Sharpton to Honor Wal-Mart and Tysons Foods
By Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Washington Correspondent
Thursday, September 1, 2005
An annual luncheon, sponsored and hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton and his New York-based National Action Network, to “honor those that keep the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Alive” is slated to give awards to Wal-Mart Corporation and Tyson Foods, both being sued for civil rights violations.
“Among the Sept. 7 ‘Dream Keepers Luncheon’ honorees are Lions Gate Entertainment, the distributor of the critically-acclaimed movie ‘Crash;’ the legendary singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, Wal-Mart Corporation, Tyson Foods, and Flora Walker, the Western Regional Director of AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and Southwest Airlines,” states a press release issued by Sharpton’s group.
“This is absolutely unbelievable. I cannot believe that this is true because it is that unbelievable that companies with the reputations of Tyson and Wal-Mart - when it comes to the way they have treated their employees - would be considered for an award in the name of Martin Luther King,” says Bill Fletcher, a longtime labor and international activist, now president of TransAfrica Forum. “No one in their right minds would be nominating such companies; therefore, it was a mistake. You got it wrong or they sent out the wrong release.”
Contacted by NNPA, Sharpton said at the time that he was unaware of the federal lawsuit again Tyson Foods, filed Aug. 12 by 12 Black employees alleging segregated bathrooms with a “Whites Only” sign, the pervasive use of the n-word, “monkey,” “boy” and ”watermelon” insults of Black people and a threat with a noose. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law is representing the plaintiffs, who are joined in the suit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The lawsuit, which has gained widespread publicity, says Tyson violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by maintaining a racially hostile work environment and retaliating against employees that complained.
Since the initial interview with the NNPA News Service, Sharpton says he has been in touch with the nominating committee and that he may withdraw the award if the issue is not satisfactorily resolved. Gene Morris, president of Chicago-based E. Morris Communications, nominated Tyson Foods approximately three months ago, well before the suit was filed, Sharpton said.
“I told them I wanted them to address the issue,” Sharpton said. “Otherwise, my recommendation to the committee is that we, the National Action Network, as the parent group, would not be able to give the award. I want to know how they’re going to address the specific issue of that farm.”
Sharpton says Tyson was nominated by Morris for an award because of a significant advertising contract with Morris.
“Because Tyson had given this contract to him,” Sharpton said. “That was the basis of Gene’s nomination of them and the basis of the award.”
The episode raises troubling questions about how corporations are selected for honors.
Sharpton says he has been urged not to withdraw the award because the allegations against Tyson involve one farm in Ashland , Ala. among the 300 owned worldwide by the Springfield, Ark.-based corporation.
“Their claim is that this is one farm and that it is not the corporate policy and [Tyson is] denouncing it,” Sharpton says. “I said, ‘What are they going to do about it? And I’m waiting to know what that is.”
Sharpton also walked a tight line in trying to defend his organization’s decision to honor a Wal-Mart executive.
Although the National Action Network press release clearly states that “Wal-Mart Corporation” is an award recipient, Sharpton now says, “Wal-Mart’s not getting the award. The executive is getting one.”
He was referring to Esther Silver Parker, Wal-Mart’s vice president for diversity relations. The former AT &T executive is being credited for “the strategic planning and execution of Wal-Mart’s diverse efforts as it relates to its supplier development program, philanthropic and community relations programs.”
Wal-Mart Corporation is the world’s largest retailer, with 4,717 stores worldwide and 3,422 in the U.S. It has 1.2 million U.S. employees.
The company opposes unions and is the target of multiple civil rights lawsuits alleging violations that include refusal to pay overtime, use of illegal workers and pay inequities for women.
Sued by the EEOC in 2001, Wal-Mart agreed to a $6.8 million settlement, resolving 13 lawsuits against the company in 11 states, alleging discrimination against disabled job applicants. Another suit alleging disability discrimination filed last year in Richmond , Mo. has yet to be resolved.
On its Web site, Wal-Mart defends its record, noting that it hires more than 139,000 Hispanics and more than 208,000 African-Americans. Of its 14-member board, it states, two are Black, two are Latino and one is female. It states “officer compensation is now linked to diversity goal.” A manager who fails to reach his or her diversity goal could lose up to 15 percent of bonus money.
According to the Sharpton’s release, “The annual event was designed to honor the courage and hard work of individuals and corporations that are doing important work in communities of color. Honorees are selected based upon a proven track record of their commitment.”
This is not the first time a civil rights leader has been criticized for honoring controversial figures or companies.
After NAACP Board Chair Julian Bond delivered a blistering attack on President Bush in 2002 yet, NAACP President Kwesi Mfume gave his president’s award given to then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.
“Why are we so desperate that we continue giving awards to our enemies?” asks Julia Hare, co-founder of the Black Think Tank in San Francisco , Calif. “Besides, we don’t need ignorant leadership. You’d have to be living under a rock not to know the reputations of Tyson Foods and Wal-Mart. It’s been all in the news. You can no longer call yourself a civil rights organization nor a Black leader when you engage in this kind of practice. It is not Black leaders but leading Blacks who are bought off by corporations…You can’t have it both ways, Al Sharpton.”
