Retail Embracing Juneteenth And Black Lives Matter Demonstrates Its Commitment To Inclusion And Diversity

I have often cited retail as being the most exciting and relevant sector as it is so integral to all our lives. And this COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the critical and inspiring role it has to play. But there is another new dimension which now cannot be ignored.

Juneteenth is the annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. with a list of growing businesses, including retailers, giving their employees the day off today to mark the anniversary of that day in 1865, when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

That it should be remembered across retail businesses is especially relevant as retail, in so many ways, is a reflection of the society in which it exists.

And while this is very much a U.S. centric commemoration, that doesn’t mean that here in the U.K. retailers are turning a blind eye to the issue of racism and diversity as highlighted by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

Marks and Spencer (M&S) is a proud U.K. retailer with a history going right back to 1884. And while Juneteenth has yet to become a thing here, the retailer has chosen today to make it clear on where it stands on the issues of racism and diversity, chief executive Steve Rowe pledging to take “urgent action” in the wake of the BLM movement.

In a message to staff, he wrote that actions taken so far by the retailer were not good enough and that the issues of racism and diversity would be part of a “much overdue review of our approach to diversity and inclusion.”

As reported in Retail Week, he wrote, “As a privileged white man, and as the CEO of a business of 78,000 colleagues – with different backgrounds, beliefs and ambitions – I’ve been reflecting a lot on what has happened and what we need to do at M&S.”

As part of this commitment, the retailer has expanded the number of charitable organisations it supports through it Sparks loyalty programme. This includes The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and The Black Curriculum, which addresses the lack of Black history in education.

Rowe is to be applauded for speaking out and taking a stance, especially in difficult times not just for his business but for the entire retail sector. Encouragingly, he is not alone.

MatchesFashion have announced plans to launch a Black employees forum to look at driving diversity in its designers and to encourage more Black people to join the retailer.

H&M Group has pledged to donate $500,000 (£397,775) to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Color of Change, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Nike
NKE
have pledged $40 million (£32 million) to support the Black community.

PrettyLittleThing has teamed up with rapper Saweetie to create a collaboration where all the profits will benefit the Black Lives Matter movement.

And Amazon has said that it will ban U.S. police forces from using its facial recognition software for a year, in support of the Black Lives Matter protests.

Social awareness has always been a part of retail and it is encouraging to see signs that the BLM movement is having an impact on the sector.

“To all of our black colleagues and to any colleague who has faced prejudice, ignorance or injustice, I may not always get it right but I am with you all the way in mind and in heart.” Steve Rowe, chief executive officer, Marks and Spencer, June 19 2020.