Top CEOs vow 'real change' on racism
The CEOs of more than 200 of the biggest U.S. companies are making major commitments to "advance racial equity and justice," acknowledging the effects of systemic racism following the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans. The Business Roundtable initiatives involve taking action on six fronts: employment, finance, education, health, housing and criminal justice. As part of the plan, they say they will update employment practices, make philanthropic investments and change policies in an effort to close racial disparities.
- In a USA Today opinion piece, Business Roundtable chairman and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon says the plan "will take broad cooperation of leaders from every sector of society working together to create a force sufficient enough to bring about the necessary change."
- Bank of America data shows racial and gender representation gains across most areas of the company, though the number of women in top-tier roles hasn't budged in two years.
Thank you for sharing this article, Donna. The weight of George Floyd's death impacted us in a way that I personally had not experienced ever before. That heaviness was carried through our day to day life, at work, at home, and in our communities. I am grateful for the 208 companies involved in making systematic changes, I hope that the other thousands of companies out there follow BRT's lead and leverage the good work. Eradicating racism will be a win for humanity.