Businessweek Convenes: Black Leaders Face the DEI Backlash
So, we listened to this discussion from some very high-powered business leaders, ex-CEOs, investment bankers, and skilled marketing professionals. All are on the board of directors for major corporations.
Listening to the discussion. We were struck by how little actual power black business leaders have in these current times. They all want to do something for Black people, their hearts are in the right place, but they have so little power to effect change.
We can’t help but return to the great Black economics debate at the turn of the last century. Booker T Washington (BTW) said economic power leads to wealth and political power. While WEB Du Bois said political power shapes economic power. Different ethnic groups have shown the power of BTW’s model.
We almost feel bad. They have achieved success in the corporate world on the white man’s terms, but cannot bring others along because of huge institutional and political barriers. They are completely marginalized in today’s environment.
We think we are feeling around the edges of something big and heavy that we all feel; a hard truth, that racism will never go away. And, right now, racism is resurgent. Worse, we don’t know what to do. Vote? Boycott? Start a business? Right now there are no easy answers.
Derrick Bell said in “Faces at the Bottom of the Well” that racism will never go away. “Racism is an integral and permanent part of American society.”
This might be the moment where we accept his premise.
BTW, Ursula Burns is a standout. And Walthour holds his own. Lisa Windell is also good.