In recent weeks, we’ve seen support for the Black Lives Matter movement like never before and today (June 11), Stormzy has pledged £10 million over 10 years to support organisations, charities and movements that are committed to fighting racial inequality, justice reform and black empowerment within the UK.
With the support of the #Merky brand, Stormzy will remain devoted to supporting worthy causes that will improve and safeguard the lives of those within the black community.
In a statement released earlier today, Stormzy said: “The uncomfortable truth that our country continuously fails to recognise and admit, is that black people in the UK have been at a constant disadvantage in every aspect of life – simply due to the colour of our skin.”
He continued: “I’m lucky enough to be in the position I’m in and I’ve heard people often dismiss the idea of racism existing in Britain by saying ‘if the country’s so racist how have you become a success?!’ and I reject that with this: I am not the UK’s shining example of what supposedly happens when a black person works hard. There are millions of us. We are not far and few.
“We have to fight against the odds of a racist system stacked against us and designed for us to fail from before we are even born. Black people have been playing on an uneven field for far too long and this pledge is a continuation in the fight to finally try and even it.”
As Stormzy and the #Merky team will be releasing further information in due course, they’re also calling on others to join them in both pledging and committing to a lifetime of wholeheartedly backing these causes.