Black Lives Matter. Corporate vs People's POV (via Social Media)
As The Black Lives Matter movement continues to move the world and is shedding light on Police brutality and systemic racism, it’s becoming clear that its effects are shaping the way industries and media will be for the generations to come. As of recent, we’ve seen that major corporate companies are coming together to “join” the movement. However, former employees and consumers are breaking their silence on expressing how the corporate culture at these companies are far behind and even contradictory to their social media and public sentiments. For many years there has been a major controversy with major fashion houses, among those names are Gucci and Prada, for misappropriating Black culture seemingly as their inspiration yet the end result comes off more maliciously stated than endearing.
Now, in the present day, people are not forgetting how these companies have made the Black community feel. In return, people are suggesting companies do more to make space for Black artists and stakeholders in the bigger landscape of the industry’s influence. By doing more, petitions such as the 15 Percent Pledge, initiated by CFDA Designer & Founder of Brother Vellies, Aurora James, are directly highlighting the importance of major retailers such as Sephora, Whole Foods, and Target to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses. As a follow-up, people are calling out companies’ contradictions and suggesting the following:
Make donations to BLM organizations that supply aide to those involved in the movement.
Instead of posting about solidarity, celebrities could really affect change by wearing clothes by black designers (which they have bought) on the red carpet (when there is a red carpet again) instead of wearing brands that pay them to be walking advertisements.
Allowing employees to share their stories in big companies instead of having CEOs and Executives as initiated in the cause started by PVH, the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.
During the movement, Black Designers have taken the roles in leading their consumers to participate and be present. Designers such as Aurora James, Founder of Brother Vellies has taken action in calling out major companies in their role for black business. Rihanna, after her viral speech at The Academy Awards, now uses the phrase #Pullup, as a hashtag on her sentiments expressed to white allies in the industry to come and show support. Black-owned business and Brooklyn-based menswear designer Dreu Beckemberg, Fashion Influencer Juilette Foxx, Fashion Editor and Celebrity Stylist Avon Dorsey, and Wardrobe Stylist Gabriel Garmon have also taken a stance and have attended protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Although Police brutality is one factor of systematic racism, the other key components also include colorism, housing, education, hiring discrimination, and more. This only just the beginning and this revolution will be televised.
- Reported by Kayla Rolon