Tyshaia Earnest’s Post

The opportunities for brands who know how to listen to and cater to Black audiences, in authentic ways is an opportunity that is criminally overlooked and it continues to frustrate me. Channelling the infamous Phaedra Parks read, whilst your running stressing about how to quietly roll back your DEI initiatives that target racial diversity and post George Floyd commitments and pledges plus amping all your 'all lives matter' approach to 'inclusion', you could be focusing on the mutually beneficial opportunities that come with de-colonising your approach to partnerships, being intentional about targeting specific demographics and rejecting popular and harmful monolithic stereotypes about who Black people and what we represent. Case point Bumble - a dating app that mostly caters to women. Back in 2022 they partnered with Teyana Taylor to create a series that explores Black dating experiences. This was following a survey that found 35% of respondents said they feel mainstream media doesn’t adequately represent the Black experience when it comes to love. Fast forward to 2024 and here is a collaboration with Joey Bada$$ titled a Love Letter to Black Women. It's a lesson in what magic you can create when you let your collaborators lead the way, give them the space to ideate, produce and execute, and be intentional about what a partnership needs to financially look and feel like. More please Bumble Inc.

Some Black consumers are fatigued from how companies target Black people. The outreach is usually cliche, using dated stereotypes or Black trauma (think slavery, poverty, and gang violence). This disingenuous and sometimes racist messaging can alienate Black people even more, making them less likely to engage with a brand. Our colleague Dwight Ragland, Jr. has five questions for brands to ask themselves when they create content or marketing to reach Black consumers: 1️⃣ Are we consistent? Don’t fall into the trap of creating a trending marketing campaign once and considering it done. 2️⃣ Is this authentic or appropriating? Be mindful not to lean into stereotypes or trauma to connect. Partner with Black creators or consultants (and credit them). 3️⃣ Is this really inclusive? Inclusivity is more than just making an ad with all Black people. Representation is important, but multiple races should be included. 4️⃣ Can we roll with the punches? It is important to be open to feedback in this space. You probably aren’t going to nail it out the gate, and that is OK. 5️⃣ Does our brand align with the message? Avoid sudden shifts in your brand voice or messaging. You don’t want to appear to be trying too hard. Check out Dwight’s article on the Talk Shoppe blog to read more about how brands and marketers can more genuinely appeal to Black consumers in today’s culture. https://lnkd.in/dGe2uunN #blackhistorymonth2024 #blackhistory #marketing #advertising #research #consumerinsights

Happy Tuesday, here's a little Marketing RANT: Ever noticed how rare it is to see big corporations featuring posts from Black creators and POC women in their social media asset banks/grids? It's baffling and honestly frustrating. Half the time, it's these creators who are behind some of the most innovative, engaging, and authentic content out there. Yet, when you scroll through the grids of major brands, their presence is conspicuously missing. And let's talk about body diversity—or the lack thereof. Especially in travel marketing, it's exhausting to see the same narrow representations over and over again. Thin white women on the beach should not be the only attention-grabbing content out there. Our world is beautifully diverse in every way, and our marketing should reflect that. We need to do better. Representation isn't just a buzzword; it's a necessity. If you're a brand, make sure you're not just talking about diversity but actually showcasing it. Let's amplify the voices and creativity of Black and POC women and give credit where it's due. It's time to reflect the world as it truly is—vibrant, diverse, and full of talent from all corners 🫶 #RepresentationMatters #DiversityInMarketing #SupportPOCCreatives #BodyDiversity #SocialMediaMarketing

Let's chat about a hot topic in the industry right now. The recent allegations against Cetaphil, accused of [allegedly] replicating a TikTok concept by a Black creator (@sharavinaaa) and her stepfather for their Super Bowl ad, spotlight a recurring narrative of invisibility and exploitation of black women in our industry. This incident isn't isolated; it reflects an ongoing issue of disregard and misappropriation in our industry. When content is stolen from a marginalized group, the implications are far-reaching and deeply harmful. Here are just a few ways it hurts them: 👉🏾 Loss of Income: Creators often rely on their unique content for income. When their work is taken, they lose potential earnings. 👉🏾 Erasure of Credit: Without proper acknowledgment, creators miss out on recognition that can lead to future opportunities. 👉🏾 Cultural Disrespect: Using someone's cultural expressions without understanding or respecting their background adds to the cycle of cultural appropriation. 👉🏾 Stifled Voices: Marginalized creators may feel discouraged from sharing their work, fearing it will be taken again. 👉🏾 Damaged Trust: The trust between the creative community and the industry gets broken, making collaboration harder. 👉🏾 Unfair Advantage: Those who take the content unfairly benefit from the creativity and insights of marginalized groups without doing the work. This only creates a ripple effect of black women getting pushed out of an industry that uses us as a blueprint. To address this, we must come together as a community to ensure that all creators are respected and fairly compensated for their work. At Black Women Marketers, we believe black women deserve recognition for their innovation. We are intentional in how we curate a safe space for Black women in marketing, where we champion the protection of intellectual property and advocate for rightful acknowledgment. It's about more than just giving credit; it's about fostering a culture of respect, supporting equitable practices, and amplifying diverse voices within our industry. By doing so, we can help put an end to the cycle and build a more just and inclusive marketing space. What are your thoughts? SOURCE: https://lnkd.in/gqh9TPis #BlackCreativesMatter

WHAT DOES “LISTEN TO BLACK WOMEN” MEAN TO YOU? Here’s a reflection question for you to think about and/or journal about today. If you’re feeling REALLY reflective, and can be honest about what your actions say about what “Listen To Black Women” means to you (NOT your intentions), here’s another one for ya. HOW DO YOU HONOR BLACK WOMEN BY HOW YOU LISTEN TO US? Take some time to reflect on these questions today, and remember that, “Freedom ain’t free”! Fighting for freedom ain’t free either! It costs us, as Black women, a LOT! So if you are learning from Black women online, make sure you’re not just listening to us, but you’re investing in our offerings, to go deeper in your learning (and unlearning), and you are supporting us financially. Get more uncomfortable with benefitting from the free labor of Black women every day, as if our time, labor, knowledge, expertise, and lived experiences don’t have any value. (If they didn’t, you wouldn’t keep coming back to consume our free labor on social media every day.) It’s time to do better. For all of the Black women Educators, Activists, Content Creators, Influencers, Authors, etc., you follow online, there is ALWAYS a link on our profiles for you to take that next step, from being a consumer and extractor of our labor, to actually paying us for it. Start there! Anti-racism is not a diet. It’s a lifestyle.™️ My links are also posted in the comments here. #antiracismschoolisinsession #blackhistory365 #diversityequityinclusion #dei #socialjustice #education #workculture #womenleaders #blacklinkedin

Welcome to Day 14 of Let’s Go to Mexicooo! As an online Black woman creator, I’ve seen how extractive this society is. Folks love to consume: - Our dope content - Our powerful voices - Our top tier creativity - Our community focused ideas - Our (FREE) invaluable education And yet, when it comes to contributing to our care… …the care ain’t there. Outside of my Substack community, there are less than TEN people from this platform that tangibly support my work and invest in my care on a regular basis. My own network Connections: 2500+ Followers: 4500+ That’s almost 7000 people. My “Help Robin Move to Mexico” campaign has a remaining goal of $15,000 That’s 150 people who invest $100. Does that mean that out of 7,000 connections there aren’t 150 financially resourced people who find the FREE educational content I’ve created over the past 2 years valuable enough to invest $100 to help me *check notes* continue to create forward thinking content that serves our collective wellness? *sucks teeth in fed up Black woman* This is partly my fault, I acknowledge that. This society taught me that my creative labor wasn’t valuable and, I believed that trash. Robin, why is your Substack open access? I know you did it in the spirit of ‘equity’ but baby, your BASIC needs aren’t met.  This extractive society will NEVER compensate for your work based on the value they can take from it. Know your value and REQUIRE that you’re generously paid for it. Self-worth has been an unfamiliar concept in your own life. I’m aware, love. This violent, colonized society was not built for you to thrive. You’ve been minimized at nearly every turn. I understand why you hold that belief. However, now you know. MOVE ACCORDINGLY. All that to say, I’m about to adjust the way my content is shared and consumed. Will it continue to be accessible to those who are unable to pay? ALWAYS. With that said, I’ll have it set up in a way that allows me to care for my own needs without praying that others “see my value” and “maybe” compensate me for it. I SEE MY VALUE. This wasn’t my intention when I started this post but screw it, here we are. Ways to invest in my work so that I can create content AND care for my needs: 💵 Contribute to my GFM campaign 💵 Join my Poverty Sucks Substack as a paid subscriber ($7) 💵 SHARE this post with your networks 💵 Send a “Buy Me a Coffee” ($5) And because capitalism sucks... 💵 Direct Community Care *Links are in the comments. Click MOST RECENT if you can’t see it. Don't only consume our content, contribute to our care. Let’s go to Mexico, you’ve put in the work. It’s time to rest. 🌱🇲🇽 #InvestInBlackRest ALT TEXT: A picture of a cozy backyard movie theatre with The Woman King playing on the screen. The green “hello my name is sticker” at the top right says: A Black woman who fills her own cup. Day 14 Vision - my needs are met, I can rest. Goal: $15,000. There is a QR code in the lower left corner.

Did you know the impact of representation goes far beyond what we see on the surface? Watching the Black Barbie documentary on Netflix truly opened my eyes. Barbie was more than a doll; she was a beacon of possibility for many young girls. Today, Ebony Notes aims to be the 'Black Barbie' for adult women, providing the representation, empowerment, and support we all need. Here’s why this matters: ✊🏾 Representation: Just like Barbie showed young girls they could be anything, Ebony Notes shows Black women they can achieve their dreams while prioritizing their mental health.  💪🏽 Empowerment: Our platform offers tools and resources that empower Black women to break barriers and set new standards in their personal and professional lives.  🫱🏿🫲🏼 Support: We provide a community where Black women can share experiences, offer support, and uplift each other. I recently saw a quote that solidified my Black Barbie ↔️ Ebony Notes comparison: "Black women don't often recognize that they're struggling with depression or anxiety. Instead, they think they're failing." Join us on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Download the Ebony Notes app and see how we’re making a difference. Let’s create a space where every woman feels seen, heard, and valued. Everyone tag Mattel, Inc. so I can share this collaborative idea that I have! #BlackBarbie #RepresentationMatters #EbonyNotesCo #MentalWellness #mattel #supportblackwomen

Did you know that the Black American community has a combined purchasing power of over $1.6 trillion? A core part of our 2023 strategy was strengthening the US community and understanding what they wanted from us. Rather than guess, we did what we do best and asked our stateside AMAKA Studio community. Leveraging our history of amplifying stories for Black women, by Black creators, we surveyed over 600 Black women based in the U.S. and curated an exclusive report, "Black Women in the United States," offering a profound understanding of the nuanced needs and preferences of this dynamic demographic. What's Inside: *Insights into the US Black women market and their unique needs. *Practical tips for culturally relevant marketing and communication. *Strategies to build trust and forge authentic connections. *Key takeaways for effective and diverse creator led content. In true AMAKA fashion, we’ve done all the leg work for you and we'd rather not gate-keep so we've opted to share these actionable insights for free. Let me know your thoughts and happy reading! Download the Report: https://bit.ly/3O0r0OC Beautiful report design by Sara Biatchinyi, one of our talented creators.

people of color The term is acceptable when necessary in broad references to multiple races other than white: We will hire more people of color. Nine playwrights of color collaborated on the script. Be aware, however, that many people of various races object to the term for various reasons, including that it lumps together into one monolithic group anyone who isn’t white. Be specific whenever possible by referring to, for instance, Black Americans, Chinese Americans or members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Examples: The poll found that Black and Latino Americans are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s financial impact, not people of color are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s financial impact. Most of the magazine’s readers are Black women, not most of the magazine’s readers are women of color. In some cases, other wording may be appropriate. Examples: people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds; diverse groups; various heritages; different cultures. Do not use person of color for an individual. Do not use the term Black, Indigenous and people of color, which some see as more inclusive by distinguishing the experiences of Black and Indigenous people but others see as less inclusive by diminishing the experiences of everyone else. Similarly, do not use the term Black, Asian and minority ethnic. Do not use the shorthand POC, BIPOC or BAME unless necessary in a direct quotation; when used, explain it.

"Colorism, or skin tone bias, is an insidious form of bias that impacts men and women with darker skin tones across ethnicities and races — and it’s an issue that isn’t on many leaders’ radars. An #inclusive leader managing a #diverse team must become aware of how #colorism manifests not only among employees of different identities but even among people from the same community who have different skin tones. Disrupting these biases in action could boost #inclusion profoundly." #diversityandinclusion #dei #bipoc #peopleofcolor