P & G Targets Black Women

Written by Dan Sewell, AP Writer on 14 November 2007. Posted in Latest

There's a little-girl memory that Najoh Tita-Reid recounts, as a way of explaining what's behind a new campaign by the nation's biggest advertiser.

As a young child in suburban Pittsburgh, she goes to play dolls with her neighbors, all of them white. Her doll stands out with its black color and features, and one girl says pointedly: "Najoh, our dolls can't play with yours."

Why not? "Because your doll is ugly," comes the reply.

Fast-forward 30 years, and Tita-Reid is helping lead a Procter & Gamble Co. campaign called "My Black is Beautiful," which combines marketing with forums meant to foster dialogue about black women and the way they are portrayed in popular culture.

The marketers involved say it's a movement, not just advertising. But it aims at a group with growing buying power, estimated at more than $400 billion and is tied to brands including Olay skin care, Pantene shampoo, CoverGirl cosmetics, and Always and Tampax feminine care products.

Study Finds Racial Income Gap Wider

Written by Stephen Ohlemacher on 14 November 2007. Posted in Latest

Decades after the civil rights movement, the income gap between black and white families has grown, says a study that tracked the incomes of 2,300 families for more than 30 years.

Incomes have increased among both black and white families in the last three decades -- mainly because more women are in the workforce. But the increase was greater among whites, according to the study being released today.

One reason for the growing disparity: Incomes among black men have declined in the last three decades, when adjusted for inflation. They were offset only by gains among black women.

Incomes among white men, meanwhile, were relatively stagnant, while those of white women increased more than fivefold.

"Overall, incomes are going up. But not all children are benefiting equally from the American dream," said Julia Isaacs, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.

Isaacs wrote a series of three reports that looked at the incomes of parents in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and of their grown children 30 years later.

5 Quick Tips for Back-to-School Savings

on 04 August 2007. Posted in Latest

The time has finally arrived. My five-year-old son will be officially entering into this great system in America that we call public school (nobody laugh). Fortunately for us, we happen to live in a place where the public schools are pretty well-funded (something to do with the ridiculously high property taxes, maybe?). Anyway, this means that we have finally come to the point in his life that I have both dreaded and anxiously awaited for the previous four years. We have now reached kindergarten!. It is the big time now.

A Cheerful Giver?

on 08 October 2007. Posted in Latest

Tithing.

There! I said it! So many ideas, fears, thoughts, etc. go through one’s mind when this word is said. It can be said by a preacher in a pulpit or a televangelist on tv…the well of emotions is same. Give ten percent of your income….remember, gross, NOT net.

I was raised as a “tither.” My mother, who is an ordained minister, always made sure that we gave a tenth of our allowance every week during Sunday school. As I grew and became more independent, I continued this practice.

For over twenty years, I cheerfully gave my tithe and much more to every church that I attended. Prior to arriving to service each week, I would neatly and thankfully complete my tithing envelope, making sure that my handwriting was neat and the flap was tightly sealed. I would then place the envelop in my bible under my favorite scripture for that week.

When Sunday arrived, I could not wait to get to church for Sunday school and morning service. The choir would sing, the mother of the church would testify, a deacon would pray, and then……it was time to pass the plate! I could finally give my tithe.

Approximately ten years ago, I joined a church in Richmond, Virginia, where I had relocated to be near my family and attend graduate school. I continued to bring my tithe on a regular basis because I enjoyed the act of giving and felt honored to support God and the ministry efforts of my church.

BMM Podcast/Radio Show

Written by BonnieFreemane on 26 July 2007. Posted in Latest

Hi everyone! I would like to invite you all to check our new podcast/radio show on BlogTalkRadio.com. Within the show we will discuss subjects like:

letters from the BMM listeners/visitors- Do you have a question that you have been burning to ask? Are you wanting to get advice on subjects such as debt, credit, and budgeting your money? Send a question to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Testimonials in the feature called, "Lemme Tell You..."- This is where you get to share your successes with the rest of the BMM family. Have you recently gotten out of debt? Did you just land a great job that will be the key to your achieving financial freedom? Then, please share it with us. You could be on the podcast with Gil and tell the world your story.
interviews with distinguished guests, where the topic of conversation will of course be money as it pertains to the Black community. In our first interview we speak with James Elam, Entertainment Lawyer to celebrities such as John Legend and Jill Scott.

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