W42ST Daily 6/2/2020
It’s hard to be silent, isn’t it? When we’re so damned angry? When we want to scream and cry out and demand change? But perhaps today is not that day.
Blackout Tuesday has grown out of #theshowmustbepaused, a movement that was started by music industry executives Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang.
“Our mission,” they say, “is to hold the industry at large, including major corporations and their partners who benefit from the efforts, struggles and successes of Black people accountable. To that end, it is the obligation of these entities to protect and empower the Black communities that have made them disproportionately wealthy in ways that are measurable and transparent.
“This is not just a 24-hour initiative. We are and will be in this fight for the long haul. A plan of action will be announced.
“We are tired and can’t change things alone. In the meantime, to our Black friends and family: please take the time for you and your mental health. To our allies, the time is now to have difficult conversations with family, friends and colleagues.”
Follow @pausetheshow on twitter @theshowmustbepaused on Instagram for updates. And when you post your black square, please don’t use the hashtag #blacklivesmatter. It means people searching for valuable resources won’t be able to find what they’re looking for.
Friends, let’s make space to amplify black voices – not just today, but as a conscious effort to change the messages and the stories we hear. Let’s seek out black-owned businesses and support them; businesses in Hell’s Kitchen like Little Pie Company, Fresh From Hell, Massage Envy, and Maison 10.
Phil and I will be taking time today to work out what we can do as individuals and a business to make a difference in our community and wider world. All suggestions are welcome (and help us add to that list of businesses). Be safe.
