Day of Action

Racism and white supremacy are ever-present in our society—these issues don’t disappear when the latest news cycle fades.

But the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have compelled us as a Modern Tribe leadership team to sit with questions about systemic racism in our own organization. This, in its own right, is a form of privilege: As white men, we realize we have the luxury of choosing whether to engage with questions about race. And we’ll be the first to admit that we have blind spots.

Corporate statements about racial justice are usually hollow. At best, they confirm to employees and customers that a company’s leadership stands for equality and human rights; at worst, they seem like a cover-your-ass PR move.

But this issue is too important to sit out. It would be cowardly to let concerns about optics keep us from speaking up. The three of us are writing from our hearts to say very clearly:

Black lives matter.

White supremacy and racism are insidious diseases that spread through overt actions and microaggressions alike. We pledge moving forward to not only continue to stand against racism but to also do better at being actively anti-racist, resisting and calling out systemic racism in our own business practices. In the coming weeks, we’ll also be working with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to assess the work we’ve done to date and identify benchmarks that will hold us accountable in continuing this work moving forward.

Day Of Action

On Monday, June 14, we will be closing down Modern Tribe to take a Day of Action. For employees, this means no project work: Our team members won’t be on Slack or answering emails. This is a paid day to take action against racial injustice however they choose. For those who have been burdened by trauma and pain in light of recent events, that could mean taking the day for self-care. For those who want to step up or learn more, it could mean reading about how to dismantle white supremacy, volunteering in their local communities, or writing letters to representatives urging for anti-racist policies.

We know this statement and this Day of Action aren’t enough. But we also know it’s necessary to create space for both action and for rest. We know that being actively anti-racist doesn’t happen by accident; it can’t be an afterthought.