Sharpton’s National Action Network claims that McDonald’s has not done enough to address allegations of racial prejudice.
Reverend Al Sharpton’s civil rights organization has vowed to “mobilize” against McDonald’s because of the fast food chain’s indifference to customers’ accusations of racial discrimination.
According to published reports, on Thursday Sharpton wrote a letter to McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski, voicing his concerns about racial bias in the fast food chain’s hiring practices, marketing, and leasing agreements. National Action Network chose to keep the letter private.
Our feelings have been severely offended by McDonald’s continued apathy to the Black community. Companies with a minority ownership structure have filed suit. It’s “another one brought by a former black executive because of racism at the highest levels,” Sharpton said.
As one audience member pointed out during Q&A, “Let’s not forget that Byron Allen sued McDonald’s for $10 billion because Black-owned media didn’t get their fair share of the company’s huge advertising budgets.”
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is worried about McDonald’s Corporation removing John Rogers from the board of directors.
We also feel misled by the Board of Directors’ decision to dismiss John Rogers, a famous Black businessman. If McDonald’s doesn’t fix our problems soon, we’ll have to go on the offensive. Black consumers may choose not to support your business if you do not treat them with respect.
Rogers has chosen to step down from his position as a director and employee of the company in March 2023, after 20 years of service. John Rogers also left the board in May of 2003, and shortly after Robert Eckert was selected to replace him, he resigned.
Upon hearing of Rogers’ and Eckert’s retirement announcement last month, McDonald’s issued a statement reading in part, “These retirements are in line with the Board’s commitment to ongoing refreshment that keeps an appropriate balance of continuity, institutional knowledge, and new perspectives among Directors.”