’t get it twisted. Donny Hathaway’s music goes far beyond the Nativity scene, gifts, and Black Santa. Deemed by Rolling Stone as a Soul Legend, Donny Hathaway’s music and influence has touched millions worldwide. With songs like “A Song For You,” “The Ghetto,” and “Where Is The Love,” Hathaway mastered a timeless sound through music that is still relevant today. Born in Chicago, IL, Hathaway had early roots in music, which began in the church. His early affinity for music led him to earn a scholarship to study at Howard University. His continued passion for...
The estate of the legendary Aretha Franklin is finally done with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to USA Today, the outstanding $7.8 million debt has officially been paid in full. This is a huge win for Franklin’s four sons who inherited her estate following her passing in 2018. Now, they will be able to reap the benefits from all revenue being brought in from her estate which, per a report, could be millions of dollars. Access to the affairs of Franklin’s estate has been an uphill battle due to IRS being in the picture. Any money being drawn in from her music, and even recent projects like the “Respect” biopic, was never seen by her children. Instead, it was placed into the hands of the government. AfroTech has previously reported on how messy things can get once a celebrity has passed and even noted the years-long process it often takes before families can see a dime of the money. Prince, James Brown, and even “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman all had estate...
Not even Serena Williams is safe from shady behavior from the media. In a tweet posted yesterday, the tennis GOAT revealed that the print version of The New York Times overshadowed her latest success by printing a photo of her sister, Venus, instead of herself. “No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it’s not enough,” she wrote via Twitter. “This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures. To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases. Because even I am overlooked.” No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it's not enough. This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures . To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases. Because even I am overlooked. You can do better, @nytimes . pic.twitter.com/hvfCl5WUoz — Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 2, 2022 The New York Times, like many other outlets, was announcing Serena Ventures’ inaugural fund. And while the paper’s...
Chaka Khan is known as the Queen of Funk. From her time in Rufus to her modern hits, the woman born Yvette Stevens in Chicago, IL, according to Biography, has been entertaining us for generations. One of her most recognizable songs, says PlanetRadio, is her 1983 hit, “Ain’t Nobody.” The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and went to No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Her songs have also been sampled in the world of Hip-Hop, too. Her 1984 hit, “Through the Fire,” has been infamously sampled by none other than Kanye West, who turned it into “Through the Wire” from his groundbreaking album, “The College Dropout.” And of course, everyone knows Whitney Houston’s version of the Chaka Khan classic, “I’m Every Woman,” from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack (Legends covering legends!). All told, Celebrity Net Worth reveals that she’s amassed a $30 million net worth over the course of her illustrious career. And now, her children — and even her grandchildren! — are carrying on her...
The Braxton sisters have been entertaining audiences for nearly 40 years. But what most people don’t know is, in the beginning, they weren’t commercially successful. In 1990, the Braxton sisters — as a collective — were signed to Arista Records, CheatSheet reports. Their first single barely cracked the Top 100 on the Billboard R&B singles list, and according to The Los Angeles Times, it was difficult to market the group because there was such a difference in their ages. Toni Braxton then became the breakout star as a solo artist. She signed to L.A. Reid and Babyface’s LaFace Records. Toni later became an R&B superstar who sold millions of records worldwide. “We did a showcase in L.A. and [LaFace Records co-founder Kenneth] ‘Babyface’ [Edmonds] signed me,” Toni Braxton said, according to The Los Angeles Times. “They’d just signed TLC so they weren’t looking for another girl group, and my sisters said, ‘You sign with Babyface and then you come and help us.'” She continued: “What a...
When it comes to the Queen of Soul, no one could ever depose Aretha Franklin. Her contributions to the music industry — and, indeed, to pop culture — cannot be overstated. She stands as one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with 75 million albums sold to date and climbing. And according to Celebrity Net Worth, her likeness, music streams, and catalog have a total net worth of $80 million and climbing. The death of Aretha Franklin left a hole in the world of pop culture that will never be filled. On Aug. 16, 2018, she passed away at the age of 76-years-old, having succumbed to her battle with pancreatic cancer. Fortunately, however, her legacy lives on. She has four sons — all of whom are in the entertainment industry, and who have very successful careers of their own. Throughout her life, Aretha Franklin encouraged her sons’ careers — and even had them perform with her on more than one occasion. And now, her grandchildren are carrying on her legacy with music careers of...
Skating has played a pivotal role in Black culture for decades. From civil rights movements to a resurgence of Black skaters across social media during the pandemic to give us all a glimpse of Black joy — these are all a part of a larger story of the rich Black history that’s shaped the world of roller skating as we know it. On Aug. 10, Adobe announced a new project with “Widows” actress Cynthia Erivo. The project “Stories on Skates” transforms the narrative of the rich history of the Black skate community around the world into 3D roller skate designs aimed to share the prolific stories and history which all have been influenced by the rink. “I was so excited to work with Adobe on Stories on Skates to showcase Black skating culture, especially as an expression of Black joy and creativity,” shared Erivo in an official press release. “This project brings to life stories from the rink that are inspiring, important, and deserve to be remembered. My hope is that Stories on Skates is a...