The first toast of the night came from the founder of The Fifteen Percent Pledge, a nonprofit that challenged retailers to commit to buying 15% of their products from Black-owned businesses. James took time to highlight the pushback that diversity initiatives are facing. “We are witnessing unprecedented attacks on [diversity and equity inclusion] initiatives that were designed to level the playing field and drive growth for Black business owners,” she said. “There are no longer protections in place to ensure we have an equal shot at education, a good job, a bank loan, anything.”