“Corporations supporting things like BLM and Pride is largely performative and shouldn’t be overly praised or focused on. They’re just trying to do what they think will earn them money” and “Corporations openly showing support for things like BLM and Pride are incredibly important” and not mutually exclusive ideas.
Corporation support is not the source of social change, it’s the visible indication of it. A mall covered in rainbow flags with ‘pride month sales!’ is nothing that makes LGBT people more accepted, nor do tweets from companies about supporting the BLM protests do anything to stop police violence, but they DO show the shift in public mindset. Corporations don’t take risks. They don’t make bold statements that they feel are unpopular or will lose them money or support. They’re a litmus test for when a statement or symbol that has been taboo becomes a commonly held belief.
When a corporation makes these kinds of statements, it means that the people out there fighting every day for these movements are having an effect. Their fight is causing a change in social perception to the point where businesses who carefully choose every single thing they say can post about solidarity with protesters and feel confidant that they are saying something that represents the feelings and beliefs of the majority. A mall being covered in Pride flags is a sign that the country will accept a mall filled with Pride flags. That those working to make social and cultural change are succeeding.
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