A BREAKDOWN OF WHICH BUSINESSES SUPPORT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND THE WAYS THEY ARE DOING SO
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HILLARY ALTES HEALTH HEAD
We are living in a time of change. The murder of George Floyd brought to light the police brutality that we as a society have ignored for far too long. As a result, people from all 50 states and several countries have taken a stand by protesting. In addition to personal activism, many companies are issuing statements of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Here is a breakdown of the companies that have made their support for the movement as clear as day.
FAST FOOD BRANDS
Several fast-food brands have issued statements and made donations to show their support. This includes McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Starbucks, Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, PepsiCo, Chipotle, Haagen Dazs, and Jamba Juice. The restaurant &Pizza has also shown support by announcing that they will be giving their employees additional time off for activism.
One company that has gone above and beyond in addressing the issue is Ben & Jerry’s. They recently published a very powerful statement that displays their support. Titled “Silence Is NOT An Option”, it condemns George Floyd’s murder and police brutality against protesters and pleads for Americans to not forget about George Floyd or the other victims of police brutality against African Americans. The company has publicly stood for social justice by promoting the Black Lives Matter movement in the past. Their advocacy certainly has not dwindled over time, as the company’s founders were recently arrested for protesting.
In addition to their statements of support, the company has advocated for the movement through a series of politically charged ice cream flavors. The names of these flavors include Fudge 12, Orange Impeachment, White Macadamia Nut Privilege, Strawberry Supremacy Sorbet, and Apple Pie Anarchy. The witty names for these tasty new flavors display that Ben & Jerry’s is not afraid to publicly back the Black Lives Matter movement.
FASHION AND MAKEUP
Many members of the fashion industry have also publicly backed the movement. Nike, Marc Jacobs, Savage x Fenty, Gucci, Adidas, Versace, Supreme, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more brands have used their platforms to advocate for the movement. Many companies within the beauty industry have also donated to the cause and shown their support through social media. The brands that have done so include Sephora, Farmacy, E.L.F. Cosmetics, NYX Professional Makeup, CoverGirl, Ulta Beauty, Maybelline, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tarte, Urban Decay, and Glossier.
OTHER COMPANIES
At this point, most companies have at least issued a weak statement of support for the movement. While they may be doing so to keep up appearances, many have shown active commitment and dedication to the cause. For example, Uber is giving discounted rides to people who own or work at black-owned businesses. Their food delivery service, UberEats, is also suspending delivery fees for black-owned restaurants through the end of 2020. Doordash and Postmates, which are similar food delivery companies, also published statements of support for the movement.
Many entertainment-based companies are also backing the movement. Netflix, Twitter, and Disney all issued statements of support, while YouTube is donating an additional $1 million to the cause, though it is unclear which organization will be receiving the money. Children’s toy company Lego will be donating $4 million to the cause while also removing advertisements for the police officer lego sets. While this is only a start, these companies are actively taking a stand. However, the same cannot be said for every business.
DISAPPOINTING RESPONSES
While many companies have been using their platforms to promote justice, others have maintained their ties to the ALEC. The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is an affiliation of businesses that creates conservative bills that often benefit their partners in terms of profit while simultaneously oppressing people of color. Despite the widespread criticism regarding the organization and their controversial agenda, a few companies still fund the ALEC. For example, AT&T, Verizon, ComCast, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and Time Warner Cable are all members of the ALEC. Many large oil and energy companies such as ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Institute, Shell Oil, Peabody Energy, Duke Energy, Chevron, Cheniere Energy, and Dominion Resources also support the ALEC. Several transportation companies are also members, including FedEx, UPS, Transurban, Norfolk Southern, and BNSF Railroad.
CONCLUSION
When deciding which companies to support and buy from, I urge you to think about each corporation’s values. As responsible consumers, we should make sure that we spend our money consciously and in the right places. I hope that this guide brought some clarity and that you will keep this information in mind when you make your next purchase.
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