By: Bo Tefu, CBM
While some large U.S. multi-national corporations are stepping away from their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, others like Apple are doubling down on their commitment to supporting balanced and equitable representation and the full participation of people of all backgrounds in all spheres of American life.
To that end, Apple has unveiled its 2025 Black Unity Collection to honor Black History Month and celebrate Black culture and community. The collection features a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a matching Unity Rhythm watch face, and Unity Rhythm wallpapers for iPhone and iPad.
The Black Unity Sport Loop is designed with a custom pattern of raised and recessed loops, creating a lenticular effect that reveals green on one side and red on the other. As the wearer moves their wrist, the colors dynamically shift, with yellow appearing during the transition.
The Unity Rhythm watch face features numerals formed by intertwined threads of red, green, and yellow.
In conjunction with the collection’s launch, Apple is supporting several global organizations that focus on rhythm, creativity, and community. These include the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans, Battersea Arts Centre in London, Music Forward Foundation in Los Angeles, Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, and The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.
Companies winding down their DEI efforts include Meta, Target, McDonalds, Lowe’s, Walmart, Harley Davidson, Boeing, John Deere and Disney.
Besides Apple, corporations stepping up their DEI efforts or renewing their commitments include Costco, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Nordstrom, Ben & Jerry’s, Ancestry, Ulta, Walgreens, Cisco, Mitre, and e.l.f. Cosmetics, among others.
