One of the world’s largest online retailers will not have a presence at the upcoming Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Minnesota State Capitol after all.
Amazon offered Sheletta Brundidge $10,000 to become a corporate sponsor of her third annual event, which is scheduled in the Rotunda at the Capital on February 3.
The founder and presenter of Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol, Brundidge decided that she “can’t take their money.” She declined the funding after learning that Amazon has joined a growing list of US companies that are backing away from previous commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
“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.
“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.”
In its first two years, Black Entrepreneurs Day has been a catalyst for economic empowerment. 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 from Duluth 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 hiring dedicated DEI staff to address persistent racial injustice and systemic inequalities. Many of those same companies have started to abandon 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 their previous DEI commitments.
Brundidge wants to make it clear the sponsorship money she didn’t get from Amazon will not stop any of 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 the profits from my promotions company to cover the cost. 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.”