2018

R&B artist and now tech startup founder, Kehlani has been a very busy woman. Not only did she just announce her pregnancy, but today she is officially announcing the launch of her new app, Flora, an app that inspires young people to make positive changes in their lives.

Through a gamification model, the app provides users with challenges and every time a specific challenge is completed they are allowed to collect coins. Once you amass a certain amount of coins, you are allowed to exchange them for prizes. “It’s pretty awesome to me because not only does it let you get a cool prize,” said Kehlani as she explained the platform in a recent YouTube Live, “but you get to do a really fun challenge that actually actively changes something in your life, not just for yourself but, for the world, and for others.”

In addition to the app having a gamification component, it boasts an awesome community where players can support one another’s endeavors. “You can create your account and leave comments on other people’s challenges,” continued Kehlani. “Maybe I have a suggestion on how you can do the challenge better. Maybe I have a suggestion on how we can possibly compete and do our challenge at the same time. Prior to the announcement, the app amassed 22k in a pre-launch that took place over a 48-hour period.

(Image: Flora)

Kehlani is joined by her co-founders, Reid Williams, COO, and Alaxic Smith, CTO and designer. They got the idea after the two started off with their own streaming service, where Kehlani conducted her first virtual release party. “We decided to come together and said hey, as a developer, a marketing strategist, communications guy and me, how could we do something that really benefits our generation,” stated Kehlani. That started the birth of Flora. 

Co-founders of Flora: Reid Williams, Kehlani Ashley Parrish, Alaxic Smith (Image: Flora)

To learn more about the app and to download it, click here.

The post Kehlani Launches Flora, the App for Better Living appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Here’s another reminder why you should always be careful about what you post on social media. A Boston Red Sox fan arrived at Fenway Park on Wednesday for Game 2 of the 2018 […]

The post Guy’s $650 World Series Ticket Stolen by Scammer Through Instagram Photo appeared first on Geek.com.

Everyone has certain things they want from a comic to grab their attention Certain ingredients that make the comic right for you taste. Me? You throw in the right amount of pop culture nods, obscure references or random jokes, and you got me. I am all the way there for it. When coming across Julian Lytle’s (who first saw on Longboxes on 22’s) Ants webcomic, I was curious at first after seeing the opening scene where a character agrees with Trump’s extreme vetting. I knew there had to be a turn coming but upon seeing the turn I wasn’t expecting to feel so damn seen once he said he just wanted to use it for making sure someone can be handed the aux cord.

I was instantly laughing at this and knew it was going to be a fun ride exploring the rest of this volume. Ants Vol. 3 offers satire that Lytle lays on display as a buffet. Each page serves as a different story much like Sunday comic strips but as I read them, for me, they played out like quick skits. What I really enjoyed about reading through this volume, were the different topics at hand. Many of them were topical but there were others that truly felt evergreen. Lytle has a talent for storytelling as well as taking the little mundane things people do or talk about and shining a spotlight on them through humor and comedy. There’s even humor and little pop culture easter eggs in the descriptions for the main characters Traz, Trak, Skud, and Fud.

I’ll be honest. I’m not sure I’ve ever related more to a panel than the one posted above. Again, I feel so damn seen. Lytle’s take on satire is timely and introspective for the characters as well. You can tell (with this panel) this is the writer looking in on themselves. Lytle’s topicals and perspectives stem from (simply put) real world and adulthood shit. Which is the perfect foundation to set this webcomic upon in order to get these satirical jokes off. It’s dope to have a webcomic that focuses on a comedic element and is more conversational than action-packed.

If you liking what you’re seeing, you can get a copy of Ants from Gumroad. Follow Ltyle on Twitter  and see more of the Ants here.

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The post ‘Ants’ Web Comic Just Wants To Get These Jokes Off appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Midterm elections are around the corner and there is so much at stake for black America. This year, there is a record-breaking number of women running for Congress and we are witnessing a resurgence of black political figures eager to restore justice, equity, and hope for the nation at a time where it seems extremely divided.

With politicians like Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum, and Ben Jealous running for governor in this year’s election, they could potentially make history in Georgia, Florida, and Maryland as the first black governors in those states. And if they receive the victory they’d also add to the short list of four African American governors in the history of the nation.

Beyond making history for governorships; control over the chambers of Congress; who wins the majority of the House and Senate; state legislative seats and non-federal offices are all at stake. As well as pressing issues that will be voted on at the local level.

That is why BET News will premiere Angela Rye. Our Vote. Our Power., an enlightening and timely news special hosted by Angela Rye. Joining her for the special is former Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett, recording artist Remy Ma, Sen. Cory Booker, activist Shaun King, Rep. Edward “Ted” James, civil rights lawyer Kristen Clarke and Dr. Connie Wun as they discuss the key issues at stake in the upcoming midterm elections on the ground in communities and nationally. The special also features an exclusive sit-down interview with former first lady Michelle Obama who will discuss the power of voter registration and turnout on the local and national level.

Your Vote Matters

In preparation for Election Day and the empowering special, we spoke with political pundit Angela Rye about the importance of being civically engaged on Nov. 6 and every election.

With the midterms approaching, what is at stake for black women?

I think that everything is at stake. One of the biggest mistakes that we make is making it seem like this one election matters more than all of the rest. Every single one of the elections we can ever vote in matters this much. One of the worst things that we can do is wait for things to get as bad as they’ve gotten to engage in the process.

 

So what I would tell black women is, when you look at the record number of women running for office this year. There are 444 black women who are running for office in the midterms. That number could be so much higher. And wouldn’t it be even more incredible if they could win?! And they can win if we exercise our voting power. We are electable. We are powerful. Every time we decide to stand together we do matter and we do count. And I would say that’s the first step; really believing that and acting

This country says, “Thank you for your help,” to black women time and time again but they don’t necessarily believe in them as candidates. What is at stake for this country if black women do not win the majority of the positions they are running for?

One of the examples that I use often is because I am so inspired by her is Stacey Abrams. Stacey Abrams is this single black woman in Georgia rocking full natural hair; brilliant, and went to an HBCU, but not a school that white America would deem as OK or acceptable to be electable. All the while, before she decided that she was going to run and during the primary was repeatedly told that she wasn’t electable because she didn’t look the part and because of how she was raised.  And the establishment went as far as to run “white Stacey” against her. The same state which in any other circumstances Democrats would cry foul. They would say that, ‘this is a voter suppression or voter confusion tactic.’

 

Stacey did not let any of that sway her and she wasn’t concerned about how much money she raised or didn’t raise. She counted on the people. So, what I would say to black women who are questioning our power and Saying that they don’t give us a chance is that we can give us a chance. If we show up every time in record-breaking numbers and if we beat the odds like we have turned out in so many elections before, we can always change the tide. It’s time for us to start betting on ourselves.

There is a national moment of harassment that black people are living in right now. And historically we’ve always lived through harassment. How can we call on our elected officials to recognize this moment?

I think if you have an elected official that doesn’t recognize it, this should be their last term. We should start holding our elected officials accountable the same way that we talk about holding police departments accountable. We should hold our community leaders and activists on any platform, whether it’s social or on television or whether they engage in social movements and marches and protests. Anyone who doesn’t think that this is a national crisis that needs to be immediately dealt with shouldn’t have a platform.

How can people advocate for themselves on the spot if they face voters suppression?

There is a number, 1-866-Our-Vote. The election protection hotline has existed for years and they are responsive, timely, well researched, and they are amazing lawyers run by the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights. I would definitely lean on them and let people know immediately if that happens. I would also say to use social media, especially during early voting and the day of election on Nov. 6. It’s a great tool to flag things for local and national media outlets. And it’s certainly a great way to flag for the election protection hotline and the folks that will be monitoring social media. You can also text Election Protection at to 9779.

Almost immediately following this midterm election, people are going to bring out the bells and whistles for the 2020 presidential election. How can we get people civically engaged 365?

One of the most important things we can realize is, for example, folks keep saying that this is the most important election. The reason for that is (in the year) 2020 there will be another Census and they’re developing the questions that are going on that Census right now. Some of those questions are designed to intimidate people who are living here undocumented. And what I would say is, why wouldn’t you want to have a say in that?

 

When we talk about electing more black people… the lines for congressional districts and state legislative districts are drawn during the Census. You will not have a say in that if you do not elect people who represent your voice this election year. These are the folks that have input on that Census. That is we have to show up, show out, and make history ourselves.

Let your voice be heard on Nov. 6. And, be sure to tune into Angela Rye. Our Vote. Our Power. on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 10 PM, ET/PT on BET.

The post Interview With Angela Rye: Time to Bet on Ourselves, Black America appeared first on Black Enterprise.