Black Lives Matter

We may be at a turning point in America; but it took the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, David McAtee, Rayshard Brooks and too many others, to wake up much of the US and the world to the injustice of racial inequality—in police matters, as well as social and economic matters.

From everything I’ve read during the past few weeks, I’ve been doing things wrong—too much talking, not nearly enough listening and learning. That has changed. I’m reading, listening and observing my actions and the actions of others and will speak up and out on issues of racial injustice. At a Black Lives Matter march last month, many marchers held signs that read: “Silence Is Violence.” They’re right.

For our part, for years Rodman Media has supported several organizations based in Paterson, NJ, the city closest to our office, that support the Black and Hispanic communities. We will continue to support these and other programs. We know it is just a start, but we are listening and learning and are determined to do our part to make things right.

Change is coming to the beauty industry, too. Companies were called out last month on social platforms when Uoma Founder Sharon Chuter challenged companies to become more inclusive in her Pull Up or Shut Up campaign. Many of them took up Chuter’s call to action, reported their inclusivity numbers and promised to do better, to do what’s right, to get it right. In Beauty Addresses the Ugly Face of Racial Injustice, we report on the steps that our industry is taking to make things right.

More change came as we went to press. The Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) has created the Madam C.J. Walker Scholarship in support of under-represented minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in chemical, physical, medical, pharmaceutical, biological or related sciences and technology. The scholarship creation is part of the SCC’s initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion in the cosmetic and personal care industry and is funded by Mary Kay Inc. For more on the award, visit Happi.com or read our August issue.

These initiatives demonstrate that now, perhaps, the industry and society are beginning a journey on a new path to equality.

Tom Branna
Editorial Director
tbranna@rodmanmedia.com