Amazon

Supporting Ethnically Owned Marketplaces: The Alternative to Amazon

In today’s digital shopping landscape, Amazon dominates as the go-to platform for consumers worldwide. However, as more people seek to support small businesses and minority entrepreneurs, the demand for ethnically owned alternatives has grown. While there isn’t a single giant that rivals Amazon, several online marketplaces highlight and uplift businesses owned by Black, Latino, and other underrepresented entrepreneurs. If you’re looking to spend your dollars in a way that directly supports these communities, here are some standout platforms to explore.

Black-Owned Marketplaces

HellaBlack

HellaBlack is a community-driven marketplace that features a diverse range of products from Black-owned businesses. From fashion to electronics, HellaBlack offers a seamless shopping experience that allows consumers to support Black entrepreneurs while finding unique, high-quality items. (hellablack.com)

WeBuyBlack

Touted as “the Black Amazon,” WeBuyBlack is more than just an e-commerce site—it’s a movement. The platform connects consumers with thousands of Black-owned businesses and advocates for economic empowerment within the Black community. Whether you’re looking for household goods, fashion, or health products, WeBuyBlack provides an excellent alternative. (afrotech.com)

Black Owned Everything

What started as an Instagram movement has grown into a full-fledged e-commerce site, offering a curated collection of Black-owned brands. Black Owned Everything aims to create long-term participation for Black entrepreneurs in the e-commerce space, making it easier for consumers to find and support these businesses.

Latina/Latino-Owned Marketplaces

The Mujerista Marketplace

This vibrant platform is dedicated to supporting Latina entrepreneurs by showcasing products ranging from fashion and home decor to wellness and beauty. The Mujerista Marketplace creates a space where consumers can shop for culturally inspired goods while helping to uplift Latina-owned brands. (themujerista.com)

JZD

Founded in Texas, JZD is a Latina-owned brand known for its empowering and culturally relevant designs, including graphic tees and accessories that celebrate Latinx heritage. Their online store has gained popularity for its vibrant messaging and strong advocacy for community representation. (designbybrianna.com)

Inclusive Beauty Platforms

Thirteen Lune

Thirteen Lune is an inclusive beauty platform that highlights skincare, makeup, hair care, and wellness brands founded by Black and Brown entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional beauty retailers, Thirteen Lune’s mission is to amplify diverse voices in the beauty industry while offering high-quality, innovative products. (en.wikipedia.org)

Why Supporting Ethnically Owned Marketplaces Matters

Shopping from these platforms not only diversifies your purchasing habits but also helps build economic equity in communities that have historically faced barriers to business success. By choosing to buy from Black-owned, Latino-owned, and minority-owned businesses, you contribute to job creation, generational wealth, and cultural preservation.

While Amazon remains a retail juggernaut, these ethnically owned alternatives provide consumers with a way to make their shopping more intentional and impactful. So the next time you shop online, consider where your money is going and how it can support businesses that reflect the rich diversity of our world.

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The Joe Rogan Experience: Scariest Parts of AI Explained (2024)

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Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin are the co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology and the hosts of its podcast, "Your Undivided Attention." Watch the Center's new film "The A.I. Dilemma" on YouTube.

Clip taken from JRE #2076 w/ Aza Raskin & Tristan Harris

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to systems or machines that mimic human intelligence to perform tasks and can iteratively improve themselves based on the information they collect. AI manifests in various forms, some of which are simple and narrow—like the algorithms that suggest your next video on a streaming service—and others that are complex and broad, aiming to tackle more general tasks that would require human-level understanding and reasoning.

The real-world advancement of AI brings several potential fears and concerns:

1. Job Displacement: One of the most immediate fears is that AI will automate tasks currently performed by humans, leading to significant job displacement across many industries. While AI can lead to the creation of new job categories, the transition may be challenging for many workers.

2. Privacy: As AI systems require vast amounts of data to learn and make decisions, there is a significant risk to privacy. This data can include personal information, and there's always the potential for misuse or breach of privacy.

3. Security: More sophisticated AI systems increase the risk of their use in cyber attacks. Autonomous drones or other AI-controlled equipment could also be used in military applications, raising concerns about the automation of warfare.

4. Bias and Discrimination: AI systems learn from existing data, which can include biased human decisions. This can lead to AI systems that propagate these biases, potentially leading to discriminatory practices, especially in sensitive areas like hiring or law enforcement.

5. Loss of Human Control: There's a philosophical and ethical fear that as AI systems become more advanced, humanity might lose control over them. This includes worries about superintelligent systems whose goals might not align with human values or safety.

6. Ethical Use: Determining the ethical boundaries for AI use, especially in critical areas such as surveillance, decision-making in healthcare, and the criminal justice system, remains a major challenge.

7. Social Manipulation: AI can be used to create deepfakes, bots, and other tools that can be used for misinformation, potentially influencing elections, swaying public opinion, and destabilizing societies.

Addressing these fears requires thoughtful regulation, ongoing research into AI ethics and safety, and a broad societal dialogue about how AI should be integrated into daily life. It's crucial that these systems are developed and deployed in a manner that aligns with societal values and norms to ensure they benefit humanity broadly.

5 Must Have Items For Your Home

1) Echo Show 10

For many people all over the world, communicating with friends and family is right in the palm of their hands with their phones. I love my phone. I think I take it everywhere and I am not sure how good of a thing that is but I do it anyway. One day, I ran into a dilemma. My charger broke and my phone was dying. I had to make a call to my mother to ask a question. Now, my first thought was to run to my car and charge my phone while I talk to my mom. But, at the corner of my eye was this nice size screen staring back at me. The Echo Show 10. I bought this because I am a techie and I just wanted something new and fancy in my room that gave me the weather on command (and could show all of my home camera views). Well, it can also make video calls (while following me around) and surely this became a new essential to life when communicating with my parents and various family members..

2) Fire TV Stick 4k

The Firestick has become the staple of TV entertainment for many homes in the U.S.. People often look at you funny if you do not have one in your home with all kinds of installed Movie Apps. No matter the reason, I can tell you for a fact that the Fire TV Stick 4k is a must have for 1 specific reason: The Remote. The Remote, now, has volume control buttons that are straight from heaven. The convenience of not having to use another remote just to turn the volume up or down is worth the cost for an upgrade.

3) Holmes Desktop HEPA-Type , 3 Speeds plus Optional Ionizer small Air Purifier

The Holmes Desktop Air Purifier has single handedly changed everything about the air quality in my home. Now, some may say well if you just change out your homes air filer with a REALLY high quality filter then you will have really good air quality in your home. I would agree with that statement 100% but those air filters cant catch everything, especially if your like me with open windows everywhere. The Holmes Desktop provides an additional layer of air filtration that has gotten rid of my seasonal allergies and sleepless nights due to allergy related issues. I have one that sits on my night stand and is ON most of the day (yes, that might be slight over kill but I will live with the consequences of a slightly higher electric bill by $2-$3). Its worth every penny and I change out the filters once every two months (FYI). Give it a try, it will not disappoint.

4) USB Rechargeable Motion Sensor LED Lighting Wireless Stick

There are times in life where the little things matter the most. I can’t tell you how many times I get up from my sleep at night and go wondering for various things or taking certain mandatory actions (if you get my drift). The LED Closet light has made these nightly tasks pleasantly wonderful because I no longer have to turn on a SUPER BRIGHT room light or lamp. I simply get up and as I move from room to room, these bad boys turn on and guide me along my path. I will admit, positioning is everything but in the right position, the lights are subtle and mood setting. I cant image life without them.

5) Amazon Basics 15-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper

The Amazon Basic Shredder might not be in someone else’s top 5 but between junk mail, old documents, new documents, bills and more, I find myself using this at-least once a day. Yes, I said it. Once a day. There isn’t much more that I can say about this marvelous machine but I will keep going. The thought of removing clutter from my life brings me joy. The thought of secure documents no longer existing in paper form produces a smile that cannot be replicated by simply sticking old documents in a file cabinet. Not having a big clunky file cabinets taking up 1/3 of my office is where this Cross Cut Paper Shredder swoops in the to save the day. I can’t speak for everyone but this is definitely a must have in your home for 2021.

Hotel Must Haves For All Travelers

Hotel Must Haves For All Travelers

A travelers life is often compacted into small bags, an airplane ticket and a passport. The destinations are picked and the hope of a great time is often the goal (even when on a business trip). We often hope that our safety is never in compromised but in the world we live in, you can never be too careful.