Empress Reports // Women on the Rise & Kid Cudi

Monday, March 01, 2010 Written by Lande Yoosuf /// Find in The Wrap Up

TIME TO CELEBRATE THE LADIES…OR NOT?

March 1^st marks the first day of Women’s History Month. But like many celebrations recognizing disenfranchised groups, we must reevaluate its relevance.

Women are quickly catching up to men with a few things linked to status and attainment such as education, corporate titles and employment. Yet still our income is over thirty percent less than men considering white women only (it is even less for minority groups). Women are recognized for social advancement but these successes should be fully materialized in a form that will give us the truest sense of empowerment—money, and lots of it.

We have certainly gotten the memo because women shifted into high gear according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. Here is some information that will confirm that we are putting money matters into our own hands:

• 10.1 million firms are owned by women (75% or more), employing more than 13 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008.
• Three quarters of all women-owned businesses are majority owned by women (51% or more), for a total of 7.2 million firms, employing 7.3 million people, and generating $1.1 trillion in sales.
• Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 40% of all privately held firms.

• 1.9 million firms are majority-owned (51% or more) by women of color in the U.S.
• These firms employ 1.2 million people and generate $165 billion in revenues annually.

• One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.
• 3% of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more compared with 6% of men-owned firms.

(Center for Women’s Business Research: http://www.womensbusinessresearchcenter.org/research/keyfacts/ )

What do you think ladies? Should women be calling more shots based on the info above? Or should we humbly climb the ladder and wait our turn to take over the world?

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POOR KID CUDI

Everyone is talking about the video of a fan kissing rapper Kid Cudi on stage in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. After blessing front-row fans with a chug of his bottle of alcohol, Cudi and his band start to get live with the scheduled performance. A few seconds in, some douchebag jumps on stage and locks lips with the rapper. Cudi brushed him off and surprisingly continued the show while the kisser stumbled off stage. I cannot deny that I watched in horror.

Internet comments hint that fans speculate whether Cudi is heterosexual or “enjoyed” this moment of shock. If it determines weather you will continue to support his music, that might be unfair considering the circumstances. Frankly put, he didn’t know. What if Cudi is gay? That does not take away from the kisser being dead wrong. If I were in Cudi’s shoes, the show would be paused regardless of the offender’s gender to ensure their exit by security. Some form of retaliating violence would be included as well.

As confused as I was about Cudi not flipping out, it made me wonder if he was in a financial bind, hence his desire to continue performing. Or maybe he is working on anger management? His persona is relatively dark in nature. Or perhaps Cudi was as drunk as the smoochy fan. But the Hip-Hop community will be raising eyebrows if Cudi chooses not to thoroughly explain why he did not sock dude in his jaw.