In light of Black History month, we think it’s super important to share ways in which we can show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, in the USA but also around the world.
Whilst our brand is sold predominantly in the USA it’s manufactured here in the UK and we stand with the BLM movement. As individuals, we may not directly feel the impact of the murder of George Floyd last Summer, and the tragic events brought to light almost weekly, since then, but we stand with our customers and those affected.
We find it extremely important to ensure that we play our part and educate ourselves on the movement, and how, as a brand, we can make a difference and contribute to a fairer and equal society where race does not define us.
As a brand, we have the power to influence and use our online presence as a mechanism to educate and hold ourselves and those around us accountable. Whilst we understand that the issue lives beyond our signatures, donations and social media posts, it’s our duty to collectively continue fighting for change.
As we said last year;
We see you, we hear you and we stand with you.
No matter where you are in the world, you can support the struggle for black lives; so below you’ll find a few ways that you can help right now, and what we’re doing to play our parts.
Show solidarity and support on social media
Social media channels can be an effective way for people to show support and educate others, especially if you have a larger following and high engagement rate. It’s a great idea to post links to useful resources, fundraisers, articles or share anything that you’ve found helpful. Ensure you prioritise black voices and show your stance on the matter.
Educate yourself (& others)
Last year, we posted on our Instagram ways in which you could educate yourselves. Unfortunately, the fight against race has been with us long before the brutal murder of George Floyd and some of these resources identify just that.
Things to watch on Netflix:
We all love a good Netflix binge so what better way to educate ourselves?
- When They See Us – our personal favourite about 5 young boys who get caught up and wrongly accused of the rape and attack on the New York Central Park jogger. It’s based on a true story and it’s heart wrenching. You can also watch the Oprah Winfrey interview with the actors of the docuseries but also the real New York 5.
- Time: The Kaleif Browder Story – Kalief Browder’s story is about 16 year old Browder who was picked up by the police on charges, which were much later dropped. He spent more than 3 years as a teenager in the noutorious Riker’s Island prison, 2 of which were in solitary confinement. Browder struggled with his mental health years after his release and went on to heartbreakingly take his own life.
- 13th – A documentary of Ava DuVernay’s examination of the U.S. prison system which looks at how the country’s history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America. It is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1865, which abolished slavery throughout the United States and ended involuntary servitude except as a punishment for conviction of crime. You’ll find yourself gasping in disbeliuef the whole way through!
Support Black creators & Business Owners
If you want to help people at an individual level, the best way to start is by supporting Black people’s creative and business endeavours. You could employ and promote Black people or buy their books, music or films. One thing we love about the US retail market space at the minute is that retailers like Ulta Beauty and Target are supporting Black-Owned Beauty or are promoting products made for Black people & we’re totally here for it.
Here are some of our favourite Black-owned beauty brands.
Described as a revolutionary sunscreen made from natural ingredients, that doesn’t leave a white residue on the skin. Their story begins with the need for a sunscreen brand that caters exclusively to women of colour.
All-natural hair-care products for kinky, curly, wavy hair. We also think the name is just amazing!
Well, who doesn’t love a lip product?? Lip bar sell vegan-friendly lip products promoting the perfect nude for everyone. With a focus on complexion and a shade suitable for all skin tones, we can’t wait to try!
How else can you use your voice?
Other ways you can use your voice include sending texts and signing petitions.
The ACLU website offers a handful of quick ways to participate on its site as well as some more involved options, like making phone calls or texts on behalf of the organization’s causes.
You can also sign online petitions such as this one demanding justice for Daunte Wright.
What have we been doing to play our part?
We’re really excited to launch our rebrand products which will start to phase in as of January 2022. We’ve recognised that the Que Bella ‘lady’ or mascot on the front of pack, doesn’t portray inclusivity. Our products are suitable for all skin types and we’ve transformed our dermatological testing process to include an ethnically diverse panel, ensuring we can make the bold claim that our masks are suitable for ALL.
We recognise that the mascot’s skin tone on the front of pack is caucasian, and although we have done work in the past to darken her skin tone, it’s not nearly enough. We played around with various design ideas of how we could capture all skin tones and ethnicities whilst keeping our well-known mascot on the front of the pack, but we’ve come to the conclusion it’s time to say goodbye to our Que Bella mascot. The brand we want to be doesn’t single out skin tone, race or even gender and sexuality. So, we’re completely removing this from our packaging and we hope that you’ll support this decision as we strive to be a completely transparent and inclusive brand.
