After a decade of tracking and observing how some of the nation's largest companies and industries treat consumers of color, the NAACP reports that while positive change is occurring, companies across all industries need to commit to continuous improvements in order to break through to the next level of performance.
The 2006 edition of the NAACP Consumer Choice Guide, commonly known as the 'business report card,' is part of the Association's Economic Reciprocity Initiative (ERI) and now available. The guide and related report, released during the NAACP's 97th Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. this week, provides consumers with tools for empowerment, enabling them to make informed choices when choosing services in surveyed industries.
"African Americans pump roughly $650 billion into the American economy annually," said NAACP President & CEO. "We should spend wisely and have readily available information to be assured that those we do business with are reinvesting in our community, employing a diverse work force, utilizing minority vendors and supporting our causes. Those not practicing such measures should not benefit from the economic power we provide. There continues to be opportunities for major corporations to improve their performance."
In 1996, the NAACP launched the ERI as a sustained consumer movement to measure corporate America's financial relationship with the African American community. Since then, the ERI has expanded its scope and has continued to annually highlight diversity efforts made in lodging, telecommunications, financial services, general merchandising and automotive industries.
"We are pleased to say that over time, all of the industries have seen an improvement in their grades," said NAACP National Policy Director John H. Jackson. "The Association is encouraged by past success and excited about future plans for the initiative. Working hand in hand with our corporate and non-profit partners, we can make a tremendous impact on American corporations' move toward greater diversity and meaningful economically reciprocal relationships."
Each of the industries is rated in five performance areas. Information contained in the report is based on data provided by participating companies in 2005. Survey questions are graded and assigned point values which are translated into a letter grade.
Download the pdf version of the 2006 Consumer Choice Guide.
Click here to download the 2006 ERI Press Conference Video Podcast from iTunes.
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