On behalf of the National Urban League’s board of trustees, I am proud to present this year’s edition of the State of Black America®: The New Normal: Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive.

This annual publication is a legacy of the great Vernon Jordan, who oversaw the very first publication of the State of Black America during his tenure as CEO of the National Urban League. We are deeply grateful for all that Mr. Jordan accomplished nationally with our organization and mourn his passing in March of this year.

Fittingly, this year’s report examines and recommends strategies and initiatives our nation can — and must — put into place to meet the three-fold urgencies of the moment: structural racism, COVID-19 and entrenched health inequities, and the pandemic-induced economic crisis, particularly as these issues affect the Black community and other communities of color.

If the last year has taught us anything, it is that only when we remain vigilant and are intentional in our actions that we can make progress toward racial equality in the U.S. and change the course of our nation’s present ­­— and its future.

In 2020, inspired by the nationwide protests of concerned citizens demanding change, American businesses were moved to “get off the sidelines” — in word and in deed — and demonstrate solidarity with the fight for racial justice and equality.

The National Urban League has a long and respected history of partnering with like-minded businesses to advance racial and economic equity. Together, we act with intention to narrow economic and other equality gaps by creating jobs and opportunities. Our recent history should serve as an example of how the private and nonprofit sector can successfully engage in the urgent work that remains before us. Now is the time for businesses to step up and do what they do best: execute. I call on my fellow business leaders to take a stand and intentionally build equity in three key areas: people, markets and society.

People:

First, we must take a close look within. We need to put a sharp focus on our workforces and ensure we are recruiting, developing and retaining Black employees at every level. While there are many approaches to take, a few ideas stand out:

• Build understanding across our workforces by providing relevant training for employees and managers;
• Bolster Black employee recruitment through expanded talent pools that include HBCUs and Black professional organizations, ensuring that mentorship and career development opportunities are distributed equally;  
• Take an honest, hard look at our companies’ wage data to determine whether wage gaps exist. If so, we must implement transparent policies and practices to eliminate any unjustified gaps.

Markets:

Every industry, product and service is being scrutinized on how actively it welcomes and engages Black consumers, suppliers and communities — and rightfully so. That data can and should inform how we design and run our businesses with greater equality in the marketplace. Of course, we must do all we can to gather and wield data without bias and use it thoughtfully to drive equity. Many companies will find ample opportunities to grow commerce with Black-owned businesses. We must be informed and ready to seize that opportunity.

Society:

The response to the recent anti-voting legislation in Georgia has proven that when businesses speak out, concerned citizens and legislators take notice. We must stand in solidarity with other community leaders and take positions that support, respect and protect the rights of the Black community – whether it is voting rights, police reform or criminal justice reform. Business leaders are uniquely positioned to bring heightened attention to issues within the Black community outside of our own companies. We must bring all the resources within our command to the table – including partnerships, investments and intentional advocacy – to help build equity in our society.

In addition, within our workforces, we can enlist scores of volunteers who are motivated and eager to take part in essential community service opportunities. We can call on employees to apply their business skills to projects ranging from racial justice to entrepreneurship. To this end, I am so proud that Mastercard and the National Urban League have agreed to launch the Entrepreneurship & Workforce Resource Partnership to support 5,000 Black entrepreneurs by 2025.

Like you, I am impatient to live in a nation where everyone has the same opportunity to thrive and live free from the daily threat and reality of discrimination, repression and fear. Within the corporate sector, we have the resources, influence and credibility to help create a more just and equal nation. Let’s set our intention and work together to make it happen.