Breakfast with Business Guru & Mogul Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Business Guru Earvin "Magic" Johnson

The AAERG Prayer Breakfast with Magic Johnson was amazing. I have never seen anything like it. Earvin Magic Johnson is a great leader. He shared his business success with us. His portfolio of businesses include Starbucks, TGIF Friday's, hotels, and movie theaters. He employs over 40,000 minorities.

CEO Earvin "Magic" Johnson accepts AAERG Academy Award

He shared his business tips with us. Then he did a Q&A to provide personalized advice.
The most important piece of advice that he shared with us was don't hire your family ...unless they have expertise. The number one reason that African American businesses fail is they hire family members. They family members take the money from the businesses. Magic says that he pays his family members to stay away. Every Thanksgiving his gives his brothers and sisters a check. Here you don't have to come in. Bam a check!

Joyful Winner of Front Seats to Lakers Game

Magic Johnson giveaways at the breakfast included his autographed Lakers Jerseys and front row seats to the Lakers games. These tickets were valued at $3,000 each. Magic gifted to Varita 8 tickets. When he called her up to receive the tickets she told him that she had triplets. So Magic said okay I will give you four tickets, then he doubled it to 8 tickets so she could have baby sitters for her triplets at the game. Simply awesome!

(left) Varita Shelton "My Barbados"

The most moving moment for me at the breakfast was witnessing a powerful group of five or six youth from the orchestra stand up. One young man eloquently introduced himself. Then the other students  introduced themselves as well. Then the young male leader said we are all high achieving African American students who are about to enter college or are in college. Do you know of any scholarships? Magic started to share with them his UCLA Urban Summer Program. Then Earvin "Magic" Johnson gifted that bold group of students  with scholarships for college. "Ask and it is given." It was powerful to be in the presence of such a great leader who is humble and giving.

Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA)

Thank you Earvin Magic Johnson sharing yourself, your business knowledge, and your gifts. I am looking forward to the next time you visit with AAERG.

Family Photo Op with Business Guru & Mogul Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Celebrate Black History with Black Atlas

Black Atlas is an American Airlines social media website to connect to African American travelers.
Nelson George is the Travel Expert-at-large for Black Atlas.com. Nelson George produces travel videos which showcase the Black History of local and international destinations.

I have watched his travel videos for a specific destination, then I visit those places to enjoy the experience for myself. I love "Nelson George's Inside Scoop".  He provides a visual Black Perspective to to places that Black people talk about among themselves.

Black Travel is pretty much word of mouth. When I travel to a  new city sometimes I want to experience the  black culture of that city.  I look for a black hotel receptionist, bus driver, hotel shuttle bus driver or hotel door man. I ask, "Where do black people go here?" They have been my greatest resource for some amazing travel experiences. Now Black Atlas provides  Black Travel Guide Videos to the Black culture and history from cities around the world.

Black Atlas

"The Passport to the Black Experience"

Neslon George takes you on a tour of Black History in Los Angeles with Black Atlas.

Los Angeles is the site of the AAERG 11th Annual Convention celebration of Black History Month.

Check out my blog post on NBA All-Star Magic Johnson Goes Hollywood with AAERG! I am hoping to tour some of the Black Historic sites that Nelson George mentioned in his Los Angeles travel guide.

I look at the Los Angeles skyline with a great sense of pride knowing that a Black architect named Paul R. Williams helped to design the cityscape.

Kiratiana the editor of  Black Atlas features a Black History Month Profile on Black Travel Bloggers.  Kiratiana talks to Jay, the King of Black Travel Bloggers in this article Black History Month Profile: Jay of JayTravels.net . Kiratiana and Jay both competed for the Black Weblog Awards for the Best Travel Blog category. Jay of JayTravels.net won the honor of Best Black Travel Blog.

Jay of JayTravels.net

Black Atlas is a great resource for planning your next trip to a local or international destination with a  Black History point of view.

NBA All-Star Magic Johnson Goes Hollywood with AAERG!

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

American Airlines African American Employee Resource Group is "Going Hollywood" with Earvin "Magic" Johnson at the 11th Annual AAERG Convention.

 "AAERG has become a vital component of AMR Corporation since 1996. The group values professional development and community involvement, but also recognizes that African Americans contribute close to a trillion dollars to the economy. We believe that American Airlines can position itself as a preferred airline within the African American community by utilizing employees to enhance marketing and outreach efforts."


I am proud to be part of a company that values Diversity & Inclusion.  American Airlines has received numerous awards and recognitions. One recent award is the 2011 Diversity Leader Award.

2011 Diversity Award

"Diversity Leader Award – This award is given to organizations that share their stories with readers on a regular basis and offer profiles of their thought leaders. American Airlines is recognized as an organization that demonstrates its continued commitment toward diverse culture through its ongoing communications with Profiles in Diversity Journal."

American Airlines shares stories with readers through the American Way Magazine and American Eagle Latitudes Magazine. One of their most recent features was Celebrating Black History Month with Jennifer Hudson on the cover. Please read my blog article Celebrate Black History Month with Jennifer Hudson.

I will be celebrating  Black History Month by attending  the AAERG 11th Annual Convention in LAX. This is a two day event is for American Airlines employees to develop professional skills and network.  The keynote speakers is Earvin "Magic" Johnson,  a NBA All-Star and owner of Magic Johnson Enterprises. Another featured speaker is Sandra Finely, President and CEO of the League of Black Women. I am looking forward to meeting them. I invite other American Airlines employees to join me. 

If you are interested in working for American Airlines or American Eagle a top Diversity Company, then visit  www.aa.com to apply for open positions.