Скачать или смотреть 5 Business Actions Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement

Since the shocking murder of George Floyd, protesters around the world have demanded equality and condemned the racist practices that have divided citizens for hundreds of years.

Here are 5 companies that heard calls for action and made lasting changes.

Aunt Jemima
Since the 1890s, Aunt Jemima kept us fed and, admittedly, a little plump. But the origins of the beloved brand aren’t as heartwarming as our morning mound of pancakes. Aunt Jemima originates from a minstrel character. Although her image has changed over the years to be less...well racist, frankly, the brand said “ya, it’s time for an update” and vowed to release new packaging and a new name in the fall.

Juneteenth Holiday
Though slaves were freed in 1863 with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Texas, the most remote of the southern states, didn’t tell over 250,000 slaves they were free until June 19, 1865. The historical day became known as ‘Juneteenth’, and is annually celebrated in the black community. Now, companies have vowed to officially recognize the holiday. Target, JC Penny, and The New York Times will offer holiday pay to their employees or a paid day off on June 19, and other companies like Google, Nike, the NFL, Postmates, and more have vowed to make Juneteenth a company holiday.

The Bachelor Franchise (ABC)
The Bachelor has aired on ABC for over 18 years for 24 seasons. Not only have they never featured a black lead, but the show has been criticized for its lack of diversity for years now. Finally, after calls for several very eligible, handsome men of color to take the lead and a petition signed by over 75,000 people, The Bachelor announced its first black Bachelor, Matt James. Fans hope this move is a sign of more diverse love stories to come.

Reddit
Founder and former CEO of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, stepped down from the company’s board and called on his colleagues to replace him with a black candidate. Ohanian explained he created Reddit “15 years ago to help people find community and a sense of belonging. It is long overdue to do the right thing.” In addition to demanding leadership change, Ohanian vowed to invest his remaining stock in the black community, starting with a $1 million donation to Know Your Rights Camp. Reddit promptly filled Ohanian’s seat with capital investor Michael Siebel, the company’s first person of color on the board.

SoftBank
SoftBank is a venture capital company with a history of investing in a majority of white male entrepreneurs. But now, it’s taking steps to remedy their past mistakes. SoftBank announced a $100 million Opportunity Growth Fund dedicated strictly to startups founded by people of color. The company also announced that 50% of the gains from the initial Opportunity Fund investments will be reinvested in subsequent Opportunity Growth Funds. SoftBank’s investment in diverse entrepreneurs is just one step in a larger plan to foster the growth of black-owned companies in America.

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