The Fifteen Percent Pledge , an organization founded by designer Aurora James of Brother Vellies in response to the racial reckoning of 2020, hosted a star-studded inaugural gala over the weekend in celebration of its accomplishments to date. "We have been working hard for the past two years, physically, emotionally and every kind of way," James said in a speech. "So please use this as an opportunity to celebrate what we have done and where we are going, because the future looks bright." The non-profit calls on retailers to commit at least 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands, and has so far enlisted Nordstrom , Sephora , Macy's , and Madewell , among other big-name retailers, to sign the pledge. According to the website, more than 28 of the world's most recognized retailers have taken the pledge, redirecting $10B in revenue to Black brands. "This journey will not be perfect for any of us, but the true fear should never be the stumble forwa