Genuine Support or PR Ploy?

Over the course of the last few weeks, issues stemming from systemic racism have dominated the news cycle. Across the country and around the world, companies have pledged to stand against bigotry and hate. But are they going to stick with it? Are they even being honest with us right now?

Some brands are unapologetically opposed to racism. Ben and Jerry’s for years has sided with causes and quite frankly, put their money where their mouth is. Nike, over the last number of years, has followed suit. For some, these can also be seen as public relations plots to get customers. But, dare I say it, if they are making a difference and showcasing these changed values throughout the company, why is that a bad thing? I think an argument can be made that outward facing PR moves can help lead to culture shifts both with internal and external markets.

As for Maltshop, we worked to found our company based on personal shared values between Dellanee and me. Two of which: Be passionate and determined; share the good. With those values in mind, we have both personally worked to find ways to help with the movements surrounding us today, and we made sure the Maltshop was a part of that. We each donated our personal salaries for the month, and they were split between two organizations: Black Lives Matter and PACE (People Acting for Change and Equality).

But what do we do everyday to ensure we are “walking the walk”? Dellanee and I work with a diverse set of clients in terms of race, age, gender, orientation and even the industries they represent and the size of their organizations. We are proud to have a diverse portfolio in every sense of the word. And, yes, a business case can certainly be made for the profitability of a diverse group of clients. But really, it’s just the right thing to do. For every business. For every person.

Grandstanding, turning a profile pic black, using buzzy hashtags or issuing a statement from your CEO - while nice - shouldn’t be necessary. The culture of a business or organization should be so apparent that there’s no question where they stand when issues arise. That’s how we want Maltshop to be viewed and how personally and professionally we both individually want to be viewed.