I’ve posted here and there about racism in the past on this blog, venturing the thought that we need to be intentionally anti-racist if we are to keep from supporting the racist structures that exist within our society. Zach and I went to an MLK Rally last Monday and heard a speech from the new TN NAACP President. Her brief speech was about a Report Card the NAACP put together on a number of companies consumers frequent.
After a decade of tracking and observing how some of the nation’s largest companies and industries treat consumers of color, the NAACP reports that while positive change is occurring, companies across all industries need to commit to continuous improvements in order to break through to the next level of performance.
“African Americans pump roughly $650 billion into the American economy annually,” said NAACP President & CEO Bruce S. Gordon. “We should spend wisely and have readily available information to be assured that those we do business with are reinvesting in our community, employing a diverse work force, utilizing minority vendors and supporting our causes. Those not practicing such measures should not benefit from the economic power we provide. There continues to be opportunities for major corporations to improve their performance.”
I definitly think this report should have authority and validity beyond the African American community. In order to move from our racist structures, people of all races need to be concerned about the well-being of others. Therefore, this report should influence my purchasing power as well as yours. Here’s a glimpse at the section on lodging:
Download the PDF of the Report Card Here.
Here’s the problem I have with the NAACP boycotts: I am new to South Carolina. Apparently, they fly the Confederate flag – they also celebrate Confederate Memorial Day as well as the regular Memorial Day. So, by state law, the confederate flag flies at stadiums (college football games). The NAACP has called for a boycott of the games. Who’s hurt? The players, many of whom are on scholarships through the football players. The small businesses who supply merchandise and food. The little guy who sells parking slots. These guys can’t do anything to change the flag law. The colleges don’t have any control about what flag flies when. Only an act of congress (State congress) can change this. Does encouraging boycotts of Clemson University change anything? No.
Great thought. Boycotts are a strange bird. I definitly see the point of NAACP’s efforts, but your right in the way that it effects the system.
What alternatives do you think you could offer the NAACP or others who are considering boycotts based on some injustice or wrong?