Boycotts Are The Way

In recent years—and accelerating since the November Presidential election—major American corporations have made headlines for rolling back their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. From Target scaling back its Pride Month merchandise and cutting DEI programs to Walmart quietly dismantling its diversity efforts, these decisions are not just corporate missteps but deliberate choices that signal a retreat from the values of inclusivity and equity.

For Black and non-white communities, this rollback is more than a disappointment—it is a direct betrayal. Once again, promises of progress are broken, a tale as old as America itself. In 2023, a survey by LinkedIn showed that hiring for DEI-related roles fell by nearly 50% compared to 2021, with corporations increasingly defunding these programs as focus moved elsewhere. But in every betrayal, there lies an opportunity: a call to action. In a capitalist system where profit reigns supreme, one of the most powerful tools we possess is our collective economic power. Targeted boycotts—strategic, sustained, and deliberate—can transform our outrage into demands for accountability. History reminds us: when we come together, we can win.

The rollback of DEI initiatives is not happening in isolation. Corporations like Target, Walmart, and Amazon are making calculated decisions to prioritize profit over people, often in response to conservative backlash or shifting political landscapes. But make no mistake—these are not mere reactions to external pressures. These companies are actively choosing to abandon their commitments to equity, sending a clear message: Black lives, non-white lives, LGBTQ+ lives, and marginalized voices do not matter to them.

When Target, a retail giant once praised for its progressive stances, removed Pride Month merchandise after conservative backlash in 2023, it wasn’t just a failure to stand by the LGBTQ+ community. It was a failure to uphold the very principles of inclusion they had championed. Similarly, Walmart has scaled back DEI programs, reduced funding for diversity initiatives, and has failed to diversify its leadership to any meaningful degree. Amazon, despite its vast resources, has eliminated DEI roles and reduced transparency about workforce demographics—all while continuing to exploit its predominantly Black and brown labor force, paying them paltry wages & working them to the bone.

Increasingly, these companies appear to align—if not explicitly, then subliminally—with a white nationalist vision that exalts exclusion and suppresses progress. Their actions are not just corporate oversights; they are systemic failures, rooted in capitalism’s relentless prioritization of profit over people. And these failures demand a response from us.

So, what can we do? Critics might say these corporate rollbacks are “just business decisions,” but history and research show that diversity isn’t just morally right—it makes companies better. Studies from McKinsey and Deloitte have shown that companies with strong DEI practices are more innovative, attract top talent, and perform better financially. Yet these companies have chosen to disregard these realities to cater to the loudest—and often most regressive—voices in the room.

The response lies in targeted boycotts: focused, strategic withholding of our economic power. Unlike broad boycotts that can be difficult to sustain, targeted boycotts concentrate efforts on a small number of influential corporations, maximizing impact while minimizing the burden on participants to engage. By focusing on companies like Target, Walmart, and Amazon—corporate giants that rely heavily on consumer spending and exploit the labor of Black and non-white workers—we can send a powerful message. These companies depend on our dollars; make no mistake. Even a modest but coordinated boycott can disrupt their bottom line. But this is not just about hurting profits; it’s about demanding accountability and increased corporate responsibility to the workers who make it all run. Withholding our dollars is a demand for these corporations to recommit to real inclusive practices—not in empty words, but in transformative actions.

The idea of using economic power to demand justice is not new. Black and non-white communities have wielded it throughout history to fight systemic oppression. In 1955, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Black residents of Montgomery, Alabama, organized a year-long boycott of the city’s bus system, bringing it to its knees and forcing the U.S. Supreme Court to eventually rule segregation on buses unconstitutional. Similarly, the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott (1965–1970), led by Filipino and Mexican farmworkers, used collective economic pressure to demand fair wages and better working conditions. After five years of sustained activism, the grape growers agreed to contracts that improved workers’ livelihoods. These examples teach us that economic pressure, when organized and strategic, can topple even the most entrenched systems of injustice. Targeted boycotts are not just a protest—they are a proven tool for creating real change.

Taking part in a targeted boycott is simpler than it seems, and every action contributes to the collective impact. You can start by committing to boycott companies like Target, Walmart, and Amazon for a defined period; let’s say for the next three months. This means avoiding in-store shopping, online purchases, and subscription services like Amazon Prime. Redirect your spending to businesses that align with your values. Instead of supporting these corporations, seek out local, minority-owned businesses, ethical brands, and community-focused retailers. For instance, you can explore grocery alternatives such as Imperfect Foods or Thrive Market, which emphasize sustainability and ethical sourcing. Support Black-owned businesses like Aya Paper Co. for sustainable stationery, Harlem Candle Company for beautifully crafted candles, or McBride Sisters Collection for wines crafted by Black women. For personal care items, consider brands like Oyin Handmade for natural hair and skincare products or Butter By Keba, which creates handcrafted body products. For clothing, explore ethical and Black-owned options such as Salone Monet, specializing in inclusive nude footwear, or Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese, which combines sustainable fashion with social justice. You can also check out platforms like We Buy Black which offer a wide range of Black-owned products, from household essentials to gifts.

Use social media to raise awareness about your participation in the boycott and encourage others to join. Share posts explaining why you’re participating, using hashtags like #BoycottForInclusion to build momentum. You can also engage directly with these corporations by writing emails explaining why you are boycotting and what changes they need to make to regain your support. Finally, stay informed and engaged and monitor the companies’ responses to the boycott. If they take steps to reinstate or strengthen their DEI initiatives, acknowledge their progress while continuing to hold them accountable for meaningful follow-through. Together, through collective action, we can demand real change.

The rollback of DEI initiatives is not just a corporate issue—it’s a community issue. It reflects who we are, what we value, and the kind of world we want to build. And while the challenges may seem daunting, history shows us that when we come together, we have the power to create change. By engaging in targeted boycotts, we are sending a message: diversity, equity, and inclusion and workers’ rights are not optional depending on the political headwinds of the day. Companies that abandon their commitments to these values—or fail to care for the workers who sustain them—will not receive our support. So, take a stand today. Look at your shopping habits and ask: Do they align with my values? Choose to support businesses that uplift and empower our communities. Together, we can hold corporations accountable and push for a future where equity and progress are non-negotiable.

There is no better time to act than now. With February marking Black History Month, this is the perfect moment to launch and commit to a targeted boycott. Black History Month serves as a reminder of the resilience and power of Black communities to create systemic change. Let February be the start of a moment that channels our collective economic power toward justice and real equity. Commit to a three-month boycott of corporations like Target, Walmart, and Amazon, and redirect your spending to Black-owned and ethical businesses that align with your values.