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ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you this week by Vice President of Growth and Operations Isabelle Jetté, who’s excited the charitable board she serves on is welcoming two new members!
Beijing’s oppressive rules of play
Amid accusations of genocide against the Uyghur people, human rights violations in Hong Kong, and silencing Chinese tennis champion Peng Shuai – in addition to the ongoing pandemic – the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics officially kicked off today. While a handful of countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia, have levied diplomatic boycotts, this has done little to chasten China, particularly as the International Olympic Committee has allowed the Games to proceed. With much at stake, sponsors, broadcasters and athletes face increasing pressure to take a public stand – and while some Olympians considered boycotting the opening ceremony as a show of solidarity with the Uyghur, they must tread carefully, as they could face punishment for speaking publicly against the Chinese government. It’s a geopolitical powder keg, made all the more volatile by Russia’s acerbic criticism of the boycott by the U.S. and tensions in Eastern Europe. Whether you choose to watch or skip the Olympics, here are eight actions that you can take to help the Uyghurs.
The perilous trend that’s too often overlooked by the media
Many were taken aback by Whoopi Goldberg’s upsetting comments on the Holocaust, stating it was “not about race … it’s about man’s inhumanity to other man.” She quickly recognized why her comments were painful and apologized, but the misstep nevertheless made headlines. What merits greater attention from the press however is what Whoopi was reacting to – that Maus, a Pulitzer-winning novel, had been banned by a Tennessee school district. As Dave Pell aptly put it, “full blown Holocaust denial is back in vogue and related books are being banned from schools.” Efforts to ban books have grown 67% year-over-year, including many centered on LGBTQ+ and race issues (the latter driven by false rhetoric on critical race theory). More broadly, legislation to curtail human rights and freedoms, from voting rights to abortion access, have not only increased in the U.S., but they are also increasingly successful and often funded by corporations that purport being champions of these very rights and freedoms – disproportionately affecting communities of color, women, the LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized populations. As we enter an election year, and as business leaders, we can and must do more.
Neil is spot on
As the volume levels off following music icon Neil Young’s public castigation of and departure from Spotify for condoning Joe Rogan’s repeated promotion of COVID-19 misinformation on his podcast – which also inspired Joni Mitchell and others to follow suit – the platform’s executives and Rogan may be breathing easier. Their assurances that they will do better by “working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19” and “[making] sure I’ve researched these topics… [and] get people with differing opinions,” respectively, don’t measure up to other platforms’ misinformation policies and as such leave much to be desired. End Well founder and “TED Health” podcast host Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider (McP client) continues to pay close attention, as one of the 270 scientists and medical professionals whose sign-on letter to Spotify compelled Young to take action.
ON OUR RADAR
Celebrate Black History Month:
- In the spirit of this year’s Black History Month theme, “Black Health and Wellness,” Mental Health America highlights Black and African American contributions to the mental health movement, which often go overlooked.
- Resurfacing this wonderful find: Black Owned Everything, a collective marketplace founded and curated by stylist and costume designer Zerina Akers, is going strong after nearly two years. Shop now.
- For the bookworms among us, Oprah Daily (OD) has you covered with an extensive list of 125+ Black-owned bookstores you can support today and every day. If you’re looking for inspo on what to read next, OD has you covered there too – and so does the New York Public Library.
- Trying to decide what to add to your stream queue? Rotten Tomatoes recently unveiled its 2022 BHM TV and streaming calendar which it will continue to update as new titles are announced, while CNET has a curation of films and TV shows that explore the triumphs and challenges of the Black experience.
- Last but not least, please consider lending your support this month and throughout the year to charitable organizations that tirelessly promote Black rights, health, access, education, culture and community development.
Cheer:
- Kudos to the 100 CEOs who’ve pledged to hire and promote more people with disabilities as part of Disability In’s CEO Letter on Disability Inclusion. More of this, please!
- The Elevate Prize recently announced its 2021 cohort of extraordinary leaders, visionaries, and activists who are on a mission to solve some of the world’s most critical challenges –congratulations to all the winners!
- We’re thrilled to see that in New York City, employers will soon be required to provide a salary range when promoting job postings, as part of a push for pay transparency (and we’re proud to share this is already standard practice at McP, you can check out our job listings here!)
Read:
- Minh-Thu Pham, a member of Leadership Now Project, a McP client, penned a disconcerting piece that appeared in the Washington Post explaining why many immigrants across diaspora communities fell for Trump’s ‘Big Lie,’ and will again.
- How one woman is using seaweed to transform the American palate — and Maine’s oldest industry.
- Love it or hate it, The New York Times acquired Wordle this week and added it to its gaming portfolio. While it’s unclear if and when the game will be subjected to NYT’s paywall, fans still play for free (for now) and use these statistical hacks to up their game.
Watch:
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Theodor Michael Wonja, one of the last Black survivors of Nazi Germany, suffered untold indignities and atrocities in forced labor camps and throughout his life. His powerful voice lives on: "Don't give up, and defend yourself with confidence."
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Amazon Prime’s original series As We See It follows three roommates on the autism spectrum and their unique journeys toward independence and acceptance. The lead actors, who all identify as autistic, deliver beautiful, nuanced performances that will open your eyes and hearts. Please, please watch, if only to help satisfy my desire to see the second season get the green light.
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McP friendly Shruti Ganguly recently partnered with Netflix to produce a sizzle video for the launch of its new social platform, Netflix Golden, which celebrates and champions the pan-Asian diaspora. Go Shruti!
Subscribe:
Apply:
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Howard University is on the lookout for its new Center for Journalism & Democracy’s inaugural Executive Director who will work under the tutelage of Nikole Hannah-Jones. The position will be based in D.C., apply here.
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The Black Economic Alliance is actively looking for a new Head of Communications, who can be based anywhere on the East Coast. Apply here.
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Black Girls Code is searching for a Program Manager based in the Bay Area or NYC. Apply here.
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The NAACP is seeking a dynamic Internal Communications Manager with a community-centric mindset to join the team. The role will be remote; apply here.
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The Public Voices Fellowship on the Climate Crisis is now accepting applications to convene a cohort of twenty climate change thought leaders, the majority of whom will be women and people of color. Learn more and apply here.
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