Chick-Fil-A’s CEO Calls On The Wealthy To Use Power And Influence To End Racial Inequality
Chick-Fil-A’s CEO and chairman Dan T. Cathy joins many other brands and people all over the world in addressing the racial injustices in America. In a post on LinkedIn, he called on the wealthy to use their power and influence to end systemic racism.
The post—titled “Use Your Power and Influence”—starts out with how Cathy has heard the phrases “I am tired” and “use your privilege” a lot lately. To the latter, he wrote, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
Before he continued, he noted that "someone like me cannot fully appreciate and understand the gross injustices that are all around us." He wrote that talking about systemic inequality will draw criticism, but it's not OK for him "to remain silent about the issues that now so publicly confront our nation."
Cathy’s main goal was to call on the privileged to end racial inequality. He wrote:
There are countless academics and analysts who have written about how our democratic capitalism benefits only a few hundred incredibly wealthy families, individuals and corporations, so that the American dream is now reserved almost exclusively for them and their descendants. Because I am among that demographic, I am calling on them—us—to use our power and influence.
He continues with examples of how Chick-Fil-A has worked to better “the most distressed zip code in Georgia” with financial investments in the area and a location there “led by owner-operator Quincy Springs, a black Army veteran.”
To end the post, he gives actions the wealthy can take to do better, including teaching children about “leadership, love, and justice” and being “responsible capitalists.” He does not mention if he or the company are donating to any social justice organizations.
Given the company's history of donating to discriminatory organizations, the statement has sparked controversy. The company shared Cathy’s statement and more on Twitter, where people reacted.
While these are nice words, y'all should try being all-inclusive. LGBTQ and all. Just like it shouldn't have taken you 9 days to get on board.
— Cheryl (@WriteTalkCreate) June 3, 2020
do more than post. donate.
— serena ?? BLM (@serenashado) June 3, 2020
Fuck off, cowards. Your fake virtue signalling means NOTHING. These people will never forgive you, when will you realize that, idiots?
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) June 4, 2020
Read Cathy and Chick-Fil-A's full statement here.
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