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Announcements
February 10, 2021
Celebrating Black Culture and Community with Resources for Black Business Owners
Black History Month is a remembering of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora and a celebration of the culture. This year, Black History Month is more critical than ever before. While 2020 exposed many of the systemic breakdowns that disproportionately impact the Black community, these issues continue to persist.
Black-owned businesses have been facing enormous challenges during the pandemic. Facebook’s forthcoming US State of Small Business Report reveals that businesses in majority-minority neighborhoods faced poorer business outcomes, including a higher closure rate (36% versus 22%). We'll be sharing more findings from the US State of Small Business Report in partnership with the Small Business Roundtable throughout Black History Month.
We recognize the systemic constraints Black business owners face, with additional impact due to COVID-19 and will continue to do our part to accelerate equality. In June, we committed an additional $200 million to Black-owned businesses, creators and nonprofits. Since then, we’ve awarded grants to over 10,000 Black-owned businesses in the US and launched additional resources and ongoing programming.
Throughout the month of February, we’re celebrating Black communities and culture while continuing to build on earlier investments, and commit more programming, tools and resources for Black-owned business owners.
Introducing “We Create”
Launching today on Instagram for Business, We Create champions creativity and aims to provide inspiration and opportunity by bringing together small business owners and ad industry creatives. Instagram partnered with Facebook Elevate, a community and learning platform developed to accelerate the economic impact of Black and Latinx & Hispanic audiences, and creative agency The Creative Collective NYC to bring together 15 Black-owned businesses and 15 top Black creatives to make custom Instagram content that addressed the business’ unique needs.
The creatives and small businesses received resources and support throughout their creative journey including office hours with the Instagram Creative Shop team and ad credits, accompanied by a session with Elevate mentors for the small businesses to set up an effective campaign. Check out this best-in-class creative work and watch the video below to get inspired.
Sharing Resources
Franco Égalité, known as “Francorama,” an illustrator and artist from Montreal, Canada designed the cover art for a guide for businesses that highlights history, resources and recommendations on how we can all activate support for the Black community.
Within the guide, you’ll see a Black-owned business GIPHY sticker pack, developed in partnership with five Black artists. These stickers are meant to be used on Instagram to empower people to celebrate the Black community and Black-owned businesses before, during and after Black History Month.
Celebrating Generation Black
Facebook Elevate is celebrating Black History Month with Generation Black. #GenBlack acknowledges that each generation builds upon the momentum and inspiration of the past to continue paving the way for those to come.
All month long, Elevate will host online events, like weekly Q&As with Black creators, including fashion stylist Kelly Augustine and multidisciplinary artist Temi Coker, and link the past to the present via spotlights on Black-owned businesses, like the distillery Uncle Nearest. Learn more about Elevate’s Black History Month programming.
Connecting Communities
Designed for Black-owned business owners, Boost with Facebook’s Community Conversations willbring entrepreneurs and business owners together to connect with their communities, discuss challenges in a digital era and explore new ways to grow. Join us February 23rd at 12PM PT to celebrate the resilience of Black small businesses through shared stories, resources and ideas on how to carry on in the face of world-altering events and everyday problems that beset all small businesses. Register now.
We’re honored to participate in this celebration and remain steadfast about ensuring that we stay committed to supporting the Black Community not only during Black History month, but beyond. You can learn more about our Black History Month content and programming on our Business Equality page.
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