The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation has announced a scholarship program that will benefit 12 historically Black colleges and universities. The HBCUs will be selected based on funding needs, proximity to Ralph Lauren Corporation’s U.S. operation center, and having disciplines that support the retail industry. Spelman College and Morehouse College in Atlanta have been announced as two participating institutions.
According to the company, the program coincides with Ralph Lauren Corporation’s “commitment to addressing systemic racism and racial injustice by creating more pathways for equity within the fashion industry and beyond, beginning with education.”
“This new scholarship will allow high-achieving students in need of financial support to graduate with less debt, ready to step into their careers,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College. “We’re extremely proud to join forces with the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation in its effort to increase equity and access in the fashion industry.”
We need some clarity and reality for a moment. The Ralph Lauren Corporation is going to donate a meagerly $2 million to be divided up by 12 HBCUs over the course of 5 years which only amounts to a pathetic $83,333 per year. Keep in mind, this company has revenues of $6.2 billion (FY 2021).
In lieu of that, these so-called Black leaders at these HBCUs will be jumping higher than LeBron James for Ralph Lauren PEANUTS. You best believe the Ralph Lauren Foundation will benefit from this more than any of those selected HBCUs because it will be used as part of meeting their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) quota. I just bet this meager donation (e.g., Ralph Lauren executives lunch money)will be used in any outstanding or upcoming discrimination lawsuits by claiming “Ralph Lauren” is not a racist corporation.
In the final analysis, it appears to me that HBCUs need to stop selling themselves for corn shucks in the 21st century.