The Business Shoppe has been and will continue to be a support for communities of color. With that being said we want to ensure we take an intentional and thoughtful stance on racism. This statement will not only be our official position during this time of revolution, it will be incorporated in to our business model.
This nation is drowning in the blood of innocent black, brown, and indigenous men, women, and children. All of our systems have been formed and designed to perpetuate the oppression of black, brown, and indigenous communities. As white people we benefit from and are complicit in the systems that incarcerate men of color by the millions and murder people of color with impunity. This is no time to be lukewarm in our response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin and the list goes on. This is the time to get uncomfortable and sit with that discomfort. The discomfort of white privilege, the discomfort of knowing that we are actively benefiting from these systems, the discomfort of knowing that we can and should be doing more to dismantle them. This is the time to be on the right side of history.
It is my personal mission and duty to ensure this business is on the right side of history and my actions are intentional and consistent in creating and advocating for change and equity. This isn't a plug for my products or services. This is my personal and professional statement of dedication.
How do we do better? We amplify black voices, we buy from black businesses, we talk to our kids, and we read and educate ourselves to learn more about the history of racism and it's insidious nature.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.