Nearly two-thirds of U.S. consumers surveyed in a new report said they feel like brands have done little to nothing to follow through on the anti-racism pledges they made last summer. Big name brands like Snapchat, adidas, Yelp, and PepsiCo made promises to improve their diversity and inclusion efforts following protests due to the murder of George Floyd. A year later and 34 percent of consumers said brands had done little to tackle their internal racial problems, while 27 percent of consumers believe they have done even less than that. “ Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 were, by volume, the largest demonstrations in American history. As a result, they have had a serious lasting effect on both the national conversation around race, as well as the responsibility of businesses to do their part in tackling racism,” GWI Trends Analyst Doug Gorman said in a press release. “Now more than ever, consumers are actually holding brands accountable for their Corporate Social Responsibility...

TikTok’s second most followed creator Khaby Lame is known for putting things plainly, but his recent candid social media posts have reportedly lost him followers. According to Dexerto, Lame posted the hashtag #notoracism on his TikTok in September. He later followed up on his sentiments on Oct. 6 by posting “Say no to racism” on his Instagram story. The outlet reports that screenshots of the influencer’s story suggest that people unfollowed him for those posts. “I don’t mind guys,” Lame shared in a now deleted post. “We are almost in 2022 and people still use racism because they have nothing to do in their life. Be happy, follow your dream and try to save the planet. You can also unfollow me. I don’t care about the numbers, I care about your hearts! If you do think of something new, do it right and in a positive way!” The Senegalese-Italian TikToker took his act of spreading love a step further by linking a charity fundraiser — gogetfunding.com — on his story for his followers to...

Clark Atlanta University is receiving a generous gift to help groom its next generation of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) leaders. This week, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) — an organization created to build a more inclusive, just and healthy future for all — announced its first round of Racial Equity Grants to be distributed to Clark Atlanta University’s Executive Leadership Institute (ELI), a press release reports. The $1 million gift will help support Clark Atlanta’s mission to lead the way in advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion for Black and communities of color in America. Additionally, the donation will poise the university to continue preparing its students to become world leaders. “The Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University is at the forefront of addressing issues of diversity and inclusion. Gifts like this help to sustain the future of HBCUs which depend on the quality and training of those who will lead them,”...

The healthcare system in America lacks diversity when it comes to its leaders, especially appointing Black women to these senior-level positions. To remedy this, Mount Sinai Health System has announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind mentoring program aimed at increasing the recruitment and elevation of Black women to executive roles. Black Women Leaders Connect — a first-of-its-kind initiative uplifting the next generation of leaders within Mount Sinai and in the healthcare community — was launched by Mount Sinai’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion. The group has made it a point to create more space for Black women leaders in healthcare to make new connections and support one another. The overall goal is to help these women become role models and mentors in the organization, and ultimately drive change within the executive space. “Several years ago, I realized that many of our Black women leaders across the system did not know one another. From the sheer desire to make...

The year 2020 was — to say the least — a crazy year, but according to retail giant Nordstrom, last year was a year for “reflection.” According to a recent press release put out by the company, executives were taking notes in the wake of the social and political upheavals of 2020. The Black Lives Matter movement , amongst many other movements, let many Fortune 500 companies know — in no uncertain terms — that “window dressing” wasn’t going to be enough. People were tired of being used as pawns during one month of the year, only to be tossed aside when it was no longer politically expedient to champion their causes. “We are a part of the communities we serve, and that means we have a responsibility to create a sense of welcoming and belonging for all,” said Pete Nordstrom, chief brand officer and president of Nordstrom, Inc., in a statement . “We know our impact extends beyond our own walls and we’re committed to taking steps to be a part of the solution by making Nordstrom a better,...

In our current world of online connections and virtual meetups, popular dating app Tinder is no stranger to bringing people together. The platform has found success by offering choices and allowing members to connect with others who are also seeking new possibilities. Now, Tinder is fostering new connections with a commitment to driving diversity, equality and inclusion within the company and highlighting initiatives in the Black community. Realizing the importance of these efforts, Tinder is amplifying and increasing the voices of employees of color — and the voices of others in the same communities as its members. Tinder is powered by people who want to get things done. In this spirit, the company went to the drawing board and began crafting solutions of its own. Eager to make an impact, Tinder has focused on investing in inclusive culture training, internal panels, conferences and, most importantly, mental health advocacy. Inclusive Culture Training Tinder has done the important...

As ad agencies look to become more diverse, Giant Spoon has launched a new Diverse Audience Marketing division to be headed by film producer Kenny Mac, reports DigiDay. The eight-person team will work with brands to improve diversity and inclusion within their internal cultures, as well as help them connect with diverse audiences. “Very excited for this new chapter that allows me to pull from the learnings of my career to help make a difference in diversity and inclusion with how brands communicate to their consumers,” Mac, who recently served as executive producer of “Antebellum,” wrote on Instagram. “Also, so excited to be a part of such an innovative team who look at my new career passions as an asset, as opposed to a conflict.” In his new role at Giant Spoon, Mac will create in-house focus groups with brands and review their workforce numbers. Through his leadership, his goal is to lead and ensure diverse employees are having meaningful experiences at work. Following anti-racism...

Living in today’s digital age amid the worldwide fight for social justice, social media activism has become a huge hot-button topic. While many argue that posting on social media contributes little to legislative change and reform, there’s still some good that comes from spreading positive and informative messages via social channels. According to a study , social networking platforms have emerged as a key venue for political debate and discussion and a place to engage in civic-related activities. As many users have participated in big and small acts in social activism online, there are leaders in the Black community who have taken it a step further. Check out a list of leaders and influencers whose online activism extends beyond their digital platforms below: Gia Peppers Photo Credit: LinkedIn Multi-talented entertainment journalist and on-air talent Gia Peppers has always been regarded as a huge supporter of Black culture and telling Black stories. Her platform has given way for...