Blacks in Upper Management

Consideration of the issues involved in the black experience in uppermanagement is presented in four related discussions. These discussions (1) define the problem, (2) examine the specific problems confronted by black executives, (3) review the historical (since 1960) background of blacks in uppermanagement, and (4) trace the legal and social developments affecting blacks in uppermanagement.

The history of blacks in uppermanagement in the United States is all but an ignored subject. Schools, regardless of level, seldom discuss in detail the critical roles played by blacks in the management of the country's organizations. A casual comparison at the position of blacks in uppermanagement in the 1930s with that of the 1980s would lead to a conclusion that, indeed, great strides have been made. In fact, much of the apparent change is superficial, and much of the prejudice and discrimination has simply been disguised or driven underground (Leinster, 1988, pp. 109-110, 114, 118, 120). In the late1980s, many blacks who have been placed in uppermanageme

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lson, Opton, & Wilson, 1980, p. 23). Organizations large and small have been placed in the position of having to justify the wage levels of the different classes of employees within their organizational structures. Yet, organizations large and small continue in the 1980s to find ways to pay their women and minority employees, differently than their white male workers (Shim, 1983, pp. 66-68). LEGAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Providing equal opportunity to minority groups within a society is more a social issue than it is a legal issue. Requirements for equality may be legislated, and those requirements may be enforced with some degree of effectiveness. Real equality of opportunity will not occur, however, until such time as the great majority of individuals and organizations within a society voluntarily behave in a socially responsible manner. In 1978, the then Secretary of Commerce in the Carter Administration, Juanita Kreps, said that "American business today is heavily dependent on the society that surrounds it, on capital, labor, and customers; that is to say that American corporations have a tremendous stake in the wellbeing of American society" (Kreps, 1978, pp. 10-11). This statement represents the position that b
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Lundberg Startz, Fullerton Tschetter, Capitalism Freedom, Supreme Court, United Lacayo, ISSUES Consideration, Agency EPA, Kreps American, Historical Background, Rights Act, racial ethnic, blacks uppermanagement, business industry, rules game, employment discrimination, social responsibility, wage differentials, sex racial ethnic, past discrimination, sex racial, longterm unemployed, effects past discrimination, racial ethnic background, percent longterm unemployed, monthly labor review,
Approximate Word count = 3021
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page)

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