Recent events have brought much strife and uncertainty into our daily lives, from the toll of an unprecedented health scare and economic crisis to the tragic injustices and violence that has sparked unrest on our streets. Our community has suffered greatly but no one group has suffered like the Black community. We write today to stand in solidarity with Black artists, musicians and professionals whose contributions to the growth of this nation and our culture are immeasurable.

This is not a political issue. It is a human issue and our plea is for an end to injustice, and a call for positive change. We - The Americana Music Association - raise our collective voices to call for an end to the systemic racism that continues to plague our society as a whole.

We further pledge to work actively against racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, classist, and other oppressive notions that marginalize, restrict, or destroy any human being simply because of their identity. And moving forward, we commit to making a more concerted effort to push back against hate and to more proactively foster love and solidarity.

On Tuesday, June 2nd, in support of Blackout Tuesday, our offices will be closed. We encourage our colleagues and friends to join us in standing together as one voice against hate and injustice.

Sincerely,

The Americana Music Association