Lighters,
We are experiencing a collective pain that’s shouted from every street across the country. The senseless murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black and Brown Americans have forced America to reckon with its past. This outrage that we’re witnessing is justified; our Black and Brown American family has experienced systemic racism in the form of violence—deeply rooted in the very fibers of our country’s foundation. It’s festered in the form of silence from those with privilege who have actively turned a blind eye when it comes to breaking this oppressive cycle. It’s decayed and permeated into our culture, one where complacency equates to complicity.
At Very Good Light we continue to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. We are a brand that was created to fight for inclusion, advocacy and diversity. And now more than ever, we demand justice from our government and are committed to continue fighting for equity, parity, agency, and visibility for our Black and Brown communities.
Beauty has always been a powerful tool that has historically pushed culture forward. Beauty has never withered away in silence, rather, lived and breathed in utter defiance. Often countercultural, beauty has been a physical display of activism that’s challenged power and the status quo. But for centuries, the industry has silenced Black American voices and attempted to erase Black bodies so they don’t hold space. This, while profiting off of Black culture. As a beauty industry — and as a country — we need to do better and hold each other accountable.
We will continue to support our Very Good Light family, from our interns, our freelancers, readers, followers, and editors to uplift Black American voices, tell authentic stories from the community, and be as fearless as ever. We acknowledge that it’s not enough to sit idly in these times and we are committed to understanding our responsibility by reexamining our own world views, actions, and further educating ourselves. We all must do more than stand in solidarity. We must act. We must vote. We must dismantle the current system.
To our Black community: You are not alone. We see you. We hear you. We love you. Your lives matter.
David Yi, editor
Donate:
Official George Floyd Memorial
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
Free Them All for Public Health
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