We are outraged and disgusted by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. We recognize that these are just the latest names in a horrifyingly long list. That these are not isolated events, but the product of a racist and unjust system. We wholeheartedly support the protesters.
We are not experts on how to solve systemic racism and police violence. But we want the shops to be safe spaces for people to talk about these issues and what we can do as individuals and as a company to work on solutions. This week we held meetings with staff at both our Oakland and Albany shops to seek their valued feedback on how Oaktown Spice Shop can be a better community member and anti-racist organization. We have work to do.
This will be an ongoing process as we figure out how best to do this.
We will also match our employees' contributions to these organizations this month.
This won't be a one-time occurrence. We are working on a plan to donate regularly to anti-racist causes in a way that is sustainable for the long-term.
As individuals and as business owners, we are recommitting ourselves to studying anti-racism, raising anti-racist children, interrogating ourselves and holding ourselves accountable for the ways in which we benefit from and contribute to systemic racism.
With gratitude for your community and support, Erica and John
In March 2020, as the county shelter in place order came down, we closed our doors to the public and shifted completely online in order to protect our staff and the community.
