Black Lives Matter

by Afterpay US Collaborator June 07, 2020

Black Lives Matter: Words & Action

Our hearts are heavy as we write in acknowledgement of recent events. The persecution of Black people in America persists at an unrelenting pace. We hope that you have taken time to support, uplift and remember the lives we have lost to senseless acts of violence. We urge you, and everyone you know, to fight for a future where our Black friends and families can live without fearing for their lives and their rights. It’s a world worth fighting for.

If you subscribe to our newsletter, you received a message from us on how we've listened and learned this week, and how we're taking steps to do more. Our team talked openly and worked collectively to create this piece of communication. In this letter, we also spoke about action items, which we're excited to shed more light on here:

Donating

We are donating 10% of sales from this month to @BlackGirlsCode and @NAACP_LDF. Every June, we will donate to these organizations to commemorate this moment in time, and to commit to annual donations, which will grow as our company grows.

Since inception, POOLSIDE has helped to create education and learning opportunities for women around the world. This has not only bettered the lives of the people we work with, but of their families, children, and therefore, generations to come. It is only right that we support these same opportunities in America.

Black Girls Code @BlackGirlsCode

Black Girls Code's motto is "Imagine. Build. Create." Their goal is to increase the number of women of color in the digital tech space by introducing girls ages 7-17 to computer science. After launching in 2011, Black Girls Code has operated in 7 US states, as well as Johannesburg, South Africa. They plan to expand to 8 more cities in the US, and to train 1 million girls by 2040.

NAACP Legal Defense Fund @NAACP_LDF

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is the legal arm of the Civil Rights Movement. They are responsible for the outcome of Brown V. Board of Education, which is know as "the most important American governmental act of any kind since the Emancipation Proclamation." LDF has remained heavily involved in providing an equitable educational opportunity for all of America's youth.

Community

We are so grateful for the love and support of global influencers and celebrities of all different ethnicities, races, religions and backgrounds who have embraced our small brand. Our gifting policy has always been reactive -- if someone reaches out, and if we love their style -- we send them a bag. Going forward, we will be focused on diversifying our community via proactive outreach in order to visually demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity. Support the Black women and women of color that we admire by giving them a follow and supporting their businesses alongside us. Here is a short list of some of our favorite muses.