We Have the Numbers — Let’s Lead the Charge

In the last several months, I have spoken to more than 2,000 people, helping them make sense of this current moment in our nation’s history. Many people are afraid that they’ll be attacked for their previous support of equity in their organizations. Others are worried that the progress we’ve made in the last few years toward an economy that works for all will fall short or even regress back to the way things were.

I understand their concerns, but I am not crippled by fear. The truth is that there are more of us committed to the fight for equity for all, as compared to those that would like to see us limit the scope of our economy for the few at the expense of the many. We know that equity and diversity is what makes our country run.

What we must do now, in this moment, is to hold the line and ensure that we do not buy into the idea that we are outnumbered or that equity is not the best path forward to create an inclusive economy. In a previous post, almost a year and a half ago, I discussed the three ways in which we could withstand the coordinated campaign against equity initiatives in businesses. This post came long before the anti-diversity and equity moment had been turbocharged by the power of the federal government.

Yet the advice is the same: If we want to withstand these moments of attacks, we need to do three things:

• Hold the Line: If your organization is rapidly retreating, then your main priority is to find ways to keep the commitment alive. As disappointing as this may be, you need to operate from where people are, not where you want them to be.
• Join Forces: If your company has internally maintained their commitments to equitable impact but are externally clamming up to avoid the backlash, there’s a simple solution: Join (or form) a coalition.
• Lead the Charge: For those companies that are willing to be vocal — you have to be bold right now. You have to talk about why you are still pursuing these commitments and goals and that it doesn’t matter what politicians are threatening or what the media is saying.

Now that we are seeing this work play out, we can better understand what each of these three activities looks like in practice for the current landscape. We have seen that those companies that do not heed this advice and choose to backtrack on their commitments are suffering the consequences.

Choosing to Lead the Charge

Companies that have made the decision to lead the charge on issues related to equity have seen material benefits, whereas companies that have retreated are losing revenue and customers.

The best case study is the difference between Target and Costco. After Target retreated from its equity commitments, a massive boycott ensued. Customers pledged to not shop at Target for 40 days in a Lent-inspired protest. This had a material impact on their bottom line, with foot traffic at stores down for as many as eight weeks in a row.

Costco, on the other hand, chose to reject anti-diversity efforts and stick to its commitments. Customers rewarded them, with many deciding to shop at Costco over Target during the boycott. Apple also rejected an activist shareholder proposal championed by a conservative think tank to abolish all of its diversity and inclusion programs by an overwhelming 97% of shareholders.

Why? Because they know diversity and equity makes good business sense.

Joining Forces at the Local Level

As I have seen the landscape shift on equity issues, I have also seen local groups step up to provide the support companies need. Local chambers of commerce are offering guidance to companies of all sizes to help them understand the shifting legal landscape and understand that implementing diversity and equity programs is not illegal. Others, like the Global Black Economic Forum, are doing this on a national level.

Many local foundations and funder collaboratives are also expanding their budgets to backstop initiatives and help with coordination. This bold action has been a balm for organizations negatively impacted by the federal government unfairly stripping contracts and grants.

Joining forces at the local level helps shift focus away from national rhetoric. This is effective because community members can see the direct tie between their local economy and diversity strategies. Instead of a theoretical debate, residents experience the transformative effect of building an inclusive economy firsthand.

A Majority of Companies are Holding the Line

A survey of 350 C-suite executives from across the U.S. conducted by Littler found that over three quarters of corporate leaders are either maintaining or increasing their diversity and equity commitments. These are the companies that are holding the line because they know it’s what’s best for their employees and customers.

Companies are doing things like shifting language about how they talk about their programs to ensure they can continue and not find themselves under direct attack. While not ideal, this work of maintenance reflects where many companies are today. If we can equip them better with tools and resources to be more bold in their support and communication, we can move them to the place of leading the charge like Costco.

We need more companies to follow the lead of Costco and the many others that will not be intimidated or bullied. If companies don’t continue to step up, we will continue to cede our rights to the most vocal. We can offer support and guidance to those who are holding the line, and allow them to step up and step out to be champions of diversity and equity for business.

It’s clear that the numbers are on our side in terms of shareholders, consumers, and community. If we remember our strength in numbers, together we can lead the charge and build an economy and a country that works for all of us.