Political Rewind: A Year After Pledges And Promises, Have Companies Delivered On Workplace Equity?
Tuesday on Political Rewind: It has\xa0been more than a year since many Americans were shaken into action\xa0by the police shootings\xa0of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other Black Americans. In response, millions took to the streets to demand an end to systemic racism, police brutality and injustice in American society.\n\nMeanwhile, corporations, universities and other institutions began evaluating internal practices that perpetuate discrimination\xa0against people of color in hiring and promotion.\n\nBut as the summer of 2021 begins, it is time to ask\xa0whether there has been real progress in achieving the promises made by big businesses and other institutions.\n\nSubha Barry, CEO of Seramount, joined us to discuss her organization's\xa0recent report\xa0tracking employee perception\xa0and corporate action on social justice issues. She said a new generation of white-collar workers are looking for a reflection of their values in their workplace.\n\n"Young people are doing something that the generation before them did not do, and\xa0they are voting with their feet," Barry said.\xa0"They walk\xa0out of companies and they go seek other organizations whose values are aligned with theirs."\n\nKyle Stapleton is a\xa0co-founder and board member of The A\xa0Pledge, a\xa0commitment by Atlanta marketing and advertising\xa0agencies to match the makeup of their teams to the diversity of Atlanta by 2030. He said the leaders of corporate America, in Atlanta and elsewhere, have an obligation to address workplace inequity.\n\n"Frankly, any good leader worth their stripes should see a moment, meet the\xa0moment and and do the right thing to\xa0be a leader in the moment," Stapleton said.\n\nHow has the country progressed in the search for equality and justice in the workplace? What role does moral leadership play in creating a more just society?\n\nPanelists:\n\nSubha Barry\xa0\u2014\xa0CEO, Seramount\n\nDr. Robert Franklin \u2014\xa0Professor of Social Ethics, Candler School of Theology, Emory University and\xa0Former President, Interdenominational Theological Center\n\nKyle Stapleton \u2014 Co-Founder of The A Pledge and Senior Manager of\xa0Culture & Experience, WarnerMedia Studios\n\nMatt Kempner\xa0\u2014\xa0\xa0Senior Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution