Using My Head to support black lives

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3 steps I’m taking to help tip the scales

How I’m adjusting my business to support black lives now and in the future

I don’t normally write about social or political issues on my blog; it’s normally reserved for website design and Squarespace tips. But these are not ordinary times.

I have been profoundly affected by the recent protests and the issues brought to the front of social consciousness by the Black Lives Matter movement. As a person of mixed heritage and an American living in the UK, this moment in time has caused me a great deal of pause for thought, exploration of my own identity, and as someone who was white-socialised, my own complicity in a society that has devalued Black lives, no matter how unintentional. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar really struck a chord with me when he said that racism is like dust in the air; our society is like a dark dusty room. This moment in time is like shining a light and suddenly seeing all the particles of dust floating around that we have all been breathing in (and some of us have been choking on). And seeing this makes you want to clean up the room.

All of this is taking place against a backdrop of a global pandemic, in which Black people are 4 times more likely to die of COVID-19, and lockdown measures have had devastating impact on Black businesses, with over 40% of Black-owned businesses being lost in the US alone.

Although I understand that I am not going to be able to undo all the injustices or completely change the system single-handedly, I do believe that I can make some kind of a difference, not just in this moment, but on an ongoing basis. Here are 3 steps that I am taking to help support black businesses and lives through my business. If you are in a position to make changes to your own business or household, I encourage you to think about what you can do, too (I’ve included some links at the end of this post). Because it’s going to take the collective actions of a lot of people to tip the scales towards a more equal and just society.

1. Donating a minimum of 20% of my June profits to causes that make a difference to black lives

My business is lucky to be in one of the few industries that is thriving despite coronavirus, and June has been one of my busiest months yet. To help give back during a time when such services are in desperate need, I will be donating a minimum of 5% of my total profits for the month of June to each of the following 4 organisations that I believe make an impact both locally in my home community of Brixton, and to the policies that affect all people of colour in the UK.

Brixton Soup Kitchen

Brixton Soup Kitchen have been serving the homeless and needy in Brixton and beyond since 2013, with not just food, but also free legal advice, a clothes bank and more. From care packages for people hit by tough life circumstances, to hot meals served at their community hub, to delivering food and clothing to rough sleepers, BSK provides critical services to an increasing number of vulnerable people in London.

Black Thrive

My local borough of Lambeth has the highest number of Black people accessing mental health services in the UK. Black Thrive aims to address the lack of culturally appropriate and affordable mental health services, break down barriers which lead to poorer outcomes, and reduce the inequalities experienced by Black people in mental health services, including those faced by Black LGBTQ+ individuals.

Black Cultural Archives

We are lucky to have the Black Cultural Archives here in my community, the only heritage centre dedicated to the history and culture of Black people in the UK. I always learn something when I visit, and their work in sharing often overlooked stories through exhibitions and events is so important to the (re)education of British society. With exhibition and art spaces showing no signs of being able to re-open yet, donations are even more vital than ever to helping ensure spaces like this are able to continue their service moving forward post-COVID.

Runnymede Trust

One of the leading pressure organisations that fights for race equality, the Runnymede Trust is at the forefront of driving changes in policy and education in the UK. Most recently, Runnymede has been leading the dialogue about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities, as well as highlighting the devastating effects of the ‘hostile environment’ policies towards immigrants.

2. Offering all Black-owned businesses a 15% discount on my services

Although the wage gap between white and Black people in the UK has closed somewhat over the last 4 years, Black people still earn on average 10% less than their white counterparts. In the US, the gap is even wider (and has actually widened over the last decade), currently sitting between 15-24% depending on how you measure. Although I do not normally believe in discounts – I feel they devalue your offering and that people (especially women!) should charge what you are worth – I do recognise that this is an exception to the rule. Therefore, to try in my own small way to redress the balance of systemic racial inequality, I am offering all Black-owned businesses and non-profits a 15% discount on my services for as long as I can afford to do so.

3. Swapping to Black-owned businesses whenever possible

I am very lucky to have lots of Black-owned businesses on my doorstep here in Brixton, and I have tried to support them as an individual whenever I can over the last 22 years of living here. But I always believe that we can do more, so I am examining my purchase habits as a business and swapping or supplementing with Black-owned businesses wherever possible. I’m starting with simple things such as buying my office coffee from Kiroto and my notebooks from Gazelle (shame Bespoke Binny was sold out!)… and when it’s time to spruce things up I’ll be buying my office plants from Prick, funky planters from Copper Dust, and a lush new business card holder from Frank Horn. Moving forward, I’ll continue to keep my eye out for other swaps, such as having my office air con serviced, getting materials printed, or other professional services that my business may require in the future.

I hope these ideas have provided food for thought if you are in a position to make changes - check out the links below for ideas.

And if you’re a Black-owned business, get in touch if you need a new website :-)

Anti-racism charities & Black causes

In addition to the ones I have highlighted in section (1) above, here are some more ideas for organisations that could use support in their mission to tackle racism and its effects in the UK:

You can also find lots more here and here for the UK, and here for the US

UK Black-owned business directories & lists

And if you’re not in the UK, check out Shoppe Black, a global (though heavily US-weighted) directory.

These are just a few - feel free to share more in the comments below.

Social Justice, EntrepreneurshipMiko Coffey2 Comments