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Debra Wheatman, President of Careers Done Write, provides expert insight to the job search process that puts your career in gear with tips for interviewing, networking, job search strategies and how to create a winning resume and cover letter.
Black History Month: Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives have historically been viewed as “nice to have,” rather than the strategic imperatives they are. All too often, such programs rely on peripheral activity. During Black History Month, performative companies may collect charitable donations, issue feel-good press releases, and change corporate logos. However, the world has become ever more interconnected, and consumer expectations have shifted. Narratives have changed. Supporting Black-owned businesses is not just a moral issue; it is a focused business strategy….
Impactful or Performative? Getting Black History Month Right
As we celebrate the centennial of Black History Month, I want to reflect on what this means in the context of corporate culture. What began as a crucial academic effort to acknowledge the contributions of Black Americans has become a significant touchstone for American companies. Integrating Black History Month into corporate culture offers both opportunities for meaningful progress and the risk of purely performative gestures….
Black History Month: The Economic Powerhouse That Was Black Wall Street
In early 1921, the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to one of the most affluent African American communities in the United States. More than 70 businesses, mostly owned by Black Americans, lined up in just the 100 block of Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa. This single block was home to four hotels, two newspapers, eight doctors, seven barbers, nine restaurants, and a half-dozen professional offices of real estate agents, dentists, and lawyers. The economic success of Black entrepreneurs in Greenwood added to the striking image of Tulsa as America’s Black Wall Street….