Companies with a checkered history must resist toppling by the mob

In truth, the giant corporations that came out of the 19th century were nearly all involved in slavery, colonialism or empire in one way or another. It was impossible not to be.

That was the way the world was, and it was certainly the way business was done, and money was made. Today’s conglomerates may well have impeccable standards of diversity, and inclusiveness, but they have also inherited brands, technologies and market positions that were arguably created through force and oppression.

It is certainly legitimate to question that. And yet the woke mob is also often vengeful, intolerant and mindlessly destructive. In many cases, it has been hijacked by people with an openly anti-capitalist agenda. So how should companies stand up to the woke tidal wave and protect themselves from attack? Here are three places to start.

First, be honest. If you haven’t already done so, hire a couple of historians to dig through the records and put all the facts up on the company website. If you don’t, you can be sure someone else will, and that will look much, much worse. Don’t try to spin the facts or conveniently forget to mention anything that might look embarrassing, or bury it under a mound of soft soap. The historical record is what it is. There is no point trying to hide it. Honesty is by far the best way of dealing with the past.