Racial Equity and Justice Initiative

We continue to be reminded that certain uncomfortable truths about our society are ignored, silenced, and sidelined. Comfort can no longer come at the expense of change for communities of color.

As global leaders in technology and business, we have an urgent responsibility to dismantle systemic racism and grow opportunities for people confronting it every day.

Our Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) is a long-term effort to help ensure more positive outcomes for communities of color, particularly for the Black community. We’re beginning with a $100 million commitment. And our commitment will endure until there is enduring change.

REJI Focus Areas

  • Education Greater access to knowledge opens doors.
  • Criminal Justice Reform Liberty and justice. For all.
  • Economic Equality Stronger businesses, thriving communities.

Inequality can’t be ignored. We’re committed to helping create the positive outcomes communities of color deserve.

Lisa Jackson
Vice President, Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives

Education

Equitable access to learning, regardless of skin color or zip code.

The Community Education Initiative delivers coding, creativity, and opportunities to schools across the country.

Minority-serving institutions continue to have our undivided attention.

For too long, many people of color have faced unfair obstacles to advancing their education. Minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), are critical leaders in righting this historical wrong. To honor their continued leadership, Apple is partnering with numerous HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs across the country while also offering support to community colleges and public schools in underserved communities.

One-of-a-kind learning hub at the state-of-the-art Propel Center.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are pillars of excellence in the Black community. To continue supporting these communities, Apple has partnered with Southern Company, Ed Farm, and other community stakeholders to help launch the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub. The center is designed to support the next generation of diverse leaders by providing innovative curricula, technology support, career opportunities, and fellowship programs. In addition, Apple is establishing two innovation grants to support HBCU engineering programs, creating a Faculty Fellows Program for HBCU educators, and offering 100 scholarships to students from underrepresented communities.

Learn more

The Apple Developer Academy engineers opportunities for Detroit’s entrepreneurs.

Detroit engineered automotive history, and a growing class of entrepreneurs are engineering the city’s digital destiny. When it launches in late 2021, the Apple Developer Academy will provide Black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders of all experience levels across Detroit with a new place to hone their skills and their iOS apps. A collaboration with Michigan State University, the academy is expected to reach nearly 1,000 students each year with both short-term and long-term programs.

Inspiring the next generation of innovators in STEM.

We know STEM (science, engineering, technology, and mathematics) is the backbone of our modern economy. A solid education in STEM can unleash any young person’s potential. So we’re partnering with schools serving Black and Brown students to enrich their STEM programming. Our Everyone Can Code curriculum teaches students to code using Swift Playgrounds. And our coding academy introduces the Swift programming language to educators so they can pass that knowledge along to their students. By taking a holistic approach to teaching code, we can open up new kinds of learning and bring more tech opportunities to every community at no cost to them.

Creative expression. In every classroom.

Creativity belongs in every lesson plan, but some educators lack access to resources to light up young creative minds. Our Everyone Can Create curriculum includes free project guides that teach students to develop and communicate ideas through video, photography, music, and art. Creative expression leads to deeper engagement in school and improved outcomes outside the classroom.

Learn more about Everyone Can Create

Guides for talking about racial equity in the classroom and beyond.

Educational institutions around the world reflect the communities they serve. And today, learning happens everywhere, not just in classrooms. Through service to their communities, individuals can build valuable skills that lead to creative solutions. So we’re creating materials for the journey toward lasting social change. We’ve developed the Taking Action on Racial Equity and Justice series, a set of conversation guides and learning-based challenges on race and inequality issues, for teachers to use with their students. These are great resources for parents looking to have those conversations, too.

Criminal Justice Reform

When the system is unfair to anyone, it’s unfit for everyone.

Advocates continue to challenge a justice system that disproportionately fails Black and Brown people, and we are supporting their efforts.

We’re donating to organizations that are leading the way, starting with the Equal Justice Initiative.

The Equal Justice Initiative has worked since 1989 to end mass incarceration and defend the basic human rights of America’s most vulnerable people.

Economic Equality

A fair shot and a fair share for the next generation of leaders.

We’re making more room at the head of the table for Black and Brown businesses.

An Entrepreneur Camp for Black innovators.
For today’s leaders and tomorrow’s.

Black founders and developers in technology face unique challenges, and they deserve solutions that are considerate of their unique experiences. Our Entrepreneur Camp for Black Founders and Developers gives app developers one-on-one code-level guidance from Apple engineers, ongoing support from an Apple Developer representative for at least a year, and a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program. Participants also become members of the Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni network, a world-class group of ambitious leaders working at the intersection of tech, business, and social impact. And it’s all free of charge. We’d love to meet you.

Learn more and apply

A greener Earth and a more just economy with our Impact Accelerator.

Apple’s Impact Accelerator is designed for Black‑ and Brown‑owned businesses that share our focus on innovation and our commitment to the environment. With customized training and access to Apple experts, the Impact Accelerator will initially help companies headquartered in the United States achieve their next stage of development.

Learn more about the Impact Accelerator program and how to apply (PDF)

Partnerships empowering diverse business owners.

In January 2021 we announced two financial investments meant to further empower Black and Brown entrepreneurs. Harlem Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York, received $10 million toward supporting its work with 1,000 diverse founders over the next 20 years. And we backed Siebert Williams Shank’s Clear Vision Impact Fund with a $25 million investment that will provide small- and medium-size minority-owned businesses with much-deserved capital.

Representation. On all fronts.

Here’s how we’re showing up for communities of color. With more to come.

Apple Watch

Black Unity Collection

The Apple Watch Black Unity Collection includes an Apple Watch Series 6, watch band, and watch face — all inspired by the Pan-African flag, which holds significant meaning for Black communities around the world. Red represents the blood shed in search of liberation, black is for the Black people of the African Diaspora, and green is for the vibrant natural wealth of the Motherland. With a modern quilting-inspired motif, this collection symbolizes the shared threads that unite Black people worldwide.

Apple supports these organizations dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice:

Black Lives Matter Support Fund via the Tides Foundation The Black Lives Matter movement fuels campaigns for justice, combats and counters acts of violence, and creates space for Black imagination and innovation.

European Network Against Racism (ENAR) ENAR, a pan-European anti-racism network, is the voice of the anti-racist movement in Europe.

International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights The institute works to protect the human rights of marginalized and vulnerable people who suffer from discrimination.

Leadership Conference Education Fund The Leadership Conference Education Fund promotes and protects civil and human rights, and builds public education campaigns that empower and mobilize advocates around the United States.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice to fulfill the promise of equality for all Americans.

Souls Grown Deep This partnership is dedicated to promoting the work of African American artists and supporting their communities by fostering economic empowerment, racial and social justice, and educational advancement.

Learn more

Apple Music

Rap Life Live

To celebrate Black joy and healing, Apple Music launched the first-ever Rap Life Live event in September 2020. Against the backdrop of renowned HBCU Howard University, a live stream of powerful performances and discussions bridged the gap between music and message. You can watch the performances or relive the events with a playlist — all on Apple Music.

Learn more

Maps

Black-Owned Restaurant Guides

Strong Black businesses mean strong Black communities. This Black History Month, Maps begins a partnership with EatOkra, a Black-owned app for finding local Black-owned restaurants. EatOkra’s network of chefs and experts have curated Guides in Maps listing their favorite Black-owned restaurants in cities across the United States.

Learn more

Apple TV app

Essential: Stories That Honor Black Lives

In June 2020, the Apple TV app launched Essential: Stories That Honor Black Lives, a dynamic hub for shows, films, and documentaries rooted in the Black experience. It has evolved into a collaboration series with Black artists, whose stunning visuals complement each month’s new collection.

Learn more

Apple News

Special coverage

Apple News Spotlight launched ongoing coverage of the racial justice movement in 2020. Special topic groups, which run twice a week in the News app, highlight the best journalism about race in America. Separately, a Spotlight collection of articles encourages readers to dive deeper and get involved. This hub contains a handbook that breaks down essential terms and concepts, and it’s regularly updated with recommendations for podcasts, TV shows, and books; mental health resources for racial trauma; and suggested action items.

Learn more

We have unfinished business in the effort to end systemic racism. Apple will be a force for change.

Tim Cook
CEO

More on racial equity and justice from Apple Newsroom.

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