Open Letter To Favorite Staffing | Non-Black-Owned Businesses In KC Seeking Endorsement/Sponsorships/Alliances With Black Media

Hello Chris Brink,

First and foremost, we believe there is a mistake.

Let me state at once, this is not 1950, nor 2015, when blacks, and black businesses needed to beg, solicit and subsequently ‘bend over backward for’ or assimilate to white companies for sales.  Today in this global, inclusive, and diverse world, we need only to support those who genuinely support and understand us.

As you know, we here at Black Kansas City Magazine did not call you, nor your organization.

It was in fact you sir, who reached out to us; by messaging on LinkedIn and then, asking for a direct phone call from our Managing Partner, Kim Johnson. (July 25, 2021) On the phone call made to you by Kim, you sir had asked “…why didn’t she tell you about Black Kansas City Magazine?”, as you are seeking help with promoting your diversity and inclusion efforts.

Let me answer your question, as to why:

Please be advised, for any future contacts with black/minority media, professionals, and suppliers: as we are ‘Black’ Kansas City Magazine, we DO NOT require, and rarely solicit, corporate sponsorship from non-black businesses. And when we do, we vet them for their integrity, their true-change efforts, and overall intentions.  We DO NOT just take their money.

We (Black Kansas City Magazine formerly Minority Success); per your request and relationship with Kim, had considered endorsing Favorite Healthcare Staffing (who currently lacks the needed black/minority employment numbers required by the States in which they do business) as a ‘good place’ for Black Kansascitians to work and do business.

That being said, your lack of professionalism, reminds me of the old days of the “Minority Supplier” redlining tactics and dismissive attitudes my father and grandfather endured.  Many of which were spelled out in black and white by the recent ground-breaking KC Star apology. 

You should read it: (LINK: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article247928045.html  )

Chris, the way you personally pawned us off on your ‘black’ staff after your direct, initial phone call/inquiry, is not proper in today’s post-DEI world, it’s no longer acceptable, and it is insulting. 

We are an award-winning publishing company, not just ‘black folks’ who need to deal with your in-house black folks.  Honestly, you are the first ‘white’ business owner to do that to our company in over a decade.

But we went along with it and met with, Kristel, your ‘black female HR Director (July 29, 2021).  We had an awesome conversation.  The way she spoke, made us feel comfortable, that you sir, were truly making strides in DEI -not merely looking to check a box on a form, and so we agreed to endorse your DEI efforts and invited you to avail one of our limited corporate sponsorships (invoiced July 29/30, 2021).  We even included black/minority/DEI ad/marketing consulting and development services, which most corporate sponsors need.     

Then, nearly 2-months had passed with no replies from you.  Over 1-month and we heard nothing from your company, the invoice remained unpaid, and then the overall lack of respect for black media -and seemingly towards future black staff if we were to refer any, offended us further.

We thought, ‘…is this how they would treat a white-owned media organization?’

Let me state at once, black media in America DOES NOT need to beg, nor accept poor treatment to get white dollars any longer. 

Contrary to your beliefs (as stated or implied in Kristel’s letter), we do not need to partner with companies like Favorite -especially if we are treated as second-class media. Why would we endorse or accept sponsorship from a non-black-owned company, and help you to compete with black-owned KC healthcare companies when that company has already shown that they do not value the time, effort, and inherent opportunities of endorsement by black media?

Moving on, I was looking on LinkedIn, and what a surprise it was to find out, that Chris Brink, actually did have a DEI Director (Jeff Welch), it struck me as odd, that he never mentioned him.  So, naturally, once I learned of Jeff, the reason I contacted your DEI Director is that I was hoping that he may have shed light on the poor response from your company –remember we were considering bringing in your non-black-owned company as a corporate sponsor TO HELP YOU in your DEI efforts.

Again, because it is worth repeating, we DID NOT solicit your company.

I know, from working with over 100 DEI professionals globally, publishing more than 20 publications, in 5 countries, some specifically for the DEI industry, that his function there was to ‘diversify, include, and to ultimately add equity.’  When he showed a lackluster response to a black media endorsement and then bragged about how he “…doesn’t even know who we are…” I was completely offended and embarrassed as he represents ‘us’ within the Favorite organization.

Who we are? 

We are the first black lifestyle magazine in Kansas City history,

We ENDORSED the cities first black Mayor Clever (now Governor Cleaver),

We ENDORSED the cities first female mayor Kaye Barnes,

We featured KS Senator David Haley and The Roots Family, globally,

We hold a KC Resolution for our ‘contributions to Minority Kansas City’,

We are the first black-owned publication to hold Ingram’s Masterpiece Award,

We hold a Black Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award,

We hold the Philippines Golden Globe Award…

We have also ENDORSED The KC STAR, AT&T, GlaxoSmithKlein, UNITED Airlines, The Philippines Dept. of Tourism, Nascar, Western Union, to name a few, and most importantly,

We showcase over 1,000 black-owned KC businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals globally; including, but not limited to, black-owned healthcare companies in KC. 
(See LINK: https://blackkansascitymag.com/7-black-owned-healthcare-companies-in-kc-you-should-know)

So yes, of course, I was offended and responded accordingly.  Just as I would, with any business with poor service, tardy email responses, and ignored communications; especially, towards me -as a black man, a black business owner, and I hope your organization learns from this.

WE ARE diversity and inclusion, and we had hoped that Favorite knew that, was genuine, and did not just hire black/minority/DEI Gatekeepers who hold a position, have a title, but DO NOT educate their employers, on how to properly and professionally deal with black/minority people, groups, and organizations.  

Thank you, Chris Brink, for reaching out to us. We appreciate it.

However, at this time, after dealing with your company for nearly 60-days, we think you need much more work in the diversity, equity, and inclusion area before we could ever endorse you as a place for blacks and minorities to work and do business.  

So, NO!  We do not give our endorsement nor accept your partnership at this time; as we see you have a very long way to go in learning how to deal with the black and minority communities. 

If I was offended, we are sure our readers, job seekers, and other black-owned healthcare companies would also be offended.

Perhaps to you sir, we are just ‘black folks’ with a magazine, but the truth is we represent Black Kansas City, we are the Gate Keepers to Black Kansas City, and our contract is with Black Kansas City.

We recommend you avail of our DEI promo, and have more consulting and education in this area before you continue to offend our community. 

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The link is below:
https://blackkansascitymag.com/the-1999-black-kansas-city-diversity-inclusion-consultation-package

Good luck with your DEI efforts, Chris.

Kareem Jackson

CEO KA&CO America LLC US Executive Publisher, Black Kansas City Magazine formerly Minority Success