5 things / John Lewis
Hi there -
This week I reflected on part of an essay from the late, great Congressman John Lewis:
"In the last days and hours of my life you inspired me. You filled me with hope about the next chapter of the great American story when you used your power to make a difference in our society. Millions of people motivated simply by human compassion laid down the burdens of division. Around the country and the world you set aside race, class, age, language and nationality to demand respect for human dignity."
I'm really glad that John Lewis died an inspired and hopeful man, but of course there's so much work still to do -- and there's a lot we can do in the workplace to truly move the needle towards equality. That quote encapsulates part of my "why" and professional mission -- to inspire others with the tools to treat people with dignity, even when they don't realize they aren't already doing it.
Here are some other things I enjoyed learning this week:
There's a new Barbie on the block, and she's a Black Barbie running for political office. It's not the first time Barbie has had a candidate, but it is the first time she's been Black. This matters because it shows children that race should not affect someone's aspirations.
Netflix has committed to shifting up to $100 million to lenders that support the Black community. They've already moved $25 million to a fund that invests in Black-owned financial institutions. This matters because it is a way to address the severe lack of racial wealth equity in the U.S.
I also learned what Tyler Perry has done to safely resume television production at his studios in Atlanta. He is committed to exceeding recommended safety guidelines in order to keep everyone healthy -- and employed. One production at a time is filmed and the entire cast and crew stays at the facility (after arriving via private jet). I continue to be impressed by Tyler Perry's often under the radar acts of kindness.
Trader Joe's supermarkets is not changing the names of its ethnic products after all. They believe their product names (such as Trader Ming's and Trader Jose's) aren't racist. I'm truly curious -- what do you think? I'm genuinely not sure what I think.
That's all for this week. Have a great one, and thanks for all you do to build a more inclusive world.
All the best-