What's On Today - Thursday

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is here. Every year, from April 11 to 17, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) spearheads a week of activism, education, and community building in an effort to raise awareness around disparities in the pre-, pro-, and postnatal experience for Black women.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 80% of all pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, but Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women.… Read more

This Black Maternal Health Week comes with an exciting and transformative announcement. Journalist and author Elaine Welteroth and tennis champion Serena Williams launched their birthFUND initiative, aimed at improving maternal healthcare.

Welteroth is on a mission to safeguard maternal health one birth at a time. She welcomed her first child, Silver Isley, in April 2022. Since then, she realized the financial hardships many moms face during and after pregnancy. This week Welteroth launched birthFUND, a fund that supports families in the U.S.… Read more

Aliko Dangote, hailing from Nigeria, is frequently recognized as the wealthiest Black individual globally. His wealth primarily stems from his conglomerate, the Dangote Group, which has been instrumental in the distribution of key commodities such as cement, sugar, salt, and flour. As of April 2024, the Nigerian businessman’s net worth stands at a staggering $15.8 billion, according to Forbes.

Dangote, born in 1957, grew up in a wealthy family in Kano State, Nigeria. From an early age, he displayed an entrepreneurial spirit, selling sweets to his classmates in primary school and later venturing into small trading businesses, Forbes noted.… Read more

Tyler Perry and BET’s relationship will continue after the two entities secured a new deal. 

Spotted on Variety, the Mea Culpa writer and director inked a new multi-year deal with BET Media Group that will renew eight of his shows that live on the network and the streaming platform BET+. The deal will also include a new scripted series, Route 187, written and directed by Perry.

Per Variety:

As part of the new content deal, BET has renewed “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” for its eighth season, “Tyler Perry’s The Oval” for Season 6, and “Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living” for a sixth season.… Read more

Laithan Dickerson is carving out a historic path in Arkansas. At just 7 years old, this rising star stands as the sole Black female bull rider in the state, as reported by CBS News affiliate THV11. Over the past weekend, she clinched her inaugural trophy at a state rodeo competition, earning a gold trophy due to her stellar performance.

Laithan’s father, Doc Leavy, revealed that his daughter has been mastering the art of riding since she took her first steps.… Read more