Yesterday marked the 10th straight day of protests against police brutality and systemic racism triggered by the murder of George Floyd. Bidtellect stands with those oppressed in support of justice and peace in this time of necessary change. Black Lives Matter.

Bidtellect is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. We are committed to doing better. This begins and continues with education.

We’ve dedicated this newsletter to amplifying the conversation around race including news within the industry, educational resources, and support and donation suggestions.

Watch: BET President Scott Mills discusses how brands should participate in conversations around systemic racism with AdAge.

How Brands Can Join The Fight For Racial Equality Without Being Tone-Deaf

The big take-aways: stay away from sales-driven messages (e.g. we said this, so buy this!) and don’t come off as inauthentic when talking about social justice. L’Oréal received backlash for its statement supporting racial justice after former model Munroe Bergdorfhighlighted how the company red her for speaking out against white supremacy in2017, according to Adexchanger. As Digiday outlines, the advertising industry has work to do. In good news, Procter & Gamble announced a $5 million contribution to organizations fighting Black justice like the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, according to MediaPost.

For actionable advice, watch AdAge’s interview with BET president President Scott Mills. He discusses how brands should participate in conversations around systemic racism. It’s an insightful and necessary watch.

Support Black-Owned Businesses

Now is a great time to shine a light on black-owned businesses. EatOkra app is a guide to black-owned restaurants in your neighborhood. Florida Bidtellectuals compiled a list of black-owned businesses in Palm Beach County to visit (thank you, Courtney, Luke, and Brenna!) And order your next book from local independent black-owned bookstores listed on Literary Hub, all of which are also offering online ordering.

Read. Read. Read.

And speaking of bookstores, what should you read? Now is the time to self-educate. The bonus is there’s still a pandemic (lol remember that?) so there’s time to stay in and get lost in a new book. Check out these curated lists by The Lit. Bar. Based on this and numerous suggestions across media sites and social media, we might suggest Between the World and Me, The Bluest Eye, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, How to Be an Antiracist, Assata: An Autobiography, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, and The Color of Law – all of which are sold out on Amazon, by the way, so all the more reason to buy black-owned and local!

Your Weekend Binge List

13th: named in reference to the 13th amendment to the constitution of the United States (that’s the one that abolished slavery), this documentary examines mass incarceration and the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans. Just Mercy starring Jamie Foxx is free to rent on streaming services through June; it’s based on the true story of civil-rights attorney Bryan Stevenson’s fight to overturn the wrongful murder conviction of Walter McMillian. Check out this list of movies and documentaries streaming now for more.

How to Have a Conversation with Kids

It’s a tough conversation to navigate, especially when you throw social media into the mix. For younger kids, Sesame Street is coming to the rescue this Saturday, partnering with CNN for a town hall for kids. Big Bird, Elmo, and other friends will discuss racism and the protests. NPR and The New York Times interviewed experts for tips on starting conversations with your kids on systemic racism and police brutality.

The latter also lists or book recommendations for every age group from age 0 to teenagers. Two such books are “Hair Love,” by Matthew A. Cherry that is also an Oscar-winning short lm; another is Stamped – a “remix” or abridged version of the comprehensive stamped from the Beginning (listed above) meant for teens/young adults, but my teacher friend also recommended it for us, too. It gives a history of slavery and the concept of race starting with the Ancient Greeks.

Support Black Lives Matter

Bidtellect CEO Lon Otremba called for a company-wide moment of silence yesterday to honor the life of George Floyd and all black lives lost through racial injustice. NAACPcalled for an 8-minute 46-second silence, the length of time a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd.

• Donate and learn: NAACP
• Donate and join the cause: Black Lives Matter
• Sign the most recent petitions on change.org: Justice for George Floyd, BreonnaTaylor, Ahmaud Arbery.

With love and unity,

Charlotte

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Charlotte Otremba is Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing at Bidtellect.