A Note From Our CEO: How We Are Standing With the Latinx Community
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for celebration. Between September 15 and October 15 each year, we take time to honor the impact of the Latinx community in the United States. This year, however, I am hard pressed to celebrate. This is not because I do not admire the contributions of my fellow Hispanics. Quite the opposite; I am disappointed that these are not valued enough. And this year especially, I am heartbroken by what my community has had to face.
Covid-19 is having a disproportionate impact on Hispanics, who are experiencing 2.5 times higher rates of infection. There are many reasons for this, including long-term inequities the Latinx community has faced, but it is also because Hispanics are at the frontlines of keeping us safe and fed. Did you know that 25 percent of all healthcare workers in California are Hispanic? Or think of this: A few weeks ago when the Western skies turned dark yellow, over 650,000 Hispanic agriculture workers were in the fields ensuring we have food to eat. Yet, these stories are not being heard and these heroes are not being celebrated. Instead, we hear other stories – stories that are untrue and have as their goal to separate us. Today, at the start of this 2020 Hispanic Heritage month, I urge you to reflect and embrace how the Latinx community strengthens our country.
At IPSY, the Latinx community is part of our core. Not only am I, being born and raised in Argentina, of Hispanic heritage, but so are many others in our leadership team and in our employee base. We have been fortunate to work with leading Latinx brands—Beautyblender, Shaina B, and Shades by Shan. And we have celebrated Latinx creators, such as Angel Merino and Christen Dominique, who are at the forefront of self-expression, showcasing the unique beauty of the many cultures and races from Latin America. During this particularly tough year, we have strengthened our commitment to the Latinx community by supporting healthcare workers in the United States, 2.2 million of which are Hispanic, with a donation of 50,000 self-care packages, a $600,000 value, and support for the American Nurses Foundation.
We are also standing with the Black community, including our $5 million investment to accelerate Black-owned beauty brands along with charitable support for Race Forward, to highlight Black voices. While the inequities the Black community have faced are unique, systemic racism also impacts the Latinx community. I am hopeful and encouraged by how we have come together in this crisis and are having real dialogue, opening our hearts to one another regardless of race or country of origin. It is this interpersonal dialogue and friendship that will drive enduring change for all of us. In the words of Cesar Chavez, “If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart.” This Hispanic Heritage Month, let us go beyond celebration. Let us continue to take a stand against injustice.