Black Lives Matter, the social justice and activist movement started to defend against violence and systemic racism toward African Americans, is starting a merchandise platform to raise funds for the organization as well as showcase African American artists.
The organization’s leader, Patrisse Cullors, said the program, BLM Arts+Culture, will include e-commerce, pop-up stores and “capsule collections,” with merchandise such as shirts, tote bags, drinkware, flags and more.
Black Lives Matter launches new arts and culture platform with Emory Douglas as its first featured artist > https://t.co/FFp0AyMk8y pic.twitter.com/Nb6RpBtowo
— It's Nice That (@itsnicethat) November 5, 2018
“Black Lives Matter Arts+Culture uplifts artists who are staging cultural interventions and changing the world through their work,” Cullors told the Hollywood Reporter. “I curated this group of artists because their work is critical to transforming the way we relate to the world and to ourselves.”
All proceeds from merchandise sales go back to the organization, and Cullors said that she hopes the e-commerce site creates more exposure for the movement and add depth for what some believe to be solely a group that responds to tragedy and forms protests, as well as allow supporters to celebrate African American artists and their messages.
There are also apparel items specifically geared toward local chapters of BLM. Right now, there is only a shirt for the Atlanta chapter, but should demand pick up for merchandise, it would seem like other cities would pop up on the site.
