Last week, in the wake of the shocking events at the United States Capitol, renowned ice cream makers Ben & Jerry’s made a powerful statement denouncing white supremacy. As our nation witnesses Donald Trump’s departure from the White House and President Joe Biden’s inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, we find ourselves at a critical juncture in history.
The question is, will America come together and address the grave issues of the deadly virus and systemic racism? Or will we continue to turn a blind eye?
Although Ben & Jerry’s is, at its core, just an ice cream manufacturer, the company has always distinguished itself from its competition by advocating strongly for social justice causes. A new message has emerged from the company: it is time for white people to step up and dismantle white supremacy.
In a powerful statement released on January 11, 2021, Ben & Jerry’s declared, “The events of January 6, 2021, were not a protest—it was a riot to uphold white supremacy. It was allowed to happen. The mostly white insurrectionists roamed freely and without consequence through the heart of our democracy. The only explanation is that this was allowed to happen because they were white—not Black, Brown, or Indigenous people.”
The siege on the Capitol, which resulted in a mostly white mob storming the dais of the US House of Representatives and the Senate, seizing the very same chair that had been occupied by the Vice President just minutes before, is a stark illustration of white privilege at its worst. January 6 revealed two Americas: one where the record voter turnout, driven by Black voters, led to the election of the first Black and first Jewish senators from Georgia—a testament to the best of our democracy. And the other, a mostly white mob, incited by the President, violently attempting to overturn a free and fair election. This failed coup has put our democracy at risk. Both these Americas are a part of us. Black and Brown communities have long been aware of this dichotomy, experiencing the white tyranny that was so clearly on display that day, and throughout our nation’s history. It is the double standard that underpins white supremacy in our country.
These two Americas represent our collective identity, and the way we respond to the events of January 6 will determine which America we become. Ben & Jerry’s calls for action: “Resign, impeach, 25th Amendment… not one more day.”
With the ushering in of President Biden’s administration, Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, calls for a deeper examination of criminal justice reform. Greenfield emphasizes the need for police accountability, stating, “I think we need to start with accountability for police. You know, there are essential functions that police perform, and that is a wonderful thing. But, there are often times when police are not operating at their best, let’s say it that way. And quite simply, there is no accountability for police. We’re not going to have trust between communities and police until the police start having some accountability. Yet, for police, there is a legal doctrine called qualified immunity, which essentially shields them from accountability.”
Now, more than ever, we must reflect upon Ben & Jerry’s call to action. As white individuals, we have a responsibility to confront and dismantle white supremacy, to stand against racial injustice, and to work towards a society where accountability and equality are fundamental principles. What are your thoughts on Ben & Jerry’s courageous stand against white supremacy?
