Ava DuVernay has become the first black woman to have her image on a Ben Jerry's pint.
The Lights! is a new ice cream company that was announced by the ubiquitous ice cream company on Tuesday. Ava DuVernay will be directing the mix of vanilla ice cream with salted caramel swirls, graham cracker swirls and gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough. DuVernay personally curated the flavor creation, which will be available in both milk-based and non-dairy versions. Pints will begin shipping across the country in January 2023.
Ice cream is a simple joy of life. A comfort food that I've turned to on many days - making the sunny ones brighter and dark ones sweeter, DuVernay said in a statement. It has been a thrill ride to partner with Ben Jerry s, a company I admired for their commitment to social justice. I had the opportunity to work with food scientists to create a flavor with all the ingredients that I personally love for a cause close to my heart. Proceeds from its non-profit mission of inclusion and belonging in the film and TV industries are what is downright delicious. A worthy and delicious endeavor. The director of Array Alliance, which he founded in 2011 with the mission of amplify the work of artists of color and women directors, will receive the proceeds from the new flavor. The partnership will be a continuous release and is not a limited-edition run.
Matthew McCarthy, Ben Jerry's CEO, said in a statement that Framing this up as a new flavor for the first Black woman to be featured partner on our pints doesn't do Ava justice. We are humbled by this partnership, impressed by her work sharing not only the struggle but the joy in justice, and inspired by her commitment and vision.