The founder and presenter of Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol has decided to declined a $10,000 corporate sponsorship offer from Amazon due to its reversal of its diversity, inclusion and equity (DEI) initiatives.
When Sheletta Brundidge learned that Amazon had joined a growing list of US companies that are backing away from previous DEI programs, she backed away from the funding offered by one of the world’s largest online retailers.
“I’m not going to be used and I’m not selling my people out,” said Brundidge, an
Emmy award winning broadcaster, activist and founder of the
ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com platform.
The third annual Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Minnesota State Capitol will be staged on February 3.
“These companies can’t roll back their DEI programs then think we are going to
roll over and let them speak at our events and address our people, not for
$10,000 or even $100,000,” said Brundidge.
In its first two years, Black Entrepreneurs Day has been a catalyst for economic
empowerment. Under Brundidge’s guidance, it has built a winning track record for bringing Minnesota’s Black business owners and their allies to the Capitol; they meet and build relationships with elected leaders and state policy makers and network with one another.
Hundreds of these entrepreneurs have introduced themselves to their legislators
and learned how to effectively get resources for their companies.
The $10,000 in sponsorship funds that Brundidge is turning down would have
defrayed her costs for producing the event. Brundidge pointed to expenses for
marketing, extra security and staff, the luncheon so that Black entrepreneurs and lawmakers can dine together, a free shuttle for Black business owners in fromDuluth and Rochester and her promise to give a $5,000 grant to one
entrepreneur in attendance.
“I’ve been working an entire year to get this deal with Amazon. I invited them last year, and they saw how successful it was. I’ve been going to meetings,
explaining the value of partnering with me to host this event, working with them
on other projects. It wasn’t easy to get this money or give it back,” Brundidge
said. “I was excited that one of the largest companies in the world was willing to
work with me. That was a big flex.”
Following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, many companies pledged to
implement DEI initiatives and to hiring dedicated DEI staff to address persistent
racial injustice and systemic inequalities. Many of those same companies have
now abandoned those measures, which have come under attack from
conservative activists and the Trump administration.
Amazon has said it is halting some diversity and inclusion initiatives and scaling
back others.
In an internal staff memo obtained by CNBC, Amazon’s VP of inclusive
experiences and technology said the company was in the process of “winding
down outdated programs and materials” related to its DEI initiatives. Statements
pledging to commit to “equity for Black people” and “LGBTQ+ rights” have been
removed from Amazon’s website.
Recently Target joined other big names like Walmart, Meta, McDonald’s, Ford,
John Deere and Lowe’s in rolling back previous DEI commitments.
Brundidge wanted to make it clear the sponsorship money she didn’t get from
Amazon will not stop her plans for Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol.
“I know God is not going to leave me high and dry,” Brundidge said. “I’m a woman of faith so I believe He’ll provide me with everything that I need for the event to be successful.
“I only have a few days to find another sponsor. If nobody steps up, I will use profits from my company to cover costs. ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com stands for empowering and promoting Black people, and if Amazon, or anybody who wants to do business with me, can’t do that, they can’t partner with me.”