Aurora James of Brother Vellies Calls on Retailers to Support Black-Owned Businesses
Including Home Depot, Whole Foods and more.
Aurora James, founder of Brooklyn-based shoe and accessories brand Brother Vellies, has issued a call for major corporations including Whole Foods, Home Depot and Barnes and Noble to commit to buying 15 percent of their products from Black-owned businesses.
Adding to an outpour of support for the Black community following the death of George Floyd, yet another victim of racially motivated police brutality, James took to Instagram with a pointed post tagging Target, Walmart, Med Men, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-a-Porter and Sephora. “So many of your businesses are built on Black spending power. So many of your stores are set up in Black communities,” James wrote. “So many of your sponsored posts are seen on Black feeds. This is the least you can do for us. We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space.”
James acknowledged the magnitude of her request and pointed out that, if these companies were to commit, they could drive massive change:
“Whole Foods if you were to sign on to this pledge, it could immediately drive much needed support to Black farmers. Banks will be forced to take them seriously because they will be walking in with major purchase orders from Whole Foods. Investors for the very first time will start actively seeking them out. Small businesses can turn into bigger ones. Real investment will start happening in Black businesses which will subsequently be paid forward into our Black communities.”
Highlighting the unfair pressure on the Black community to educate others during this time, James added a comment to her post reading, “And yet again this is information and education brought to you free of charge. You’re welcome.”
Take a look at James’ call to action below.
