Corporate apologies for racism often substitute gestures for structural change

Evidence

We comment that we are not interested in any personal compensation, but would rather see that she provide her staff with proper diversity training. She firmly states that she will do something about her staff. A huge basket with fruit and exclusive wine gets sent up with a note: “our very sincere apologies.” Throughout the remaining part of the stay, the staff goes out of their way to behave overcorrectly. How sincere the apologies are can be judged by other mixed couples or people of color who choose in the future to stay at the same hotel. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1489

Categorization

• APHORISMS: The sincerity of an apology is measured by the treatment of the next group to arrive, not the present one being placated.
• XREF: connects to: Corporate solidarity gestures can provoke activist backlash when company practices contradict them — Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Speculative Communities: Living with…, 724; Apologies are judged authentic only through changed attitudes and actions, not words — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 162; Apology-focused racial reckoning can sidestep demands for reparative action — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 166 (+1 more)