Date: Feature Week of February 4, 2003
Topic: Black Press Business/Economic
Author: William Reed
Article ID: article_ema020403a
CORPORATE AMERICA SAYS "DIVERSITY GOOD FOR BUSINESS"
Politicians Want To Continue "Business As Usual"
In a slight against African Americans they didn't have to take,
the Bush Administration is poised to oppose the University of Michigan's
right to consider race in its admission process. But, Bush and his domestic
policy-makers should take heed of why more than 30 large corporations
plan to advocate for the school's defense when the high court
takes up the challenge to racial-diversity programs in higher education.In
a courageous act that America's elected officials, on either side
of the political aisle, refuse to touch; corporate chieftains are speaking
out about this "hot-button" social issue. They say that
as minorities' share of the U.S. population has increased, diversity
has become a critical workforce requirement. Their common-sense approach
is based on the fact that the nation's colleges are an essential part
of the pipeline that feeds new hires to companies. With a campus'
diversity, students develop understandings of different cultures. That
enables them, as tomorrow's business leaders, to "appeal to a variety
of consumers" and work with colleagues and clientele from many
ethnic backgrounds. In their brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals, companies
argue that, "diversity is good business."
The White House argument is for business as usual in America. They say
that any form of racial preference violates white students' rights to
equal protection, even if it's just one factor in the admissions decision.
The university's defense is that diversity is a "compelling state
interest" and therefore outweighs the individual rights of white
applicants. They say that the societal point of a college education
isn't just to produce the smartest graduates, but to equip citizens
with the skills required to thrive in a competitive environment. Race
is a legitimate factor to consider, along with grades, test scores,
and extracurricular achievement. "A diverse college environment
is a much better setting for preparing graduates for life in business,"
says Steelcase Inc. CEO James P. Hackett. The court, America's politicians
and media, should ponder the corporate view carefully. The Republican
Party, established in the 1850s, stands for three policy positions Blacks
bought into for 90 years: "Self-reliance, limited government, and
respect for Judeo-Christian moral tradition." Republicans believe
economic competition without excessive governmental regulations benefit
consumers; and that individuals must compete freely and openly in a
market economy: merchants compete for consumers and politicians compete
for votes. Republicans believe that market economies promote economic
competition, and the marketplace provides forums where superior goods,
stellar services, and competent politicians emerge for the public good.
Now, the Party of Lincoln, along with Democrats and a media hostile
toward African-American advancement "at the expense of poor whites,"
they say; are trying to sell us on two bogus ideas: that America is
colorblind and centuries of injustices should be ceded.
America's public policy has moved to erode affirmative action,
dilute civil rights gains and spend fortunes building new prisons most
of whose occupants will be Black. The President, the Congress and the
general media seek to sidetrack any movement toward equality and justice
for African Americans. They'd just as soon we wrap ourselves in
the flag and put issues like Affirmative Action and Reparations on the
back burner. Programs in Affirmative Action were suppose to correct
injustices minorities have been subjected to over centuries, but now
the politicos want us to buy into the concept of America being a "colorblind
society."
Are they being colorblind, or just plain blind? America's policy-makers
are fooling themselves if they think they can continue the "business
as usual" practices that hamper Blacks' progress. The corporate
chieftains are on the right track. We must stop expecting time to solve
"race" problems; recognize that ending hate is the beginning,
not the end of our mission; accept the fact that equality is not a halfway
proposition; recognize that race relations is not a zero-sum game; stop
playing the blame game and do a better job at leveling the social and
economic playing field.
