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Color Of Change helps people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 7 million members, we move decision makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people, and all people. Until justice is real.

IN THE MEDIA

November 10, 2021

BIPOC or POC? Equity or Equality? The Debate Over Language on the Left.

The New York Times dives into America's evolution with language and the new terms coming into play in the movement for racial justice and gender inclusion. For those pushing for changes in society, words matter — and not just in the ways you'd think. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson explains how the way we articulate ideas helps us understand who's to blame for the current imbalances of power and where the real solutions lie. "Saying something like, 'Black people are less likely to get a loan from the bank,' instead of saying, 'Banks are less likely to give loans to Black people,' might feel like it's just me wording it differently," he explains. "But 'Black people are less likely to get a loan from the bank' makes people ask themselves, 'What's wrong with Black people? Let's get them financial literacy programs.' The other way is saying, 'What's wrong with the banks?'"

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November 5, 2021

Activists Keep Police Reform Push Despite Minneapolis Loss

A Minneapolis ballot initiative, which would have removed a requirement for a minimum number of MPD officers, was defeated when 56% voted against installing a new Department of Public Safety with a more holistic vision that relies less on cops with guns. Still many advocates in the "defund" movement see just how much progress has been made. Momentum for similar efforts continue to build in Washington D.C., Austin, and Los Angeles. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson says social movements can take years to create sweeping change, and this one has pushed a major shift in the conversation in a short time."I couldn't imagine a ballot measure like this even being on the ballot three years ago," he said. "Movements lose until they win." A Star Tribune analysis found the strongest support among younger voters, around the University of Minnesota, and near where George Floyd was killed. Opposition was strong in wealthy areas, and the city's largely Black north side, where people expressed fears about violent crime.

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November 1, 2021

Facebook Says It's Stopping Hate and Violence Against Black Americans. Its Own Research Shows Otherwise.

Black users say they got blocked on Facebook all the time, sometimes even for just discussing racism, whereas open violent threats against them go unpunished. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson says the failure to kick Trump off Facebook before the insurrection is indicative of how Facebook sweeps violent, racist threats under the table all the time. Leading up to January 6, Robinson called Mark Zuckerberg to challenge the company's decision. "Zuckerberg dismissed concerns that Trump's post would whip up vigilantism against Black community and insisted the post was staying up to warn the public of the threat of military force," according to Robinson. History, of course, has shown otherwise.

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October 31, 2021

Metaverse? These Internet Pioneers Say We're Still Learning from Web 1.0.

The world reacts to Facebook's name change to Meta, as people across the world debate the triumphs and failures in creating safeguards for emerging social media technologies, and confronting the limits of corporate greed and the blindspots of corporate culture. The company's detractors say a name change that nods toward the "metaverse" isn't enough. Critics include Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson, who told lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, that the new name is"exactly what you should name a company that needs to be broken up." Many other lawmakers and advocates are quoted as well.

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October 12, 2021

Politico's Morning Money: Police Foundations, A Corporate-Sponsored Threat to Black Lives

Politico talks about the latest report from Color of Change and watchdog group LittleSis exposing the corporations that contribute to police foundations. The report shows Bank of America, AT&T, Target, Verizon, Walmart, Starbucks, Uber, Delta Airlines, and major sports teams all give to police foundations — funneling money for special equipment and programs that target Black and Brown communities. Now Color Of Change are members are stepping up to urge companies to divest from police foundations across the country. The full report can be found at https://policefoundations.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Police-Report-2021_10_05_FINALV3.pdf

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October 7, 2021

Corporate-Backed Police Foundations Pose 'Threat to Democracy and Black Lives'

Many of the same corporations trumpeting support for Black lives are duplicitously bankrolling police violence through little-known but powerful police foundations, a new Color Of Change and LittleSis report revealed. The report highlights financial ties between police foundations and 55 Fortune 500 firms. It notes, "There is a police foundation in nearly every major American city, behind almost every police department, backed by wealthy donors and giant multinational corporations. In 2020, many police foundations' top corporate sponsors made public statements in support of Black Lives Matter while providing a corporate slush fund for police." COC President Rashad Robinson is quoted, "Only cutting ties with police foundations will show that corporate leaders are serious about protecting Black lives and bringing our police departments into the 21st century… We cannot let corporations talk about 'Black lives' on their Twitter feeds while also funding police violence on our streets."

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Strategic Initiatives

Democracy & Census

Black people have the power to shape our democracy and set the agenda when they speak up and turn out in elections. Through our Black Brunches we have brought together more than 20,000 people across 20 cities—including many new to politics. Going into 2020, we have tremendous opportunities to register new voters, protect voting rights, and make sure our communities are counted and represented in the 2020 Census. We are engaging local leaders and our 1.7M members to help set a progressive agenda around criminal justice reform and boost civic participation in Black communities.

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Winning Justice

No one holds more power in our justice system than prosecutors. They decide who to prosecute, what the charges will be, and routinely make decisions that destroy Black people's lives. We are ushering in a new era of prosecutor accountability by mobilizing Black communities across the country. Already, we've pushed prosecutors and candidates in a dozen cities make pledges to cut incarceration. We continue to build momentum to end the most unjust, destructive and racist practices in our system from money bail to over-sentencing, over-policing, and sending our children to adult prisons.

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COC Hollywood

TV and film play a profound role in shaping American culture. Yet, when it comes to representation of Black people, culture, and issues, far too much of the content Hollywood produces promotes dangerous misunderstandings that holds back racial justice in the real world. COC Hollywood is our initiative to change the rules in Hollywood by ensuring accurate, diverse, empathetic and human portrayals of Black people onscreen. We consult on film and TV projects, partner with changemakers inside the industry, work to raise standards around hiring and diversity, and elevate Black stories.

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