Articles
Being Black is not a monolith, which is why the culture’s approach to gaming is not something that is one-size-fits-all. That said, Xbox is on a mission to revolutionize the industry by offering a variety of games that fit the many needs of those playing. Beyond those who play games, there is also a space for those who have an interest in creating them over at the Microsoft-led company. One of the latest games that stem from Xbox is South of Midnight, a spellbinding third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. Designed to celebrate Black heritage and Southern culture, the project follows main character Hazel, who was created by Compulsion Game’s, Zaire Lanier, who serves as the writer and narrative designer on the game. “When creating Hazel, for me, it was important to not think of Blackness as a monolith,” she said during the “ WOVEN: The Power of Black Voices in Gaming” panel at Microsoft’s Black TechXcellence House during the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024. ...
While the discourse around artificial intelligence (AI) has coincided with concerns regarding bias — especially as it pertains to the Black community — Microsoft has taken this opportunity for growth by helping showcase how technology can enhance one’s entrepreneurial journey. Microsoft tapped social media star Keith Lee to help demonstrate how AI can empower Black entrepreneurs, providing tools and insights to navigate and thrive in an increasingly tech-driven business landscape. During the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, the technology company purposefully hosted an activation in Houston, creating a space for tech experts, enthusiasts, and everyone in between to explore its offerings in the AI landscape. Central to this experience was Microsoft Copilot—a suite of AI-powered tools seamlessly integrated into the company’s products, designed to assist users with tasks ranging from everyday workflows to managing the complexities of running a restaurant, which is where Lee’s expertise came...
The AFROTECH™ Conference is more than just a place where tech experts and enthusiasts gather. It is also a destination where creativity is fostered and new ideas are birthed. The budding social media platform SPILL emerged directly from AFROTECH™ Conference 2022. When the company’s co-founder, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, was laid off during Elon Musk’s acquisition of the app formerly known as Twitter, he conceived the idea for a new platform alongside his former co-worker and friend, DeVaris Brown, during the technology event’s return to in-person programming in Austin, Texas, that same year. “We’re not strangers to AFROTECH™,” said Spill’s Global Vice President of Community & Partnerships, Kenya Parham, ahead of the Creator Unplugged discussions hosted by Speedy Morman to kick off Microsoft’s House of Black TechXcellence during this year’s conference. “Last year, we launched Tea Parties and consistently returned and done product releases at AFROTECH. In fact, I’m talking to you now,...
Whether you’re a founder, an entrepreneur with a startup idea, or a creative with plenty of ideas, Kapor Capital’s Cliff Worley is dedicated to helping you harness the power of artificial intelligence to bring your vision to life. During AFROTECH™ Conference 2024, Worley took to one of the executive stages to share insights on AI tools that help him remain successful in his industry. Additionally, he gave attendees various resources available to them at the tap of a button. “I’ve been speaking all around the world on AI. Last year, I got to speak on stage with Sam Altman,” Worley told attendees. “I believe that AI is going to make all those entrepreneurs if you’ve ever had that idea that you’ve always wanted to build, now is the time to do it. There’s a lot of tools out there that can help you build.” He also spoke about the rise of artificial intelligence as we know it. Contrary to popular belief, AI is not new — it has simply evolved. AI technology had its beginnings in 1950. When...
Technology has undeniably transformed the world as we know it. However, rapper-turned-entrepreneur, filmmaker, comedian, and more, Clifford “Tip” Harris, emphasizes that no matter how far innovation advances, it can never replace the human emotions that ignite creativity. During the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference, Harris took the Innovation Stage to discuss technological advancements and how he has remained authentic to himself and the community he has served for over two decades. When he first arrived on the scene in 1996, he befriended fellow Atlanta rapper Big Kuntry King, selling mixtapes out of the trunk of their cars in hopes of making it big. Initially, he was known to the world as Tip before changing his stage name to T.I. Today, aside from music, his portfolio includes filmmaking, restaurateur, and more. As one of the trailblazers of trap music, he is also the founder of Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum, an interactive cultural space that celebrates the history, evolution, and impact...
Sometimes, the perfect collaboration starts with genuine interest and collaboration. As founder and CEO of the award-winning ad agency Walton Isaacson, Aaron Walton’s career exemplifies the mastery of leveraging celebrity and influencer partnerships to elevate brands to new heights. Walton’s impressive portfolio spans iconic collaborations, from the Spice Girls’ November 1997 campaign with Polaroid to Michael Jackson’s enduring partnership with Pepsi. Most recently, he helmed Beyoncè’s partnership with Lexus during her “Renaissance World Tour.” Walton’s work on some of the most creative advertising campaigns has made him an expert in the field. He shared his keys to success with attendees during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference. “Something as a brand that is important, when you’re looking at connecting with a celebrity, you have to make sure that you do your homework and make sure your cultural values are aligned,” Walton told AFROTECH™ following his session “The Art of Brand...
Nothing is more significant in this life than the love of a mother. Renowned musician will.i.am took a moment to shed light on how his mother’s sacrifices led to his success today during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference, Nov. 13-16. The innovative producer, visionary artist, and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning music group Black Eyed Peas opened up about his humble beginnings in a session on the main stage titled “CollaborA(I)te: Empowering Creative Connections.” “I remember my mom was like, ‘Wait, put your clothes on. You go up here to get our food stamps. Sit in this line to get this cheese.’ When you’re in the projects, and that’s your reality, standing in line to get government services, and you’re there and you’ve got dreams and you’re like one day, I want to move my mama out of these projfts, and you come outside, and your best friend that you grew up with is no longer with you because he got shot and you want to dream different — that’s where I get ambition from.”...
After co-creating the beauty app Beautified, Hannah Bronfman recognized the importance of investing in startups, which are often the last to receive funding or the resources needed to scale. Today, she takes pride in her work as an angel investor, helping to advise and raise venture capital for budding businesses. As a former DJ, content creator, and now trusted angel investor, Bronfman’s desire to help companies achieve their goals by putting investments behind them began when she joined Annie Evans and Peter Hananel as a co-founder of Beautified. This app allows users to book beauty services, including haircuts, manicures, facials, massages, and more, with various salons and spas offered on the platform. Since the inception of Beautifed in 2013, Bronfman has also become an expert in marketing. She’s advised companies on building a strategic online presence well before the rise of today’s influencer-driven marketing landscape. In 2017, she became an investor. “I started actually to...
Some people are simply destined for greatness, and Texas native Bernard James Freeman, known to the culture as Bun B, may be considered one of them. As one of the founder members of the rap group UGK, Bun B has had a knack for storytelling for as long as he can remember. Today, his portfolio expands far beyond the title of musician. He wears many hats, including professor (he teaches a course on music and religion at Rice University), rapper, father, husband, and entrepreneur, to name a few. For him, the key to his success is his determination and preparation in any situation. As he was climbing the ranks in music, he credits a brutal rap battle beatdown as the reason he always showed up prepared. “I made it a note that nobody would ever be more prepared to rap in a room than I would be,” Bun B told Blavity co-founder and COO Jeff Nelson during an exclusive fireside chat at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 on Nov. 15. In the conversation, titled “Beyond Beats with Bun B: Innovation and...
When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during a preseason game ahead of the 2016 NFL season, the world ran with narratives about his decision. Today, he has a platform that is helping people who look like him share their stories. Taking the stage at the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference on Nov. 14, in Houston, TX, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback beamed with pride as he spoke to eager attendees about his platform Lumi, which uses artificial intelligence to provide marginalized creators with opportunities for independence so they can share the stories that oftentimes live in their heads with no place to go. Photo Credit: Benjamin Esakof “I’ve done the graphic novel. I’ve done a couple of children’s books, and typically, those processes from when a contract is signed to when it is released, is over two years,” Kaepernick told Brian Dixon, managing partner of Kapor Capital, during a fireside chat titled “AI’s Role in Revolutionizing the Future of Storytelling.” “Those projects need...
It’s a beautiful thing to be creative and paid. Black people drive culture around the globe. I t isn’t a secret. Yet, when it comes to the proper credit and compensation the conversation is strikingly different. In a recent study, MSL Group, a PR firm, revealed that there is a 35% pay gap between white and Black content creators, with the latter group making a significantly lower amount than their white counterparts in the content creation space. Day 2 of the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference kicked off on Nov. 14 with a discussion between creatives Imani Ellis, founder and CEO of The Creative Collective NYC, known for its annual CultureCon, and Shannae Ingleton Smith, co-creator of influencer agency Kensington Grey, for a discussion called “The Business of Creativity.” As founders, the pair have a firsthand account of life in America as content creators, and they’ve developed platforms that pour into Black creatives. Whether it’s through time and energy, resources, etc., they’re on a...
For Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, innovation has always been the driving force behind his work as a shoe designer. With more than 50 patents under his belt, as well as a college among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, he is committed to uplifting the next generation of designers. Collaborating with brands like Nike, adidas, and quite a few household names, his love for creating keeps him going every day. 2024 has been quite the year for Edwards. In February, he reopened the doors to the first HBCU with a focus on design through the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC), which he founded in 2021 in Detroit, MI. Now, he has officially partnered with Target to launch ÜNOS by Sz, an adjustable footwear line created uniquely for growing families. “For a long time, it’s always been my goal to do something that was much more affordable for people who could afford everyday things,” Edwards told AFROTECH™ in an exclusive interview. “I just felt like everyday things, if...
Big Sean has never been one to shy away from showcasing the love he has for Detroit, MI. He knew very early on that he was called to not only put on for his city but also put on for others along the way. He isn’t the only one who sees something special in Detroit. Dubbed one of the Blackest cities in America, Detroit has a population that is 76% Black, according to the United States Census Bureau. Among its other attributes, the Motor City got its nickname for being the center of the U.S. auto industry for more than a century. Detroit is also home to Motown, one of the culture’s most revered musical styles and Black-owned music labels, founded by Barry Gordy in 1959. It served as the catalyst for Black music becoming some of the most popular music, not only in America but also across the globe. Throughout his music, Big Sean has always amplified his city’s stance in the world and its impact on culture. Now, he’s taking it a step further, partnering with Pensole Lewis College of...
Technology never stops evolving, and neither does Matthew Robinson. As a senior UX design manager at Google Photos, Robinson’s motivation in his career is rooted in the “understanding that design and technology will undoubtedly continue to change the world as we understand it.” “It’s critical to have a seat in the rooms that are making the decisions that ultimately affect all of us,” said Robinson in an interview with AFROTECH™. “My roots as a designer with a knack for all creative endeavors will always be my foundation. Still, I’m increasingly interested in creating products that balance innovation with what’s ultimately good for the world around us.” Robinson says that due to his firsthand glimpse at how strategic design can frame products and define humans interactions , he is passionate about bringing his expertise to this year’s AFROTECH™ Conference. A speaker on day 2, he will lead a conversation titled “Creative Summit: Diverse Design: User-Centric Innovation.” View this...
Some years ago, Maurice Kuykendoll was simply an attendee at the AFROTECH ™ Conference. Now in its eighth year, he will approach the annual tech affair as an official speaker on the Executive Stage. It’s not lost on him that when he attended the conference, he was responsible for global expense management at insurance company Prudential, with one of its largest expenses being technology. During the transformation, he notes how vital the event was to his leadership development. “I was transforming my team simultaneously, so it was an area of development for me,” Kuykendoll said in an interview with AFROTECH™. “So, a couple of days at this conference, where there’s Black people, and they know all about technology, I was like, ‘I’ll go and see if this can be one of the things I put on my calendar every year to make sure that I am developing this essential part of what’s going on in the world.’” After sitting in many rooms alongside founders and talking to them about their latest...