What can we do? Many people of privilege (that includes me) are trying to answer that question. Because posting on social media that you support taking down systemic racism brick by brick, is just one small step, there needs to be an AND.
I have a few ideas that I think will remove a brick or two and if we all each remove a brick or two, maybe, maybe we can affect change.
- Hiring – there needs to be a concerted and sustained push to get minorities into the brewhouse. Internships, learning a trade, summer work. Use any way (government program, school program, others) that will get a representative of the community workforce.
- Incubator – opening a brewery is costly. It is a large barrier to entry. There needs to be co-brewing spaces that allow Black, Latino, Asian, Women, LGBTQ and others to enter and create their own business.
- Seeing – I dare a hot brewery that can sell their hot new IPA or pastry stout to put conditions on those sales. Maybe you have to take a tour of historic landmarks of racism AND to those people and places that are making a difference. Get people out of their comfort zone and put their eyes on a world they probably do not see.
Those are bigger plays but for the average beer consumer, you can still vote with your dollar. Buy and talk about beers from minority owned businesses. Buy and talk about any Black owned brewery in your city. In Los Angeles, Crowns and Hops are in the process of their taproom and brewery. On the flip side, any brewery that espouses hatred should not be purchased.
We need to make our corner of the world better.