While we can look backward, we can also pause to recognize that history is happening all around us, and consider the contemporary changemakers who will soon be inscribed in the historical record.

When I wrote about Black History Month last year, I had no idea that a global pandemic would significantly change the way we live, work, care for our families, and interact with our friends and communities. I was, however, keenly aware that things needed to change for the better for Black people living in America and throughout the world. The effects of long-term institutional and individual discrimination in healthcare, education, and employment persists within our society. Yet we see the persistence and fortitude of Black artists, activists, technologists, politicians, and others to bring attention to and solve these challenges.

For example, when Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the U.S., talks about coronavirus vaccine research, he praises the work of a young Black scientist named Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett. Dr. Corbett is the National Institute of Health’s lead scientist on the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna, arguably one of the most important vaccines of our time. Not only is Dr. Corbett a tremendous role model for young Black people, motivating them to overcome challenges and realize their full potential, but her work also increases confidence in the vaccine and will hopefully improve the health outcomes of Black communities.

Dr. Corbett’s contribution to modern healthcare reminds us of the role of earlier Black inventors and scientists, such as Garrett Augustus Morgan, the African American inventor of the gas mask and the traffic signal; or Daniel Hale Williams, an American physician and founder of Provident Hospital in Chicago, who is credited with the first successful heart surgery; or more recently, Patricia Bath, an ophthalmologist and laser scientist who was an innovative research scientist and advocate for blindness prevention, treatment, and cure. Bath’s accomplishments include the invention of a new device and technique for cataract surgery known as laserphaco, and the creation of a new discipline known as “community ophthalmology.”

Today, there are many unsung heroes in our midst, and more and more we are seeing organizations and individuals who are taking action and turning it into political power.

After Lucy McBath’s son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed for listening to “loud music” while sitting in the backseat of a friend’s car at a gas station, McBath dedicated her life to preventing other families from experiencing the same pain she did. She left her 30-year career as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines to become the national spokesperson and outreach leader for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. In 2017, after the mass shooting that killed 17 high school students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, McBath knew she had to stand up and run for Congress. Since taking her oath of office, she has identified bipartisan solutions to end gun violence, uplift small businesses, protect and serve U.S. veterans, and lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs.

Stacy Abrams, an American politician, lawyer, and voting rights activist, founded Fair Fight Action to stop voter suppression in Georgia. Her efforts have been widely credited with boosting voter turnout in the state during the 2020 presidential election, where Joe Biden won the state, as well as in Georgia’s 2020-21 U.S. Senate election and special election, which gave Democrats control over the Senate.

Congresswoman McBath’s and Ms. Abrams’s contributions remind me of the fleeting successes of African American Reconstruction Era politicians. During this era, more than 1,500 African Americans served in political capacities, including five Republican Senators and the U.S. Representatives Benjamin S. Turner (R-AL), Robert DeLarge (R-SC), Josiah Walls (R-FL), Jefferson Long (R-GA), Joseph Rainey, and Robert B. Elliott (R-SC).

Hiram Revels (R-MS) was the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate. He was born free in North Carolina and attended college in Illinois. Revels worked as a preacher in the Midwest in the 1850s and as a chaplain to a Black regiment in the Union Army before going to Mississippi in 1865 to work for the Freedmen’s Bureau. Blanche Bruce, elected to the Senate in 1875 from Mississippi, had been enslaved but received some education. The background of these men was typical of the leaders that emerged during the Reconstruction.

In 1967, almost a century after Revels and Bruce served in the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction, Edward Brooke of Massachusetts became the first African American senator elected by popular vote.

History in the Making at �鶹ԭ��

The demonstrations and protests that broke out last year are built on the history of African American activism and achievement that has been essential to the success of the U.S. I am proud that �鶹ԭ�� was quick to acknowledge the grief and anger that our employees were feeling and to invest in our Black employees and the Black community. �鶹ԭ�� has introduced a so that employees can share their know-how and expertise to help solve critical business challenges for Black-owned businesses affected by social and racial injustices in the U.S. �鶹ԭ�� also launched the Spotlight Black Businesses program to assist Black-owned businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 and protests caused by social unrest.

As a society, we have made progress that will continue to be documented in our history books, but we must also continue to push for greater opportunity in all aspects of our lives. Only then will we be truly equally represented in society and will “Black History” be remembered as our shared history.

Black History Month Events at �鶹ԭ��

Throughout the month of February, �鶹ԭ�� and pro golfer Cameron Champ are teaming up to “drive change.” Each week, Champ will play in a golf tournament in support of one of the Black-owned businesses featured in the Spotlight Black Businesses initiative. If Champ’s driving distance averages 320 yards during the tournament, �鶹ԭ�� and the Cameron Champ Foundation will donate $10,000 to that week’s featured business.

On February 25, from 4:15-5:15 p.m. ET, the Annual EY-�鶹ԭ�� Black History Month Executive Roundtable will hold a “Boardroom Conversation on Inclusion.” The session will be held virtually and will cover how boards are overseeing their companies’ progress on diversity and inclusion, as well as advancing diversity inside the boardroom — what works, what doesn’t.

Judith Williams is head of People Sustainability and chief diversity and inclusion officer at �鶹ԭ�� SE.

�鶹ԭ�� and �鶹ԭ��’s newest golf ambassador, Cameron Champ, are teaming up to “drive change” on and off the golf course. Throughout the month of February, Champ will leverage his distance driving skills and network and �鶹ԭ�� will allocate branding space as part of the sponsorship to increase awareness and support for some deserving businesses.

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Black History Month

Black History Month, observed each year during the month of February, celebrates the contributions Black people have made to American history and culture and recognizes Black Americans’ struggle for equality. This federally acknowledged observance recognizes the meaningful endeavors of Black Americans and strengthens all Americans’ understanding of the contributions, complexity, and struggles Black people continue to face while shaping our nation’s history.

A Champion for Equality

, an elite player on the PGA TOUR, seeks to address the underrepresentation of Black people and people of color in the workforce and foster a culture of equality in golf and in society at large. Champ is no stranger to the challenges Black people have faced in America. His late grandfather, Mack Champ, was a phenomenal, self-taught golfer but was never able to do more than caddie because of the color of his skin. He serves as a champion for equality, diversity, and inclusion and recognizes the critical role of the private sector in influencing societal change.

Powered by �鶹ԭ��, Champ’s participation in three upcoming golf tournaments – the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Genesis Invitational, and WGC Championship – will give him the opportunity to raise money for four Black-owned businesses close to his heart. Each week Champ will play in support of one of the businesses, and if his driving distance averages 320 yards during the tournament �鶹ԭ�� will donate US$10,000 to that week’s business.

“�鶹ԭ�� proudly supports Cameron Champ’s commitment to driving equality and transforming the lives of underserved and underrepresented communities,” shares Judith Williams, head of People Sustainability, senior vice president, and chief diversity and inclusion officer at �鶹ԭ��. “Our shared values guide this collaboration and provide a channel through which �鶹ԭ�� can strengthen our commitment to social justice and our continued effort toward realizing a future where everyone is equal.”

Be sure to cheer on Cameron Champ as he “drives change” and advances equality in the golf community and beyond.

Dan Fleetwood is vice president of Global Sponsorships at �鶹ԭ��.
Janis Fratamico is global head of Brand Experience at �鶹ԭ��.

A finds a strong correlation between the number of Black-owned businesses in a region and the number of coronavirus cases per 1,000 residents. Unfortunately, this tie between Black-owned businesses and virus prevalence exacerbates direct and indirect factors that result in business hardship. This includes business closures, fewer customers, and increased likelihood and duration of social distancing.

#SpotlightBlackBusinesses

In response to this problem, �鶹ԭ�� launched the Spotlight Black Businesses program, which is designed to help move the needle in helping these businesses attract new customers. It also reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to standing against racism. The program features �鶹ԭ�� employee-nominated Black-owned businesses on our social media channels and a to foster ongoing support for struggling businesses within their respective communities.

Over the past few months, �鶹ԭ�� employees nominated more than 150 Black-owned businesses, and a sub-set of those were chosen to receive a portion of �鶹ԭ��’s advertising spend. Geotargeted advertisements for the selected businesses will run for a month and appear on various channels to spread the word and help these businesses survive and thrive.

Leon Scott, owner of Silver Legends Jewelry and Spotlight Black Business participant, shared how coronavirus has affected his business.

“O�Գ��� COVID-19 forced us to close our doors, we directed our focus to e-commerce via our website, but our bottom line has still been adversely affected, and we miss the personal interactions with our customers,” he said. “While we were closed, the civil unrest, sparked by the mistreatment of Black people, also affected our business.”

“At �鶹ԭ��, we are taking an active stand against racial inequality and supporting the livelihoods of those affected by the pandemic,” said Alicia Tillman, global chief marketing officer of �鶹ԭ��. “Through the Spotlight Black Businesses program, we have been utilizing our platforms and voice to address social injustice. We remain committed to demonstrating our support and are looking forward to the next step in the program, which further supports small, Black-owned businesses in their local communities.”

Spotlight Black Businesses empowers every consumer to be a changemaker. Businesses notice the tangible impact of our conscious buying decisions, and program participants report increased sales, in some cases even a backlog in order fulfillment due to increased traffic.

“I’m proud that �鶹ԭ�� has been able to shine a spotlight on so many amazing Black businesses and happy that we are extending our investment to include marketing and advertising,” Judith Williams, chief diversity and inclusion officer at �鶹ԭ��, said. “In doing so, we are helping these business owners lead with their strengths, generate new business, and by extension we are supporting the communities they serve.”

Join �鶹ԭ�� in taking a stand against racism and social injustice by supporting Black-owned businesses in your neighborhood. Follow the campaign at #SpotlightBlackBusinesses and visit the to learn more.

Janis Fratamico is global head of Brand Experience at �鶹ԭ��.

This mix of adversities are toxic to the success of a business, especially those that are small and generally serve a localized community.

This is why, as part of �鶹ԭ��’s commitment to fighting injustice and advancing racial equality, the company is launching a new program, Spotlight Black Businesses. It is designed to promote small Black-owned businesses — nominated by �鶹ԭ�� employees — both via social media and advertising support.

The movement for racial equality is amplified by lives recently lost at the hands of injustice, including Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, which have inspired social uprisings across the country.

“In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King urged us to pursue financial inclusion, saying, ‘The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by eliminating poverty,’” Judith Williams, chief diversity and inclusion officer of �鶹ԭ��, reflects. “Black business owners are often the bedrock of communities, and they provide a ‘ladder to success’ for others, providing benefits for generations. �鶹ԭ�� is proud to shine a light and do our small part in building a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable future.”

At a time when Black-owned small businesses are already struggling to stay afloat, they are also called upon to help fight systemic injustice. Curfews, armed presence, and protests make it more difficult for these businesses to thrive during the pandemic. �鶹ԭ�� is committed to turning the discussion about fighting injustice into action.

The is a hub to find participating businesses from all over the United States and across all industries. �鶹ԭ�� is proud to shine a light on ice cream shops, coffeehouses, bookstores, professional services, and so many more.

“At �鶹ԭ��, we believe it is our responsibility to activate resources in support of solving today’s most pressing issues,” Alicia Tillman, global chief marketing officer of �鶹ԭ��, reinforces. “Through Spotlight Black Businesses, we are honored to showcase small Black-owned business across our marketing channels and dedicate a portion of our advertising spend to help ensure they are thriving. We are committed to being part of the change and taking action to combat social and racial injustice.”

According to Dominque Landry, owner of Common Ground Management in Philadelphia, PA, “When things are going not according to plan, that’s when entrepreneurs really rise to the occasion.”

�鶹ԭ�� is helping entrepreneurs like Landry drive innovation by helping his business thrive despite the coronavirus and social injustice.

We encourage you to check out the website and follow the campaign hashtag . In this unprecedented time, we especially encourage you to use your purchasing power mindfully and choose to patronize these and other Black-owned small businesses.