McDonald’s has changed its Twitter display name to “Amplifying Black Voices,” adding a profile banner that lists Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd as victims of “racism” and “systemic oppression.”
The brand’s Twitter banner reads:
Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Alton Sterling. Botham Jean. Atatiana Jefferson. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd.
He was one of us. She was one of us. They were all one of us. We seem them in our customers. We see them in our crew members. We see them in our franchisees. And this is why the entire McDonald’s family grieves. It’s why we stand for them and any other victims of systemic oppression and violence. Today with stand with Black communities across America. Which is why we’re donating to the National Urban League and the NAACP. We do not tolerate inequity, injustice, or racism.
“Black trans women have a very simple message: stop killing us,” the international corporation relayed in a video created by Imara Jones, a fellow of George Soros’s Open Society Foundations.
“Black trans women have a very simple message: stop killing us” – @imarajoneshttps://t.co/KLsZbLzH7i pic.twitter.com/F7IGLPlAK4
— Amplifying Black Voices (@McDonalds) June 29, 2020
McDonald’s shared a quote asking about the volume of “black storytelling” in video games.
“I encourage kids to protest like me and to use their voices to stop racism” – @wyntaamor1213https://t.co/Pg6AfiFbCv pic.twitter.com/sslojIvYp8
— Amplifying Black Voices (@McDonalds) June 29, 2020
“When I think of Black art, there’s a certain texture of expression” – @thisismarkc https://t.co/vCe2TMeLNi pic.twitter.com/kLvjB4qMzd
— Amplifying Black Voices (@McDonalds) June 29, 2020
“Anti-racist research” is needed to examine “racist policy,” according to a quote shared by the brand.
“There’s not enough anti-racist research figuring out what’s wrong with racist policy” – @DrIbram https://t.co/4tEX0Mr6fM pic.twitter.com/nAefAc7QGr
— Amplifying Black Voices (@McDonalds) June 28, 2020
McDonald’s aligned itself with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s allegation that a “noose” had been placed in his garage.
#IStandWithBubba https://t.co/lgm8wcoxEx
— Amplifying Black Voices (@McDonalds) June 22, 2020
“You’re not going to stop hearing about the Black driver for years” – @BubbaWallace https://t.co/GrHdDykrIP pic.twitter.com/bxdVf2MlKB
— Amplifying Black Voices (@McDonalds) June 28, 2020
McDonald’s also shared its political messaging via Instagram and Facebook — though it has not changed the display names on those accounts. It has not yet posted any BLM-related content on its Pinterest page.
Weeks ago, the company announced its intent to donate $1 million to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Urban League.
McDonald’s launched a “Black and Positively Golden” section on its website, including a related Instagram account, described by the restaurant chain as “a new movement to uplift communities through education, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. It tells stories of truth, power, and pride, and focuses on the people and places that are the greatest expression of Black excellence.”
On the “Global Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement” of its website, McDonald’s describes itself as “committed to diversity.”
Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter @rkraychik.
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