吃瓜大本营

Corporate anti-racism is all the rage these days. We鈥檝e exposed the hypocrisy of companies from to that have taken to social media in recent weeks to speak out against systemic racism and express support for the Movement for Black Lives, but refuse to adopt corporate policies to back up their claims. McDonald鈥檚 is the latest company we鈥檝e for joining the chorus of brands releasing hollow solidarity statements and launching a full on woke-washing to profit from the Movement for Black Lives, while doing nothing to change worker policies that perpetuate systemic racism.

After the killing of George Floyd, McDonald鈥檚 produced a to honor Floyd and six other victims of police brutality. 鈥淲e do not tolerate inequity, injustice, or racism,鈥� reads the text that flashes momentarily on the screen before it ends with 鈥淏lack Lives Matter.鈥�

The ad begs the question 鈥� do Black lives REALLY matter to McDonald鈥檚 when it comes to its own workers? McDonald鈥檚 actions speak louder than words. The reality is that 80 percent of McDonald鈥檚 majority Black and Brown workforce don鈥檛 have access to paid sick leave. That is dangerous under normal circumstances; during a global pandemic, it鈥檚 deadly. By failing to ensure that workers have access to paid leave, the McDonald鈥檚 solidarity statement feels more like a PR stunt than a real commitment to the cause.

In another recent attempt to 鈥渨oke-wash鈥� its brand, last month McDonald鈥檚 used its live air time and social platforms during the BET awards to 鈥� putting the spotlight on a number of Black artists, advocates, educators and more. While this tactic arguably did some good by elevating Black issues in the media, it was also a thinly veiled attempt to distract the public from the many ways McDonald鈥檚 exploits Black workers. Many Black McDonald鈥檚 workers have led for paid leave and basic COVID-19 protections for months. Workers have even filedagainst the company, claiming the dangerous workplace conditions 鈥� including to use coffee filters and 鈥減uppy pads鈥� as face masks 鈥� pose a 鈥� that put entire communities at risk. McDonald鈥檚 has so far failed to meet these worker demands and consistently discredits their advocacy 鈥� while paying shareholders nearly since the pandemic began.

If McDonald鈥檚 wants to show it cares about Black and Brown people, it needs to begin the work to change company policies and practices that perpetuate inequality. Immediately adopting a policy that gives all workers access to paid sick days and family and medical leave is an important step in the right direction.

Failing to give its majority Black and Brown workforce paid time off to care for themselves and their families is just the tip of the iceberg. McDonald鈥檚 has a long record of failing to protect workers from racial discrimination and harassment.

For years, McDonald鈥檚 has ignored sexual harassment complaints from many women of color workers. Over the past 18 months, the ACLU has represented dozens of McDonald鈥檚 workers around the country, filing Equal Employment Opportunity Commision complaints and lawsuits against the company for failing to protect them from sexual assault and harassment. A l filed earlier this year by two Black executives alleges a company culture rife with systemic racial discrimination. And most recently, McDonald鈥檚鈥� inability to protect its majority Black and Brown workforce has led to in a number of across the country, and without access to paid leave, has left hundreds of its workers with the impossible decision of choosing between a paycheck and risking their health and the health of others.

It鈥檚 clear that McDonald鈥檚 cares a LOT about attracting Black consumers and socially conscious consumers who care about the Movement for Black Lives. What鈥檚 also clear is that it will gladly co-opt a global movement to end white supremacy and stop police brutality to pad its bottom line. As consumers, we must use our power to call McDonald鈥檚 out and show the company that woke-washing won鈥檛 work on us. Now is the time for McDonald鈥檚 to reckon with its past, address systemic racism within its red and gold walls, and implement policies that support Black people.

Today, July 20, marks the nationwide, which calls for an end to white supremacy and fundamental changes to our society, economy, and workplaces. Many McDonald鈥檚 workers are planning actions to pressure the company to give all workers access to paid leave and other basic protections. Now is the time to show workers that we have their backs. McDonald鈥檚 cares about consumer reviews, which is why we鈥檙e flooding more than 300 McDonald鈥檚 restaurant Facebook review pages with messages McDonald鈥檚 should listen to their demands and respond with real policy changes. Anything short of that is unacceptable.

McDonald鈥檚 workers don鈥檛 need a marketing campaign telling them McDonald鈥檚 cares about Black people. They need policies that show it.