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00:00Wait, wait, I don't have any tickets to give away, I don't want to see you.
00:03Y'all got up and left the seat, like I don't got free tickets to give away, like we will have a special guest.
00:08I can't even, they won't even let me DJ cause she's coming right out.
00:11But I gotta give away these tickets, right?
00:14I gotta give it, I don't even know how I'ma do this.
00:16Let me think, let me think.
00:19Okay, I think I like that.
00:21If it's your birthday today, I need to see ID.
00:24If it's wait for school, is it Kansas season?
00:27What season is?
00:27Is it Kansas?
00:30Is it Leo?
00:31Okay, shout out to all my Kansas out there, Kansas makes some noise.
00:34It's only two.
00:35It's three Kansas, Leo's make some noise.
00:38The Leos are here.
00:40It's like three Kansas and a Leo.
00:41I'ma do a birthday.
00:42I'ma, I got more tickets, so I definitely do.
00:45That's why I need to try to come to the stage again.
00:47My name is DJ Tracy Seal.
00:49I won't even be able to DJ.
00:50Cause this ass is coming right now.
00:53After I hand out the tickets, you should find our ID.
00:56If it's your birthday, run up here with your ID.
00:59And I got you.
01:01We should wish you, we should be able to have it.
01:03If it's your birthday, run up here.
01:05And I got free tickets to see.
01:07New edition tonight, honey.
01:09And that's gonna be good.
01:10Cause we gonna be in here like this.
01:12Yes, Lord.
01:13Nobody's birthday.
01:14Ain't no party like an Essence Fest party.
01:17The cultural reset you've been waiting for is back online and live in New Orleans.
01:22July 1st through July 3rd.
01:24The Essence Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola is bringing the heat with experiences you love.
01:29Including Essence Beauty Carnival and Essence Wellness House.
01:32We've got something for everyone.
01:34Meet and greets, shopping, panels, workshops, performances, and more.
01:39It's the black joy from me.
01:40Get your tickets now at EssenceFestival.com
02:13It's the black beauty for us.
02:21Join us at the Essence Beauty Carnival.
02:23The fan favorite festival within the festival.
02:26Nobody does beauty and fashion like we do.
02:30This scene is so deep.
02:31It is very deep.
02:32It is a mess.
02:34That's the whole point.
02:34To get comfortable.
02:36To have these conversations.
02:38And feel like a family.
02:39Cause that's what we are here at.
02:40At the beauty carnival.
02:41I want to start with just taking us to the beginning of your career.
02:48Entering the hip hop game.
02:50Unapologetically.
02:51Did you feel like there was any more pressure on you?
02:56On top of the pressure there already was as a female rapper.
02:58To go in there and look a certain way.
03:01Act a certain way.
03:02Because the beauty standards for black women have always been different.
03:05But on top of that as an artist.
03:07Actually, first off, it's lovely to be here with you.
03:12Wonderful to be back in New Orleans.
03:15Thank you so much for the warm welcome.
03:18And for those who's visiting.
03:20Who's visiting?
03:21Yeah, we're having a good time.
03:23I'm packing them on.
03:24Anyway, no.
03:28To answer your question.
03:29I think when I came into the hip hop.
03:33It was so new.
03:34They didn't know what to tell us to do.
03:37So it was sort of like.
03:39Do what you do best.
03:41And they had to trust us.
03:42Because they didn't know what to do either.
03:45So I got a chance to be free.
03:47I wore the clothes that I wanted to wear.
03:49Anybody from the Caribbean here?
03:52Okay, well I'm from Brooklyn.
03:54So I'm a fake in Jamaican.
03:56And if you notice.
03:58When I came onto the scene.
04:00A lot of what I wore.
04:02Was part of Caribbean culture.
04:04So my big earrings that I wore.
04:06My asymmetrical haircut.
04:09You know prior to you all seeing me.
04:11I think my hair was red.
04:13You know.
04:13So I went through all of the changes.
04:15That my Jamaican to the daddy.
04:17Asian, Armenian, IND, Asian.
04:20All of my sisters from my community.
04:24I looked like them.
04:25You know I had a goal to.
04:27I was fresh.
04:29Okay then.
04:30What I've loved about you.
04:32And following your trajectory.
04:33Not just your music.
04:34But was the confidence that.
04:36And I'm not going to speak for everybody.
04:38But myself.
04:38The confidence that I was able to garner.
04:41Because of the way that you.
04:42Presented yourself.
04:43And carried yourself.
04:45How has that carried on?
04:47Through your trajectory.
04:48And your career.
04:50Well I think because.
04:51Very early on.
04:52And you know.
04:53I can only liken this to.
04:55If any of you saw the movie.
04:57With the sisters.
04:59Serena and Venus.
05:00Right?
05:01And we all were familiar.
05:02With that one scene.
05:05Where the newscaster.
05:06Is trying to tell Serena.
05:08What she may or may not do.
05:10And how can you be that confident.
05:13When you have someone in your life.
05:15That is speaking goodness.
05:18And blessings.
05:19And praying for you.
05:20And instilling that will to survive.
05:24And they push that level of confidence in you.
05:29Up, up, up.
05:30So if any of you have children.
05:32Or nieces, nephews, got children.
05:34Please speak life into them.
05:36Even if they say something to you.
05:38That feels so off the mark.
05:39And out of this world.
05:41They just might be able to be.
05:43To achieve it.
05:43If they have people speaking a good word into them.
05:47And that's what it was for me.
05:48My mom told me that I could do.
05:50Or be anything.
05:52She said.
05:54Just to believe in yourself.
05:56And don't blindly go into something.
05:58Saying you're going to achieve it.
06:00Get all the skill set.
06:02Right?
06:02Get everything you need.
06:04Like your toolbox should be full.
06:06Of whatever it is.
06:07That you need to accomplish that goal.
06:10And do it well.
06:11Because the last thing you want someone saying.
06:13When you leave the room is.
06:14She got that job because of so-and-so.
06:17Well she got that job because of who she knows.
06:20So she only got that opportunity.
06:22Because of her name.
06:23In this business.
06:24You can get an opportunity.
06:26But you damn sure better deliver once you get there.
06:28And so I think if you have the right people around you.
06:33Anything is possible.
06:34And that's what I've been blessed enough to have throughout my career.
06:37What advice would you lend.
06:40To those who have been told to water themselves down.
06:43A little bit.
06:43To not be a distraction.
06:46To stay in a box.
06:48Because that's something you've never ever done.
06:50Right.
06:51Oh my goodness.
06:53I would say to just fight it.
06:55You know.
06:56Keep being yourself.
06:57For as long as I made the decision.
07:00You know what?
07:01I want to do more than just hip-hop.
07:03I want to act.
07:04I want to do voice.
07:05So as a matter of fact.
07:07I moved to Los Angeles.
07:09And got into an acting class.
07:10With the hoops of acting.
07:12And got a call.
07:14From the president of the record label.
07:17Who said to me.
07:19You need to bring your ASS.
07:22Back to New York City.
07:23So that people can see you on the streets of New York.
07:26You are a musician.
07:27And you need to be here.
07:29And I fought it.
07:30And I said no.
07:31I'm going to stay here in Los Angeles.
07:34I'm going to learn this skill.
07:36So that when I'm called upon.
07:38I can deliver.
07:39And right there.
07:40I drew a line in the sand.
07:42And that's what you have to be unafraid of.
07:44Drawing the line in the sand.
07:47As to what it is that you really want.
07:49For your life.
07:50And it may mean.
07:52Okay well.
07:53I might miss out on that opportunity.
07:55Or I might miss out on that.
07:56But you got to know that.
07:58God has for you.
07:59What is meant for you.
08:01Wow.
08:01Oh Lord.
08:03I didn't see you taking us to church this morning.
08:05Um.
08:07Can you underscore the importance.
08:09A lot of those lines.
08:10Of betting on yourself.
08:12Pouring into yourself.
08:14And how that has helped you along your way.
08:16You know what.
08:17I think pouring into yourself.
08:19Has everything to do with you.
08:21Believing in who you are.
08:23Now if you are out there trifling.
08:25Doing crazy stuff.
08:26No.
08:26You're not going to pour into you.
08:27Because you don't even.
08:28You don't even trust yourself.
08:30So you got to get in a position where.
08:33And I'm not speaking.
08:35From a space of not knowing.
08:37Because I was there.
08:38And I'm believing.
08:39Oh well.
08:39I said I was going to do that.
08:40But how am I going to make it happen?
08:42You know.
08:42So I had to build up the confidence.
08:45But more so.
08:46I had to have the skill set.
08:47And once again it goes back to.
08:50What do you know when you step in a room?
08:52Yes.
08:52I had plenty of people come to me and say.
08:54You know what.
08:55I love that you do voiceover.
08:56How can I get into that?
08:58Well.
08:58I went to a voiceover boot camp.
09:01I went to coaching classes.
09:02Like I didn't just say.
09:04Well I got this voice.
09:05Let me go get a job.
09:07I wanted to be able to do it.
09:09And do it well.
09:10And once you have the.
09:13Once you're empowered.
09:14By having the know how.
09:17Then it's easy for you to pour into yourself.
09:20Because you know what you have.
09:22Is the will of goodness.
09:24So I would just say.
09:25Feed yourself the good things.
09:27You know.
09:28Let yourself hear the positive things.
09:31And when people give you a compliment.
09:33Don't say.
09:34Oh.
09:35Don't take it.
09:36Thank you very much.
09:37I worked on that.
09:38Yeah.
09:38I worked on that.
09:39To be able to deliver it.
09:41In this way.
09:42So.
09:42It takes time.
09:43Yeah.
09:44But I think if you.
09:46If you educate yourself.
09:48And leave yourself open.
09:50To learning new things.
09:52It'll prompt you more.
09:54To be able to.
09:55To feed yourself the good stuff.
09:57I think when we think about.
09:59The beauty carnival.
10:00And cloud beauty.
10:01We're only talking externally.
10:02About what you just said.
10:04Really feeds to.
10:05Your internal.
10:05Internal love.
10:07Your self love.
10:08What you're growing into.
10:09Your mind.
10:10Your soul.
10:11Your well being.
10:13So that process for you.
10:14Of stepping into.
10:16A new zone.
10:17Maybe outside of your comfort zone.
10:20How did that help you evolve.
10:21And grow.
10:22And knowing that.
10:22This is a challenge for me.
10:24Potentially.
10:24But.
10:25I'm going to.
10:25I'm going to dive right in.
10:27When you said that.
10:28It just made me think.
10:31There are two sets of people.
10:33Right.
10:34There are the good.
10:36And there are the bad.
10:37Right.
10:37There are some shades of gray.
10:39But for the most part.
10:41You've got good people.
10:42And then we've got bad people.
10:43Who enjoy being bad.
10:44And bad people.
10:45Trying to make their way to some goodness.
10:48But in between that time.
10:49There are a lot of people.
10:51Who look.
10:52To the grain.
10:53And make people.
10:55Not believe in themselves.
10:57So from the start.
10:58From the game.
10:59You are faced with.
11:02Knowing who you really are.
11:04And what you're worth truly is.
11:06And that's people that are not part of our cultural background.
11:10And that are people.
11:11That's from people in our backyards.
11:13Who are telling us we're worth nothing.
11:16So that we shouldn't ever attempt to be more than what we are.
11:20And so I think through life.
11:22You're often faced with these stepping stones.
11:25But am I going to become more than what I was?
11:30I'm being called to action right now.
11:33Am I going to make the same choices that I've been making all of my life?
11:37Or am I going to make a new choice?
11:40And those new choices of light and brightness.
11:44And what God would want you to do.
11:47It just loosens up all of the possibilities.
11:50So for me, it's just about being faced with those choices.
11:55And being on the side of righteousness and goodness.
11:59Who knew we were coming to therapy?
12:02Anybody knew we were coming to therapy?
12:04I didn't know.
12:04I'm so glad we were here.
12:06What has been the return on that investment in yourself for you?
12:09Oh man.
12:10Just being able to sleep well at night.
12:13Sleep well at night.
12:14Get up good in the morning.
12:16Ready to recharge.
12:17You know, recharge, ready to the time of the day.
12:21And to speak kindness and goodness into other people's lives.
12:24Because we need it.
12:26You know, everyone at some point or another has been at their lowest.
12:32And, you know, I just like to be the person that can speak a good word into someone's life.
12:39Whether they need it at that moment.
12:41Or they can take it and store it and make it for another time.
12:45But I also am looking to have that goodness spoken into me as well.
12:51We as people just need to love on one another.
12:54Just reciprocate that love, Senator.
12:55And you'll receive it.
12:57For someone who's accomplished as much as you have already.
13:01There's a lot more to do.
13:03I would imagine.
13:04I'm ready.
13:05What is the next chapter look like for you?
13:07The next chapter.
13:09Well, of course, we have the TV show.
13:11I don't know if you all know about the streaming on demand called All Black.
13:15Which Bob Johnson, who owned and started BET and sold it, started a streaming company called All Black.
13:23And we have a series there called Partners in Rhyme.
13:27And we're in our second season.
13:29And so I'm executive producer, producer, director, writer, actor, field writer.
13:36And it's years.
13:38You know, I think about all of my counterparts, including Will and Latifah and LL.
13:45And, you know, they've all had their TV shows very early in life.
13:48And now here I am, gallivanting on a sitcom, and it is so much fun.
13:54I'm having a ball, you know, putting so many people to work.
13:58And, you know, there are people that depend on and count on me.
14:02And I love the responsibility.
14:04And it happened for me this time in life because I was truly ready for the responsibility.
14:11So I can speak to all of you and say, 20 years later, it doesn't matter how old you are.
14:16You can still reach that goal.
14:19And it will come to you when you are responsible enough to handle it.
14:24And it's not always on our time.
14:26We want it what we want.
14:27Right, right.
14:28Sometimes it usually goes a long way.
14:30You usually ask me, what do you want your legacy to be?
14:33But what you said earlier about being able to sleep well at night, wake up well in the morning.
14:39So when you lay your head on the pillow at night, what is the feeling that you want before you go into slumber?
14:45After a day, what do you hope you've accomplished before I drift off?
14:50No, you mean for real, for real.
14:51For real, for real.
14:51Oh, for real, for real.
14:53Well, you know, it just so happens that I made myself light in 19-whatever.
15:00And I didn't really truly become the light until we gave birth to Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, which is a foundation that my sister, Dr. Lake Richardson, and my school board, Dr. Felicia Shaw, started many moments ago.
15:19We've given away over a million dollars and scholarships away.
15:22Our partnering school is Dillard University.
15:26We've put many a man through that education system with hashtag educate our men.
15:32And so I feel like I have just stepped into being the light that I said I was many years ago.
15:40So when I go to slumber, I want everybody to rejoice that I was able to, you know, touch the people in a fun way, in a loving way, in a spiritual way, and in an empowering way.
15:55And then that's it.
15:56I'm gone.
15:57I feel like there's no stops.
16:13You know, Hip Hop, imagine, when I, you know, you all know the song, the show, Six Minutes to Be Fresh, you're on.
16:21When I heard that song, I thought Hip Hop was over.
16:26I was like, what else can they do?
16:28What can they possibly do?
16:29What else can they come after that?
16:32And so, you know, surprisingly enough, Hip Hop has gone on to do some incredible things.
16:39And what I love about Hip Hop is we have all these subgenres.
16:44We have so many people representing, especially women in Hip Hop.
16:50You know, it took a really long time to get back to just Nikki.
16:54And I love Nikki.
16:56But for a minute, it was just Nikki.
16:58And so now we've got Cardi and we've got, we've got the City Girls and Megan and Tierra Whack and Rhapsody and Chika.
17:08And, you know, and of course, from yesterday, we've got BNX and we've got Yo-Yo and Rage and so on.
17:16And we've got so many women representing Hip Hop, which is extremely important to me.
17:22And I think it's just going to continue to grow.
17:24We've got possible Hip Hop.
17:26And then we've got Reggae.
17:28We've got Reggae Tone.
17:29I mean, you, we've got Roots here in New Orleans.
17:33We've got, and nobody want to do a song without Big Free.
17:38You know what I mean?
17:39You want that flavor on there.
17:40It's just, it's so colorful and so full.
17:44And I think it's just going to continue to grow.
17:46It goes back to that.
17:48It's not just one tick of the box.
17:50It's a spectrum and it's forever growing.
17:53Thank you so much for your insight, for dropping some lines, for enriching our souls.
17:57Have a bring you some joy this morning.
17:59Remember you like it, everybody?
18:41Oh, we have another panel, so I don't know why y'all walking away.
18:44And I got more tickets to give away, so I don't know where y'all going.
18:48Like, I don't want to see new edition.
18:49Stop playing.
18:50Stop playing.
18:52Y'all ready?
18:53Y'all ready?
18:54All right, I do have these tickets I have to give away.
18:56And then we're going to move quickly to the next panel.
18:58And the next panel is going to be filled with bosses.
19:01So if you want to own your own company, you want to be a CEO, you want to start your own brand, this is where you need to be.
19:08Once again, my name is DJ Tracy Seal.
19:10Let me put a little background music on, a little light, nothing, just to keep it moving.
19:16If you could hear the sound of my voice, make your way to this stage.
19:20And I got some free tickets to a fiction tonight at the dome.
19:25Man, it's going to be crazy that we have this wonderful panel.
19:40And I have a little bit of a pitch planned there.
19:42I know a little bit of a happy choice that we're just going to end today.
19:46And that we're doing stuff like this.
19:48But be, might we'll see if our team says,
20:02Don't even talk like this.
24:18me, who days late, Target, who's been a wonderful partner for us, so I'm going to say a few
24:24words and then I'll kick it back over to Tamika.
24:27And, you know, Target has been a very important partner for Shea Moisture from even the early
24:34days when Rich was building the business.
24:38And what's exciting about this moment is that we are like-minded and this is that we both
24:42want to invest in Black entrepreneurship and, most importantly, we want to accelerate
24:48the economic equity within the Black community to close the racial wealth gap.
24:53And so the program that we have here for you today is called The Next Black Millionaire.
24:59And it is a partnership between Shea Moisture, New Voices, and Target.
25:05And it is our way to walk the talk and really, really, really make an impact on the industry
25:12and in the space that we play.
25:15And so, you know, Rich, it's a little challenging to talk about the history of Sundell, but the
25:20actual founder here right next to me, but we've gone from Black ownership and being Black
25:25founded to now Black led.
25:28And we are here to further the mission and the vision that Rich put into place.
25:33And so with The Next Black Millionaire, what we're doing is we are investing in three Black-owned
25:41businesses across different areas and bringing them into the space of Target.
25:48You know, when you talk about being a now-becoming business, often one of the first things that
25:54they want to do is have distribution in store.
25:57But there are a lot of steps needed before businesses are ready to get there, and that's
26:01what's so wonderful about the work that New Voices Foundation does.
26:05And so I'm just happy to be here with Rich, with Mimi, Tamika, and we have a special surprise
26:13at the end of this, so stay tuned.
26:15Thank you so much, Cara.
26:17So much for our Big Tomas, New Voices Foundation, Rich Lou Jennings, the founder of, the founder,
26:24Rich, let me read your title here because it's a lot.
26:26All right, Rich Lou, you are the founder of New Voices Fund and the end foundation, the
26:30founder of Sundell Brands, and the founder and chair of Essence Ministries.
26:34I mean, that's awesome.
26:38Tell us all about it.
26:40Tell us all about the branding.
26:41So, first of all, are you having a good time?
26:51Is this giving you money for me?
26:54Yes.
26:55All right.
26:56So let's start there.
26:59Because what a lot of people don't know is that Seymour's community started to take off
27:05right here in Essence Festival.
27:08All right.
27:11It wasn't inside this building.
27:14It was on the street in that parking lot right across there when you come in.
27:19And we started out there engaging, if you will, with all of you that come here.
27:27All right.
27:27And what that did was give the brand a big creativity to real people in a real way and understanding
27:40what they needed, why they needed it, when they needed it.
27:43So, the biggest thing that we learned from those days in those parking lots here and in New York
27:49and everywhere else in this street footage was our communities are not going to be able
28:02to continue to cultivate, they're not going to be able to fight the fight if they don't have the resources
28:10to take care of the basics.
28:13If you don't have the money to buy something, what are you going to have the money to do?
28:19Right?
28:20If you don't have the money to be able to decide where your kids go to school, what kind of education
28:27are they going to get?
28:28Are they going to get the kind of education that somebody else wants them to have?
28:32If you don't have the money to choose which hospital you're going to, what doctor you're
28:36going to, where you're going for your medical care, what you're going to be subject to is
28:42what somebody else wants to treat you for and how they want to treat you.
28:46So, when you think of those basic, basic things, and you don't have the money to decide what
28:52kind of food you eat, you have to rely on somebody else to develop a program that feeds you.
28:58How are you going to nourish your body and nourish your children?
29:01And how are you going to be, how are you going to feel about yourself as a parent, as a human
29:06being when your kids grow up, understanding that the basics of life are a constraint.
29:16Not before.
29:18And so, we really started to think about what our business needed to do in order to ensure
29:25that our customers and our consumers had the resources and the opportunity to be able
29:32to buy our products.
29:33And so, we started using our business, and that model that's been in for some 30-something years
29:40now, through this idea of community commerce, right?
29:44Building our businesses to invest back in the communities that we come from, that we make
29:50our money in.
29:51And so, as we now move into this next phase, and you sit here, you're like, wow, you have
29:59a brand that started there.
30:01Look at where it is today.
30:03That's a 30-something year history, right?
30:06We can't wait 30 years to be able to send our children to school.
30:13I think that we want them to go to, but I'm going to be able to feed them the food that we
30:16want them to eat.
30:17And so, what we're now doing here, what this brand has done, that the path that sometimes
30:24has made form, the same question here in the end, and our other brands, is that we can
30:32actually use our own businesses to invest in our own communities.
30:38This idea of community commerce is not a new one.
30:42It's how we have traditionally taken care of each other from the place that we were slowly
30:48from and brought here, and before we had to change our thinking, and before they had
30:54affected us with these ideas that separated us, right?
30:58Community is when black people are the strongest.
31:02Building businesses that help us afford investments in our community is where our future lies.
31:10And so, as we launch this, and as we partner with Target to do this, remember, this isn't
31:17about us trying to sell more product.
31:22This is about us trying to sell more product, so we do have more dollars to invest back into
31:28our community.
31:29And you see that fly, and if you're going to get it twisted, stop and look back on a brand
31:36that started in a parking lot and on the streets of New York, that the people that built that
31:41business are now able to bring you the experiences that you're having here.
31:47And all the joy that you've been able to take back, and go fight this world with when you
31:51need here, right?
31:53That's what this is about, and this is what we're fighting for.
31:56This is what we're partnering on, and we're grateful to have you guys on the journey.
32:01And I didn't say any of the things that y'all wanted me to say, so if there's something
32:05I missed out later, you can come up and tell them, I'm sure you're going to help them.
32:09Thank you, Landon.
32:10I like the initiative of what you're doing.
32:12Thank you for all you do in the community, Rich.
32:14All right, Amy.
32:16Senior buyer at Target.
32:17Target, if you were, talk about how Target is promoting Black-owned businesses.
32:22Yes?
32:22I think for Target, one of the big things is getting these brands in our stores and
32:26also online, but it's really more than just that.
32:30Target has over 100 black-owned businesses across major categories, and beauty has been
32:35the feeling at the level of...
32:36Can I stop you for a second?
32:38Uh-huh.
32:39A hundred...
32:40It's a major...
32:41...across categories.
32:43I was going to get in for that.
32:45So, let me tell you, when I started in Target, I think it was 2008, we were lucky if we
32:56had five black-owned brands.
32:59Lucky.
33:01If even...
33:03And back then, black people get cold and crazy.
33:07I'm just going to tell you, like this by myself, because you probably don't even know
33:11this, and then black people, black business owners would not even speak directly to the
33:20buyer.
33:21They had to talk to the buyers they're wiping, through distributors.
33:27Those distributors took 20% off the top.
33:31So, think about it.
33:34If I got an ultimate against the top, right?
33:38If I got an ultimate against the team, by the time I get on the shelf, I am already
33:5020 cents side of my competitor.
33:56Then you get on the shelf, pull in a dollar, every dollar they pull it out and get 80 cents.
34:02So, think about the disadvantages of being able to build a business when you start with
34:09one hand tied behind your back, and we don't have enough time.
34:12Because I can tell you all the other shit.
34:13That Target changed.
34:15Because nobody really realizes this.
34:18Target was the one that listened to me and my craziness.
34:24And said, I've got to be able to fight a free fight, otherwise I'm not coming on your
34:28shelf.
34:2816 years I said no to going into retail because of it.
34:32Target was the one that unlocked it.
34:34Today you got 100 brands, and they have a fair opportunity to fight, and you got people
34:38that may be leading the charge.
34:40They need a hand for that.
34:43Thank you, Rich.
34:45It's not for Russell, I'm going to be my turn.
34:50Thank you, Rich.
34:51I mean, I think you said a lot of what I was going to say, like we have plans to continue
34:55to increase that.
34:56I think it also goes beyond just bringing the brands into the stores, but what happens
35:00after.
35:01And so Target is committed to increasing our support of these brands so that in the long
35:07term we can help these Black businesses succeed.
35:11And this is one of the reasons why I'm super excited about this partnership with Shea, New
35:16Voices, and the next Black Millennial, because I think together we are able to just put ourselves
35:21all our efforts together and continue to amplify these businesses and help them to grow and
35:27succeed.
35:28I love this round of applause for Mimi.
35:30Of course, Rich, thank you.
35:32Can you have a few words and a little surprise?
35:35Yeah, so as part of this program, one of the first elements we're going to announce today,
35:43there's going to be more elements to come.
35:46We worked with Target, we worked with Mimi, we worked with Rich, we worked with New Voices,
35:51to identify three Black-owned businesses.
35:56We didn't have to just be in beauty, but three Black-owned businesses that we felt had
36:02long-term potential.
36:04The founders were committed to making an impact in our community and that they were just really
36:09like-minded.
36:10And so I want to announce who those three businesses are and in recognition of their effort, who
36:18we will be presenting to them each is $100,000 in commitment to further their investment.
36:28So I think someone is up stage, hopefully.
36:31Yes, Rich, it's all up to me.
36:33It's all about you.
36:34So, at least today, at least today, at least today, at least this meeting, by $700,000
36:45would have taken, when I had started, out on those streets, would have cut two to three
36:54years of my development time.
36:58Right?
37:00Two to three years of my life, of my family's life, that's what you're impacting.
37:07That's the first thing.
37:07The second thing is, this isn't scary.
37:11When you just get up and see that we're going to give these people a $100,000 tag, so that
37:17we can come out and say, hey, you gave these people a $100,000 tag, that they look great
37:22beyond.
37:23This is a direct result of your investments and this community's investments in buying
37:29same-worst of products and in Target, giving same-worst of the opportunity to sell those
37:35products on their selves, right?
37:38The point is, if we don't support these brands that are investing back in our community, those
37:45resources won't be there to invest back in these people.
37:49And I can't stress enough how important it is looking at the brands that you spend your
37:55money on and looking at what you do with your money before you pay those purchases.
38:01I'm glad you said that because there's a lot of conversation about Black-owned brands,
38:08Black-founded brands, Black-led brands.
38:11We were once a Black-owned and Black-founded brand.
38:15And when I say that we're committed to furthering Rich's mission, we're no longer Black-owned.
38:21But our focus on the vision is unwavering.
38:25And so because of the acquisition, we are in a position where we have the resources that
38:31we can pour back into through the community commerce model that Rich invented.
38:36And so thank you for taking that pause, Rich, for making that point.
38:40Well, and it is about me, so we're going to run out of time.
38:42Why?
38:44No, no.
38:45Because these things are important, right?
38:47Like, people need to understand how these things happen, not just that they show them.
38:52So we catch a lot of slack.
38:55I catch a lot of slack.
38:57I caught a lot of slack.
38:58But I saw some balancing.
39:01Because people, they never see somebody sell something on that scale and then take those
39:08dollars and then create something on that scale.
39:10They have no idea.
39:11They sold city on a Monday, a close-up distance essay Friday.
39:17The plan was very intentional.
39:20The other thing is, and that's what I'm getting to, is the other impact of that has been,
39:27we now have AC, who came to Unilever, because she and I have met and were working on what
39:36we were going to do each day.
39:37She comes to Unilever, she is today, through that relationship and through saying, and through
39:44the acquisition of saying, even at the same time, right, today is the CEO of Unilever
39:51in North America.
39:55You know what that did?
39:56That gave a black woman an opportunity to comment on her terms, because of the career she had
40:05built, but because also she was the custodian of something that they value.
40:10And she turned that value into what you see today, with Jay, and what you see today at Unilever.
40:16Unilever comes in and fires me, and takes over my role, and today is the midwife was heading
40:24to the title, but I can tell you how big it is, and you can tell me all the time.
40:28Today, crime's duty, when you really read North America, 10 will be, how many billions
40:35of a businesses in Italy, how many?
40:37It's a lot.
40:38How many is it?
40:39It's a lot.
40:405 billion, 10 billion, 5 billion, more than 10.
40:43All right, go do the work, go do the work.
40:47Somewhere between 8 and 10 billion dollars, the business that she runs today, because
40:53of what brand was built and sold to a white company.
41:01They are now changing that company from within that dimension, which she took it over from
41:07me, has now turned it into probably the fastest art brand you need anybody's ever seen.
41:12Right?
41:12Give this woman a round of applause.
41:17Now you can go bring them in.
41:19All right.
41:19Now I got my merchant orders.
41:20Okay.
41:22So, we have some other checks back here.
41:25Where are they?
41:26Oh, they're over here.
41:27All right.
41:29So, I have a tindo from my team here with me.
41:37The first is to Neil Henson, co-founder of Scotch Boys.
41:42If you have not heard of Scotch Boys, you need to find out.
41:46Delicious hot sauces.
41:49Neil, congratulations, brother.
41:51Congratulations.
41:52And I just want to say, when I met Neil, oh, go this way.
42:01When I met, when I met you in Atlanta, December of last year for the marketplace, the Cadillac's
42:21marketplace, Neil had a set up of like chips and sauces.
42:25And I was going for the hottest one.
42:29He's like, oh, I don't know if you can really have this.
42:31So, it came on.
42:34And I tried it.
42:35And it was quite spicy.
42:36But it was delicious.
42:38And so, I'm so proud of you, Neil.
42:40And so happy to have you in our family.
42:43All right?
42:44I think Neil, can you hold that check up for a moment?
42:47I want to serialize something.
42:50You see, you have $100,000.
42:52That's not the load of capital.
42:55Over here knows what that means.
42:57Raise your hand if you know what not the load of capital is.
43:01Okay?
43:02So, that's how they get us.
43:04So, they set up these incubators.
43:06And it's income.
43:07We're going to provide your resources.
43:08We're going to help you with this.
43:09We're going to help you with that.
43:11Right?
43:11And for that, we're going to take 5% of your company.
43:15Correct?
43:16And they'll come back and say, oh, but now you've got to get on shelf.
43:20And you need this.
43:20So, you need that.
43:21So, we'll give you $10,000.
43:22And for that, we're going to take about 5% of your company.
43:25So, before you never get to actually build your company, same thing I was saying earlier about the distributors,
43:31you start at $0.90 on the dollar.
43:34How do you compete in a world where you can't go to the bank and get that loan?
43:40So, that's not going to cost him equity in his company.
43:44How do you do that?
43:45You do that by investing in brands, like saying, well, they take that money and invest it back to this community.
43:52So, $100,000 does not cost him a single percent of his business.
43:59That's the difference.
44:04Thank you, Neil.
44:05All right.
44:06Next, we have...
44:09Okay, go ahead.
44:10Okay, go ahead.
44:12We have Latoya Steerup from Cosmology.
44:17Right here.
44:18Looking beautiful.
44:19And so, I just want to...
44:23Oh, so my team is saying, you want me to come all the way here?
44:26Am I doing it wrong?
44:27All right, team.
44:28All right.
44:29Come on.
44:31Tilt it down.
44:32Okay.
44:33Okay.
44:33So, what I love about your business is we just happen to have a call.
44:51I reached out to Rich's sister, Richelina, from New Voices, and said, we are interested
44:56in working with black-owned vendors that make hair accessories and tools.
45:01And she said, you need to talk to Cosmology.
45:04And when she was explaining, so, honey, sisters, I hear you have natural hair.
45:10And when you're in the shower detailing, you get really frustrated and, you know, okay.
45:17So, there's a process of finger detailing, and it's a good process to detangle your hair
45:24when you're in the shower because the warmth of your hand and the way that your fingers
45:29are shaped.
45:29So, they have developed a tool, one of many in their portfolio, that makes finger detailing.
45:37What?
45:38Absolutely.
45:39They wanted to invest in Cosmology.
45:41So, congratulations.
45:47And, last and certainly not least, Miss Dorian Morris from Undefined Beauty.
45:57Come on, girl.
45:59So, I have known as a Dorian special in a lot of ways because you have already been in the
46:05shade, fam, from Richie Spades.
46:09And she has developed this amazing business.
46:16Please check it out.
46:17She is so sharp, so intuitive, so driven.
46:22I know you're going to go on to do many more wonderful things, and I just want to say congratulations
46:27to you.
46:29So, we'll take our picture.
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