Our country is coming to the end of a week filled with protests ignited by the murder of George Floyd, one instance within a system of pervasive racial inequality and violence toward Black people. Because these problems are complex and important, we've taken time to consider what we specifically can do or say to affect meaningful change, especially within our sphere of influence, the US Specialty Coffee Industry.
As coffee importers, we've spent 20+ years working to help improve the lives and livelihoods of coffee growers around the world. It's past time to turn that same focus and intentionality here at home— to the institutional and social inequalities against Black people and people of color in the United States.
We explicitly support racial equality and justice and condemn violence against Black people and all people of color who are disproportionately impacted by systemic racism.
We recognize that we need to listen more than we talk.
We recognize that it is not enough for us to express support only at this moment.
For us, this is a long-term commitment to change.
You can read a statement from the North American companies of the Neumann Kaffee Gruppe here.
You can read what we are committing to here. We'll be transparent with our initiatives to do better, so please reach out to us at communications.atlas@nkg.coffee if we miss the mark.