THE LIVES OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE MATTER.
We stand with the Black community.
You matter. Your lives matter.
We hear you, we see you.
In support of the fight for social justice and equal rights for the Black community, AEO and the AEO Foundation are proud to pledge $500,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice, seeking criminal justice reform, voting rights access, education equity, and an end to systemic bias and racism.
In addition to this pledge, AEO will match associates who also choose to donate, up to $100,000.
Below, we have shared a list of resources, curated by our own associates, that highlights the voices and work of activists, leaders, artists and creatives. Please use this to help educate, inspire and empower.
The more we understand systemic racism the more we can take action.
Not just in this moment. Always.
Sign the below petitions at Change.org:
Raise the Degree
Hands Up Act
George Floyd
Breonna Taylor
Ahmaud Arbery
Send a message to your congressional representative
VOTE!
@rachel.cargle
@laylafsaad
@moemotivate
@taranajaneen
@ibramxk
@iamrachelricketts
@privtoprog
@elainewelteroth
@tamikadmallory
@osopepatrisse
@mspackyetti
@museummammy
@myishathill
@sarahsophief
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race
by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The New Jim Crow
by Michelle Alexander
Me and White Supremacy
by Layla F. Saad
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
How to Be an Antiracist
by Ibram X. Kendi
Well-Read Black Girl
by Glory Edim
Redefining Realness
by Janet Mock
Black Feminist Thought
by Patricia Hill Collins
So You Want to Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility
by Robin DiAngelo
Fruitvale Station | Ryan Coogler
American Son | Kenny Leon
13th | Ava DuVernay
Dear White People | Justin Simien
When They See Us | Ava DuVernay
If Beale Street Could Talk | Barry Jenkins
The Hate You Give | George Tillman Jr.
Clemency | Chinonye Chukwu
Just Mercy | Destin Daniel Cretton
I Am Not Your Negro | Raoul Peck
1619 (New York Times)
Hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones
About Race
Hosted by Anna Holmes, Baratunde Thurston, Raquel Cepeda and Tanner Colby
Code Switch (NPR)
Hosted by Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby
The Diversity Gap
Hosted by Bethaney Wilkinson
Intersectionality Matters!
Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
Hosted by Chevon Drew and Hiba Elyass
Pod For The Cause
Hosted by Ashley Allison
Pod Save The People
Hosted by DeRay Mckesson
We have always considered ourselves REAL.
And by REAL we mean we know there’s still a lot to learn and a lot of work to do.
We are having open, raw, honest conversations with our leadership and associates about systemic bias, racism and racial violence so we can further reflect and learn more about what changes we can make as a brand.
Not just in this moment. Always.
We know nothing will be enough until there is REAL change in our world and that starts from looking within ourselves and our brand. Together we stand with the Black community and pledge our dedication to the fight against systemic racism.
Not just in this moment. Always.
wow, thank you for this. I know we have a long way to go, but it is encouraging to see big name retailers like aerie, who have a large platform, speak out against racism and provide these resources. I have gotten more conscious about where I shop bc I do not want to support stores (big or small) that I find unethical or that do not even try to be ethical at all. I hope aerie continues to speak out against injustice and continues to search for solid (not performative) ways to be a force for good in this world.
– S
I want to know what Aerie has done/will do to ensure that Black women will never be wrongly accused of shoplifting, which has happened at Victoria's Secret. Even if it is not the usual store atmosphere, I feel that without training and consequences, it could still happen at any store, like the discrimination that has occurred at Starbucks, which caused them to hold a nationwide training day. I would love to see ongoing team training about different kinds of discrimination, or, framed differently, training in acceptance and equitable thinking.
This is something that I think Aerie could be a leader in. Aerie (more so even than AE, the parent brand) has always expressed an atmosphere of acceptance, appreciation of diversity, and a love of all women.
Thank you Aerie for taking action and standing with us.
Thank you so much for this !!! American Eagle and Arie are my favorite places to shop….BUT….now you have taken a very real meaningful step outside your store to share how your company really feels about what is happening in the world and I applaud you for that !! I have not seen this happen before in the world retail but I always knew you are GOOD PEOPLE. Thank you so very much !!!
Thank YOU for sharing the love, Leslie! We appreciate you being so #AerieREAL!
Thank you for always being so wonderful and supporting great causes. This is going to be what affects lasting change in the hearts and minds of the world. We are on the precipice of a great awakening and shift in consciousness. Through all this pain and suffering, something extraordinary and beautiful is being brought to light. American Eagle is a company with a heart and a conscience and I support your amazing efforts so again, thank you.
This is beautiful! I’d love to hear more about what initiatives are being taken right now to hear your black employees workplace struggles, and how you are minimizing the effects of systemic racism for your workers in their place of work.
Thank you for speaking up about this! A lot of stores said they’re going to make the proper changes necessary to hire more people of color and support organizations that supports the black community. As a black woman, I have been a victim to racial injustice and been called the “N”word more times than I’d like to admit. We can’t heal from our old traumas because new ones resurface daily. It’s not normal to continuously see black people getting killed or mistreated on TV and social media. I’ve been a fan of you guys for a few years now and it’s going to stay that way. I truly hope things change for the better in this country, so that my 2.5 year old son doesn’t become a statistic. If I have to endure hatred/racism so that he doesn’t have to, I’ll do it over and over again! Be safe, everyone!
One love❤️