Why corporate America makes an unconvincing ally against racism

mazon, Apple, McDonalds, JP Morgan – the biggest names in corporate America have all joined the global call for a reckoning on racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s brutal death at the hands of Minneapolis police last month.

Corporate donations to civil rights groups– at least $1.7bn by one estimate – have been accompanied by an outpouring of solidarity statements from the biggest names in fast food, finance and media.

Watching the news Marcia Chatelain, a provost’s distinguished associate professor of history at Georgetown University, had a sense of déjà vu and an expectation of disappointment. Chatelain said these actions echoed historical moves by business giants to pitch themselves as allies in times of crisis.