Apple is launching a $100 million initiative to fight racial injustice and promote diversity both inside and outside the company

• Apple is launching a $100 million effort called the Apple Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, CEO Tim Cook announced Thursday.
• The effort will build on the company's work with historically Black colleges and schools and will focus on the principles of representation, inclusion, and accountability.
• Apple is also launching a new entrepreneurial camp for Black developers and is increasing representation across the companies it does business with.

• Are you an Apple employee with insight to share? If so, we want to hear from you. Contact this reporter at leadicicco@businessinsider.com or through encrypted mail at lisaeadicicco@protonmail.com, or send a direct message on Twitter to @LisaEadicicco.

Apple is committing $100 million toward a new company-wide effort called the Apple Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, CEO Tim Cook announced in a video posted to Twitter on Thursday.

The initiative, led by Apple executive Lisa Jackson, will build on the company's existing work with historically Black colleges, universities, STEM programs, and underserved students and teachers. The company will also begin working with organizations such as the Equal Justice Initiative, Cook said, and the program will be built on the three principles of representation, inclusion, and accountability. Jackson is Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives.

Cook also said Apple will launch a new entrepreneurial camp for Black developers, increase representation across the companies Apple does business with, and commit to hiring and supporting those from underrepresented groups within Apple.

"Whether it's at Apple or anywhere in society, the burden of change must not fall on those who are underrepresented," Cook said. "It falls heaviest on those in positions of power, leadership, and influence to change structures for the greater good."

The launch comes as the death of George Floyd has sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality and a call for reform across the country. Cook also published an open letter on racism on Apple's website on June 4, coming after tech venture capitalist Vinod Khosla called out the CEO for his lack of public commentary about the company's values. Before publishing the letter, Cook had sent an internal memo outlining the company's values to Apple employees.

See Cook's full announcement below.

—Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 11, 2020

Are you an Apple employee with insight to share? If so, we want to hear from you. Contact this reporter at leadicicco@businessinsider.com or through encrypted mail at lisaeadicicco@protonmail.com, or send a direct message on Twitter to @LisaEadicicco.