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Fostering social and racial justice both within Dominion Energy and beyond
By Darius Johnson, Vice President Employee Engagement and Development.
This article is about:
Darius Johnson reflects on social and racial justice and shares his perspective on the progress that has been made and the work that must still be done.A year ago, I shared some thoughts about Juneteenth and my grandfather, who struggled against the mental bondage that remained long after slavery and Jim Crow were abolished. I closed by noting that while we should celebrate the abolition of slavery, we should look forward with steadfast conviction about what we want the future to be.
A great deal has happened since then. It seems appropriate to consider what has changed — and what hasn’t — and what work remains to be done.
We certainly have seen some changes for the better, spurred on by protests against social injustice. These include a movement to reform how policing is carried out — one area in which African Americans have faced unjustly disparate treatment for decades — and the removal of many symbols honoring the Confederacy and its leaders.
Unfortunately, structural racism and old-fashioned bigotry remain far too prevalent. For example, studies published by ABC News, Stanford University and others show that African Americans are still more likely to be subject to traffic stops, and more likely to be searched when we are stopped. Additionally, significant health and educational disparities persist. And recently, the news highlighted the story of Carlette Duffy, a black woman who received two surprisingly low appraisals for her house. When she asked a white neighbor to stand in for her, the third appraisal came in at more than double the first.
Darius as a young boy with his grandfather.
Clearly, we have more work to do — as individuals, as communities, and as a country. But even if we solved such problems overnight, their effects would linger for many years. We cannot let even one day go by without striving to address the inequities that plague our country and the forces that cause or have caused them.
While beliefs are essential, actions speak louder. In the past eight years, we have raised our diverse hiring rate from 27 percent to 50 percent — and we are ahead of that pace for this year. We also have made a commitment to improving diverse workforce retention.
In addition, over the past several months Dominion Energy has taken a number of steps aimed at fostering social and racial justice both inside and beyond our walls:
Our company took these steps for several reasons. First, we believe in supporting our communities. One way to do so is to help heal the wounds our communities have suffered. Second, we recognize that building a diverse workforce is critical to our future success — and retaining a diverse workforce is a direct result of an inclusive workplace culture. We are committed to both. And third, we know business cannot succeed in a society that is failing, and no society can be considered truly successful when racial and social injustice continue to plague it.
Ultimately, these initiatives are about building a better tomorrow for everyone. While progress sometimes seems painfully slow, I feel encouraged that we are pointed in the right direction. Let’s stay focused, stay committed, and not lose sight of the arduous path walked by many before us. With steadfast conviction and diligent effort, we can break the bonds that still adversely impact some in our community, and create a future filled with brighter days for all.
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