One year after the tragic death of George Floyd, Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon issued a stern warning to corporate America. The killing of Floyd sparked widespread protests against systemic racism, highlighting a long history of racial injustice that continues to this day.
In response, Walmart and other major US companies made commitments to address inequalities within their organizations. However, there were concerns that these efforts would wane once the spotlight on Floyd’s death faded. McMillon emphasized the importance of ongoing action against systemic racism and urged companies to confront the deep-rooted inequities stemming from slavery.
Recently, Walmart faced backlash for scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following pressure from conservative groups. This decision was met with disappointment by employees like TaNeka Hightower, who felt betrayed by the company’s shift away from supporting marginalized groups.
Hightower expressed her dismay at Walmart’s decision and highlighted the lack of communication with employees about these changes. She felt excluded and disheartened by the company’s actions, which seemed to prioritize external pressures over internal values.
Despite efforts by groups like United for Respect to push for greater accountability through shareholder proposals, Walmart has not fully embraced calls for an independent racial equity audit. The struggle for racial justice within corporate America continues as stakeholders seek meaningful change.
2024-12-15 07:00:44
Original from www.theguardian.com