CBX Daily 5/7/2024

Author

Kori Hale
May 07, 2024

Today find out all about artists’ A.I musical recoil, but let’s start with how Black women are at the center of J&J’s talc turmoil…

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How Johnson & Johnson's $6.475 Billion Talc Settlement Impacts Black Women

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Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ -0.44%) is set to pay $6.475 billion to settle lawsuits alleging its talc-based products, often associated with health concerns, caused cancer. This unprecedented agreement covers around 60,000 cases, marking a significant moment in the intersections of public health and corporate accountability. For Black women, who were selected by J&J as “the right place” to sell more baby powder to, specifically targeting  “under-developed geographical areas,” this is perhaps an opportunity for financial reciprocity.

Artists Unite Against A.I's Exploitation In New Musical Takeover

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The intersection of technology and creativity has always been a defining characteristic of the music industry. However, with the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), the line between innovation and exploitation is becoming increasingly blurry, raising concerns about the industry's future. In response to the potential misuse of AI, a coalition of more than 200 artists, including superstars Nicki Minaj and Billie Eilish, is demanding safeguards to protect their voices and identities from being commercially used without their consent, highlighting their vulnerability in this digital age.

Despair-Driven Mortalities Surge Among Blacks In New Shift

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A meticulous analysis of data reveals that despite a long-standing perception of suicidal deaths being predominantly prevalent in the White community, recent trends have seen a significant surge in Black communities. A decade ago, despair-driven deaths among Whites was approximately double that of Blacks, at 72.15 per 100,000 population compared to 36.24 per 100,000. Fast forward to 2022 and the rate for Blacks has tripled to a staggering 103.81 for every 100,000.

The UAE Is Capitalizing On Its Strategic Affair With Africa

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The UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023 revealed a significant decline in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Africa, dropping to $45 billion in 2022 from $80 billion in 2021, representing 3.5% of the global FDI. Despite this decrease, greenfield project announcements increased by 39%. Greenfield investments are often seen as a way for companies to enter new markets, gain access to local resources, or diversify operations and Africa saw substantial investment in megaprojects. With six of the top 15 projects worldwide valued at over $10 billion each.

Increasing ‘SureImpact’ Funding For Underserved Areas

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Social impacts are typically long-term, making it challenging to evaluate the success and effectiveness of initiatives in the short term. This can lead to misaligned expectations and difficulties in maintaining stakeholder support. Increased accountability and transparency in the grant making process is where SureImpact, a company demonstrating measurable tracking improvements in equity for underserved communities, is helping funders invest in the most effective programs and initiatives.

Vibes of the Week

“Here We Go” again. J&J’s woes seem to be endless as they settle the newest lawsuit. Coco Jones with smooth vocals in our CBX Vibes!