06/11/2020

Why Your #BlackLivesMatter Response Falls Short

Many are issuing statements - few are creating plans for change

Amid mass public outrage over police brutality and ongoing violence toward Black people, many companies are rushing to extend messages of solidarity, eagerly proclaiming that Black Lives Matter. But in many cases, these messages fail to translate into a strategy.  

Black lives matter and have always mattered. But while Black culture is openly celebrated in American society, Black lives and black voices are not given the same consideration. This extends to the corporate world, where black professionals are often unseen, unheard and underrepresented. 

As two black women—a British expat and an American, both members of the venture capital community—we know we are among the least represented groups of the financial services ecosystem. According to data collected by Richard Kerby, a partner at Equal Ventures, 81 percent of VC firms do not have a single black investor. While black men represent 2 percent of VC firms, black women do not even rank a single percentage point, according to data gathered by The Information. Forget about finding data on black professionals in VC operations roles, like ourselves. As two black women leading marketing at an early stage venture capital firm, we are an anomaly. But at this moment in time, our voices are a small but powerful force for real transformation in the industry.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.