SEC officials and staff across the country are participating in events to celebrate February’s African American History Month, which was designated in 1986 to make all Americans aware of the struggle for freedom and opportunity.
On Feb. 17, Professor Chris Brummer was invited to SEC headquarters to discuss diversity and inclusion in the financial services industry. The event was hosted by the African American Council and featured a discussion between Professor Brummer and Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee.
“Diversity and inclusion is critical to the success of our agency, our markets, our economy, and the entire nation,” said Acting Chair Lee. “It’s key to ensuring that we at the SEC are attracting and retaining diverse talent, maximizing our effectiveness as we carry out our mission, and creating an atmosphere where everyone can develop and succeed. There is no better time than African American History Month to reflect on and strengthen the SEC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, both internally and in our policymaking.”
The Acting Chair describes the conversation with Professor Brummer:
“I was very pleased to welcome Professor Chris Brummer to an event sponsored by the African American Council to commemorate African American History Month. We discussed Professor Brummer’s research on the dearth of Black financial regulators and the importance of diverse participants in the regulatory process. I encourage everyone to read his prepared remarks from the event, participate in the other excellent programs taking place across the agency this month, and help us continue this important discussion not only during this month but well beyond."
Professor Brummer encapsulated the importance of diversity at regulatory agencies in his remarks:
“The promise of our institutions rests on the bravery, judgment, and thoughtfulness that so many of our regulators bring to the table. Regulators of every background – Black, white, Latino, Asian – come to work to make a difference. But it is time to ensure that in our mission to create ladders of opportunity we do not embed infrastructures of inequality.”
You can read Professor Brummer’s full remarks here.
Other SEC events throughout the month have included a celebration of the achievements and contributions of African Americans with a retired judge, a presentation about genealogy, a discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion and the current state of racial justice in America, a historical perspective on Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa massacre, and a focus on literature and articles that are meant to educate and inspire.
Modified: Feb. 18, 2021