In all the coverage of General Motors’ problems in recent days, we haven’t seen much about the company’s record of social responsibility. With all the issues of debt, the health-care burden carried by the company, and its difficulties in a crowded supplier market, social responsibility concerns often fade into the background.
Interestingly, though, at least one voice has risen up in praise and appreciation of GM. The Washington Informer, and presumably other African American newspapers, carried an article today by William Reed of Black Press International. Reed calls attention to the long history of GM in working with, employing and supporting African Americans and indeed black people in many parts of the world, including South Africa.
Reed points out that in 1971, GM appointed the first African American to the board of a Fortune 500 company. That appointee, the Rev. Leon Sullivan, became internationally famous for developing the Sullivan Principles, which challenged U.S. companies with operations in South Africa to treat their black employees equitably and fairly. At the time, GM was the largest U.S. employer in South Africa. GM followed the principles in South Africa, and eventually 125 U.S. companies within operations in the African nation followed suit.
Of the companies that adopted the principles, at least 100 withdrew from South Africa as it became apparent that the government would not readily change its apartheid policies of segregation and discrimination. Certainly the economic blow of having so many companies leave contributed to the eventual overturn of these policies. GM and Rev. Sullivan were squarely in a leadership role on the issue.
In his article, Reed also lauds GM for other initiatives:
“It was GM that provided buses to transport people to the Poor Peoples’ March on Washington. Since the early 1970s, well ahead of other companies, General Motors has gone the extra mile to make sure the American dream was achievable for all Americans. Under the guidance of Sullivan, in 1972 GM became the first auto company to launch minority dealer and minority supplier initiatives. It spent $2.5 billion with people of color and women-owned suppliers in the U.S., and had full-time management focused on supplier diversity.”
Reed calls upon African Americans to rally behind this company as it emerges from bankruptcy and seeks a new competitive footing. If this happens, GM could realize a substantial reward for all the good work it has done over the years. For those who doubt the importance of building strong relationships through responsible action, perhaps this will be a lesson.
