Just like there should be a boycott for any business that dumped its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy and support, Target is in the cross-hairs. I remember fondly shopping at Target for many years, and had my first job there before I decided “fronting shelves” and stocking required a level of attention beyond me in my teenage years.

I never gave DEI a thought at the time. I didn’t have to. I was so wrapped up in being the descendent of the Vikings and conquistadores, I never gave a thought to the real heroes in my heritage: a lot of brown people who were murdered, and those that came before me were the survivors of the brutality. Wrapped in a comforting mantle of privilege, I never doubted I could get a job anywhere.

Revisiting DEI’s Definition

A simple way to look at DEI is:

DEI means making room for everyone at the table.

Diversity is about who sits at the table – people of different races, genders, backgrounds, and abilities.

Equity is making sure everyone has what they need to reach the table in the first place. Some people need more help than others because the path hasn’t been fair.

Inclusion is making sure everyone at the table feels welcome to speak up and be heard.

It’s not about quotas or special treatment. It’s about fixing a system that has kept some people out, so everyone gets a fair chance to contribute and succeed.

I suppose people are afraid of diversity because they think there won’t be enough to go around. And they fear equity because it means acknowledging that their ancestors, as well as people in the recent past, have continued to practice unfair practices to keep pushing people down. Finally, inclusion is bad because they only want to hear people who push their stories, their lies, their truths…and understanding others’ truths requires time and effort.

Target’s Choice

I’m often reminded of the saying of a “Fair Weather Friend.” It’s a “person who is dependable in good times but is not in times of trouble.” Target falls into this category. When you read about how they embraced LGBTQ+ (then withdrew support) and the Black community, they made it possible for these folks to be at the table, to speak up and be heard. There’s nothing wrong with amplifying people’s voices.

Target is facing a 40-day consumer boycott starting Wednesday over the company’s shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.

“We’re asking people to divest from Target because they have turned their back on our community,” Rev. Jamal Bryant, a prominent Atlanta-area megachurch pastor who started the boycott, said in an interview with CNN.

via CNN

I’ll be joining the Target boycott. And, urge you to boycott and end business ties whenever possible with any business that steps back from supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. After all, the reason DEI is unpopular isn’t because it’s about those three words. Can you guess what it’s really about?