In the summer of 2020, the world has finally noticed a disproportionate rate at which African Americans are being killed at the hands of law enforcement. People at sThe official media are taking over this injustice and drawing attention to the suffering that has long affected the black community.

Black beauty and fashion professionals use their online platforms to share experiences of discrimination and unfair treatment in their respective industries. For fear “cancel culture, “Lots brand scrambled to assess their history for signs of engagement and make pledges to hire diversity officers and support Black voices on social media to move forward.

Now that 2020 is over, are the brands keeping their promises? We spoke with industry insiders and four Black influencers from the beauty and fashion field to examine how the company is performing, and what steps are being taken to support a fairer environment.

Since last summer, public relations consultant Keisha McCotry said she has noticed more people with the colors featured on the beauty brand’s social media pages.

“I think it’s good, but I think it’s too late,” McCotry said. “I think some of them are performative. [Brands] feel they have to do this or they will have a counterattack. “

Avon Dorsey, member of Black In Fashion Council, he said, trying to keep an eye on whether fashion brands are really trying to improve their companies.

“I’d say it’s like 50/50,” Dorsey told HuffPost. “To diversify, some brands have hired more Black models, which for the general public, we have more Black models and that’s funny. But we don’t know what’s going on at the back. “

Unequal salary is a urgent problem in this industry, color influencers are often paid less than their white counterparts.

McCotry, who has worked with influencers in the beauty PR field, said that whenever he recommended an African-American influencer for a brand, the brands would “push back” their rates – something that never happened when he advised white people.

“If two influencers say their rates are $ 5K and they have the same following, and if one is white and one is black, you will get a different response,” he told HuffPost.

To help address transparency around the salary gap, take an Instagram account Pay Gap Influencer allows influencers to share their rates anonymously and compare notes on their experience working with brands.

Taleah Griffin is a model, actor, and half of “Beauty Needs MePodcasts. Griffin is using the pandemic as an opportunity to focus his energies on developing a beauty brand that he describes as “minimal and easy”.

The brand where he works: WhoWhatWear, Pantene and Sephora

Since summer 2020, have you seen a change in the brand you work for?

Summer 2020 changes everything. The George Floyd murder happened the day after my birthday, and on Juneteenth, we launched the podcast “Beauty Needs Me.” All companies take up all the challenges and employ diversity officers. I think it’s a good time, but there is a financial aspect that is still missing. For podcasts, we get a lot of press, but no one sponsors an episode.

Does the brand immediately step out and acknowledge your race when they say they want to work with you?

Yes, [because for beauty] it’s more about skin tone. A brand is eager to show how beautiful their product is to your skin tone. Or when a brand is trying to show the efficiency of a hair product, they go for lighter skinned influencers with looser curls. When a brand tries to show that their sunscreen doesn’t look chalky on Blacks, they go for a darker complexion.

Have you seen any changes to the money offered to you?

I think there is a change. I’m negotiating my own contract right now. I am not ashamed to ask for the money I think I deserve.

Are there any changes to your followers? If so, what would the changes look like?

I gained more female followers – they started connecting with me. [Originally], more than 60% of my followers are male.

What do you think your future will be like with the company?

I find it good. I feel like manifesting a lot of positive interactions with brands that make me feel connected.

Taye Hansberry is a major figure in the beauty and fashion arena. He comes from an accomplished family that includes playwright Lorraine Hansberry and cousin Issa Rae. Based in Los Angeles, Hansberry uses its platform to empower others.

Brand category: Beauty and Fashion

The brand where he works: Oribe, Rebecca Minkoff, Marc Jacobs

What changes have you seen since summer 2020?

I reach out to a brand [and said], “I really want you guys to find some kind of budget to pay for black beauty influencers – people you don’t normally hire – and I want you to pay them the way you pay white influencers, and me including me. The brand said, “You’re right.”

We don’t know how much other people pay. You have to pay Black influencers the way you pay influencers who are not Black.

What is your suggestion for negotiating a pay rate?

You must be willing to leave the money [when you think it’s too low], the hard one. The $ 5K amount is a lot of money, but you find someone earning $ 30K for the same job. Try not to take anything and everything you receive, and make sure you are paid what you are supposed to receive. The way to find out is by talking to other people.

Are there any changes to your followers?

Right. I began to notice the change in time that people have been in the White House for the last four years. I think I realized my followers were very Caucasian when I advocated for Hillary Clinton. I started noticing a big drop at a certain point in time. I know Instagram gets rid of bots, but I notice when I talk about certain things – for example, I lost a lot of followers during BLM. There is like an 8K drop in people.

What was your most memorable moment in the last six months?

The Marc Jacobs Partnership. They were very agreeable from the start and they created IGTV called “Taye Talks with Marc Jacobs”. I really like that one. I feel like I’m being heard, and I feel like people are included who were previously excluded.

David Mansion is a new influencer who is turning his love of men’s grooming and fashion into a brand. The jet-setter has MansionSkin, “genderless skin pharmacies”, and casual wear brands Father’s Archives.

Brand category: Fashion and Make-up

The brand where he works: Burberry

Since summer 2020, have you seen a change in the brand you work for?

I’ve. I don’t have a lot of big businesses looking to partner up yet. I am more in tune with small business and Black business. I was a kid myself. I can only imagine what it would be like to start a business in a pandemic.

How would you describe your growth?

The last year was a very emotional time for everyone. I closed one door when I quit working in corporate mode and became a big entrepreneur. I still wake up every day at 6 o’clock and I am still sitting at my table. I take a break. Busyness and busyness are different because you are all that you have.

Does the brand immediately step out and acknowledge your race when they say they want to work with you?

Unfortunately not directly. I think there is a lot more opportunity for them to be more vocal than just posting, IG stories or using Black influencers.

Have you seen a change in your followers since summer 2020?

I’ve. I think a lot of people find themselves checking their phones, and it was during BLM that we started getting Instagram hashtags and widgets. People show appreciation for Black business, share stories and posts, connect with other partners. With the “Black business shopping” widget, you are in a different world. And when you use it, it’s like the Browse page for Black business.

Carleen Robinson is a Toronto-based fashion influencer who offers a passionate style that generates her partnerships and a growing following. By collaborating with other influencers, he hopes to expand his reach and share his joy.

The brand where he works: WhoWhatWear and The Nobo

Does the brand immediately step out and acknowledge your race when they say they want to work with you?

No, I never felt like someone did anything because of my race. I haven’t felt it yet, but believe me, I’ll know. I’ve never been made to feel that way, and I hope no one has ever felt that way. I am the first woman who happens to be Black. When we value everyone equally, that’s the best way to move forward.

Have you seen any changes to the money offered to you?

Being selected to be the only Canadian elected to Nobo is huge. There’s an influencer I talk to, whose name is Opal. During my collaboration [with the Nobo] negotiating, I reached out to Opal. He said, “This is how you do it, and this is what you asked for.” They paid what I asked for.

What do you think your future will be like with the brand?

My goal is to have a brand that recurs on my list, not just once. It’s important to have brands use me for spring and fall campaigns, so I feature them in the universe.