On average, black women in this country must work almost eight more months to simply earn what white man earned by last December 31st. Black women are paid 63 cents for every dollar white men earn. For white women, it’s 78 cents. (The Huffington Post)

Technology has revolutionized how we develop relationships: Online interactions are made with individuals we’ve never met, and conference calls often replace in-person meetings. Despite all the savvy tech at our fingertips, there’s one thing that can’t be achieved through a computer screen: personal connection. (Bisnow)

In many communities, housing prices have recovered from the financial crisis. At the bottom end, however, banks have all but stopped making loans for homes worth less than $100,000, leaving millions of people with few options. (The New York Times)

While getting fired and getting laid off may involve different things, it’s important to handle the situation professionally either way. And one way to do that is to prepare for it before it happens. (Fast Company)

You’d probably be lying to yourself if you said you’ve never gone into a new job and resolved to outperform your team’s expectations. You have plenty of good ideas and want everyone to know that you’re a genius of sorts. (The Muse)

Racism in the workplace has become a hot topic in companies across America. The rise in conversations surrounding race have in part occurred due to the racial climate currently taking place in our country. At any given moment you can turn on your television and see story lines surrounding racism on television shows, political figures addressing racial disparities and even your local news stations covering states and countries across the globe dealing with injustices. There is practically no way to avoid the conversation. (The Huffington Post)

Iran’s revival as a crude-oil exporter appears to have stalled, seven months after Western sanctions over its nuclear program were lifted, casting uncertainty over the country’s willingness to cooperate with other producers on limiting output. (The Wall Street Journal)

Recent data from the National Center for Educational Statiscs show that nearly 38 percent of HBCUs reported a 10 percent increase in undergraduate student enrollment between fall semesters 2013 and 2014. (The Hill)

Black Enterprise's TechConneXt Technology Summit is just weeks away. This is your opportunity to gain access to Silicon Valley, as well as get advice and inspiration from top tech leaders, investors, executives, and the black STEM community mind-hive. (Black Enterprise)

Tech lets wireless access points cancel out interference, providing a speed boost for crowded venues. It might help cellphone towers, too. (Fast Company)

Dionne Mahaffey’s app works as a search engine and GPS-driven directory. Its "near me" function helps users find Black-owned businesses in dozens of U.S. cities. (Indianapolis Recorder)

U.S. companies are giving raises to more of the nation’s lowest-paid workers, and they are eager to trumpet the news. For Americans in the bottom quarter of the income scale, who were left behind for much of the expansion, pay is rising at the fastest rate since the recession. (The Wall Street Journal)

U.S. home resales fell more than expected in July after four straight months of strong gains as a lack of inventory limited choice for buyers, but further gains in prices suggested the housing market remained on solid ground. (Money)

Switching careers can feel less risky if you know your new field offers solid job prospects and a sizable salary. Job opportunities for the following five high-paying occupations are expected to grow at least 30% between 2014 and 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consider these fields if you’re thinking about a career change. (USA TODAY)

Drug maker Mylan (MYL) said Thursday that it would offer discounts on a life-saving allergy shot after generating a firestorm when it implemented sharp price increases for the treatment. (USA TODAY)

J.C. Penney Co. is in a surprising position more than four years after it was almost run aground by a former chief executive officer: It could be the last department store standing at your local mall. (Bloomberg)

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Rep. Alma Adams want to create a commission to study the challenges facing black males, including a high rate of homicides and incarceration and other hardships. (The Charlotte Observer)

The "most important factor" that drives prescription drug prices higher in the United States than anywhere else in the world is the existence of government-protected "monopoly" rights for drug manufacturers, researchers at Harvard Medical School report today. (Money)

Truth is, all companies are more like-minded than they think: Organizations must embrace diversity of thought to truly discover new ways of doing things and successfully lead through change. Diversity of thought teaches you how to welcome change in order to evolve. (Forbes)

The answer to excessive micromanaging, we’re often told, is to learn to trust our reports, empowering them to make decisions for themselves. Yet that sounds far easier than it actually is. In practice, many bosses fail to delegate because they haven’t cultivated a set of underlying mindsets and practices. (Harvard Business Review)

The unification of the old and the new, and the use of modern techniques to explain the historical past — that's what the National Museum of African American History and Culture and Bunch, its founding director, are striving for when the newest Smithsonian museum opens on the National Mall next month. President Barack Obama will help dedicate the museum on Sept. 24. (Business Insider)