Which brands and personalities did you have to unfollow for not speaking out against police brutality & for social justice?
Online there is a lot of outrage stemming from the murder of George Floyd in the US and the inappropriate level of justice being handed to the officers involved, on the heels of other unjust deaths of Black Americans at the hands of the police. But it has sparked a much larger international outcry against Police brutality and the social & political systems that largely affect Black lives and POC. The conversations taking place are uncomfortable, raw, real and necessary. They all plead for allyship and rallying for anti-racism. I am really interested in hearing from anyone that has had to unfollow and 'cancel' a personality or brand due to their lack of empathy, education or overall silence in regards to #BlackLivesMatter.
Kick-starting a conversation geared towards Brand & Company Accountability.
Replies10
- @Lilato Madiri Hi, thanks for your feedback and keeping these questions alive: my worry is precisely that this movement might be just a trend and not the required structural change. Unfortunately I have note seen any changes in lifestyle brands' communication. However to me the question is beyond the fact that they adhere to this movement. I would like to know is about their hiring policies, working ethics, and H&S plans. And in my experience these are tragically poor in retail. So basically I would like to see lifestyle brands showing their core values and living truly to them, in order to make a conscious use of my money as a consumer.Like you said below, it is where we put our coins that count.Also I would like to know your thoughts on accountability to brands from the consumer.Thanks,
- Thank you for responding to the question @Sir John Hegarty I completely agree with your belief of what great communication ought to be. And I am all for celebrating companies that are doing right by people, which should be the norm, and in a normal world, we wouldn't need to be celebrating this at all. And I don't believe shaming companies to be the goal, but rather to bring awareness to consumers, that in actuality this company isn't for them by its messaging, hiring and branding etc. So that consumer should redirect their coins elsewhere. And preferably to brands that are, as you put it, " are genuinely trying to make the world a better place and not just protect their bottom line."Thank you
- Hi @Javier Navarro , Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question and I really enjoyed reading through your insight. The conversation now being channelled mainstream I have found that during this crisis, the call for accountability has been geared towards Politics, Fashion, Beauty & Music industries. This has left out conversations like the one we are having about racial injustice & inequality being across the board, and in much wider and vaster industries where people like yourself are taking a stand and perhaps discovering that brands you were for, aren't for all people after all. And I honestly could not have summed it better than you did when you said..."This speaks volumes about how disjoined the lifestyle we have built in the last years is from reality and how poorly some brands think of their customers.But more importantly raises the question of why is there a fear of aligning consumption and politics, whilst these are connected by default."I am curious about whether the last 4 weeks has shown any genuine learning and ant-racist efforts from your observation within these same 'Lifestyle' brands/industries.Thank You again Javier.
- Hi @Rajib Moazzam -I can't thank you enough for answering this question. And I completely agree with your response in regards to a lot of Brands having used this movement as a PR excercise, now that more than 3 weeks have passed since, I have throroughly enjoyed seeing consumers, buyers and followers still holding their preferred brands to account as the same or similar phrase has been used in statments "we will work harder to ensure..." or "we will do better..." after releasing the graphs on how many Black employees they have on their roster, which is usually none.I also saw Reni Eddo-Lodge 's statement regarding the sales of her books and her work and advocating various ways in where the many could go and playing her part as a Black woman and educator to affect change. And on the flip side as you said there have been a plethora of brands who posted a black square on social media channels, but have done nothing to really help the situation. And in your comment towards big brands especially in the U.S. that have huge power finaincially and politically to lobby governments, or to help finance charities and projects. I came across Byron F Wilson how-we-fight.com and he has an interesting approach for the Black community on how to speak the 'Economic' language that governments will understand and I am curious to see if it will catch on across the global Black Diaspora and even within other IPOC Communities.
- @Elizabeth Holland Thank you for answering! When it comes to Influencer Personalities and Celebritism I also was not following in the first place, let alone engaging with what they would say, as they arent the people I go to for influence generally on my social media. But I would assume that as a Black woman Beyonce in regards to the question which is about accountability, has proven through monetary means and musical activism that where her interests lie are of that within her communty. She is naturally not exempt from criticism, how things are communicated is always going to be up for debate where a multitude of listeners are involved. Whereas White Women and other POC personalities or Celebrities are deserving of the microscopic level of critique, especially if their popularity and income heavily relies on Black consumers.Now that it has been 3 weeks since the Question, and close to 5 since the killing of George Floyd has anyone else caught your attention on a Job well or not well done in regards to speaking out?
- Hi Lilato,Thanks for raising this question, as in my opinion where and how we do use our money is key in making a difference.I agree with all comments below on the many dangers of brands taking a "cosmetic" position this days but not actually having genuine internal policies on diversity and equitative payment. The idea of monetising out of this crisis is simply revolting.Personally I have unfollowed a number of interiors brands for different reasons, but I am appaled that not one of the mid-range home/interiors ones have taken any position here; and I find it specially shocking considering that from a branding perspective they are positioning themselves as "lifestyle" brands.This speaks volumes about how disjoined the life style we have built in the last years is from reality and how poorly some brands think of their customers.But more importantly raises the question of why is there a fear on aligning consumption and politics, whilst these are connected by default.Hope the above helps.
- @Sir John Hegarty Hello Sir John Hegarty, Hope I find you in perfect health you and your family! My name is Emanuil and I am a fan of the work that you did during the years and also all the executed projects. I am a Graphic Designer, but after working with brands I got interested in how I can create my own. So I managed to graduate Masters in Entrepreneurship and I learned a lot about Venture Capital. Currently, I am looking for a job in Venture Capital/Accelerator because I believe that will give me a great perspective on how I can quickly start my own project. I have just read your post recently on The Dots and you shared quite a lot of valuable information, so I was wondering maybe if you could share your expertise and advice with me? It will be highly appreciated, thank you for your time and consideration. Best Regards, Emanuil
- Lilato, I think the power brands have to help effect change is enormous. But I have a number of concerns. We see brands just jumping on the latest issue to be seen to be in touch. But ultimately it’s just cynical ‘social caring’. Trying to look cool. A word by the way I loath. It would be much better praising the companies that are genuinely trying to be a solution to a problem rather than shaming those that don’t. Carrot rather than stick.Great art, great communication tries to unite and inspire. Let’s celebrate those that are genuinely trying to make the world a better place not just protect their bottom line.
- Hi just to build on Elizabeth's comments below. A lot of brands and celebrities use these moments as a PR excercise. It is important to remember which brands and people you follow merely just post an image of support, and the ones who actually are trying to do something to effect change.Someone I follow closely on social media is Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of 'Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race". Every time there is a spike in the media around stories of racism, she sees an increase of sales for her book. She has publicly stated she feels uneasy around profiting every time a tragic event occurs, so moving forwards she has decided to donate part of her royalties to Charaties and organisations who are helping to tackle the issues we face, as well as emploring people to borrow the book from a freind and to donate the cost of a brand new copy to charity. This is an example of someone doing what they can to effect change.On the flip side are a plethora of brands who posted a black square on social media channels, but have done nothing to really help the situation. Lets remember big brands (especially in the U.S.) have huge power finaincially and politically to lobby governments, or to help finance charities and projects. They should be doing more.
- I didn't unfollow because I wasn't following, but I think the distinction needs to be made between a genuine care for the cause and a PR exercise. I'd recommend looking at Beyonce's highly filtered, auto-cued, tranquilised execution to her following. It comes across as disingenuous and completely out of touch with reality. Read through the comments for the backlash.
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