Op-Ed: Response to Social Issues is Smart Corporate Policy
Written by: Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh
Our residents in Broward County are angry and hurt over the cruelty we have witnessed in the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery as well as the innumerable other Black lives that have been lost to police violence.
As we acknowledge frustrations, and rage, we are feeling as a nation, as a culture, and as individuals, we remember the larger historical context that birthed this moment.
Mr. Floyd last cried, “I can’t breathe. Please, I can’t breathe,” We emphasize his last words, “I can’t breathe,” and remind our communities that WE STILL CAN. We cannot afford to be silent. We won’t be silent.
While the Urban League of Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) does not condone violent protests, we understand the heartbreak that Black America has suffocated under for far too long and why, unfortunately, so many protests have turned violent in recent days. And yet, what brought people to the streets wasn’t just the racial injustices suffered in our law enforcement and criminal justice system. It was also brought on by the anguish over the coronavirus, which is infecting and killing African Americans, Latinos and immigrant populations at a disproportionately high rate.
The coronavirus pandemic, coupled with a persistent legacy of institutional racism, have pushed inequities into the spotlight ONCE AGAIN. There is a cruel irony of George Floyd’s brutal suffocation and the disparate rate of African Americans dying from a deadly respiratory illness plaguing our nation.
In the days following George Floyd’s tragic death, major corporations were forced to re-examine their roles in advancing social justice programs and anti-racism work. Today, leaders of all industries are responding to issues involving race in America and their socioeconomic effects on our communities. Companies like Netflix, Nike and Bank of America are just a few corporations that have all pledged to support social justice programs.
It is time to toss outdated corporate social responsibility initiatives and integrate corporate social activism that aligns with the causes most important to your workforce, customers and partners. And to be clear, social justice is not another term for diversity. Social justice means leveling the playing field; that everyone’s human rights are respected and protected. Encourage meaningful conversations about race, socioeconomic status and equity in the workplace. A non-response to social issues is no longer an option as it can adversely affect your ability to connect with key stakeholders and subsequently impact the profitability and sustainability of your organization.
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