Germaine Smith-Baugh: Response to social issues is smart corporate policy

Our residents in Broward County are angry and hurt over the cruelty we have witnessed in the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery as well as the innumerable other Black lives that have been lost to police violence.

As we acknowledge frustrations, and rage, we are feeling as a nation, as a culture, and as individuals, we remember the larger historical context that birthed this moment.

Mr. Floyd last cried, “I can’t breathe. Please, I can’t breathe,” We emphasize his last words, “I can’t breathe,” and remind our communities that WE STILL CAN. We cannot afford to be silent. We won’t be silent.

While the Urban League of Broward County does not condone violent protests, we understand the heartbreak that Black America has suffocated under for far too long and why, unfortunately, so many protests have turned violent in recent days. And yet, what brought people to the streets wasn’t just the racial injustices suffered in our law enforcement and criminal justice system. It was also brought on by the anguish over the coronavirus, which is infecting and killing African Americans, Latinos and immigrant populations at a disproportionately high rate.

Based on recent data, African Americans have accounted for as many as 40 percent of all coronavirus deaths in big cities and urban areas including Chicago, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. These disparities highlight societal failures that contribute to diminish the quality of life for families in marginalized communities.

The coronavirus pandemic, coupled with a persistent legacy of institutional racism, have pushed inequities into the spotlight ONCE AGAIN. There is a cruel irony of George Floyd’s brutal suffocation and the disparate rate of African Americans dying from a deadly respiratory illness plaguing our nation.

ADDRESS SOCIAL ISSUES

In the days following George Floyd’s tragic death, major corporations were forced to re-examine their roles in advancing social justice programs and anti-racism work. Today, leaders of all industries are responding to issues involving race in America and their socioeconomic effects on our communities. Companies like Netflix, Nike and Bank of America are just a few corporations that have all pledged to support social justice programs.

It is time to toss outdated corporate social responsibility initiatives and integrate corporate social activism that aligns with the causes most important to your workforce, customers and partners. And to be clear, social justice is not another term for diversity. Social justice means leveling the playing field; that everyone’s human rights are respected and protected. Encourage meaningful conversations about race, socioeconomic status and equity in the workplace. A non-response to social issues is no longer an option as it can adversely affect your ability to connect with key stakeholders and subsequently impact the profitability and sustainability of your organization.

We can all do our part to advance racial equity issues where we work, live and do business:

▪ Learn and talk openly about race and its impact on your behaviors.

▪ Challenge injustice when you see it in the streets and boardrooms.

▪ Vote to put individuals in elected office that reflect your values.

▪ Help our young people mourn and express grief in a safe way.

▪ Assist our activists to act on behalf of everyone.

▪ Support organizations so they can continue to challenge legislation, systems and policies to influence systemic change.

▪ Back corporations that fund civic and social justice organizations.

ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS

If you have been in search of a way to connect with organizations that promote civil rights for historically disempowered populations, I invite you to join the Urban League of Broward County’s mission of advancing economic stability and social equality for Broward County residents.

The Urban League has been a cornerstone in Broward for 45 years and has collaborated with private and public organizations to positively impact thousands of lives through holistic supports. There is no better time to consider a variety of organizations that protect civil rights, justice and racial equity. The Urban League, like many other social justice organizations in Broward County, needs your voice, resources and support to continue this movement

Now, and as before, we will embrace opportunities to restore trust and to seek justice through nonviolence and continuous, conscientious, and strategic actions.

Again, Mr. Floyd can no longer take a breath. But we all can. Get involved in resolving these issues in your community. We owe that to him and so many others.

Germaine Smith-Baugh, PhD, is president and CEO of the Urban League of Broward County.