I’ve sat at the table at these galas, eating haute cuisine, listening to speeches that praise Black excellence, only to step outside and face the same systemic racism that brought us here in the first place. Let me ask you: How is my plate of gourmet food going to change the fact that when I walk into a bank, I'm still treated with suspicion?
It’s easy to dress up and attend events, but let’s get real: systemic oppression doesn’t care about how many awards we hand out. The same institutions sponsoring these Black excellence celebrations — like that certain bank — are the ones laced with anti-Black policies from the security guard all the way to the small business advisor. So what’s the point of these events? To make us feel good? To offer the illusion of progress? Because when the system is still thriving, these celebrations feel hollow.
Celebration or Performative Allyship?
Yes, it's good to recognize Black excellence, but let's not pretend that's where the fight for equity ends. It’s disheartening to see the amount of money poured into events, galas, and conferences, while organizations fighting for systemic change are left with scraps — like that $5,000 grant to tackle racism. Is that really how much dismantling centuries of oppression is worth?
Here’s the truth: systemic racism wasn’t built overnight, and it didn’t come cheap. Billions of dollars were made on the backs of non-white communities, and the impacts run deep. So why are we being given pocket change to fix a system that was built to keep us down? These $5,000 "gestures" are nothing but performative allyship, designed to make those in power feel good without actually committing to change.
It’s not lost on me that the corporations and institutions throwing money at these events often have no intention of changing the policies and practices that perpetuate racial inequality. They’ll sponsor a table at a Black excellence gala but won’t overhaul their racist lending policies. They’ll show up at events with their logo proudly displayed, but when it comes to dismantling the systems they benefit from? Silence.
Let’s be real: It costs a lot more than $5,000 to tackle centuries of systemic racism. So why is it that the very structures built to oppress us receive more investment than the initiatives meant to dismantle them? The money spent on one night of celebrating Black excellence could be redirected into community-led initiatives that challenge these systems daily. But instead, we’re fed gourmet meals while the real solutions remain underfunded and out of reach.
Who Is This Really For?
At some point, we have to ask: Who are these celebrations really for? Are they for the Black community, or are they for the corporations who want to be seen as allies? It feels like these events serve more to boost the image of the sponsors than to address the systemic issues we face. It’s all too easy for these corporations to fund a one-night event, make a flashy donation, and then wash their hands of responsibility.
They get to feel good, and we get… what? A night of recognition? A seat at the table for a few hours? It’s performative. And worse, it’s distracting us from the bigger picture. Recognition is great, but if we’re not working to change the systems that keep us oppressed, then we’re just spinning our wheels.
Stop the Token Gestures: We Need Real Investment
It’s time for us to demand more. $5,000 won’t even scratch the surface of the work that needs to be done to dismantle systemic racism. If these corporations and institutions were serious about creating change, they would invest in real, long-term solutions. They’d fund Black-led organizations year-round. They’d overhaul the discriminatory policies embedded in their systems. They’d stop pretending that token gestures like sponsoring a gala are enough.
Because here’s the truth: if the investment doesn’t match the problem, then stop pretending you're helping. We’re not asking for recognition anymore; we’re asking for real support, real money, real change. If you’re serious about tackling systemic racism, then put your money where your mouth is.
So, to all the corporations sponsoring these events: We see you. We see the logos on the banners, the photo ops, and the donations that barely make a dent. But what we really want is for you to change the systems that oppress us. Stop hiding behind PR stunts and start investing in real, systemic change. Black excellence is worth celebrating, but until we start tearing down the systems of oppression, these celebrations will continue to ring hollow. Let’s stop accepting crumbs and start demanding the full meal.
コメント