Atlanta's Black Leaders, Including Rev. Joseph Lowery, Unhappy about Delta Air Lines' Diversity, Wants Carrier to Boost Black Executives in its Ranks

Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, Photo: By Roy Lewis, Washington Informer

A friend handed me the latest copy of the "Atlanta Business Chronicle" yesterday and the lead story was very interesting. A little shocking maybe. It is entitled "Black Leaders Unhappy about Delta Air Lines' Diversity." Since Delta is based in Atlanta, naturally it is the airline of choice for many people to meet their travel needs. According to the newspaper, top Atlanta civil rights leaders, including Rev. Joseph Lowery, Rev. James Milner and Joe Beasley have voiced concern about the airlines' commitment to diversity or lack thereof -- in the number of executives, directors, suppliers, pilots or overall workforce. They have met with top executives at Delta, including its CEO Richard Anderson; COO Steve Gorman and Michael Campbell, executive vice president of human resources and labor relations, to discuss their concerns. I cringe when I hear that our so-called civil rights leaders are leading the "charge" to fix diversity issues as they see fit. Why do we still have to mandate to a company that is clearly visible in the black community how many African Americans it must have within its ranks? Isn't this a shake-down of sorts?

For what it's worth, I will give Delta some credit for the things it has done right. Delta officials told the ABC that procurement is one of Richard Anderson's top priorities, especially in light of the airlines' global status. Officials said that nearly half of all new executives hired from outside Delta since Anderson took over are women and minorities. The company also has community deeds to show for its commitment to diversity -- recent $1 million scholarship endowment at Morehouse College.

“There’s a lot of disappointment in the African-American community,” Rev. James Milner said. “I know they can do better. They need to do better in all areas.” Really? I can't recall hearing such widespread rumbling in Atlanta's African American community, of which I am a part. You see, there are more important things in Atlanta worth fighting for -- high crime rates in the inner city neighborhoods of Atlanta that have spilled out to the suburbs in many instances, the high unemployment rates that have hit blacks particularly hard, as well as the drug smuggling in some areas of Gwinnett county. Excuse me for begging to differ with this latest witch hunt these so-called civil rights leaders have embarked on. Am I saying Delta is without blame? Absolutely not, but I have yet to see Rev. Joseph Lowery in the inner city communities helping in the fight against the gun violence and escalating crime. Rev. Lowery, there are many at-risk black men in these communities who are crying out for help.

“The proof of the pudding is in the pie. Either you’re doing it or you’re not doing it,” Joe Beasley, president of the African Ascension and human resources director at Antioch Baptist Church North Beasley said. “Delta has let us down, but we are willing to work with them. We want to help Delta be all that they can be. There’s no question that they’ve slipped tremendously.”

Specifically, Beasley said that there’s been a decline in the number of black vice presidents working at the airline. Currently, there are two African-American vice presidents at Delta, but no senior or executive vice president. Delta’s top leadership team is composed of nine white men and one white female.

Rev. James Milner, senior pastor of the Chapel of Christian Love Baptist Church said the airline also should increase the number of ethnic, black and women pilots, as well as business with minority suppliers. “I really believe Richard Anderson’s intention is to rectify all of this,” Milner said. “They’re a little slow on this. I’m not satisfied with the rate they are moving.”

Lowery, who commended Delta for endowing a $1 million scholarship in his name at Morehouse College, also is looking for more diversity at the airline. “Richard has set in motion a few things that we hope will pan out,” Lowery said. “They need someone in diversity who is aggressive.” Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle

I will give Rev. Joseph Lowery a lot of credit for his tireless fight for civil rights, but this latest fight is misguided to a great extent, in my opinion. There are more pressing needs within the black community than to pick on a company that has shown that it is committed to diversity by its actions. Why not hold blacks and Latinos in some of these crime-ridden communities responsible for their actions? Why not start intervention programs to help some of the at-risk black youths reach their potential and see another path to take other than a life of crime? Some of these very youths reside in the same community as the Ebenezer Baptist church and near Dr. King's early home, which should be a national landmark instead of a hovel. Why henpeck a company that has clearly shown its commitment to diversity to pad its ranks with employees, suppliers and vendors for no other reason but race. Come on, how can we move to a post-racial America if we have to be mindful of how many blacks, Latinos, Asians, Indians, Caucasians, Native Indians, etc., are in our ranks.

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