Sew-cial Justice, George Floyd, a Pandemic, and a Baby

Dear fellow zoomers,

Today commemorates the death of George Floyd. Four years ago today, myself included, we watched breath bated, eyes fogged with tears, and in horror, as a Black man begged for his life underneath the knee of an officer. In his death, the American people voiced and echoed the pain of the Black community, and a tidal wave of social justice washed over some of the largest cities in America, "Black Lives Matter."

When I saw that video I didn't just see a Black man, I saw my father, I saw my brother, I saw my cousins. My heart ached. The state of my mental health only made more fragile by the other ways in which I had been settling into my life at the time. I had just brought my middle daughter, now 4, earth side. She was born March 6, 2020. A week before our hospital began enforcing COVID procedures. I had been working in the Marketing department of a sewing machine manufacturer at the time, and my manager had just quit, leaving our department with no leader. I cut my maternity leave short so I could return early virtually, and fill the void.

George Floyd's death touched every industry in America, and it even birthed a conversation from within the sewing industry. Problems we still see today within the creator economy had been laid out on the table in 2020. Why are Black creators not getting the same deals? Why are Black sewists not being valued? An organization founded by a group of BIPOC sewists by the name of Black Makers Matter began holding the industry accountable for their lack of effort, and as someone who now held more voice within the marketing department of one of these companies, I knew we just had to come together for change.

I started with the creator program, previously housing zero, yes, zero, Black creators, I added more than 10 experienced sewists of color as ambassadors for the brand, as part of their agreement they received brand new sewing machines, contracts that would elevate their projects, and after committing a certain amount of years to the program, it would allow them to own their machines permanently.

Social media had turned into a madhouse, brands were being torn down, responses weren't happening soon enough, and the community wanted accountability, the opposite of what our vendors wanted - silence.

We crafted a statement that was ran all the way to the top, from the president to the VP, we needed sign-off from all major leaders to share one message.

"We are a diverse, global group that has created a place where all can join and be free to express their creativity, passion, and pursue their hobbies. We stand in solidarity with our Black sewists, creators, artists, dealers, employees, partners, and supporters.

To stay silent is to stay complicit.

We will continually and actively work to create a larger community of inclusivity and diversity. #BLACKLIVESMATTER"

The post received over 900 likes and loves of support.

This was the first time in my career, that social justice had directly impacted my work.

This was the first time that I had been faced with the hard truths of corporate America.

The lack of people who looked like me.

The lack of representation in the communities that the brand curated.

The tone that racially ignorant coworkers took when faced with the challenge of fixing the mess they alone had created.

"They just don't shop with us." or "They don't come to us."

"We are all important." or "All of us matter."

Four years later, and zoomers, Black lives still matter, they will continue to matter, and as for my fighting the good fight, well that still matters and lives on too.

For Black health matters, for Black sewists matter, for Black lives matter.

For Black business, for my Black fathers, brothers, cousins, and nephews. For my Black and brown family, and our children, and our future.

For The Less Than 1% Club .

As we operate within this field I hope we continue to carry with us the ability to stay centered in our beliefs, I hope that we do not become lost on our paths, blinded by the power, money, or privilege of a position. I hope we continue to reach out our hands and to bring with us those who were not yet graced with the opportunity to sit in these boardrooms, and I hope we give ourselves the grace to continue to be 1% greater in this journey every day.

Until next time.

Signing off for the day (and the weekend.)

Claudia Shanelle L.

The Less Than 1% Club was created to bridge the gap between BIPOC marketing & business professionals and BIPOC businesses. Follow Us for the latest in the field, affirmations of your importance to this industry, and the opportunity to network with organizations that were made by people of color and with you in mind.