DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti discusses with Michael Ward, chairman, president and CEO of CSX, our Top Company for Diversity-Management Progress, how CSX became the first railroad company to create a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Diversity and inclusion research shows that understanding local cultures is key to creating inclusive workforces globally. But how can companies actually do it?

Michael Ward, CEO, chairman and president, accepts the award for Top Company Diversity-Management Progress.

Susan Story, CEO, Southern Company Services, accepts the award for Top Company for Diversity-Management Progress.

Anré Williams, president, Global Merchant Services, American Express, accepts the award for Top Company for Employee-Resource Groups.

John Veihmeyer, chairman and CEO, KPMG, accepts the award for Top Company for Talent Pipeline.

Edward M. Hurley-Wales, newly named vice president, diversity and inclusion, accepts the award for Top Companies for Working Families

IBM’s Rod Adkins, senior vice president, systems and technology group, accepts the award for the 2011 Top Company for Global Cultural Competence.

John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, accepts the award for Top Company for Community Development.

Kaiser Permanente’s Chuck Columbus, chief human resources executive and senior vice president, accepts the 2011 Special Award for Top Company for Executive Development.

There’s a major difference between bigotry and racism. The White Guy addresses a question from a reader about whether it’s OK for a Black person to be a bigot.

Question: I live in a small suburb of Kansas City, Mo. I have noticed more frequently that individuals in the area have confederate flag bumper stickers, flags hanging as windows, etc. What’s the deal?