The Alarming Truth About Diversity in Corporate America...and What Can Be Done About It
August 22, 2011
In her first book, journalist Reed examines the changing profile of corporate diversity and its bumpy history in America, admitting that diversity has become "yesterday's topic." Though readers hoping for an informative how-to manual will be disappointed, the book's strength is its rich review of diversity programs in corporate America. In particular, Reed praises Merck's early compliance under former CEO Roy Vagelos, while also highlighting an ugly period in 1963 when black college students were repeatedly refused service at Walgreen's lunch counters. Reed supplements these company profiles with studies she conducted in 2005 and 2009 to determine the race and gender of executives from Fortune 100 firms. In 2009, 90% of those corporations employed white women as executive officers, but 40% had no executives of color. While today's firms are more diverse, Reed laments that this is the result of the integration of multinationals, rather than firms promoting U.S.-born minorities. Despite the solutions promised by the title, only 20 pages are dedicated to a "New Plan for Progress," which includes ten steps for more integrated leadership.