In no particular order of importance here are 10 things I learned during the 39th Annual National Association Black Journalists Convention and Career Fair held in Boston, Massachusetts.
1. Since 2000 Boston has been a "majority-minority" city with 53 percent people of color. There are more people of African descent than Irish according to Kenneth Cooper of the Boston Globe.
2. The Rolling Stones closed a concert that James Brown's band was originally asked to close. #NABJFilm
3. This is the first time the convention has been held in Boston. #NABJ14
4. 73% of African American internet users are on social networking sites. 22% on twitter. 56% have smart phones and 29% have tablets according the Pew Research Internet Project.
5. 84% of black folks say that racial prejudice is pervasive according to a poll conducted by Ebony Magazine and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. #NABJRace
6. Savings in your "emergency fund" should cover 6 to 8 months of living expenses. #NABJWealth
7. The largest single factor determining your credit score is whether or not you pay your bills on time. #NABJWealth
8. I need a 529 plan.
9. The annual cap for a annual contribution to a 401K plan is $17,500. #NABJWealth
10. Kevin Costner is hot! (okay I knew this before) He is also thoughtful and insightful. The speech at Whitney Houston's funeral was just a peek into the man. He is a producer for Black and White which screened at NABJ14 and opens later this year. #NABJFilm