Money Does Not End Racism

Since the killing of George Floyd and the rallying cry for social justice and equality around the country, nearly two dozen companies (that I know of) have also expressed outrage and a commitment to help.  In addition to issuing press releases and making statements via social media, numerous companies, like Nike, Inc. and Walmart have decided to throw money on the problem.  Throw money, you say?  Yes, donating their millions is putting a "band aid" on racism----a systemic problem they helped create.  This is obviously a "feel good" moment in time for them and shows their customers that they stand with them.  I guess my question is, where have they been all this time?  George Floyd isn't the first black man to be murdered by police (and definitely won't be the last).

 

Nike, Inc, announced in early June that the company was donating $40 million to black community organizations over the next four years to support social justice organizations.  Of course, the specific organizations weren't identified in the press release, however, Nike President and CEO, John Donahoe, was quoted as saying, "We must educate ourselves more deeply on the issues faced by Black communities and understand the enormous suffering and senseless tragedy racial bigotry creates."  So, did he just have this epiphany after Floyd's murder?  I might also add that Nike has reported investing nearly $420 million over the past five years to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign, MENTOR and Girl Effect.  

Then we have Walmart who came out and announced they were donating $100 million over five years to a new center on racial equality.  According to their press release, "The Center will seek to advance economic opportunity and healthier living....strengthening workforce development and related educational systems and support criminal justice reform.  This "Center" wasn't identified and $100 million doesn't sound like it will go very far over a five-year-period for all they claim they will do.

Sony Music Group also announced a $100 million dollar fund to support social justice and anti-racist initiatives around the WORLD.  Once again, no specific organizations or groups identified.

Paypal pledged more than $500 million to support black and minority-owned businesses.  According to Black Enterprise, "The Association for Enterprise Opportunity, received $10 million from the pledge and said it would administer $10K grants to 1000 black owned businesses across the country."  Meanwhile, the Census Bureau reports there are more than two million black owned businesses in the U.S.

According to Forbes.com The CEO of Comcast said his company will commit $75 million in cash and $25 million in media over the next three years to fight injustice and inequality against, race, ethnicity, gender equality, sexual orientation or ability.  Once again, no specific organizations identified.

UnitedHealth Group was SPECIFIC.  The Company, which has its headquarters in Minnesota,   announced it will pay for the college education of George Floyd's children and donate more than $10 million to help Twin Cities neighborhoods hurt by the riots, including to $5 million donation to the YMCA Equity Innovation Center of Excellence.     

Don't get me wrong.  The fact that these businesses decided to give money is a good thing (and a GREAT write-off) but the bottom line is, you don't END racism by donating money to charitable causes! Eliminating discriminatory practices begin by changing laws and policies.  Companies must make a conscious effort to open up their boardrooms and offices to qualified blacks and to pay adequate salaries comparable to their white counterparts. Presidents and CEOs' need to hire lobbyists to pressure Congress to add more beef to laws on the books that are supposed to prohibit discriminatory hiring practices.   They must also invest directly into black communities by creating businesses and business opportunities.  

Throwing money "blindly" can often lead to illegal activities such as fraud and embezzlement.  Case in point:  The federal government allowed a Florida man to collect nearly $4 million in coronavirus relief money and he turned around and allegedly spent it on luxury hotels and a Lamborghini.  

Oh, he was white.    

 

Your First Job

Viewers of WFAA-TV in Dallas got a real treat today when they got to see the Queen of Daytime TV on their TV screen. Oprah co-anchored the 5pm news. This was all a part of her "Celebrities Go Back to their First Jobs" segment.

Actually, being a TV anchor wasn't Oprah's first job. According to her website,her first job was really in Nashville where she worked at the corner grocery store next to her father's barber shop. I guess the grocery store isn't there anymore.

It got me to thinking about my very first job. It was for a marketing company who sent out advertising mailers to residents. I was hired to "stuff" envelopes. I think I made about $3.00 an hour--which was a pretty big deal for a high school students in 1974.

My first job out of college was at WCIR Radio in Beckley, West VA. It was also my first experience with racism. To make a long story short, the sheriff at the time refused to give me information on a story I was covering and told me, quote, "I don't have to tell you nothin' little Missy. I think you might be in the wrong job. Your kind don't belong here."

I complained to my boss about the sheriff's behavior and the next thing I knew I was fired. I did have the last word in the matter. I sued the station for discrimination through the EEOC (which was actually effective back then) and WON! I got a decent little settlement and moved on.

So what was your first job?

What Obama's Inauguration Means to Me

My daughter and I will be among the millions who will endure the cold and the crowds to be a part of history on Tuesday, January 20. I am going, in part, to cover the event for my local radio station as their Chief Correspondent.

Even if I don’t get anywhere near the swearing-in ceremony or get a glimpse of our soon-to-be President, I still want to be there. I NEED to be there.

I will be perfectly honest. I never thought I’d live to see what is about to take place. Why? Because I am a baby boomer. I grew up during a period of segregation. Although I wasn’t raised in the segregated, lynching South, I was still subject to the “subtle discrimination” that existed in the rest of the country. It was still a “separate and unequal society.” Racism has been alive and well ever since I can remember.

Obama’s inauguration certainly won’t change race relations overnight but maybe it will start a much needed honest dialogue between the races. At the very least, he gives my grandson hope that “Yes, he can!”

What do you think? Do you see race relations improving as a result of Obama’s presidency? Do you think there’s a race problem in America?

Where do people like Jesse Helms go when they die?

I'm a baby boomer woman who believes in God. I believe in Heaven and hell. I believe in the Ten Commandments---one being “Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.” Now I’ll be the first to admit that’s not always easy to do because there are some people who do everything in their power to get on my last nerve. But then I think they probably don’t know any better so I just forgive them and move on.

So here we have former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms who died on July 4 at the ripe old age of 86. He spent his entire political career as a hate monger and he was never ashamed or apologetic about it. He was a master at creating fear in the hearts and minds of white, rural North Carolinians by pointing out the fact that if he weren’t in Congress to fight for their “white rights” black people would take over and take away everything they rightfully owned.

Many of the people he catered to were white baby boomers and seniors.

Today, as I watched a portion of his funeral on TV, I heard the minister called him a good, decent man who loved God and loved the people he served for thirty years. But what about the people he didn’t love?

Does loving God—but hating minorities—give him a free pass into Heaven? My pastor always says “How can you love a God whom you never see and despise your fellow man here on earth?” That’s what Jesse did all of his life.

And no, he didn’t have a come to Jesus moment right before his death---where he apologized for any past sins he may have committed. He didn’t come out and issue a statement saying he loved everybody and was just playing the political game of the times.

So tell me, where do people like Jesse go when they die? Does he think he’ll enter a segregated Heaven? Oh, and wouldn’t it be something if God didn’t look anything like some churches paint Him out to be?

The Legacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton

When the Democratic Presidential Primary campaign began more than a year ago, I was excited over the idea that America had a chance to make history. In spite of the number of candidates in the race, I was certain Hillary Clinton would be in the running. In spite of the rumors that circulated about her as First Lady, I was still rooting for her as a fellow baby boomer woman. I have shown her no ill will.

BUT---

With the help of the media, Senator Clinton has turned into a ruthless, vindictive, politician. Riding on her husband’s coat tails, she attempted to pimp the Black vote. When that didn’t work, she turned her backs on them and went for the whites with no education. (That’s how she referred to the reason why she won in West Virginia and Kentucky)

She has been a chameleon throughout this campaign---changing her campaign strategy to whatever will win her votes. And what is alarming even more so is the way some fellow baby boomer women are behaving about this campaign. I have read nasty posts from women who threaten to vote for the Republican or not vote at all if Hillary doesn’t win the nomination.

Yes, I do believe she has been unfairly depicted on occasion. There have been some awful things said about her by the male press but when she turns around and gives them more ammunition to work with, what is one to think? To bring up the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy as a reason to stay in the race is ludicrous and suspicious.

So what will be the legacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton after this campaign is over. I’m sure her supporters will say she was a fighter right down until the very end. That may be true but that fighting spirit has done more in the past several months to destroy the image of women and the Democratic Party than the Republicans could ever do. I’m sure Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson and the good old boys are thanking her for her tenacity.

But the bigger picture here is: What does this really say about the baby boomer generation? You don’t see young people (under 35) running around acting as hate mongers over a presidential primary. Yes, baby boomers are the generation who took a stand on many causes like civil and women’s rights, and the war in Vietnam----but what are we now?

Take a look in the mirror and you might see YOUR PARENTS.