I held off on sending out The MarketHer last week. Instead, I muted. I listened. And began to learn. And un-learn. And diversify the embarrassingly homogeneous social media accounts I follow. I reflected. Read. Donated. Unfollowed. Subscribed. Signed. Researched. Emailed. Amplified. Made mistakes. Tried again. All of that is such a privilege to say—and it's only the beginning of what I want to be a lifelong commitment to anti-racism.
As a white woman, I'll never fully comprehend the suffering that has stemmed from a long and painful history of systemic oppression, but to the Black community—and especially Black womxn—I see you. I hear you. I stand with you. And I want to be a better ally, not in a performative way, but in the truest sense.
I'm grateful for the many amazing Black womxn who've shared their thoughts, voices, reflections, art, activism, and written work on social media, particularly over the past few weeks. There are a ton of incredible round-ups posted highlighting Black-owned businesses and brands to support; anti-racism and Black feminist books to read (and purchase from independent Black-owned bookstores); racial justice organizations to donate to; petitions to sign; educational media to consume; and Black creators to follow. The breadth of information that's at our disposal is humbling; now it's on us as allies to show up and do the work. Not all of that work will be visible to the outside eye or shouted from the rooftops on social media—and that's ok.
This newsletter may be a tiny platform, but it's a step—and every single step counts. I want to be clear about my commitment when it comes to The MarketHer:
3 Organizations I'm donating to:
The Okra Project—a New York City-based grassroots collective that aims to combat food insecurity among the Black transgender community—launched two new mental health recovery funds to provide Black trans men and women sessions with a licensed Black therapist, free of cost. Learn more here.
Black Girls Code empowers girls of color ages 7–17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology.
Naaya Wellness, founded by Sinikiwe Dhliwayo, is launching a new initiative called The Check-In that's designed to support BIPOC high-school students in maintaining wellness during COVID-19. The curriculum centers on yoga and meditation, and students will have access to a therapist to address and support their needs during the pandemic.
3 Black womxn whose work I'm subscribing to on Patreon:
Aja Barber is a writer, personal stylist and style consultant whose work focuses on sustainability, ethics, intersectional feminism, racism, and the ways in which systems of power impact our buying habits.
Rachel Cargle is a public academic, writer, and lecturer whose activism and academic work provide intellectual discourse, tools, and resources centered on the intersection of race and womanhood. She is also the founder of The Loveland Foundation, an organization committed to bringing opportunity and healing to communities of color—especially Black womxn and girls.
Nicole Cardoza is a social entrepreneur, investor, and public speaker dedicated to making wellness accessible for everyone. She founded Yoga Foster, a national nonprofit that empowers educators with yoga and mindfulness for the classroom, and Reclamation Ventures, a fund that invests in high-potential, underestimated entrepreneurs who are making wellness more accessible. She's also the creator of the Anti-Racism Daily newsletter.
3 promises for the future of The MarketHer:
To ensure at least 15% of the roles listed each week are at companies with a Black founder and/or CEO. I promise to pay closer attention to the diversity of the companies I'm highlighting.
To amplify voices of BIPOC—and especially Black— womxn through our newsletter, blog, and social channels. At least one of the recommended reads each week will be a piece written by a Black womxn.
To commit to anti-racism for the long-term: to continue to learn and unlearn, to donate to racial justice organizations on an ongoing basis, and to support Black-owned businesses with my dollar, not just my words.