By CBC News
Protests against racism and in support of the black community sparked by the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis over a week ago continue across the United States and around the world.
The public outcry inspired Nike to produce a 60-second social media ad about racism, and many other major brands, including Coca-Cola, Disney, Google, McDonald’s, Netflix and Target, have also taken a stand on the issue.
Some iconic Canadian brands, including Tim Hortons, Loblaws and the big banks, have also create social media posts in support of the black community while ohers, such as Canadian Tire and London Drugs, had not as of publication.
There were more shows of support Tuesday when broadcasters and music companies supported #BlackoutTuesday, a social media time-out to protest black people dying at the hands of police.
Black Canadian entrepreneurs watching hope companies’ social media messages supporting the black community amount to more than just jumping on the Black Lives Matter bandwagon.
“I want to see what’s happening in six months, what’s happening next year, what’s happening two years from now,” said Chantal Carter, owner of the lingerie brand Love and Nudes of Brampton, Ont.
Carter said seeing Floyd’s death, captured on video, was traumatic, unbearable and made her wonder if anything will ever change.
Still, she and two other black entrepreneurs told CBC News just what companies can do to make a difference and as Carter said, “Put their money where their mouth is.”