Phoenix employer American Express came under criticism from As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy nonprofit group, for lagging behind peer companies in the release of data on recruitment, retention, and promotion statistics for minorities.
In response, American Express pledged $1 billion to advance social justice, but then petitioned the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January to invalidate a shareholder resolution directing a racial-equity audit – including its race-based employee training.
"Silence on internal metrics is out of alignment with American Express’ good and admirable deeds," Meredith Benton, CEO of the consultancy group Whistle Stop Capital and workplace equity program manager at As You Sow, said.
She made the remarks at a presentation to American Express last May.
"We encourage transparency, even in the face of imperfection, in order to show that American Express is truly committed to its existing and future employees, and to meaningful change – something needed across the American landscape,” Benton said. "A company that makes strong statements in support of racial justice but is not able to show that its own actions are aligned with stated values is at risk of being accused of 'woke-washing.'"
Woke-washing, Benton said, refers to "brands that are performative in their commitment to social justice," and is defined by urbandictionary.com as "using social justice as a marketing strategy."
One of American Express's major offices is located in Phoenix.
As You Sow has used shareholders' power since 1992 to increase corporate responsibility on a broad range of environmental issues, including waste reduction and waste management programs, as well as social issues such as racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
American Express argued that shareholders should not have the right to view their internal racial programming materials, according to the National Center for Public Policy Research. The company's lawyer requested the federal government to block the contents from being released, in response to a request filed by the Free Enterprise Project.
The UK's Daily Mail reported that American Express recently held a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion seminar with Nation of Islam-tied speaker Khalil Muhammad. The seminar was called "A Conversation about Race in America: Reflecting on our History and the American Dream," the Daily Mail said. During the seminar, Muhammad described capitalism as "racial capitalism," and said AmEx staffers are complicit in protecting white privilege.