I know I’m not the only one who is on an emotional roller coaster right now. Everything seems to be on fire with no real end in sight.

It’s hard to know how to build your brand and business while we seem to be fighting two catastrophic series of events — the COVID-19 pandemic AND the sociopolitical consequences of racism, injustice and oppression.

I had to take a beat myself from releasing new (pre-recorded) Shontavia Show episodes, because going on with business as usual just didn’t seem like the right thing to do. 

As I posted on Twitter, it has felt like anything I do as li’l ole me is inadequate.

So, now what?

What I’ve been doing is brainstorming how I can actually make a difference within my zone of influence.

One of the things I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future is dedicating the Shontavia Show to telling the stories of entrepreneurs who are committed to social justice, no matter what their businesses are.

I’ve noticed over these past few weeks that many businesses have been afraid to speak out, for fear of getting it wrong, OR they are stuck in the loop of performative allyship.

I’m not sure which is worse, but I know those who have merely posted #BlackLivesMatter, without owning their past screw ups or how they will address them moving forward, have been particularly frustrating.

There are a few getting it right too–from all kinds of business lanes.

Like BabyNames.com

And Ben & Jerry’s.

I want to find, highlight, and amplify more businesses like BabyNames.com and Ben & Jerry’s, who are willing to take a stand for social justice.

In this episode of The Shontavia Show, I talk about my own experience these past few weeks. I also outline some suggestions for those who want to balance doing business with publicly committing to social justice and allyship.

For more, check out the full episode below, via video or audio podcast.

Show Summary

• 01:29 How the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others have impacted me and my family
• 03:30 Racism is alive and well…even in my diverse neighborhood
• 05:53 Why we can’t just continue with business as usual
• 08:05 How the Shontavia Show will shift in response to the current social unrest
• 09:59 The history of Black American entrepreneurs (like Thomas Jennings) supporting social causes
• 12:57 How businesses can navigate during this time
• 19:50 One thing black entrepreneurs should be doing right now
• 23:59 How Madam CJ Walker, one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs, connected her business to social justice in the late 1800s and early 1900s

Show Notes

Interview between Karen Hunter and Shontavia Johnson, Black Folks Had Patents in the 1800s: https://youtu.be/fnyTEU-pWT0?t=10

Bethany Biron, The CEO of Black influencer marketing agency Shade (Jacques Bastien) shares tips for how companies can be better allies — and avoid getting ridiculed on social media: https://www.businessinsider.com/shade-ceo-tips-for-how-brands-can-support-black-americans-2020-6

Jennifer Ortakales, 5 steps to navigate brand messaging in a time of civil unrest so you don’t lose customer trust: https://www.businessinsider.com/5-steps-brands-take-social-media-acknowledge-race-injustice-2020-6