Why Your Favorite Corp Doesn’t Care About BLM
graphic by lucinda strol
When George Floyd died, I was generally numb- not just because his death immediately followed the murders of Elijah McClain and Breonna Taylor, but also because of the subsequent polarization that seemed to overtake our country. While, of course, there were those who placed blame on the innocent victims for noncompliance, there was also a newfound spark of activism across the nation.
Those who are genuinely dedicated to bringing justice to George, Breonna, and the other victims of the oppressive systems of the United States banded together to initiate change. Large corporations, on the other hand, seemed to see this movement as a tactic for consumerism, using victims of police brutality as bait. Instead of giving back to communities who suffer from oppressive over-policing through funding and other initiatives, this bait has been dolled up in the cosmetics of pretty solidarity emails and aesthetically pleasing unity statements on Instagram.
It’s a reality within the world of businesses to uphold certain appearances. Popular online media outlets who pride themselves in inclusivity and diversity, such as Refinery 29 and Bon Appetit, have had their toxic work cultures of discrimination exposed time and time again, yet they always seem to get away with it. Between racial discrimination and unequal pay against BIPOC employees, racism seems to be a key component of many large companies.
Deceit through appearances by businesses is not talked about nearly enough and it can be extremely detrimental to a vulnerable audience. Companies such as Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie participate in forms of discrimination through racial profiling in stores and the use of slave labor on a production level. Hollowly presenting themselves as allies; however, allows them to continue to perpetuate racist practices.
Remember when that storm of businesses, celebrities, and everyone you went to high school with took part in #BlackOutTuesday? You know, the day where everyone posted a black square on Instagram to show solidarity for the victims of violent police brutality, instead of actually posting resources that could help protesters or educate others? We do too. As performative as that trend was, it was pretty indicative of how we, as a society, accept the bare minimum of activism offered by corporations and those with large platforms. This notion can be seen with media praising the photoshoots of celebrities at protests and the white people who accept the apologies of yet another major influencer who “slipped up” and said the N-word because “they were young.”
The issues highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement continue to plague society today, not just when a black person dies or your favorite Tik Tok star mentions it for internet brownie points. It’s time to start looking at the individuals and corporations you support and to question if they are actually supporting you back.