The conversation and landscape of race around the world has changed over the past few weeks and we’ve been watching, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, unsure as to what our role should be and how we can help effect change. We’re a small company with a small voice so how much help can we be? But then isn’t that the point? This is a time when, no matter how small, everyone needs to speak up, so all our small voices become one big voice that can't be overlooked.
We’ve been reflecting on what we can do, so we’ve put a few thoughts together and welcome a conversation and any help our community (you guys) may have to offer.
We stand with all minority groups and the Black Lives Matter movement. While we can’t truly understand the full picture, we’re dedicating our time to educating ourselves. This is a fight for Black lives and the lives of all who have been subject to any wrong doings because of the colour of their skin. It is a fight that every single human being should be involved in.
We’re working hard towards equality in the cocoa supply chain and reducing the negative environmental impact that modern consumption habits and some agricultural processes are having on our climate. However, these societal changes will be ultimately pointless unless we can all exist in a society with equal opportunity and fair treatment. The structural racism in our country and across the world needs to be addressed and eradicated.
We want to use our platform for good and to speak up when things are not. We can and will do better. We will speak up, challenge and continue to educate ourselves so we can be an active part of the solution and the healing. We can't be silent, but we also can't act without better understanding of where we can make an impact. We'll be making a start by addressing whether our business practices are appropriately structured to eliminate any lack of equality and will be taking stock of what we can do to with our business going forward. We're also donating to Black Lives Matter, Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI) and Runnymede all of whom do phenomenal work.
Here are a few things we've been reading, listening to and watching to educate ourselves. We hope they're useful.
Books:
Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race. Reni Eddo Lodge
How to Be an Anit-racist. Ibram X Kendi
Girl, Woman, Other. Bernadine Evaristo
Podcasts:
Code Switch.
A Conversation with Black Women on Race. NY Times
Yo. Is This Racist? Andrew Ti and Tawny Newson
Mixed Company. Simeon Coker and Kai Dereraux
TV:
13th. Netflix
When they see us. Netflix
If Beale Street Could Talk. Amazon Prime
Time: The Kalief Browder Story. Netflix