CEDTalks

"We don't love them hoes..." Snoop Dogg, "Gin and Juice" The Doggfather's iconic line could easily double as the thought process of many prominent companies towards minority consumers. The past six weeks has served as a backdrop, or better yet a microcosm, for the intolerable behavior of mainstream companies towards people of color. The NFL has dominated recent headlines with their reactions to players kneeling in protest of police brutality and treatment of people of color in the US. The league, its teams, and owners forged to take a stance of sorts in response to recent criticism from President of the United States Donald Trump. Players and owners locked arms or knelt together to show a form of unity, despite the showing creating a clear detour from the original purpose of the protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarteback Colin Kaepernick. Also this week, ESPN suspended anchor and co-host of "SC6" Jemele Hill for her personal Tw...

"You’re just a f*ck n*gga who THINKS he’s a good guy..." -Actress Dominique Perry as "Tasha", on HBO's 'Insecure' Yikes.  I vividly remember the chills that traveled through my arms upon reading this quote. Do I consider myself a...what she said? No, but in reviewing my bad habits, people could easily make certain determinations. Oddly enough, I didn't even see it live, but Tasha's words painted a clear and colorful portrait of how far off we can be from how people actually perceive us. While that episode may have been missed, the reason for the success of the hit show Insecure and producer Issa Rae is quite obvious to me. Insecure (and its predecessor " The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl ") captures the hearts of African American Millenials with oddly realistic storylines and characters submerged in relatability. Issa, Molly, Lawrence, Tasha, and the others are just like most of us; each is seeking some form of a...

If you were shopping at a store and their customer service was lousy, you'd stop shopping from them. Makes basic sense, right? If a restaurant gave you fish when you ordered steak, and the steak was tough when they gave it to you, overcharged you and underperformed, they would most likely lose your business. Unfortunately, when it comes to our emotions, we are not the same sound investors that we are with our money. Sometimes we want certain situations and people to work out so bad that we don't know when it's time to cut our losses; more importantly, we miss out on opportunities and people that could result in big gains. Before pursuing my writing and entrepreneurial goals, my first job was working at mutual fund powerhouse Vanguard. Vanguard taught me priceless principles on investing, portfolio building, and monitoring the market. Coincidentally, some of the same tactics it takes to keep a successful portfolio apply to our daily lives, including our relationshi...

With July coming to an end, we are nearing the last few weeks of summer. The issue? These dog days are the final days to get everyone together for one of my favorite events, the cookout. Cookouts (not picnics) are the pillars of  summer  fun in the African American community; in addition to the endless laughter and fun, they temporarily dismiss the stress and evils of the daily grind. They offer incredible food, great music new and old, and of course, provide the platform for which we can "invite someone to the cookout". "Inviting to the cookout" is a rising phenomenon in which a person of color invites someone (often one void of color) that would not usually be in attendance at our backyard barbecue. Though a fairly recent trend (because  Brother Malcolm  would've never "invited" ANYONE to the cookout), it is quickly becoming a national Black pastime. The invite is usually based on their impact on Black culture; past invitees include Michael ...

"Why you bother me when you know you don't want me? Why you bother me when you know you got a woman? Why you hit me when you know you know better? Know you know better" SZA, "Love Galore" Wish I could tell you, SZA. We don't know what we're doing. Relationships. It's the hardest and most rewarding job a man can ever have. King Kong...ain't got sh*t...on relationships. Last week, I finally got around to watching the recent Denzel Washington film Fences with my family. It was signature Denzel; with the help of fellow stars Viola Davis and Mykelti Williamson, the movie delivered a strong depiction of the challenges and sacrifices of family life. The crazy thing was, it simultaneously reinforced yet redeveloped my perspective on family and committed relationships. Davis and Washington's relationship identified the unique layers of love. It spoke to the beauty in fantasizing of days past and enjoying each other's company; conversely, i...

Hov for President...too soon? Earlier this morning, the world and Black Twitter stood on end as we received  4:44 , the 13th studio album release from hip-hop legend and business...man Jay Z. As done with his last release, "Hova" caused a stir with initial stipulations to obtain his album, requiring a subscription to Tidal and/or phone subscription to Sprint to stream immediately. This was of little concern, however, as fans turned into military strategists working to gain access to the album. As evidenced by the initial coverage by both social media and traditional media, 4:44 is a nother example of a conscious, thought-provoking album setting the music world ablaze. Following the recent leads of Kendrick Lamar's DAMN (and To Pimp a Butterfly ) and A Seat at the Table from sister in law Solange Knowles, Jay tackles socioeconomic, cultural, and even personal battles and creates what all initial signs show as a commercial and intellectual success. Whichever nick...

To stay in shape during my days off from the firehouse, I've decided to work my way back onto the basketball court. While my jumper needs work, I still have my handles, my Tim Duncan fundamentals, and actually, have learned a few new tricks. I felt like vintage D. Rose. Unfortunately, so did my knees the next morning. Asking my fiance for the Icy Hot was just another sign of my graduation to...lord..."Old Head" status. The true O.G. Upon the age of 26, we reach a qualifying age for the 4 tier chart of old head status, also known "O.G.". Ironically, the lower tiers appear to be young bucks to the higher members, but they are considered...more "mature" in the grand scheme of life. Like sports, age is a taboo point of discussion; experience is required to achieve the ultimate success, but we often attempt to cast away our elders at the first sign of Father Time. Despite this, growing old is a wonderful thing. If done strategically, we all ...

Sometimes it's the little things. When I was 11 or 12 years old, I played Little League baseball. Basketball and Football were my sports of choice, but Ken Griffey, Jr. truly had me believing I could earn this major league money. A few days before the start of our season, the coaching staff ended an afternoon practice by handing out our brand new uniforms. No problems , I thought, about to get this #24 jersey; this "finna be a BREEZE"! Unfortunately, another teammate overheard my excitement and sneakily claimed the jersey before me.   I broke down and cried. Cried like a little kid...a biatch, by any other standards. When that so-called teammate grabbed that jersey and no one stood up for me, the only defense available was shedding tears. My teammates and coaches stood there. No one consoled me; nobody prayed for me either, Kendrick . All of a sudden, my dad appeared. Just when I expected him to reign down with tough love and tell me to stop crying, he led...

Quick story in regards about my brother Garvin Reid. I've known the esteemed photographer and career/style coach for over 10 years. During our college days, my friend G and I had a penchant for pursuing high quality sistas in tandems. We were like the Serena and Venus of couples dating (Garvin is Venus because he's skinny). While no true gentleman lavishes in details, revisionist history would show that this was arguably some of the most fun I had (before I met my queen of course) and it is directly attributed to the high risk, high reward approach of New York's other 5 foot assassin. Despite the great times and what I'd call a successful conversion rate, every so often we'd have a hiccup and it would always lead to me being highly pissed at my teammate. One example in particular that still befuddles me is the time we were wooing upperclassmen AKAs before we were Alphas and my particular interest wasn't having it. Shut me down like a reparations request...

  "You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support."                                                                                                                                          -  Sabrina Bryan   While the quote above is inspirational r...

Lydia René is…multifaceted. It almost sounds like an understatement when listing all the incredible talents and skills she possesses; she has a say (or song) in every part of her creative process. In an era that does not always demand an assortment of talent from its artists, the Singer/Songwriter/Producer/Pianist captures hearts and ears because of her abilities. Her voice is powerful yet graceful and calming, and her neo-soul melodies immediately grab listeners and create the urge to hear more. Lydia’s enchanting style, and flowing hair, create the comparison to songstress Jill Scott, but it is clear that she is a stand-alone vocalist that has a unique gift and sound. The Westampton, NJ native (now residing in Los Angeles) not only offers an remarkable vocal range of Tenor to Mezzo Soprano, but depth in her songwriting that gives love, power, and perspective.   “I love singing and writing about love and relationships as well as life,” the musician states. “I want people ...