In the original post for this week’s The Buzz, we intended on lauding Starbucks for its most recent accomplishment. This week, they announced that they have achieved 100% pay equity for men, women, and people of all races performing similar work in the United States. The news is inspiring. Moreover, their intentions to achieve equity globally is admirable.
We felt like this news was timely given some of the more challenging, and in some ways, traumatic, news that dominated the mainstream media, this week. For example:
- The New York Times published a story this week on a new report that shows that Black boys raised in the wealthiest families and neighborhoods in America earn less in adulthood than white boys with similar backgrounds and are more likely to become poor than to stay wealthy in their own adult households. The study debunks many widely held beliefs about inequality that are based on assumptions and biases around the Black family and the effects of poverty in the home. As the article states, “If this inequality can’t be explained by individual or household traits, much of what matters probably lies outside the home — in surrounding neighborhoods, in the economy and in a society that views black boys differently from white boys, and even from black girls.”
- This week, we also learned of Stephon Clark, a 22-year old black man, father of two, who was murdered by Sacramento police officers. Clark was unarmed.
- We also learned more about Mark Conditt, the young white man and suspected Austin suicide bomber, who some believed targeted black communities. Some of the coverage of Clark and Conditt reminded us of how our inherent biases shape the narratives in our media… Whom we deem innocent until proven guilty, and worthy of our empathy… Who we see as an exception or deserving of the benefit of doubt.
So, what does it mean to celebrate a victory like Starbucks’ pay equity in the midst of a society that perpetuates racial wealth disparities and particularly punishes Black men at every turn? Perhaps it means that the small victories give us hope for the bigger ones to come.
We can laud Starbucks’ for being leaders and ask them to also be leaders in the fight against the prison-industrial complex.
We can shout Black Lives Matter in the name of Stephon Clark by affirming and celebrating the Blackness around us every day and supporting those who are lifting up people of color and combating biases in their art – Ava Duvernay’s A Wrinkle in Time and Lena Waithe’s The Chi are some new, excellent choices.
We can take a break, drink some coffee, and take care of ourselves, because every week there will be more news, and every week, we have to find ways to celebrate the small victories.
Here’s a short list of more small victories this week:
- People across the globe celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on Wednesday this week. This campaign is calling on societies everywhere to celebrate the unique gifts of those with Down Syndrome and create opportunities for them to contribute and be included in our communities. This cute video also went viral in support of the campaign.
- On Monday, WOC & Allies posted a helpful list meant to support white allies in combating racism on their social media timelines. It’s time for some small, virtual victories!
- Teen Vogue published an article on gun control that is #intersectional and celebrates youth from all backgrounds involved in this movement.
What small victories are you celebrating this week? How are you affirming and celebrating your identities? Let us know in the comment section below!
