It’s no secret that the basketball players in the WNBA are grossly underpaid when compared to their male counterparts in the NBA, despite the fact that they are essentially doing the same job. Even the most skilled WNBA player makes just a fraction of what an NBA player who is benched a majority of the season may earn.

For example, NBA 2016 MVP Stephen Curry made a whopping $11.4 million last season. Meanwhile, Nneka Ogwumike, the reigning WNBA MVP, who is one of the highest paid WNBA players, earned a mere $95,000 in 2016—the maximum salary in the league.

Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks (Wikimedia/Creative Commons)

While all ballers dream of one day playing professionally, the average WNBA rookie can expect to earn a disappointing $36,500 for the year, and WNBA players with at least three years of experience earn a minimum of $55,000 per year. Overall, the average WNBA player is paid around $72,000.

The best players in the league are granted small bonuses for their hard work. According to the Altius Directory:

• The bonus for winning a WNBA championship is $10,500.
• The bonus for being a runner-up on WNBA team is $5,250.
• Players that are named as “MVPs” earn a $15,000 bonus.
• Players that are named “Rookie of the Year”earn a $5,000 bonus.
• Players that are members of the All-WNBA First Team each get a $10,000 bonus.
• Players that participate in the All-Star game get a $2,500 bonus.

In comparison, the top five highest NBA players in the 2016-2017 season took home over $100 million, collectively. According to ESPN.com, LeBron James earned $30,963,45, and Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook each made $26,540,100, according to data from HoopsHype.com.

Although WNBA salaries have increased slightly in the past few years, the wage gap between male and female players is still alarming.

A significant portion of a previously published BLACK ENTERPRISE article from 2012, which addresses this disparity, still remains true:

In 2011, some NBA players found themselves having to leave the country to find work during the NBA Lockout. While that was a temporary situation for them, it’s an every-year reality for even the most popular, highest paid WNBA player. Players like Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi, who—by the way—all have top-10, best-selling jerseys, still play overseas during the off-season to keep money coming in. In fact, some actually make more over there than they do playing for the WNBA. A top player can earn over $500,000 playing for seven months. But, this also means that they are playing basketball year-round, with no breaks.

[…]

While WNBA players may never achieve salaries that will make their male counterparts jealous, they may someday reach a level where their salaries exceed anything you can find on Monster.com.

Until WNBA players are able to earn more money for playing professional basketball, we can continue to expect more top female athletes to subsidize their incomes by playing overseas during the off-season, which can reportedly pay up to 15 times more than the salaries offered by the WNBA.

Pregnant women already have plenty of anxieties to keep them up at night: how will the delivery go, will they be a good mother. But new research is showing that they’re also worrying about money—and that it’s having an adverse effect on their baby’s health.

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that pregnant women who were stressed about finances were more likely to deliver babies of low birth weight

The study, which tracked 138 racially diverse women over the course of two years, found a correlation between stressing out when you’re expecting and delivering a baby with a lower birth weight.

Low birth weight, defined as below 5 pounds and 8 ounces, often results in health problems and can lead to weeks spent in intensive care post-delivery. It’s also been linked to health issues later in life, such as respiratory and digestive problems and a higher risk for heart disease and obesity.

“To gauge their level of financial strain, we asked pregnant women questions about how difficult it would be to live on their annual household income in the coming weeks,” said Amanda Mitchell, lead author of the study and researcher at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, in a press release. “We found that the more stress a woman reported, the greater the likelihood that she would have a baby of low birth weight.”

Some of the financial-related stress included concerns about working after the baby was born, the costs of healthcare and housing, and what overall effect the baby would have on their standard of living.

The study also showed that having more money didn’t equal worrying about money less. “We found that high stress levels were present across all income levels,” said Lisa Christian, principal investigator of the study, in a press release. “It wasn’t just how much money someone had available that was driving this effect. It was actually the perception of her ability to meet her expenses.”

The study’s authors suggest that pregnant women seek help to deal with their stress, or try stress-reduction techniques such as meditation.

But they also stress—pun intended—the value of financial planning when it comes to quieting your money worries.  “There is no reason to worry about things that are out of your control,” Christian said. “Instead, prepare for what you can change and create a financial plan.

Recently, the Natural Hair Academy in Paris held one of the largest natural hair conferences in the world, boasting over thousands of natural beauties and vendors.

Black Enterprise was there to talk about how to feel comfortable in your own skin, but more importantly, what it takes to be unapologetically black. In addition to a representative from SheaMoisture, panelists included singer, actress, and co-host of the BET Africa TV show, BET A-List, Nandi Madida; acclaimed French pop-soul singer Imany; writer and “image activist” Michaela Angela Davis; and French-Senegalese journalist, award-winning filmmaker, and activist Rokhaya Diallo.

Right to Left: Michaela Angela Davis, Representative from SheaMoisture, Rokhaya Diallo, Sequoia Blodgett, Imany, Nandi Madida (Image: Natural Hair Academy)

Even Farouk James was there, a child model who’s already achieved celebrity status and has even appeared on NBC’s Little Big Shots due to his luscious locks. James appeared with his beautiful signature curly mane in tow.

Farouk James pictured along side of other natural hair models (Image: Isabelle Mo)

Brands like SheaMoisture, CURLS, Cantu Beauty, The Mane Choice, and Carolina-B also showed up and showed out by giving live hair demonstrations. The informative demos were all about how to best nourish and maintain curly textured hair.

When Nandi Madida was asked if she thought that natural hair was simply a trend, she had a few choice words, which really resonated with the audience. “Natural hair means everything. It means loving your skin—who you are, your self-esteem—and it is paramount. It is not a trend; it is who we are.”

Lately, there has been increased emphasis on the negative aspects of cultural appropriation, especially for the black community (note the necessity of Katy Perry’s recent apology to the black community). But, the natural hair movement seems to be one cultural phenomenon that the black community can take full ownership of and ultimately commodify.

Yet and still, one glaring problem still remains—access to capital. Most of the larger, well-known brands happen to be owned by stakeholders that, more than likely, could not tell you what a Bantu knot is. In order for the black community to take total ownership of the natural hair care movement at scale, things need to start at the investing level. Unfortunately, many black entrepreneurs still struggle with getting their foot in that particular door.

So, where does that leave us? We have to continue to fight and ensure that we partner with the right investors that understand and share the overall mission of these companies. This way, we can continue to provide products to the masses and properly service our communities.

In the meantime, let’s continue to support these efforts, where we can. To find out more details about the Natural Hair Academy conference, click here.

Steve Harvey and acclaimed TV producer Mark Burnett have teamed up to turn entrepreneurs’ quest for funding into a new seed-funding competition reality series called Steve Harvey’s Funderdome.

(Image: Instagram/Funderdomeabc)

On the show, which premiered Sunday on ABC, two aspiring inventors compete to win a large cash prize, which will be used to fund their ideas, products, or companies. In order to win, they pitch their product to a live studio audience, who determines which inventors should win the funding. But here’s the catch: Before revealing the results of the crowd’s majority, Harvey, the show’s host, gives the inventors the option to cash out for a smaller amount of money. “If an inventor cashes out, they forgo the opportunity to win the whole cash prize for that round—a good move if they lost the crowd vote—but a bad move if they would have won it,” reads a press release on the show.

A number of energetic investors with amazing products were featured on the series premiere. One of the promising inventors was Tanya Tibbs, a black entrepreneur from Georgia who used her dynamic personality to pitch The V-Smart Bar, a holistic feminine care soap.

(Tanya Tibbs, creator of The V-Smart Bar Image: Twitter/FunderdomeABC)

Tanya competed for $10,000 against Misti and Grant Morningstar, a mother-and-son team that created a line of soaps made from olive oil and other vegan ingredients called Savage Soaps.

Other competitors included Craig Rabin, the creator of Airhook, a secure mount for smartphones and tablets that attaches to tray tables on airplanes. He went head-to-head with Grace L. Chang, the inventor of Soarigami, a divider that looks like a paper airplane and attaches to an armrest to extend personal space.

Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME is produced by MGM Television and internationally distributed by MGM. In addition to executive producing the show, Burnett is also the EP behind NBC’s The Voice, CBS’ Survivor, and ABC’s Shark Tank.

“Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME” airs Sundays at 9/8 c on ABC.

Caron Butler, the NBA star who’s winding down his professional playing days, is a man of many talents—and many business interests.

Butler’s most recent NBA appearances have come from the sidelines, as he’s doing more play-by-play than playing. He’s had numerous guest commentating spots during this year’s NBA playoffs. And he recently signed with an agency to represent him for his broadcasting work.

One of our inaugural BE Modern Man 100 Men of Distinction, Butler is also a veteran when it comes to business. He made headlines in 2010 for buying six Burger King restaurant franchises. Not only was it a smart wealth-building move, but it marked coming full circle from his days mopping floors and making fries there as a teen.

These days he’s keeping himself busy with a portfolio of real estate investments. And even though he sold his equity stake in the Burger King franchises, he’s an investor in Fala Bar, a vegan fast food restaurant franchise, with two locations in Los Angeles.

Butler recently stopped by our office and spoke to Black Enterprise about making the career transition from professional athlete to sportscaster and businessman:

BLACK ENTERPRISE Digital Editor Selena Hill was honored as one of several Heroines of Excellence, at the eighth annual Beauty and the Beat award event, last week in New York City.

(Image: Udo Salters Photography)

Hill was awarded as an up-and-coming millennial making an impact through her work in the media industry.

The event was founded by DJ Jon Quick—a famous, New York-based DJ. In a 2012 interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Quick revealed his educational background in social work, and how his career in music has not dissuaded his interest in social and political causes:

“I was approached in late January 2012, to be a partner in a fundraising event by Obama Fundraising Committee member, Brian Benjamin, and his NYC based nonprofit, Young Professionals for Change. Seeing how I had just did a successful fundraiser the year before, called ‘Deejays for Japan,’ I decided to call the event ‘Deejays for Obama.’

Because everyone cannot afford to attend those amazing, $5,000-a-plate fundraisers, I wanted to do an event that the average working class professional could come to, and just donate whatever they could to the Obama victory fund. Some of the great DJs we’ve had volunteer their skills were D-Nice, Spinna, Pete Rock, and Goldfinger, to name a few.

Five events later, we have raised over $12,000 for Obama’s campaign. I should add that some Obama campaign staffers took notice, and recently coined their own official initiative ‘DJs for Obama.’”

Per its website, Beauty and the Beat is a fundraising event, with two purposes:

1. To honor women of color who, through hard work, have become undeniable shooting stars in their respective industries.
2. To raise money for worthy charities and causes.

This year’s event raised money for The Hip Hop Loves Foundation and The Urban Resource Institute.

(Image: Udo Salters Photography)

Past honorees include Black Girls Rock! Founder and CEO Beverly Bond; Al Jazeera News Anchor Richelle Carey; Maya Haile; and TV/radio medical expert Dr. Yael Varnado, also known as “Dr. V.”

“I am extremely humbled to accept one of the Beauty and the Beat: Heroine of Excellence awards, and I give all glory to God. To be recognized among such a prestigious and well-accomplished group of women is an honor. I commend DJ Jon Quick for creating this platform, which spotlights and celebrates women of color,” said Hill.

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Manuel is only 20-years-old. However, her history-making win at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games—where she became the first African American swimmer to win an individual Olympic Gold medal—has allowed her to become a voice of expertise when it comes to matters of swimming and, to some extent, life.

Simone Manuel, the first African American swimmer to win an individual Olympic gold medal. (Photo courtesy of USA Swimming Foundation)

The Stanford University student is currently part of the USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make a Splash” initiative that, since 2007, has helped five million U.S. children learn to swim with free or low-cost swim lessons. The USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make a Splash” initiative partners with communities, learn-to-swim providers, and other national organizations to provide swimming lessons to children and families. Their goal is to reach one million children annually.

BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Manuel in a recent phone interview, where she discussed why she felt it necessary to participate in this initiative, as well as the importance of young people learning how to swim, aside from saving one’s life.

Insight From Simone Manuel

BLACK ENTERPRISE: Though an excellent skill to acquire, learning to swim can be a privilege for some, depending on where they live and what resources are available. However, you were able to learn how to swim by the time you turned age four. What can you say to parents and kids or teenagers about why swimming is a vital skill worth learning, especially at a young age?

Simone Manuel: I come from a very athletic family; my parents wanted their daughters to be engaged in sports.  It’s so vital to learn this sport; learning how to swim can save your life, and reduce the likelihood of you drowning by 88%. Swimming also allows kids to develop their social and communication skills and [teaches the value of] work hard and setting goals. I’ve learned a lot about myself and others [as a competitive swimmer]. Just being able to learn can make you a better swimmer, professional, or student.

BE: For even the most successful entrepreneur or professional, the potential for setbacks or failure will always be there. What advice do you have for readers on how to get back up to overcome challenges when things don’t go as planned?

SM: Remember the goal you had in the first place. You don’t always reach it the first time around, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up. I’m a firm believer in believing in the process; failure is part of success—if you don’t fail, you won’t [ever] know what success[truly] is.

Simone Manuel. (Photo courtesy of USA Swimming Foundation)

BE: What keeps you grounded and focused?

SM: I feel like I was born to do the sport of swimming. However, when I was growing up, my parents would stress how swimming wasn’t all that defined me; it wasn’t the only thing that made me, me. My friends and school have helped to keep me grounded. I have other responsibilities, too. There are other components of my life that allow me to do more than just sit back and think about what I’ve done—I also think about what’s next.

BE: What’s the best advice you’ve received that you’d like to share with those in your age group?

SM: Always believe in your dreams, and protect that. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do or be something, because you can if you are willing to work hard and fight for what you want.

For more information about Make a Splash or to find swimming lessons near you,click here.

When it comes to dining out, millennials prefer to satisfy their taste buds at quick and convenient eateries like Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Chick-fil-A, according to a new study from The Harris Poll.

(Image: iStock/Eva-Katalin)

Recently, The Harris Poll released its 29^th annual EquiTrend Study, which “measures brands’ health over time,” reports theharrispoll.com. The study analyzes solid brands in several industry sectors—including finance, media, travel, retail, restaurant, and tech—in relation to consumer feedback.

A press release breaks down the poll’s analysis of restaurant brand equity within the context of generational age groupings as follows:

 “According to Harris Poll’s research, when analyzing restaurant brand equity by generation, ‘Coffee and Quick Service Restaurant’ brand equity is nearly five points (+4.7) higher among millennials compared to baby boomers, while ‘Casual Dining and Chicken’ restaurants are each four points higher. Conversely, ‘Pizza’ (-8.0) and ‘Fast Casual Mexican’ (-7.6) restaurants see a marked gap among baby boomers, pushing the overall equity for these restaurant categories below average. Since brand equity tends to resist movement, the equity gains and declines among restaurant brands is significant.”

The findings come as many of those outlets have or continue to apply new strategies to offer millennials more convenience and serve them faster to boost market share with that generation.

“Restaurants continue to adapt to the millennial lifestyle, and advancements in ordering methods such as Starbucks’ mobile app and Chick-fil-A’s ‘Mom Valet’ are likely influencing millennials’ higher brand equity scores,” Joan Sinopoli, vice president of brand solutions at The Harris Poll, stated via a press release.

She added while the millennial dollar is powerful and attractive and many are clearly enjoying their rising disposable income, baby boomers already have the cash to spend on meals out and need to be courted.

Sinopoli went on to say that the “baby boomer versus millennial gap among pizza chains and Mexican restaurants may reflect boomers’ needs to eat healthier and the fact that they no longer have kid palates to please—and that signals opportunity for restaurants on the healthier end of the chain continuum to target them in their messaging and menu offerings.”

More than 100,000 consumers assessed 4,000 plus brands, including 90 restaurant brands across over 450 categories as part of the poll. The Index included three benchmarks—familiarity, quality, and purchase consideration—culminating in a “brand equity” rating for each brand.

Brands rated the highest are presented The Harris Poll EquiTrend “Brand of the Year” award for their particular segments.

The 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend Restaurant Brands of the Year:

PLEASE REPLACE THIS GRAPHIC WITH THE ONE REFERENCING MILLENNIALS!!!!

The full list can be viewed at http://www.theharrispoll.com/equitrend-rankings/2017.

For nearly 20 years, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has celebrated black excellence in film and television.  Launched in 1997 by Jeff Friday, the festival was created to promote diversity in Hollywood and showcase the talent of black filmmakers, producers, actors, and rising stars. Today, the festival is recognized as the largest gathering of black film and TV enthusiasts in the nation. This year marks the 21^st  anniversary of ABFF, which will be held in Miami, June 14-18, 2017.

What’s On The Agenda?

A host of panel discussions, film screenings, networking opportunities, and parties.

Kicking off the festival will be the worldwide premiere of Girls Trip, a comedy directed by Malcolm D. Lee, which stars Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Queen Latifah.

The closing night film at the festival will be the highly anticipated Tupac biopic, All Eyez on Me. The picture documents the iconic rapper’s rise to stardom, starting with his early days in New York City, to his untimely death at the age of 25.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear directly from media mogul Mona Scott-Young, the television producer and entrepreneur best known for the VH1 reality TV franchise Love & Hip Hop. During “The Business of Entertainment” panel, she will open up about her path to professional success.

Another highlight of the five-day event is HBO’s annual Short Film Competition, presented by HBO, the founding and presenting sponsor of ABFF. During the ABFF Filmmaker Awards presentation, a panel of HBO executives will select and award a promising independent filmmaker with a grand prize of $10,000. The runner-ups will each take home $5,000. Finalists will also have the opportunity to get their entries licensed by HBO for exhibition on the HBO cable service, HBO Go, and HBO Now.

ABFF will also host a series of master classes. Led by prominent filmmakers and industry professionals, these workshops focus on the varying disciplines that make up the film and television industry, including writing, directing, producing, and acting for film and television, as well as cinematography.

Additionally, the festival will offer a virtual reality (VR) experience, which will include a special screening of dynamic VR content, with post-screening Q&A discussions with filmmakers and VR experts.

How Can I Register?

For a complete festival schedule and to purchase passes, tickets for events, panels, and screenings, click here.

To remain in the loop, stay updated by following @ABFF and #ABFF17 on social media!

Last month, the Congressional Caucus on Multicultural Media hosted its inaugural media summit in Washington, D.C in conjunction with the National Urban League. Chaired by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), the Multicultural Media Caucus focuses on increasing diversity in media and Hollywood.

(Image: iStock/adventtr)

The summit featured a panel discussion on the 2017 Hollywood Diversity Report, the fourth in a series of annual reports to examine relationships between diversity and the bottom line in the entertainment industry. According to a press release, it considers the top 200 theatrical film releases in 2015 and 1,206 broadcast, cable, and digital platform television shows from the 2014-15 season in order to document the degree to which women and minorities are represented in front of and behind the camera.

“We will be focusing like a laser on the issues and encourage participation in the discussion because we know that from the boardroom to the control that diversity in media and telecommunications is vital,” said Clarke.

“Having us at the table is not just good for representation but it is good for business as well,” she added.

Media is a broad and expansive landscape of content that is delivered through many mediums including internet, TV, radio, and mobile devices. Marc H. Morial, National Urban League (NUL) president and CEO, discussed the importance of treating diversity for what it is—as a business proposition.

“Media is a form of educating, and a form of inspiring. But media is also an important huge money industry in America, and we cannot be hesitant to discuss the economic cost of this vast and growing industry,” said Morial.

He also pointed out, “It is important to recognize the strategies, efforts, and work that has been undertaken by many people to push the envelope when it comes to diversity and media in America today.”

Some takeaways on the state of diversity in entertainment from the summit and report:

– Minority actors landed 11.4% of the lead roles on broadcast scripted television, an increase of more than 3 percentage points over the previous year. Broadcast television shows such as Fox’s Empire and the CW’s Jane the Virgin,” whose casts are primarily people of color, more than doubled—from just 3.3% of all shows in 2013-14 to 8.9% in 2014-15.

– For the 2014-15 season, 3% of broadcast scripted shows had a majority of minority writers.

-Modest gains were recorded by women as leads in scripted broadcast and cable TV shows with increases of 2.4% in both categories.

– Women now account for 20.9% of show creators in scripted cable shows, an increase of 2.7 percentage points over the year prior.

– In the digital programming space, women also saw significant growth. Women were listed as creators of 20.4% of scripted shows on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon. Shows such as Jill Soloway’s dramedy Transparent, helped this segment jump nearly 5 percentage points from 2013-14.