The Official Ill Community Black Excellence Thread

[Maximus Rex]

Kamala Harris Is Elected California's New U.S. Senator
http://www.latimes.com/nation/polit...-senate-race-kamala-1478538739-htmlstory.html

California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

California voters on Tuesday elected the state’s first new U.S. senator in 24 years, and made history in the process.

State Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris won the race, according to the Associated Press, becoming the first black politician in history to represent California in the Senate.

With Harris cemented as the solid front-runner and Democratic Party favorite, challenger Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange) embraced the role of the underdog and attempted to stitch together support from Latinos, Republicans and moderates. But hampered by an underfunded campaign and missteps, her effort failed to take hold.

The Harris-Sanchez Senate race was the first major test of California’s “top-two” primary system, an experiment in democracy that California voters approved in 2010 in an effort to reduce the highly partisan influence of the Democratic and Republican parties and give independents and moderates more clout in the political process.

But having two Democrats face off in the general election also may have dampened interest. Perhaps because a Democrat was guaranteed to win no matter the outcome and not sway the overall balance of power in the Senate, the race failed to entice well-heeled donors or deep-pocketed super PACs, unlike other hot Democrat-versus-Republican Senate contests across the nation.

The Senate race also was largely eclipsed by the daily theatrics and turbulence of the nation's presidential race, leaving up to a third of California voters undecided just months before election day.

Harris, the first woman elected as California attorney general, will succeed Democrat Barbara Boxer, who is retiring after serving four terms in the U.S. Senate.

Harris, the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, becomes only the second black woman ever elected to the Senate.

 

[Maximus Rex]

An African Woman Founded the World’s Oldest University

The Oldest University in the World is in Africa
http://yourblackworld.net/2014/06/04/an-african-woman-founded-the-worlds-oldest-university/

by Travis Blakely

When most people talk about historical universities that still exist to this day, normally we think of the much talked about University of Oxford or Cambridge University; both world class institutions of the highest order that have tremendous history. These institutions of higher learning located in the United Kingdom have had an incredible influence in the world of education. In fact, Europe ushered in a plethora of world class universities that became the model of educational centers worldwide. But relatively unknown in Western society is the fact that the oldest universities in the world are not in Europe. The oldest university in the world as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records and UNESCO, is the University of Al-Karaouine of Morocco (Medina of Fez), discovered in 859 A.D. by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman.

Now I don’t want to confuse anyone, this institution is not the first institution of higher learning or the first university. Ancient higher learning institutions like Edubba (house of wisdom) of Sumeria can be traced back to 3500 B.C., and Shangyang (higher school) of ancient China back to 2200 B.C.. In fact, Nalanda University of India, which dates back to the 5th century, is currently being resurrected after being destroyed in 1193 A.D. But the University of Karaouine is the oldest existing and continually operating degree granting institution in the world. And the second oldest university, located in Egypt, is Al-Azhar University which was founded in 970 A.D.

Although debated, it is said that the University of Al-Karaouine (located in Morocco) was a catalyst to the explosion of European universities being established during Medieval times. This makes sense considering the oldest university in Europe today is the University of Bologna, founded in 1088 A.D., which is located in Italy and formed after the Moorish invasion. The University of Bologna is credited as being the first higher learning institution to use the word “university” in reference to their school. University, as described by Encyclopedia Britannica, is an institution of higher education usually comprising a college of liberal arts and sciences and graduate and professional schools and having the authority to confer degrees in various fields of study. The word is derived from the Latin universatas magistrorum et scholarium word and translates to “community of masters and scholars.”

Universities have become a beacon for higher learning and are a pillar to any modern society. The influence of universities cannot be over-stated and the history of how they formed is fascinating. The oldest university on planet Earth right now is in Africa and it was founded by a woman. Not only is that fascinating but it is culturally important for everyone to know this, not just history buffs.

 

[Maximus Rex]

Godwin Gabriel Launches Moovn, a Ride-Sharing App to Compete with Uber, Lyft in U.S. and Abroad
http://urbangeekz.com/2016/10/african-american-launches-ride-sharing-app-compete-uber-lyft/
http://community.allhiphop.com/discussion/553518/black-owned-ride-sharing-app-moovn

Published by Wilfred Ainsworth at October 12, 2016

Ride-sharing technology has boomed into a multi-billion dollar industry within the past decade with the biggest names being Uber and Lyft. Now a new platform, led by an innovative chief exec, looks to stake a claim in the global marketplace.

Moovn is a ride-hailing app that is currently operating in 7 U.S. cities and has plans to rapidly expand in both western and emerging markets. Founded by Tanzanian-born Godwin Gabriel, the mobile application also operates in 3 cities in Africa: Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; and Gabriel’s home city, Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania.

In an interview with UrbanGeekz, Gabriel talks about teaching himself to code and developing the software to launch the platform. Still, he admits his beta launch was “amateurish at best” and states, “It wasn’t until we received investor backing that I was able to hire and collaborate with a team of seasoned developers to transform the platform into what we have today.”

When asked what his biggest challenges are, he says, “The market, for the most part, is currently being dominated by Uber and Lyft with these companies enjoying the benefits of having first mover advantage with the transportation technology space. However, we’re confident that the global market remains sizable enough for all of us to fit in and play.”

Moovn is changing lives in Africa and Developing Markets

In fact, operating in Africa has been a smart business strategy, particularly with the rise smartphone usage across the continent. It is also a chance to do business in markets that hadn’t been explored by big name brands. “I believe Moovn is changing lives – particularly in Africa and developing markets,” he says. “For instance, drivers earn more on our platform, are reducing idle time and are able to provide and build their communities.”

Gabriel has an impressive track record climbing the ranks of corporate America. He also has an MBA from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. Stepping out in faith as a tech entrepreneur, he quickly realized that he had to differentiate his brand to create a competitive transportation technology platform.

Moovn sets itself apart from most ride-sharing applications because it allows the rider to pre-schedule trips up to a month in advance, instead of only being able to request one for immediate service. It also allows different vehicle options depending upon local modes of transportation, such as motorcycles and tricycles in developing economies. Other unique features include the movement of products and services from the marketplace to the consumer and the ability to enable businesses to keep track of their transport logistics.

Initially Moovn was a Bootstrapped Startup

Coming from a non-technical business background, Gabriel bootstrapped his startup with a burning desire to uplift developing nations. Still, utilizing mobile technology in these regions means inevitable obstacles that his team has had to overcome.

He explains, “Technology usage is more prevalent and mature in the U.S. than in Africa, not to mention these continents have incomparable rates of overall smartphone usage. Another challenge is adoption by the African consumer takes much longer in terms of educating them about the benefits of using such a platform compared to their US counterparts.”

Having a CEO of African descent gives this utility a major competitive advantage in those untapped regions. Gabriel, who has resided in the Unites States for about two decades, admits his heritage is what has a plus for investors. “Operating a business in Africa requires in-depth knowledge of the marketplace, language, cultural dynamics, socio-political influence and so forth.”

He summarizes his vision for Moovn by stating, “I believe technology consumption in Africa is growing rapidly year over year and therefore presents us with tons of growth opportunities to continue our expansion and operations within that continent. He continues, “All-in-all, there are so many business models that can be built upon this platform but our grand vision is to become the Amazon of Africa.”

Those are certainly lofty goals, however, with Gabriel’s drive and determination with the support of approximately 50 employees worldwide, Moovn is looking to become a major player in ride-sharing around the world. He offers inspiring entrepreneurs these words of encouragement:

“The journey to success is not easy, but keep the faith. Believe in what inspired you to become an entrepreneur in the first place and let this inspiration fuel your everyday hustle.”

Gabriel also revealed to UrbanGeekz that Moovn will be launching in Vancouver, BC within the next few weeks and they are also aggressively planning to expand into 20 cities across the globe between January and March of 2017.

 

[Maximus Rex]

Charles Barkley to donate $1 million to Alabama A&M University
http://whnt.com/2016/11/29/charles-barkley-to-donate-1-million-to-alabama-am-university/
http://community.allhiphop.com/discussion/comment/9526201#Comment_9526201

POSTED 3:59 PM, NOVEMBER 29, 2016, BY CLAIRE AIELLO

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Former NBA player and commentator Charles Barkley looks on prior to the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Charles Barkley is a legend in our state and he’s fun to watch, there’s no doubt.

Tuesday, he announced he’s giving money to a school in his home state, but it’s not his alma mater. According to our news partner Al.com, Barkley announced on WJOX radio in Birmingham he will donate $1 million apiece to Alabama A&M University in Huntsville and also to Clark Atlanta, another historically black university.

This is the largest individual gift to AAMU in the University’s 141-year history.

“This is a transformational gift to the institution and a true measure of Mr. Barkley’s commitment to advancing educational opportunities,” said President Andrew Hugine, Jr.

AAMU is in the final year of its first-ever capital campaign, “Imagine the Future.” With Barkley’s gift, the institution has raised nearly $25 million, surpassing its initial goal of $16.25 million.

“Mr. Barkley’s gift truly bolsters our fundraising efforts. We deeply appreciate John Hudson, chair of our capital campaign and a 1996 alumnus, for leading this effort and being the catalyst to spark such a phenomenal gift,” said Archie Tucker, interim vice president for marketing, communication and advancement.

Barkley is from Leeds, Alabama. He played college basketball at Auburn University and then went to the NBA, playing for Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston. He retired after a 16-year career.

 

[Young_Chitlin]

She Leads Africa

 

[Maximus Rex]

Miss Brazil 2016: Raissa Santana Makes History As Second Black Woman To Win Beauty Pageant
http://www.latintimes.com/miss-braz...-second-black-woman-win-beauty-pageant-399890

Raissa Santana is the new Miss Brazil 2016 and will be representing her country at the Miss Universe pageant. This beautiful queen is the second black woman to be crowned Miss Brazil, and she could be a strong contestant for the title of the most beautiful woman in the Universe. Instagram/ Raissa Santana

Raissa Santana is on cloud nine! The beauty contestant from the Southern state of Parana, has just officially become Miss Brasil 2016.

According to Plus55, Raissa has made history as the second black woman in 61 years to win the coveted title. This year’s contest was historical in every sense with 6 out of the 27 contestants being black women competing for the title.

Although the number of black contestants in this year’s competition is significantly higher than most, it is not a fair assessment of the black population in Brazil. Fifty four percent of Brazil’s population considers themselves to be black or multiracial.

As one of the few black women that have competed in the beauty pageant, Raissa has always been passionate about spreading diversity.

“Diversity. We are all diversity, there is no word to define the human being, today I can be love, tomorrow I can be pain then I can be faith, hope! There are no differences that make us who we are!

The 21-year-old beauty queen told the judges that she wanted to “break the 30 year fast” since Deise Nunes won in 1986.

Despite being a beauty queen, Raissa also has the brains to match. The stunner is currently studying marketing and in her spare time works as a professional model.

The event took place at the Chateau Village Buffete and was attended by 500 guests, bringing together representatives of 41 municipalities in Paraná.

The beauty queen took to social media to thank her supporters. Raissa expressed to her followers that winning the title of Miss Brazil was more than a dream for her. “I can’t imagine my future, I don’t know what God has for me. What happened to me today were things that I confess to be beyond my dreams. I thank all of you who are living in my dreams,” she said.

 

[Maximus Rex]

The first Non Japanese Samurai was an African slave named Yasuke

Aug 27, 2016
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016...japanese-samurai-african-slave-named-yasuke/2

Yasuke arrived in Japan in 1579 as the servant of the Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano, who had been appointed the Visitor (inspector) of the Jesuit missions in the Indies (meaning East Africa, Southand East Asia). He accompanied Valignano when the latter came to the capital area in March 1581 and caused something of a sensation. In one event, several people were crushed to death while clamoring to get a look at him The Jesuits feared their church would be flattened in the stampede, but they managed to avert disaster. The warlord Nobunaga, famous for his attempts to unify Japan, heard the noise from the temple where he was staying and expressed a desire to see him. Suspecting the dark color of his skin to be black ink, Nobunaga had him strip from the waist up and made him scrub his skin. These events are recorded in a 1581 letter of the Jesuit Luis Frois to Lorenço Mexia, and in the 1582 Annual Report of the Jesuit Mission in Japan, also by Frois. These were published in ‘Cartas que os padres e irmãos da Companhia de Jesus escreverão dos reynos de Japão e China II’, normally known simply as ‘Cartas,’ in 1598. Satisfied that he was, in fact, black, Nobunaga seems to have taken a shine to him. At some point following this, although when is not clear, he was either given (Japanese accounts indicate him presented to Nobunaga, although European accounts do not mention this) or allowed to enter Nobunaga’s service.

The “Lord Nobunaga Chronicle” corroborates Frois’ account, and describes their meeting thus: “On the 23rd of the 2nd month [March 23, 1581], a black page came from the Christian countries. The man was healthy and good-looking with a good demeanor. Moreover, Nobunaga praised Yasuke’s strength, describing it as that of ten normal men. Nobunaga’s nephew, probably Tsuda Nobusumi, gave him a sum of money at this first meeting.

In May, Yasuke went with Nobunaga to his castle at Azuchi and popular rumors said he might be ennobled. The diarist, Matsudaira Ietada, described him as six shaku 2 sun (6 ft. 2 in., or 188 cm.). His tall stature would have been very imposing to the Japanese of the time, even to a tall man like Nobunaga. Matsudaira stated that he was named Yasuke.

It is likely that Yasuke could speak considerable Japanese, perhaps due to Valignano’s efforts to ensure his missionaries adapted to the local culture better, because Nobunaga enjoyed talking with him (there is no indication that Nobunaga spoke Portuguese, and it is unlikely that Yasuke would have been able to communicate in classical Chinese, the oriental lingua franca of the time). He seems to have become a close retainer, perhaps the only non-Japanese ‘warrior’ that Nobunaga had in his retinue, which could account for his rapid rise in favor and status. Yasuke was also mentioned in the prototype of Shinchōkōki owned by Sonkeikaku Bunko (尊経閣文庫), the archives of theMaeda Clan. According to this, Yasuke was given his own residence and a short, ceremonial katana by Nobunaga. Nobunaga also assigned him the duty of weapon bearer.

An artist’s illustration of Yasuke, an African slave who traveled with Italian Jesuit missionaries when they arrived in Japan in 1579. Source: Wikipedia/Public Domain

In June 1582, Nobunaga was attacked and forced to seppuku in Honnō-ji in Kyoto by the army of Akechi Mitsuhide. Yasuke was also there at the time and fought the Akechi forces. Immediately after Nobunaga’s death, Yasuke went to the join Nobunaga’s heir Oda Nobutada who was trying to rally the Oda forces at Nijō Castle. Yasuke fought alongside the Nobutada’s forces for a long time, but he eventually surrendered his sword to Akechi’s men. They asked Akechi himself what to do with him. Akechi said that the black man was a beast and did not know anything, and furthermore, he was not Japanese, so they should not kill him but take him to the nanban-dera or nanban-ji (南蛮寺, literally the temple of the southern barbarians, how the Japanese referred to the Jesuit church). It is said that the reason why Akechi spoke it such a manner was a form of pity, i.e. giving a clear reason why not to kill him. Black people were not in fact discriminated against in Japan at this time, in fact, they were even admired, for the Buddha was often portrayed in black in Japanese temples. However, perhaps Akechi also did not want to offend the Jesuits, needing all the friends he could get at this time of political turmoil. This was much to the relief of the Jesuits there who calmed him down and thanked God for his deliverance. There is no further written information about him after this although Frois, in his ‘History of Japan, does mention a black African gunner in the service of Arima Harunobu in 1584, shortly after Yasuke’s time with Nobunaga. This is highly likely to be a different man, however, and there were many Africans in the service of Japanese and European employers, as well as independently employed men, in Japan at this time.

At only 23, Ava Roberts becomes youngest African-American female doctor!
http://chicagocrusader.com/23-ava-roberts-becomes-youngest-african-american-female-doctor/

Ava Roberts

By healthfactsday.com

Ava Roberts (23) is now the youngest first African-American female doctor in the world! Though word of his accomplishment are however minimal, French site Pelea reports in their site that “after a gifted childhood, Ava Roberts quickly excelled through medical school and became a force to be reckoned with as the youngest African-American female doctor.” This an amazing young age, when you look at how long doctors go to school?! Ava Roberts must have been a child prodigy! You go girl! She is a great role model to young women everywhere in the world! for being the youngest African-American female doctor.

Looking down the memory lane, first black doctor in history was James McCune Smith. Smith couldn’t go to medical school in New York, so he went to Scotland for his degree and returned home to treat the city’s poor.

James McCune Smith‘s degree of 1837 made him the nation’s first professionally trained African-American doctor. Smith set up a medical practice in lower Manhattan where he became the resident physician at an orphanage and also was the first African-American to own and operate a pharmacy in the United States!

Smith lived and died at a time in America when little recognition was given to the black people achievements. However his children refused to promote their father’s legacy and even shunned their African-American heritage.

Smith was very polpular that a public school in Harlem was however named after him. He was portrayed him in a video produced by the New York Historical Society by Danny Glover.

He is also the first African-American doctor to publish scholarly studies in peer-reviewed medical journals, Stauffer have to say this. “He also wrote essays countering theories of black racial inferiority that had currency then. He was a friend and associate of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and he wrote the introduction to Douglass’ “My Bondage and My Freedom.”

 

[Maximus Rex]

After long pursuit, Serena Williams sets record with 23rd Grand Slam title

Sandra Harwitt, Special for USA TODAY Sports Published 9:58 a.m. ET Jan. 28, 2017 | Updated 10:09 a.m. ET Jan. 28, 2017
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...s-australian-open-grand-slam-record/97181896/

MELBOURNE — There was a great deal at stake for Serena Williams in the Australian Open final on Saturday night, far more than having to push aside her older sister.

For Serena, the 6-4, 6-4 win to hoist the Australian Open trophy for a seventh time establishes a brand new record. At 35, she is the only player – man or woman – to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era.

“It’s such a great feeling to have 23,” Williams said. “It really feels great. I’ve been chasing it for a really long time. It feels like, really long time. When it got on my radar, I knew I had an opportunity to get there, and I’m here.”

Now that Williams has Steffi Graf in her rear-view mirror – the two were tied at 22 Grand Slam titles since Wimbledon last year – she can look ahead to the next record to break.

Australian Margaret Court holds the overall record with 24 Grand Slam titles, an achievement which spans the pre-Open and Open Era. Court was in the crowd watching Serena inch closer to her claim to fame in the game on Saturday night.

Williams was also in position to return to the world No. 1 ranking if she won the title. But she had no idea that was in the offing as her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, told her a fib by saying it wasn’t a possibility.

“She trusts me, because I never lie unless it’s for her own good,” said Mouratoglou, laughing. “She’ll forget. Give me a few weeks and she won’t think about anymore. But, actually, I think she’s happy I did it now.”

Williams admits she was clueless that she could take back the No. 1 ranking she relinquished to Angelique Kerber when she fell in the U.S. Open semifinals and Kerber went on to win the title.

“In the beginning of the tournament, I was like, ‘If I win, will I be No. 1?” Williams said. "(Mouratoglou) said 'No, no, no.' Today on the court ... I was like, ‘Whoa, really?'”

In Mouratoglou’s mind, a win here was essential for Williams to start the new season. After she lost in last year’s U.S. Open semifinals to Karolina Pliskova, she hung up her rackets for the rest of the year.

At Auckland, her first tournament this year, Williams was flat in her only match. She lost in three sets to fellow American Madison Brengle in the opening round and did so with a shocking 88 unforced errors. In their one previous match, Brengle only won one game.

“She needed to win this one,” Mouratoglou said of the Australian Open. “I feel that when you end the season with a loss, especially at a Grand Slam, you don’t have a good feeling. You have to fight back to get that confidence back. So that’s why this one was very important for the rest of the season.”

Williams was also in position to return to the world No. 1 ranking if she won the title. But she had no idea that was in the offing as her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, told her a fib by saying it wasn’t a possibility.

“She trusts me, because I never lie unless it’s for her own good,” said Mouratoglou, laughing. “She’ll forget. Give me a few weeks and she won’t think about anymore. But, actually, I think she’s happy I did it now.”

Williams admits she was clueless that she could take back the No. 1 ranking she relinquished to Angelique Kerber when she fell in the U.S. Open semifinals and Kerber went on to win the title.

“In the beginning of the tournament, I was like, ‘If I win, will I be No. 1?” Williams said. "(Mouratoglou) said 'No, no, no.' Today on the court ... I was like, ‘Whoa, really?'”

In Mouratoglou’s mind, a win here was essential for Williams to start the new season. After she lost in last year’s U.S. Open semifinals to Karolina Pliskova, she hung up her rackets for the rest of the year.

At Auckland, her first tournament this year, Williams was flat in her only match. She lost in three sets to fellow American Madison Brengle in the opening round and did so with a shocking 88 unforced errors. In their one previous match, Brengle only won one game.

“She needed to win this one,” Mouratoglou said of the Australian Open. “I feel that when you end the season with a loss, especially at a Grand Slam, you don’t have a good feeling. You have to fight back to get that confidence back. So that’s why this one was very important for the rest of the season.”

Williams was already the oldest women's champion at a major in the Open Era, a record she set by winning the 2016 Wimbledon title at 34 years and 287 days old.

At the outset of the match against Venus there were definite nerves on both sides with the first four games seeing service breaks. From there they both settled into the outing, but still returning better than serving.

In the end, it was Serena who secured the upper hand. She just had that little something extra – a bit more fight, a bit more confidence – to get the job done in 82 minutes.

For now, the sisters have played on 28 occasions and Serena's won 17 of those meetings. In Grand Slams, Serena leads Venus 10-5 in matches played, and 7-2 in Grand Slam final encounters played.

“Playing Venus, it’s stuff that legends are made of,” Serena said. “I couldn’t have written a better story. I just feel it was the right moment. Everything kind of happened. It hasn’t quite set in yet, but it’s really good.”

And on the topic of even more interest for some than her winning a 23rd Grand Slam title - there is another reveal to report regarding her fiancee, Reddit co-owner Alexis Ohanian.

While it’s true that she forgot to mention his presence in her box on the court, he did show up as part of her entourage in the interview room, and he couldn’t stop beaming and eyeing her sitting by the trophy. And on her finger, there was finally a sighting of a classic engagement ring - big, beautiful and bright.

 

[2stepz_ahead]

hopefully I make it to this thread

 

[2stepz_ahead]

Ken Frazier

Kenneth Carleton Frazier (born December 17, 1954) is an American business executive. He is the chairman and CEO of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside of North America). After joining Merck & Co. as general counsel, he directed the company's defense against litigation over the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx. Frazier is the second African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company.

Early life

Kenneth Frazier was born on December 17, 1954, in North Philadelphia.[1] His father, Otis, was a janitor.[2][1] Frazier has said Thurgood Marshall was one of his heroes growing up.[3] Frazier's mother died when he was twelve years old.[1] He attended Northeast High School. After graduating at age 16, he entered Pennsylvania State University.[3] To make extra money in college, he raised tadpoles and newts and sold them to local stores.[4]

After earning his B.A. from Penn State, Frazier enrolled at Harvard University to study law.[5] He graduated in 1978 with a J.D.[2][5]

Career

Drinker Biddle

After graduating from Harvard, Frazier started his law career at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia.[3] In 1991, Esther Lardent, head of the Death Penalty Representation Project, asked Frazier to defend death row inmate James Willie “Bo” Cochran.[1] Cochran had been arrested and accused of murdering an assistant manager at a Birmingham grocery store in 1976.[6] Frazier, then a partner at Drinker Biddle, and two colleagues took the case.[4] In 1995, after 19 years on death row, the 11th United States Courts of Appeals overturned Cochran's conviction. In 1997, Cochran was retried and found not guilty.[6] Frazier continued to represent him after leaving Drinker Biddle. During Frazier's law career, he also took four summer sabbaticals to teach trial advocacy in South Africa.[2]

Merck & Co.

As a lawyer at Drinker Biddle, one of Frazier's clients was Merck & Co., the second-largest drug company in the United States.[3][4] In 1992, he joined Merck & Co.'s public affairs division as general counsel.[3][7] Frazier was named senior general counsel in 1999.[8] As general counsel, he was credited with overseeing the company's defense against claims that the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx had caused heart attacks and strokes.[4][8][9] Analysts at the time estimated Merck & Co.'s liability to range from 20 to 50 billion dollars.[10] Frazier said the case was “the most significant challenge [he'd] ever faced.”[4] He chose to fight each case in court rather than settle them all quickly.[7] The remaining cases were settled in 2007 for $4.85 billion.[8]

In 2006, Frazier was promoted to executive vice president in addition to his role as general counsel.[8] He led the company's largest group, human health from 2007 until he was named president of Merck & Co. in April 2010.[3][11] On January 1, 2011 he became CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors, replacing former Merck & Co. CEO Richard Clark.[3][12] Frazier was the first African-American to lead a major pharmaceutical company.[1]

As CEO, Frazier has directed the company to take financial risks in developing new treatments.[10] In 2013, he prioritized research funding over meeting the year's earnings target.[7] He has placed special emphasis on improving treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Frazier's father died from Alzheimer's. Frazier has said he is also motivated at Merck & Co. by a desire to improve the lives of people in developing countries.[10]

Frazier received a total compensation of $21,387,205 in 2014. According to the "annual collaborative report" from Equilar and The New York Times, Schliefer ranked 66th in the May 2015 list of "200 highest-paid CEOs of large publicly traded companies" and seventh in the list of biopharmaceutical executives with the highest total compensation.[13][13]

In July 2016, Frazier sold 60,000 shares of the firm's stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.44.[14]

Other work

On November 11, 2011, as a member of the Penn State board of trustees, the board selected Frazier as chairman of a commission empaneled to investigate a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of a cover up by university officials.[15] The commission retained the private law firm Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan as "Special Investigative Counsel" who then hired Pepper Hamilton, legal counsel for Merck & Co.. The report, costing the university $6.5 million, was accepted and used as the basis for the NCAA sanctions against Penn State.[16] Frazier was criticized by attorney William Cluck and other Penn State alumni for his role in the Penn State Board of Trustees' handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, particularly its decision to fire head football coach Joe Paterno.[17] Frazier responded to Mr. Cluck with a racially laced tirade, saying to the light-skinned Mr. Cluck, "If you cared about that, you are one of the few people in this country that looks like you who actually believes the O.J. Simpson not guilty verdict was correct."[18] Mr. Frazier issued a minimal apology shortly after the event and then, with the benefit of counsel from Merck & Co., a more thorough apology, for the inappropriate outburst.[19]

Frazier is a member of the American Law Institute and serves on its Council. In May 2013, he delivered the keynote speech at the ALI Annual Dinner, offering "some reflections on my experiences as a lawyer in private and in-house practice, and from my current vantage point as CEO of a global healthcare company on the importance of our legal system and lawyers for business, for society and for all of our people."

 

[2stepz_ahead]

Ken recently met with trump. sat next to him discussing how to help move pharma forward.

Very nice guy. my wife and I met him while she worked at Merck. He flew to the company retreat in a helicopter...like a boss

An hes from North Philly like me

 

[Maximus Rex]

Let’s Shatter the Myth About the Absent Black Father

http://www.theroot.com/this-father-s-day-let-s-shatter-the-myth-about-the-abs-1790860164

Kirsten West Savali

6/15/15 3:00am

Generic image

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Black men are present and engaged fathers who love their children.

Black men are present and engaged fathers who love their children.

I needed to write that twice, in hopes that it cuts through the racist and patently false narrative amplified by mainstream media that the majority of black fathers are scurrilous beings who are locked up and tuned out, low on education and high on weed—too busy getting busy to get a business of their own.

That’s what we’re supposed to believe, right? But the lie detector test determined … that was a lie.

A recent New York Times study led with the sobering headline, “1.5 Million Missing Black Men.” It included such findings as this: “Of the 1.5 million missing black men from 25 to 54—which demographers call the prime-age years—higher imprisonment rates account for almost 600,000. Almost 1 in 12 black men in this age group are behind bars.” This massive incarceration, compounded by substandard health care and fragile mortality rates, results in a fact that leaped from the study:

"More than one out of every six black men who today should be between 25 and 54 years old have disappeared from daily life."

Here’s the thing, though: Many of them aren’t “missing.” They haven’t “disappeared.” Many of them have been stolen, ripped from their families to feed bloated prison cells, then regurgitated back out into society, more than likely unable to vote or find a job that enables them to care for their families. There is a direct line from slavery straight to the prison-industrial complex, a devastating continuum that first dehumanizes, then enslaves and criminalizes black bodies for profit, ultimately rendering them killable in the eyes of society. And because patriarchy is the poison of choice in a heteronormative society that places value on the “traditional” family and its central role in community building, there has always been a very concentrated effort to subjugate and oppress black men.

Still … black men are present and engaged fathers who love their children.

“People think they don’t care, but we know they do,” said Joseph Jones, president of the Center for Urban Families, an organization that works to support African-American fathers, to the Los Angeles Times. “We see how dads are fighting against the odds to be engaged in the lives of their children.”

In 2013 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that I’ve cited often over the years, “Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children: United States, 2006-2010” (pdf). It does a great job shattering some pervasive myths about African-American fathers. The findings include the following:

Of African-American fathers surveyed who live with their children,

* 78.2 percent fed or ate meals with their children daily, compared with 73.9 percent of white fathers;

* 70.4 percent bathed, diapered or dressed their children daily, compared with 60.0 percent of white fathers;

* 82.2 percent played with their children daily, compared with 82.7 percent of white fathers;

* 34.9 percent read to their children daily, compared with 24.9 percent of white fathers;

* 40.6 percent helped their children with their homework or checked to make sure that they finished it daily, compared with 29.3 percent of white fathers.

* Of the fathers who live away from their children, African-American fathers outperformed white and Latino fathers on nearly all measures surveyed, including reading to their children daily, helping them with homework and changing their diapers.

 

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Let’s Shatter the Myth About the Absent Black Father Pt. II

While it is certainly true that many fathers need to step up and take better care of their children, this is not specific to black fathers by a long shot; and yet too many of us have internalized that self-hatred as easily as we’ve digested the myth of black-on-black crime. Even where there is parity in the numbers, black fathers surveyed were no less present in their children’s lives, despite the deadbeat-dad myth that dogs their steps.

It could be argued, then, that pundits and politicians would be better served pontificating on the pathology of absent white fathers, those who aren’t faced with the same structural impediments but still come up short. You know, the ones who start at third base but still can’t make it to home plate for dinner.

But that wouldn’t be good political theater, now, would it?

And for those in our communities who would say, “Well, we shouldn’t be concerned about what other fathers are doing,” I would then question why too many people with a platform seem to be performing that criticism for the white gaze in order to procure “tough love” points and respectability certificates.

Conservative demagogues, such as Bill O’Reilly and Geraldo Rivera, are expected to indulge in such tactics out of either malice or ignorance, but the propaganda also comes from African-American men in high places, such as President Barack Obama, whose scathing indictments seem to reflect a desire to play the role of father-in-chief, reprimanding a wayward African-American demographic that dreams of earning his approval.

See just a few of the statements skewering black fathers below:

“Too many fathers are MIA, too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.” —President Obama, apparently talking about Cousin Pookie again

“I have a dream that all black boys and girls will grow up with a father. … I got a dream that young black males don’t become daddies until after they’re married and until after they have a job! How about that!” —former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.)

“Right now, about 73 percent of all black babies are born out of wedlock. That drives poverty. And the lack of involved fathers leads to young boys growing up resentful and unsupervised. … Raised without much structure, young black men often reject education, gravitate towards the street culture, drugs, hustling, gangs. Nobody forces them to do that … it is a personal decision.” —Bill O’Reilly

“Someone has to speak up for young black males. It isn’t going to be their fathers; most are not there. It isn’t going to be the child himself; he’s been warned by his mother not to ‘disrespect me.’ It certainly won’t be white Americans; you’ve scared them away!” —Jesse Lee Peterson

“As I’ve said many times before, being a dad has been the single greatest blessing of my life—as well as the most important and most demanding job I’ve ever had. I suspect that most of the other fathers in this crowd would say the same. Yet the unfortunate reality is that, for far too many children—and especially for African-American kids—the involvement of a loving and attentive parent is not something they can count on. And in too many places, strong, positive role models are in short supply.” —former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder

“I wondered to myself, what if LeBron James instead had a shirt, ‘Be a better father to your son.’ ‘Raise your children.’ —Geraldo Rivera on James’ “I Can’t Breathe” shirt

“Once upon a time in the black community, you didn’t have to look at people outside your home for role models. We have got to get that re-established. So we don’t have to look up to Washington, D.C. You can look at your dads.” —former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.)

This is the kind of broad-stroke rhetoric that paints African-American communities as broken, derelict and unsalvageable. Even the well-intentioned remarks, presumably meant to empower black men, are steeped in dangerously misguided hyperbole that reaffirms the white supremacist notion of intrinsically flawed black masculinity.

As Father’s Day draws closer, The Root wants to combat that notion. We are asking that our readers submit photos of themselves with their fathers or with their children, using the hashtag #TheRootSalutesBlackFathers.

 

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Damon Williams 14, Young Millionaire in the Making
http://www.blackempowerment.net/damon-williams-14-young-millionaire-in-the-making/

Feb 07, 2014

He’s only 14 years old, but already Damon Williams of Chicago Illinois has mastered the art of investing in the stock market and earning a sizeable profit. While others his age worry about buying the latest teen fashion or high school wear, Damon is more interested in owning a piece of the company that produces and markets that product.

According to Damon, in 2009 he already made a “shade over fifty thousand.” Damon does everything the average high school teen does. He’s popular, and the starting point guard for his varsity basketball team. He doesn’t stress about wasting time playing video games either, instead he said, “it’d be much more cool to know I own a piece of the company that makes that video game.”

Damon was first motivated to become a young investor after his financial minded mom turned down his request to get a pair of the latest Jordan sneakers on the market. Instead, she made him save his money to buy several shares of Nike before he could by another pair of shoes. Thus he became Damon Williams youth investor in the stock market.

If you ask Damon about market equities and earnings per share, he knows it, compounds and interest? he’s already got it down pack. He’s by no means a fickle investor, you won’t catch him daytrading in and out of stocks. Damon prefers to buy and hold, based on growth potential of a stock.

This young millionaire in the making is knowledgeable, and confident about the stock market. He’s put the rest of grown up Wall Street on notice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbxgv-R5M-U

Dr Boyce Watkins: This Child is DEFINITELY Going To Be A Millionaire!

 

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SportsKids of the Year 2016: The Sheppard Sisters
https://www.sikids.com/si-kids/2016/11/21/sportskids-year-2016

Elizabeth McGarr McCue | November 21st 2016

The day before Halloween, an unseasonably mild 70-degree Sunday, 24 girls sporting pink-and-blue track suits formed two lines at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, New York. Their lines may not have been perfectly straight — as their coach, Jean Bell, noted afterward — but the members of the Jeuness Track Club, ages five to 16, executed their plyometric drills flawlessly as they warmed up for a USA Track and Field cross-country meet.

On this day the girls were preparing to run three-person relays in their respective age groups, with each athlete covering one mile. Eleven-year-old Tai Sheppard would set up 10-year-old Rainn Sheppard to beat the second-place team in their division, also a Jeuness group, by a whopping one minute and 20 seconds. Nine-year-old Brooke Sheppard would run the middle leg of a relay and help her trio finish second in a different division.

Tai wants to qualify for the AAU Junior Olympic Games every year. She placed second in the 80-meter hurdles in her age group in Houston in July, her second time competing at the meet. “Since I qualified for my first year, I’m like, I can do this,” she says. “I know I can.”

“I plan to go to the Olympics one day in [a distance race],” says Rainn, who returned from Houston with a gold medal in the 3,000. “My track and field goals are just to keep getting emotionally and physically stronger. It’s all about what’s inside, in your mind. You have to say: You can do this, you can do this.”

“My goals are to get faster as a runner and jump higher,” says Brooke, who placed second in the high jump in Houston. “For college, I would want to stay nearby so I can see how the team’s doing.”

If these three siblings sound confident, it’s not an accident. Their mom, Tonia Handy, appreciates the encouragement that Bell and the Jeuness coaches have offered her daughters. “I think it’s given them a sense of security,” Handy says. “I think they worry about me out in the world less now that they know that I have the support of really good people and I’m happier.”

Life hasn’t been easy for Handy’s family. She has raised her girls on her own since before Brooke was born. Their half brother was shot and killed three years ago at the age of 17. Handy works hard to support her family, but they have lived in a two-bedroom unit in a homeless shelter since last September. (Handy played the role of exterminator when they first moved in, ridding the apartment of bugs and mice.)

To speak with Tai, Rainn and Brooke is to understand optimism and dedication. To watch them compete is to witness grace and determination. For these reasons, and for their accomplishments on the track, the Sheppard sisters are the SportsKids of the Year.

Discovering a New Passion

Tai, Rainn and Brooke didn’t grow up interested in sports. They enjoyed participating in a chess club after school and playing the piano. Tai started her own book club for half a dozen students in fourth grade after finishing the class requirements.

Last winter, their babysitter, Sharon Davis, who looks after them while Handy works, registered them to run in indoor track meets.

They had a lot of fun. Separately, while competing at the Colgate Women’s Games, they caught Bell’s attention. “I gave cards to each of them to give to their mothers,” recalls Bell, who didn’t realize they were sisters.

When they got home, they spoke to their mom about attending track practice the next day. “The first thing I thought about was, Will their education be interrupted? Because these are great kids,” Handy says. “When it comes to schoolwork, they are No. 1. They were never into sports, so I was kind of leery, but [the parents and coaches] were so welcoming. It was beautiful. I took them to a practice, and they had the time of their lives. I never thought they could run so fast!”

That summer, Tai and Rainn qualified for the 4 x 400-meter relay at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Norfolk, Va., and they helped their relay team win gold.

The sisters continued to earn medals and trophies at local and regional races. They’ve maintained A’s and B’s in school and have broadened their extracurricular activities. Tai and Rainn were cast in their Brooklyn school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. (Rainn is Alice. Tai is a playing card. Bell’s sister, Betty, is sewing both costumes.) This fall Brooke was admitted to a weekend art program at the prestigious Pratt Institute.

Since they joined up with Coach Bell and Jeuness, they have become more disciplined, more focused, and more outgoing. “That’s one of the things that I really appreciate about them being in the sport,” Handy says. “They’re good girls. And being with this group of girls at the track, at track practice — they respect one another.”

That has become Bell’s aim since she founded the all-girls Brooklyn-based track club in 1985. “Responsibility doesn’t come in a card on your 18th birthday,” Bell says. “It’s about problem-solving for your journey. It’s about building the whole person.”

Her goal is to keep her runners invested in school and in track and out of trouble so they can earn college scholarships. Girls do science projects at her house, and she coordinates outings to movies and celebrations around the holidays. Bell and the other coaches collect report cards and give tutoring. The day before Halloween, coaches and parents assembled bags of treats for the runners as Bell supervised while wearing a headband with jack-o’-lantern antennae. “We want to keep them interested and having fun,” she says.

 

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SportsKids of the Year 2016: The Sheppard Sisters Pt. II

Once the sisters qualified for the AAU meet in Houston — in a total of eight events — they needed to find a way to pay for the trip. So did another member of the team, who also lives in a homeless shelter. Coaches and the parent of a Jeuness alum paid for the flights. The Sheppard sisters paid for expenses and a hotel room through a GoFundMe campaign. A local businessman heard about the sisters — and the fact that their mom couldn’t afford the trip — and reached out to Betty’s daughter, Karel Williams, who is the team manager. He wanted to cover Handy’s trip to Houston. With the coaches’ blessings, Handy surprised Rainn before her 3,000-meter final.

“I just ran over and jumped on her and hugged her,” Rainn says. “When she came, I was so excited. Boy, I wish I could do that again.”

At Home on the Track

The Sheppard sisters may have been racing for only two years, but they have already settled into a rhythm in their favorite events.

Brooke is partial to the high jump. “I’m not that tall, but I can jump really high,” she says.

Rainn loves the 3,000; she was the nation’s top AAU qualifier for her age group. “It’s long and so relaxing,” she explains. “I can run it fast and I’ll still be relaxed. . . . My strategy — not my secret strategy, I’m not going to tell you that — is to go fast when other people don’t go fast. They go out in the first couple laps, and then I’m right there. Then they slow down, and I run faster.”

Tai prefers hurdles. “It’s really fun, but it’s also hard because of the technique you have to do,” she says. “It’s a very quick race, but I’m also very good at it, so it makes it, not easy to win, but pretty easy for me to not get scared about what I’m going to do.”

No matter where track and field takes these girls, they will have the support of their mom and their track family.

“I want to, of course, give them a more stable life,” Handy says. “But as far as a stimulating, open life, they’re getting that now.”

“They are the most optimistic people I’ve ever seen. Nothing gets them down,” Bell says. “They’re going to go far no matter what.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52-Z-Xxk4JQ

Meet The 2016 SportsKids Of The Year | SPOTY 2016 | Sports Illustrated

 

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Get Out: Jordan Peele First Black Director With $100M Debut Feature
http://screenrant.com/get-out-jordan-peele-first-black-director-debut-feature/

By Michael Kennedy 03.13.2017

Every now and then, a modestly budgeted horror film comes along, and manages to capture the collective imagination of moviegoers. A good recent example of this phenomenon is 2013’s The Conjuring, which hauled in over $300 million on a budget of $20 million, and spawned a franchise that will soon include no less than 5 films. Success stories like these emphasize why horror never entirely falls out of favor with Hollywood, as it often doesn’t take much investment to earn a huge return.

The latest such horror success story is Get Out, the feature directing debut of Key & Peele co-creator Jordan Peele. Bolstered by terrific reviews and an intriguing, racially charged plot, Get Out took the box office by storm, scoring a $30 million opening weekend and the #1 spot on the domestic charts. Unlike many horror films, Get Out has ended up having good financial legs, falling to only the #2 spot in its second weekend, and the #3 spot this past weekend.

Even after all that good news, it would appear that Get Out’s journey is far from over. As of this past weekend, Get Out has crossed the $100 million mark at the box office, on a budget of only $4.5 million. To call that a pleasing return on investment would be a massive understatement, and has to have distributor Universal feeling quite happy. Additionally, The Wrap reports that with this milestone achieved, Peele now becomes the first black writer-director to earn more than $100 million theatrically with their debut feature.

While Universal and Peele are no doubt experiencing great joy over Get Out’s massive box office take, another pleased party is production studio Blumhouse, who has emerged in recent years as a reliable source for low to mid-budget horror flicks that tend to outperform expectations. Get Out is actually Blumhouse’s second major genre hit of 2017, with M. Night Shyamalan’s Split earning nearly $250 million worldwide on a budget of $9 million.

At this point, Peele likely has carte blanche as to what he’ll direct next, so it’ll be interesting whether he chooses to branch out to a different genre with his next effort, or stick with the horror material he clearly has quite the knack for doing right. Peele is a self-professed huge fan of horror movies, so one imagines he might not mind carving out a niche for himself in the world of fright flicks.

 

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This 22-Year-Old Is Already An Engineer With NASA
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...-engineer-at-nasa_us_5894c59be4b0c1284f25c913

And she’s yet to graduate from MIT... with a 5.0. Yah.

By Zahara Hill

Hidden Figures” is Guinn’s favorite movie.

Tiera Guinn is just 22 years old and she’s already working with NASA.

As a Rocket Structural Design and Analysis Engineer for the Space Launch System that aerospace company Boeing is building for NASA, Guinn designs and analyzes parts of a rocket that she said will be one of the biggest and most powerful in history.

Guinn, whose career trajectory seems like a sequel to the much-acclaimed “Hidden Figures” movie, has been aspiring to become an aerospace engineer since she was a child.

Her mom, who noticed her daughter’s skills from a young age, made sure to Guinn stayed sharp by putting her intelligence to use...at the supermarket.

“When [my mom and I] would go to the grocery store, she would get me to clip coupons [and] put it in my coupon organizer,” Guinn told WBRC News. “By the time we got to the register, I’d have to calculate the exact total, including tax. And I did that since I was six years old.”

“One day I saw a plane fly by and I just had this realization, ‘huh, I can design planes. I’m going to be an aerospace engineer,”’ Guinn said.

She chose all of her middle school classes accordingly and commuted an hour to go to the high school that would best prepare her for the future.

Now, Guinn will soon be graduating from MIT with a 5.0 GPA and is clearly on a path to success. She said she’d advise young girls looking to follow in her footsteps to expect obstacles throughout their journey.

“You have to look forward to your dream and you can’t let anybody get in the way of it,” she said. “No matter how tough it may be, no matter how many tears you might cry, you have to keep pushing. And you have to understand that nothing comes easy. Keeping your eyes on the prize, you can succeed.”

 

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Johns Hopkins has first black female neurosurgeon resident
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/21/health/hopkins-black-woman-neurosurgeon-trnd/

By Alexandra Larkin, CNN

Updated 2:58 PM ET, Wed March 22, 2017

Nancy Abu-Bonsrah and her husband, Kwabena Yamoah, celebrate her match with Johns Hopkins Hospital for a neurosurgical residency.

(CNN)In the 30 years that Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's neurosurgical department has accepted residents, there has never been a black woman in the ranks.

Now, Nancy Abu-Bonsrah is making history.

The prestigious program accepts just two to five residents, and is ranked second in the country. Among its most notable alumni: Dr. Ben Carson, who is now the United States secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

"I am very much interested in providing medical care in underserved settings, specifically surgical care," Abu-Bonsrah said in a statement. "I hope to be able to go back to Ghana over the course of my career to help in building sustainable surgical infrastructure."

Abu-Bonsrah lived in Ghana until she was 15, and also attended Johns Hopkins medical school.

"I want to be remembered for serving my community, whether it is through providing quality surgical care or helping mentor the next generation of surgeons. Unique thing: Everything is special about the match. It will be a dream come true," she said.

 

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The Black Billionaires 2017
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2017/03/20/the-black-billionaires-2017/#4ebb22a14d6d

Mfonobong Nsehe , CONTRIBUTOR

I chronicle Africa's success stories and track its richest people

10) Mohammed Ibrahim, Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, $1.14 B

Born in Sudan and now a U.K. citizen, Mohammed (Mo) Ibrahim founded Celtel International, one of the first mobile phone companies serving Africa and the Middle East. He sold it to Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Company for $3.4 billion in 2005 and pocketed $1.4 billion. Since then, he's focused on fighting corrupt leadership in Africa through the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, directed by his daughter, Hadeel. The award, which recognizes good governance in Africa, has been given out only four times in the 8 years since it was announced. One recipient of its $5 million Ibrahim Prize was Namibia's outgoing president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, in 2014. The foundation also publishes the well-known Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which ranks countries by rule of law, economic opportunity and human rights. Ibrahim owns the majority of assets in Satya Capital, which invests in African businesses.

9) Michael Jordan, Athlete, $1.31 B

Michael Jordan is widely acknowledged as the greatest basketball player of all-time, but his salary rarely matched his stature. He was the NBA's highest-paid player only twice during his 15-year career. His total career playing salary was $90 million, but Jordan has earned another $1.3 billion (pre-tax) from corporate partners since he left U. of North Carolina in 1984. His biggest backer has always been Nike, which generates nearly $3 billion in annual revenue from the Jordan Brand. Nike commands 90% of the U.S. basketball shoe market, with the Jordan Brand representing more than half of that. MJ also maintains his longtime endorsement relationships with Gatorade, Hanes and Upper Deck. His biggest single investment is his 90% stake in the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. When he bought a majority stake in 2010, the team was valued at $175 million. It is now worth $780 million. He also owns seven restaurants and a car dealership.

8) Folorunsho Alakija, $1.61 B

Folorunsho Alakija is the vice chair of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration company that has a 60% participating interest in block OML 127, part of Agbami field, one of Nigeria's largest deepwater discoveries. Its partners include Chevron and Petrobras. Her first company was a fashion label that catered to Nigeria's elite women, including the wife of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who awarded Alakija's company an oil prospecting license.

7) Patrice Motsepe, $1.79 B

Africa's first black billionaire, African Rainbow Minerals founder and chairman Patrice Motsepe, launched a new private equity firm focused on investing in Africa in April 2016. Called African Rainbow Capital, it is a subsidiary of Motsepe's Ubuntu-Botho Investments. Motsepe also has a stake in Sanlam, a listed financial services firm, and is the president and owner of the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club. He became the first black partner at law firm Bowman Gilfillan in Johannesburg, and then started a contracting business doing mine scut work. In 1994, he bought low-producing gold mine shafts and turned them profitable. South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws, which mandate that companies be at least 26% black-owned in order to get a government mining license, benefited Motsepe. In 2013, the mining magnate was the first African to sign Bill Gates' and Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, in which he promised to give at least half his fortune to charity.

6) Robert Smith, Investor, $2.5 B

Robert Smith announced a $50 million gift in January 2016 to his alma mater Cornell University, which renamed its school of chemical and bioengineering after him. In June 2016, he was named chairman of Carnegie Hall. The son of Ph.D's, he was bussed across town to his school in the early days of desegregation. He later convinced Bell Labs when he was in high school to give him an internship typically only available to college upperclassman by calling them weekly for five months. Smith quit Goldman Sachs to open his own private equity shop, Vista Equity Partners, in 2000. Neuberger Berman bought a stake in the Austin, Texas-based firm, best known for fixing up enterprise software outfits, in July 2015. It had more than $17 billion in assets under management as of 2016. In July 2015, Smith married 2010 Playboy Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk in Italy.