Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of both the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and MLS's Atlanta United, has authored a new book titled "Good Company" about building a business with values beyond making a profit.
In a year when America's social justice movement has gained broad attention, perhaps it has been nowhere more visible than among professional athletes, and Blank has shown his support for his Falcons players. Members of the team kneeled in solidarity with the Seattle Seahawks immediately following the kickoff for their game on Sunday.
Beyond the NFL, players throughout the sports world have been taking part in visible protests to address racial injustice following a summer of nationwide protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
"It's incredibly important that we support our players. These young men, both historically and for themselves personally, for their families, for their siblings, have lived through the last 400 years of versions of these issues," Blank told Cheddar, speaking about a league about 70 percent comprised of Black men.
He also said that despite a great deal of progress, there was much to be done, touching on conversations he's had with early civil rights leaders like former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis.
"They both said the same thing to me, separately. We've made great progress and that's wonderful to celebrate that," Blank said. "On the other hand, we have a lot of issues ahead of us, we need a heightened sense of urgency, we need to move forward, but we need to do it and do it in a peaceful way and support peaceful protest."
The NFL owner encouraged people to vote, calling it the most important form of peaceful protest. He also stated that the league, the team, and its players have done a lot of work in getting out the vote as well.
On the issue of his sports franchises, both the Falcons and Atlanta United, reopening during the pandemic, Blank said that it was the right thing to begin the season without fans in the stand, despite the current rules in Georgia that would allow it.
"We have the ability to open up now if we chose to, based on the state regulations," he said. "On the other hand, we want to make sure we're in tune to listening to the scientists and all the medical advisers at the CDC that operate in this community and throughout the country."
Blank pointed out that in his book he emphasizes the need to listen to the scientific experts and respond to what they say as well.
The mogul also went on to explain that his book addresses recent demands on businesses to embrace values outside of making a profit and help improve conditions in both the workplace and the environment, particularly among young people who are demanding more from capitalism.
"Profitability is important. I believe in capitalism. You have to have sustained profitability to maintain the organization," Blank said. "But on the other hand, our fans, our guests, our customers, our associates, our communities today are asking us to have a deeper purpose than just 'making money,' if you will."
