Kaiser CEO Speaks Out On Race Issues
Chief executive officers of major healthcare organizations rarely take potentially charged political stances, but Kaiser Permanente Chief Executive Officer Bernard J. Tyson has called for more empathy regarding the experiences of African-American males and more dialogue and understanding between police and the communities they serve.
Tyson, who became CEO of the Oakland-based Kaiser last year and was also appointed chairman of the organization in January, noted in an opinion piece that despite his heading a company with annual revenue of $55 billion a year, he is still eyed as a suspected shoplifter in stores, has been lectured in restaurants regarding the staff’s desire he leave tips, and has had people lock their car doors and cross to the other side of the street when he is out exercising.
“Even as a CEO, the black male experience is my reality,” wrote Tyson in the article, which was first posted to the business networking site LinkedIn last week but also appeared on Newseek.com on Wednesday.
Tyson said he wrote in response to rising criticism of altercations earlier this year in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y. between white police officers and unarmed blacks suspected of wrongdoing that both led to the death of the latter.
Tyson also referenced another incident in Cleveland where officers shot and killed a 12-year-old African-American child who had been waving a toy gun that shoots rubber pellets while in a public park. Grand juries cleared the police of criminal wrongdoing in the Ferguson and Staten Island incidents. All three killings have led to nationwide protests, although opinions on who acted appropriately in each incident have tended to be sharply divided by race.
“If you’re not black, it’s hard to relate to situations as a black man might. So you know I’m speaking from a realistic rather than theoretical standpoint,” Tyson wrote.
“In the Ferguson situation, we need to disregard the small percentage of criminals who are getting publicity for their destruction of property and instead pay attention to the sincere marchers and protestors who are voicing their demands for change,” he later added.
Tyson called for videotaping by police officers of their encounters with members of the public to protect both parties. He also said that community activists should meet with police, local government and local businesses to discuss ongoing issues.
If those goals are met, Tyson concluded that “over time we will see the current environment of police officers going to white neighborhoods to 'protect and resolve issues' and going into black neighborhoods to 'combat and control' change to become a culture of police officers being in all neighborhoods to protect and participate.”
