Beyoncé Launches New Foundation for Black Owned Businesses

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Beyoncé

Beyoncé has just started a brand new foundation. Its goal is to support black-owned businesses in this time of economic crisis. The foundation, named “BeyGOOD” will give grants to Black-owned Businesses ina an attempt to support them until after the pandemic. She has started this fund with the help of the NAACP and will be able to give grants of up to $10,000 to business owners in select cities. In April 2020, the global superstar donated six million dollars to coronavirus relief efforts and it seems she has more plans to give back.

BeyGOOD

These grantees are to be notified by July 31st on whether or not they are receiving money. To qualify, they must be a black small business owner living in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, or Atlanta and they must be able to provide a property damage estimate. The fund was created because government relief programs often leave out black and latinx business owners. The CARES Act was passed to prioritize small businesses for government loans. Though it seems that the act is not working as only 12% of black and latinx business owners receive aid from the CARES act. In fact, prominent donors to the Trump organization seemed to be prioritized as YEEZY a company owner by Kanye West, received $2 million from this program.

Beyoncé has been very active in terms of advocating for African-Americans as well as fighting oppression. She released a song entitled “Black Parade” in support of black people fighting police brutality. She urged her followers to sign petitions calling for the arrest of George Floyd’s murderers. Additionally, she directed her followers to a website with a curated list of black-owned businesses to support.

For the Future

The superstar will be remembered long after she retires for not only her music but her advocacy. She has a visual album to be released on the 31st of July. On Instagram, she explained how much her work means to her and what she wants it to represent. She wrote: “With this visual album I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy.” It is clear that she not only wants to affect the world now but to change it for the better. Although it is true that she is known as a music artist and not a politician or activist, she uses her station and fanbase to advocate for change.

It seems as though Beyoncé has seen how fortunate her position is and how she can use that position to help better the world. She is using BeyGOOD to give back to African-American people as many are far less fortunate than she is. By using her position to give back she alters the world and makes a difference in the grand scheme of things. Who’s to know how great she can change the world.

Written by Joseph Nelson

Edited by Sheena Robertson

Sources:

NME: Beyoncé launches grants for Black-owned businesses with BeyGOOD foundation

Al Día: Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD foundation announces Black-owned Small Business Impact Fund

Revolt: Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD and NAACP launch grant campaign for Black-owned businesses

Image Courtesy of Ronald Woan’s Flickr Page –  Creative Commons License

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