Nike’s Chairman and CEO Mark Parker sent a letter last Thursday to the company’s 32,000 employees understating Nike’s commitment to “racial justice” following the heightened tensions in black communities and the police. He also said Nike will hold meetings at Beaverton headquarters and in its NY, Chicago and LA offices to explore race issues.
“Conversations don’t solve everything, but dialogue will help,” Parker wrote in the letter. “Our voices matter. This is your company and we want you to be heard. In difficult times, it’s important to speak up. We cannot change the past, but we can impact the future.”
The letter was provided to Fortune Magazine.
The letter came a day after four of Nike’s athletes – Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James – joined each other on stage at the start of the Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards to call for social change and justice. Parker mentioned the call in his letter as well as one by Serena Williams.
In May, Nike released its Sustainable Business Report that showed the minority” employees for the first time made up the majority (52 percent) of its U.S. workforce. Black/African American employees are 21 percent of Nike’s staff in the U.S., Hispanic/Latino workers, 18 percent, Asians, 7 percent; with Pacific Islanders and other ethnic groups making up the rest.
Nike was also threatened boycotts in 2015 after offering law enforcement officers up to 30 percent off on its second annual “law enforcement appreciation day,” which came soon after the deaths of Walter Scott and Eric Harris by police.
Parker’s full letter follows:
Team,
Like many of you, I’m struggling to make sense of the incomprehensible. We have experienced heartbreaking, disturbing and challenging times in the United States. I have watched with sorrow the events that took place across the U.S. The loss and pain experienced in Minnesota, Louisiana and Dallas have left communities, institutions and even the nation tested. Our thoughts are with all those impacted and their families and friends.
Nike has a long history of supporting the marginalized and those whose voice is not always heard. In many cases our athletes have eloquently argued for change and to stop the situation. Last night, at the ESPYs, we heard athletes like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul powerfully speak out about the issues facing society. Others, like Serena Williams, have also made their voices heard.
As a company, I’m proud that Nike takes a stand on issues that impact all of us, our athletes and society as a whole. And I am proud that Nike stands against discrimination in any form. We stand against bigotry. We stand for racial justice. We firmly believe the world can improve. We are a diverse company and, as we stated in our recent Sustainable Business Report, are firmly committed to making it more diverse and inclusive.
We cannot solve all these profound, longstanding and systemic issues. However, one thing will always be clear: discrimination in any form and racial injustice are destructive forces. And talking about these issues can help find peace and paths forward. I firmly believe we are at our best when we engage and listen to those around us, in our communities at home and at work. It’s impossible to leave our emotions and experiences outside the work place – they inform us and make us who we are.
We don’t have the answers, but it’s important to try to talk about the issues we’re facing. Antoine Andrews, VP of Diversity and Inclusion, will work with the North American leadership team in the coming weeks to help facilitate meetings at WHQ and in our NY, Chicago and LA offices to allow us to talk about what we are facing together. Conversations don’t solve everything, but dialogue will help. Our voices matter. This is your company and we want you to be heard. In difficult times, it’s important to speak up. We cannot change the past, but we can impact the future.
Thanks,
Mark Parker
Chairman, President and CEO, NIKE, Inc.
#blacklivesmatter #stoptheviolence
