Jay Z's Tidal Service Will Donate $1.5 Million to Black Lives Matter and Others

The New World Foundation will distribute Tidal’s grants to Black Lives Matter and a list of other organizations including New York: Million Hoodies, Hands Up United, NY Justice League, the Oscar Grant Foundation and the Trayvon Martin Foundation.

This is not the first time that Jay Z has supported the Black Lives Matter movement. He and Beyoncé reportedly gave anonymous donations in the tens of thousands of dollars to bail out protesters in Ferguson and Baltimore. While generally low-key with their activism, Jay Z and Beyoncé have quietly supported the movement, showing at events and meeting the families of victims of police brutality.

For all the jokes about Tidal, this is very likely the best thing that will ever come out of the venture. Celebrities weighing in on heated social justices issues is often tricky. Many tends to carefully walk the line so as not to alienate fans and ruin business deals. Others simply are not qualified to speak clearly and eloquently on the issues at hand.

Personally, I prefer gestures like this and similar moves made by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. For almost all celebrities—minus a select few like Jesse Williams—I’d rather they uplift the voices of others and support the work of dedicated organizations using the wealth and large platforms that their successful careers have allowed them.

Image via Theo Wargo/Getty.