Together, We Shall Overcome
The African American community feels tremendous pain—a long-felt suffering illumined once again by the series of undeserved and violent deaths. The community bears this too familiar burden while still reeling from the relentless uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted minority communities across the country. It is little wonder, then, that men and women of color, and all people of conscience, should feel great sadness, considerable resentment, and justifiable anger.
We grieve with this community and for it. As a nation, we must do better by our fellow citizens and oppose injustice wherever apparent. There is simply no excuse for permitting this engrained pattern of disregard and disrespect to persist.
This pattern is particularly concerning to Summit because our mission is to make a more just society. Treating each other with care is one of our core visions. Our mission and vision will only ring true when we do what we can to end racism in all its forms and when we promote fair and equitable treatment of all citizens regardless of race, status, and circumstances This moment requires us to reaffirm these commitments both as a corporate citizen and as individuals.
To do our part in this time of loss, Summit will donate $5,000 to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is renowned for opposing hate, promoting tolerance, and seeking justice. We will further engage our Philanthropic Committee to identify opportunities to assist in rebuilding affected communities once the current unrest passes.
For now, It is important that we reflect on the many things which unite us. We can reflect on this by remembering the humanity and sympathy expressed by Sen. Robert Kennedy, who himself lost a family member to violence, the night he learned of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. To express his condolences to a pained community, Sen. Kennedy quoted the Greek tragedian Aeschylus, who wrote “Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”
Sincerely,
Summit Consulting Partners
