Wattpad Donates $50 Thousand to Various Organizations to Support Black Lives Matter
Wattpad donates $50,000 to Black Youth Helpline, Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative, The Bail Project, and the NAACP in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The beloved writing platform made a statement on Thursday, May 4 to their loyal writers and followers, informing them of their generous donation. Additionally, Wattpad offered to match every employee donation for up to $25,000.
The company also announced the closing of all their offices around the world, in order for their employees to “have the time and space to comfort friends and loved ones, and to educate themselves about the systemic racism that oppresses marginalized communities”. As if that weren’t enough, the website curated a #CelebrateBlackWriters reading playlist to introduce Black writers on the site to a new audience, and educate readers on allyship.
Right now, a chapter of history is being written. We’ve been thinking a lot about this chapter, how will it end, and how we can help. What is certain: we want an ending where white supremacy is dismantled and the Black community is liberated from violence and racial injustice. pic.twitter.com/R2Na94f8lQ
— Wattpad (@wattpad) June 4, 2020
Above that, we will use our platform — one that’s a privilege to have, and a responsibility to use — to uplift organizations on the frontlines of this fight. That’s why we will use our ad space to raise awareness for, and prompt donations to, the organizations listed above.
— Wattpad (@wattpad) June 4, 2020
To our Black community: we promise to keep putting our words into action, by listening to your voices and raising them up. You will always have a home on Wattpad.
— Wattpad (@wattpad) June 4, 2020
Supporters of the writing-based website, individuals who are also writers in their own right, have shown full appreciation towards Wattpad’s message.
wattpad has done a better black lives matter statement than the president take it in
— kate blm (@luvsfoolish) June 5, 2020
Thank you, @wattpad – It’s been a rough few weeks, and every little pleasant surprise (and genuine show of solidarity) helps.
— lesserknown1 (@lesser_known_1) June 4, 2020
It’s networks like Wattpad that make their world a better place for their writers. For more information on the Black Lives Matter movement, check out this website.
