By Alexandria Smith - Black Headlines News
BHN sports commentator Alexandria Smith highlights inspiring news with Ice Cube's partnership with the NFL to help Black businesses; Atlanta wins Bid to host 2026 FIFA World Cup; and Minnesota Preparatory aims to ‘control our own narrative’.
A feature story on a Black man and his son to create a main brand basketball line brings hope to the next generation.
Smith reviews the following headlines:
Feature story: https://www.blackenterprise.com/father-son-duo-launch-first-ever-black-owned-athletic-supply-company/
The Stories:
The great peach city of Atlanta, Georgia that was founded back in 1837 and has become an iconic city in the US known for its historic homes, museums, art pieces, and of course it’s sporting teams. Atlanta is a sports city. It is home to five major league sporting teams and has hosted world sporting events such as the 1994 Olympics and national events such as the NCAA Men's Basketball Final 4 in 2013, and the 53rd super bowl in 2019. Atlanta will continue this sporting event trend and will be hosting the 2026 FIFA world cup. As reported on Atlanta Daily World, Atlanta won the bid to host this event a few weeks ago out of 22 competing cities across the three North American countries. The FIFA world cup will be played in the famous Mercedes Benz stadium, that opened in 2017. ADW stated “this event will bring $415 million alone in estimated net economic benefit for Atlanta.”
As reported on by the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, (MSR,) Minnesota Prepatory Academy (MPA) is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and serves as a basketball focused high school and postgraduate institution, founded four years ago by 2 former basketball players, Olson-Patterson and Donnell Bratton. This educational institution focuses on basketball and helping young African-American men, according to MSR, "write their own narratives as Black people." This MPA plays some of the best prep schools and players across the United States, providing exceptional competition and recognition in hopes to see its students play basketball at a collegiate and professional levels. MSR reported the entire MPA graduating class of 2022 will be going on to play at the Division I level in community college and NCAA competition.”
As reported in the Michigan Chronicle, the NFL has announced its partnership with Contract with Black America Institute, also known as the CWBA. The founder of CWBA is none other than the famous Raiders fan, artist, and entrepreneur Ice Cube. Through CWBA Ice Cube is committed to aiding Black-owned businesses across the US to address the growing wealth gap in America. Ice cube, a LA native grew up in poverty and was kicked out of his house at 15. Ice Cube was able to change the script and become a successful African-American entrepreneur; he wants to return the favor by helping other Black-owned businesses succeed.
The NFL has dedicated $100 million dollars to assist CWBA, and plans to increase its spending with Black-owned businesses under the Sports Industry Economic Development Plan where they plan to concentrate on hiring black-owned businesses in various sectors such as stadium vendors, manufacturing, and merchandise sales.
As reported on by Black Enterprise, in 2021 Oronde Booker and his son Kendall launched the first Black-owned athletic supply company, named Book Dawg Sports based out of Atlanta Georgia. Booker was inspired to begin this company with his son as he participated in his sons sporting practices and games throughout the years, and realized all the equipment teams used were mass produced and none were Black-owned. Book Dawg Sports is currently taking pre-orders for its flagship basketball the HW 101. The ball is constructed with premium microfiber, composite leather and is said to offer everything needed in a good basketball: amazing grip and durability. This family owned company also has plans to give back to the community; BookDawg Sports will invest a percentage its purchases to nonprofits organizations that support young Black athletics who may not be able to afford sporting equipment.