Jay-Z and Roc Nation have been using their voices to promote Black-owned businesses, from restaurants to clothing brands. The rapper and agency have bought out several ad pages in newspapers to fill it with a list of Black-owned businesses to support.
To help push the Black Lives Matter movement, they have taken over ads in newspapers like The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post and several more.
The ad included a powerful message in bold letters that read “Power is in Black voices. Power is in Black actions. Power is in Black wallets.” Just below that was a list of local Black-owned businesses provided by Roc Nation and suggested by The Washington Informer.
“Historically, Black people have been murdered for owning, thriving and being successful,” the ad also read. “To that, we say never again. Roc Nation is committed to supporting Black entrepreneurs, their dreams, and companies. We challenge everyone to do the same.”
This idea took into place back in June when the ad appeared in a newspaper dedicated to George Floyd. It showcased a quote from Martin Luther King Jr, which expresses a Black man standing up for justice. At the bottom, it showed a list of signatures from Jay, Roc Nation and several lawyers.
“Only way we can really achieve freedom is to somehow hunker the fear of death. But if a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live,” the message reads. “Deep down in our nonviolent creed is the conviction — that there are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so eternally true, that they are worth dying for.”
If you happen to come across these ads, make sure to check out the local Black-owned businesses to help support.
