Walmart to address racism with $100M - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Walmart Inc. and the Walmart Foundation are committing $100 million over five years to create a center on racial equity, the company said Friday.

In a memo to employees, Walmart President and Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon said the center's goal will be "to address systematic racism in society head-on and accelerate change."

The center will use the funds to support philanthropic initiatives in the nation's financial, health care, education and criminal justice systems, McMillon said. The Bentonville-based retailer will also work within the company to recruit, develop and support black employees and other people of color, he said.

At Wednesday's shareholders meeting, McMillon referred to the May 25 death in Minneapolis of a handcuffed black man in the custody of white police officers, calling it "tragic, painful and unacceptable."

"Walmart is an inclusive company," McMillon said. "We're motivated to continue our work related to diversity and inclusion inside our company and defining ways to influence the various systems that exist in our country in a more impactful, positive and inclusive way."

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