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America has entered a new age—the anti-DEI age. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are being slashed aggressively in both the public and private sectors.
Companies that pledged to uplift Black-owned talent and brands (including Facebook, Walmart, Target and Amazon), are now killing those efforts. What was once a push for inclusion has taken a sharp turn, leaving many dismayed (and even calling for boycotts).
I’ve been watching all of this unfold, and while I don’t have any solutions, I do have a few thoughts:
Anti-DEI initiatives will undoubtedly hurt Black-owned businesses, especially those in need of capital. But Black entrepreneurship has always been about proving yourself. I don’t know a single Black-owned business that survived just because the owner is Black.
The American marketplace is competitive, and Black-owned businesses are woefully under-capitalized. So if they’re making it, they’ve definitely earned it.
We’re kind of like the Katt Williams of indie skincare—existing outside of mainstream platforms (like Ulta or Sephora) but still thriving, lol.
Our products are temperature-sensitive, which makes big-box retail deals unrealistic (ain’t nobody refrigerating thousands of jars of whipped butter). And while we’ve been approached by large companies, including Google and Paypal, to provide products for corporate events, we’ve never participated in corporate DEI programs or received DEI funding.
I never thought that would be an advantage, but in today’s climate, it apparently is.
During the Black Lives Matter protests, many Black-owned businesses, including mine, saw massive sales spikes. In-store and online traffic skyrocketed—sometimes by over 100%—as people supported Black-owned brands.
I’m wondering now if that was just performative, or driven by social media hype. I don’t know how we went from “Black Lives Matter” to “end DEI” in less than five years.
I don’t really watch the news (thankfully), so I’m not tuned in to every development in the anti-DEI crusade. I’m bummed by what’s happening, but not necessarily anxious.
BGLH is strong, thanks to you, our incredible customers. Our customer base is incredibly diverse: men and women of all backgrounds who understand the value of supporting small business.
Whatever happens next, I know we got this 🙂 But if you want to support us…
Your support has kept this business independent and strong for the past 10 years. The only reason we are growing in this current climate is because of you. So thank you. 💗
Leila
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P.S. — I posted a Youtube video sharing my thoughts about the shuttering of DEI programs for black businesses. You can check it out below. (Scroll down a bit to see it.)
