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It’s no doubt that Earl Graves Sr. was a forward thinking innovator, having established BLACK ENTERPRISE in 1970 for the greater good of the Black community. As a leader and family man, Mr. Graves reflected on the times. He drop gems around he’s observations of the ever changing world he lived in. Back in 2013, as technology and social media evolved, Mr. Graves recognized how communication and connection devolved and he had plenty to say.
Originally published Dec. 23, 2013:
We live in a world of mobile devices and social media, text messages and status updates. Thanks to amazing advancements in communication tools and technologies, we are sharing and accessing ever-increasing volumes of information.
We actually measure our communications influence over hundreds of thousands–even millions–of people, around the globe. However, in all the ways that matter to developing quality personal and business relationships, many of us are more disconnected than ever. We communicate more then everyone, but we are losing our sense of genuine connection with others. This bodes ill for our relationships, both business and personal.
Before you dismiss this perspective as merely the typical lamentations of the generation that once thought of nationwide phone service as the epitome of communication technology, hear me out. I absolutely appreciate how advances in our ability to move information in larger volumes and faster than ever has helped to drive economies, transform industries, create new job and business opportunities, and even new wealth. In fact, such innovations made BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s evolution from a single magazine publisher to a multi-platform media company both possible and even inevitable. Though I don’t claim to understand or appreciate the nuances of social media, I am proud to know that BE is recognized among the best media companies at using its influence to serve and inform, dramatically extending the reach of our audiovisual, digital, and live event content.
However, it is important to recognize that phone texts with acronyms and emojis are poor substitutes for a handwritten note, a sincere hug, or a firm handshake. Moreover, our increasing reliance on texting and other less-than-personal communication has resulted in less civility, courtesy, and consideration of others. For example, too many people (including politicians, athletes, and other public figures) choose to publicly blast one another via Twitter or Facebook, rather than speak with one another directly to personally iron out their differences. We are becoming more detached even from our loved ones, as communication via cell phones and tablets replaces more intimate, engaged, and personal conversation, even at family reunions, vacations, and the dinner table.
RELATED CONTENT: 3 Ways Men & Women Communicate Differently at Work
I often say that all business is personal, and that whoever builds the best relationships wins. Similarly, there can be nothing more important on your business agenda than establishing and maintaining healthy personal and family relationships and enjoying real communication with your loved ones. At the end of the day–or more to the point, at the end of your life–this is what truly matters. I am more convinced of this since the passing of my beloved wife, Barbara.
Social media and mobile communications are not going away, nor should they. But we can be wiser in our use of them. Let’s use them to facilitate, instead of replace, authentic personal communication in both our business and personal lives. Have more real conversations and fewer extended exchanges of text messages. Value opportunities to look people in the eye and really listen. Resist the urge to glance at your mobile device. Text fewer heart symbols; instead, call to say “I love you” more often.
When in the company of a friend, family member, or business associate, have the courage and wisdom to turn off your devices, if only for a few minutes. Honor your friend by being fully engaged and present. Trust me: the world won’t end. And all of us, especially you, will be the better for it.
RELATED CONTENT: A Moment in Black History: Earl Graves Sr. and Magic Johnson Close $60M Deal to Create Largest Black Pepsi Franchise
The luxurious destination wedding market will be worth nearly $80 billion by 2027, according to data published in Research and Markets’ 2023 Destination Wedding Global Market Report.
Recently, World Bride Magazine founder Myrdith Leon-McCormack spoke about the importance of unity in the multi-billion-dollar luxury space.
From event producers, photographers, and fashion designers to planners, cake makers and caterers, people of color have historically been underrepresented in the wedding industry and publications. And the destination wedding space amplifies the disparity. As engagement season unfolds, Leon-McCormack posed a profound question: Why aren’t Black and Brown people worldwide dominating the growing industry?
Leon-McCormack, a businesswoman, mother, and proud daughter of Haitian parents, reminded BLACK ENTERPRISE that people of color are not always seen in a positive or progressive light. They’re often represented in “entertainment, the movies and cops and robbers experiences.” So, there is a responsibility to break the stereotypes circulating across media outlets.
“There’s Black people all over the world, and I don’t think people realize,” Leon-McCormack told BE.
“It is a myth to think that Black people are just limited to a specific region.”
Couples are choosing to tie the knot in luxurious destinations outside of their hometown, especially after the pandemic-induced slump. In celebration of love, freedom, and life, couples are spending an average estimated baseline cost of $35,000, according to experts. The wedding industry consists of smaller enterprises and services catering to weddings, guests, brides and grooms, and much more.
“Who you choose to spend your money with values your business,” Leon-McCormack explained to BE.
“If you don’t feel invited, wanted, desired, appreciated, why would you give them your money?”
She added: “Wherever you’re traveling around the world, you just have to make a diligent effort to find those qualified people to do the business with.“
Leon-McCormack’s ambition and brand expertise have taken her across the globe, allowing her to explore popular wedding destinations like Egypt, Qatar, Dubai, London, France, and Ireland. She is proud to have found communities, businesses, and services by people of color in these countries that welcomed her with open arms. Throughout her three-decade career, Leon-McCormack, 2023 Crain’s New York Business Notable Black Leader, has architected businesses from the ground up.
Before WBM, Leon-McCormack transitioned from a renowned Celebrity Manicurist represented by Factory Downtown into a visionary founder. MLM Represents, the firm she founded, provides invaluable strategic guidance to select clientele. She brings her prowess to radio and serves as Executive Entertainment Producer for the weekly radio show Keep It Moving w/Marsha Jews on WEAA 88.9 FM.
Since 2006, World Bride Magazine has boasted being the “number one source for diverse wedding information.” The mission is to represent the authenticity and the inclusivity of everyone on the planet. Every page broke away from the Western or European perspective and celebrated the culture of a people exactly where they were. WBM has worked with advertisers such as Piaget and Cadillac, and Black woman entrepreneurs, including Brussels-based dressmaker Valentine Avoh and Black jewelry designer Sheryl Jones.
“We don’t write about anything we haven’t touched, tasted, experienced, smelled, and seen with our own eyes… We just can’t,” Leon-Coleman said, adding that her team of all shades and backgrounds is passionate about sharing stories and ads that act as endorsements and reflect everyone they serve.
She continued, “The average consumer does not know how to differentiate between a paid ad and what we believe in. We look for brands that are inviting and are very specific, and we make it clear who they’re targeted to. But when it comes to ethic, that’s nonnegotiable.”
“I like places that are off the beaten path, and that’s what our goal is every year is to not give you the same commercial who paid the highest dollar, but to find the most exquisite gems for people to look into.”
Thanks to her wisdom, Leon-McCormack shared some tips for readers, couples, and business owners who want to take up space in the destination wedding industry.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
- Research the company.
- Find a place that’s that’s excited to work with Black people.
- Go for a trial.
- Take meetings.
- Interview people.
- Examine their body of work.
ACCOUNTABILITY
- “I am still a customer. There’s a certain standard that I expect to be treated as a customer.”
- “It’s not what you say. It’s how you say it.”
- “Give the same energy to a Black business that wants to get better, that wants to compete.”
- “If your ethics is to [exclude] other people and [shame] other people, and you have a history of doing it, we don’t do business with people like that.”
“I want Black people, Black business owners to step up their game to get into the luxury space because there’s room. Come into the luxury space with the understanding that there’s very few of us in that space, and there’s few of us that are in that luxury space.”
Pick up the lastest issue of World Bride Magazine here.
It seems Paramount is making yet another attempt at a Star Trek feature film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Toby Haynes, who directed episodes of Andor, will direct this newest Trek film, with screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith providing the script. In terms of plot, all we know is that it will be set decades before the events of J.J. Abram’s 2009 Star Trek, technically the eleventh Trek feature overall, which launched a trilogy. Abrams’ Bad Robot will remain as producers. The original report says a fourth film featuring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and the rest of that cast remains in the works.
The last Star Trek feature film to hit theaters was 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond. Whenever this new Trek movie arrives, it will be the longest gap between Star Trek films since the long-running franchise launched with 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The longest gap until now was between 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis, the fourth and final film in the saga of Captain Picard’s crew, and the 2009 reboot. Although Star Trek has been missing in movie theaters all these years, it has been thriving on streaming television, with series like Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, and most recently, Strange New Worlds.
So what could “decades before” mean in regards to this movie’s timeline? The 2009 Star Trek began with the birth of Captain Kirk. It could be a story about the Romulan Wars. The infamous Vulcan offshoot species began a war with Earth, one constantly referenced in almost every Trek series. Its fallout saw the foundation of the Federation Starfleet. That’s a story possibly worth telling, even if it is another prequel to a prequel.
No word yet on when production is meant to commence on this film, much less a release date. Hopefully, it will fare better than those other announced Star Trek movies that never got off the ground.
The post ANDOR Director Tackling New STAR TREK Feature Film appeared first on Nerdist.
In early 2018 Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss signed on with Lucasfilm. The duo behind HBO’s global phenomenon were going to make a series of Star Wars films. More than a year later they were still on track to shoot in the galaxy far, far away. But that was a long time ago. The studio eventually scrapped every film it had been developing, including the mystery project from Benioff and Weiss. Now we finally know what story they wanted to tell. It’s one Lucasfilm is still planning to bring to the screen. The pair revealed they wanted to tell a story about “The First Jedi,” a concept that sounds a lot like James Mangold’s upcoming Star Wars movie.
Benioff and Weiss will soon return to television with Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, another big budget show. Just like with George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, it’s also an adaptation of another complicated book series. It’s based on Chinese author Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy.
Ahead of the show’s release they sat down with The Hollywood Reporter‘s James Hibberd to discuss their journey from the fantasy realm of Westeros to a complex sci-fi world. Along the way they made a stop in another galaxy to discuss the idea behind their unmade Star Wars project.
“We wanted to do The First Jedi,” Benioff told THR. “Basically how the Jedi Order came to be, why it came to be, the first lightsaber…” The two also joked around about how mad they were when Rian Johnson ruined their “obvious title” by naming his film The Last Jedi.
So what happened to the project? Benioff said it was simple: they “had a very specific story idea in mind” and Lucasfilm decided not to make it. That’s a tale as old as time in Hollywood, but in 2023 Lucasfilm announced James Mangold will direct a featured film called Dawn of the Jedi. It will explore the exact same concept and ancient time period Benioff and Weiss hoped to cover.
That doesn’t mean Mangold’s film will be similar to the one the Game of Thrones creators had planned. All it means is their general idea was one Lucasfilm liked. Whether that’s any consolation, or a point of aggravation, to them probably doesn’t matter. Right now all the two likely care about, though, is whether or not people like the sci-fi story they did get to tell with 3 Body Problem.
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