Essence Fest 2026, Gas Prices & The Real Reason Black Women Aren't Getting Funded | Rich Takes

Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor are back with another rapid-fire Rich Takes — and they're not holding back. This week, the co-hosts break down the Essence Fest 2026 headliner announcement (Brandy, Monica, and Cardi B), what it signals about the festival's comeback, and why Essence still holds cultural power for Black artists.

Then the conversation shifts to rising gas prices, the Middle East conflict, and whether Western media is giving Americans the full story. From there, Sheena and Sevetri dig into the February jobs report — 92,000 jobs lost, unemployment climbing to 4.4% — and why the economic pain people are feeling isn't showing up loud enough in the headlines.

They get into billionaire tax avoidance, the accelerating wealth gap, and what it's going to take to close it. And to close it out: the raw truth about Black women in venture capital.

Why the funding gap feels different right now, why capital is the deciding factor between a good idea and a billion-dollar company, and what Sheena believes is happening to Black women entrepreneurs in the current investment climate. Topics covered: Essence Fest 2026 | Brandy & Monica | Cardi B Gas prices & Middle East conflict U.S. unemployment rate | February jobs report Billionaire tax avoidance | Wealth gap Black women entrepreneurs | Venture capital funding gap Financial inclusion & AI Western media censorship 🎙️ Rich Takes is a quick-hit segment from the Rich Lessons podcast, hosted by Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor.

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