SimplyBe. Stands with the BIPOC Community (and The Actions We Are Taking)

“White privilege is like being a fish in water. You are the fish, and the water is your privilege. You are so steeped in it, you cannot even see it.”

– Robbin Carroll

SimplyBe. had a full content calendar for the beginning of June, before Jessica cancelled everything. The only subject that needs to be addressed at this time, both through Jessica’s personal platform and that of SimplyBe., is racial justice—and injustice.

The following is an excerpt of a recent blog post on the same subject.

I recognize that as a white woman with a platform, I have an obligation to do more than simply share a podcast like this. I would like to instead use this as an opportunity to encourage action. Here are some of the steps I am taking and encourage my community to consider as well:

• I will: follow Black experts, content creators, influencers and voices. I will engage in their platforms, share their content and get involved in their work: Rachel Cargle, Xavier Ramey, Lalah Delia, Layla Saad, Mahogany Browne, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Eugene Daniels, Angel Kyodo Williams, Skill In Action, Check Your Privilege.

• I will: donate money to BIPOC organizations and encourage my white peers, colleagues and community members to donate as well. SimplyBe. has already sent donations to help protestors post bail and be released for standing up for justice, as well as to the Official George Floyd’s Memorial Fund.

• I will: get involved in BIPOC non-for-profit organizations and show up for Black people. Currently, I Grow Chicago is SimplyBe.’s official social impact partner of 2020 by helping them with their marketing and branding efforts. I Grow is an organization that supports the Englewood community through healing justice, wellness and advocacy. Learn more here.

• I will: educate myself through podcasts, essays and books. I won’t just look to social media to get my information. Books I am reading, films I am watching and podcasts I am listening to: Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, White Fragility, So You Want to Talk About Race, 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice, 13th,When They See Us, Dark Girls, I Am Not Your Negro, 1619, You Had Me at Black, While Black, Airgo Radio, Good Ancestor Podcast and Code Switch.

• I will: attend workshops, seminars and lectures to actively learn about internalized oppression, internalized whiteness and white supremacy. The entire white staff of the SimplyBe. Team has signed up for this workshop: “Dismantling Racism,” a 4-part webinar series hosted by Michelle Cassandra Johnson. We hope you join us.

• I will: look at my business through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, not only from an internal standpoint, but externally as well. I will ensure the work we create as a company, and the work we develop for our clients amplifies the voices, initiatives, talent and businesses of the BIPOC community.

• I will: ask how many people of color are being represented at any event I am asked to speak at.

• I will: use my personal platform to spotlight Black voices through my podcast, my social channels, my workshops, my blog and anywhere else I show up.

Here is one last piece of truth: talking about this topic is uncomfortable, which is precisely why I have not done so in the past. That is no longer an excuse for my complacency and my silence. Nor is the fear that as a white person I might say the wrong thing or feel awkward in saying it. We need to nonetheless embrace this work with our full dedication to doing better and being better. Not just now in this time of unrest. Not when the news cycle fades and the protests end. But forever and always. This is my commitment to the BIPOC community.

I hope you will join me.

With Humility, with Sincerity, and always, with Light,

Jessica