By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
Target is one of the companies scaling back their DEI initiatives.
In a significant shift, both Walmart and Target, as well as other major companies, have recently scaled back their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This sparked backlash and calls for boycotts from various communities, particularly from students on campus.
Many students have taken note of this and acted accordingly. Nursing major Vickaina Louis, a freshman, said that she is boycotting Target and Walmart.
“They don’t deserve my money,” Louis said. “I would rather support companies that support me.”
With Walmart ending its Center for Racial Equity and Target ending its “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy, Louis and other students believe that the reduction of DEI programs is a step backward in the push for racial equality and inclusion.
“It’s very unfortunate because the majority of those companies are made of Black people and their products,” healthcare studies major Chrystophe Obiang Ze, a sophomore, said.
The DEI goals that once aimed to increase Black employee representation and growth, improve the shopping experience for Black customers and promote Black-owned businesses are being rolled back.
“I think it’s inconsiderate when it comes down to the customers and employees,” Louis said.
Nursing major Vickaina Louis, a freshman, in Chase Hall lobby on March 6.
According to GreenAmerica.org, in November 2024, Target announced it was discontinuing its racial equity training programs for employees and evaluating initiatives focused on increasing supplier diversity.
Similarly, Walmart revealed it was ending its five-year, $100 million commitment to the Center for Racial Equity, along with ending its support for Pride celebrations and involvement in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
While the cutback for DEI shocked many students, psychology major Ashnaelle Bijoux, a freshman, said it was disappointing but not surprising.
Due to this shift occurring after President Trump signed an executive order to end DEI programs across the federal government, many students are skeptical about the reason behind the cutback.
“We all saw Trump’s intentions, which was to put down all that Black and Hispanic people do in the world and try to make something out of them for their family,” Bijoux said.
Other students are focused on the economic impact that this change will have.
Sports and exercise science major Jayden Gerhard, a freshman, said that he is against the DEI cutback because the lack of promoting Black-owned businesses can hinder them
“They should leave it alone because it gives people a chance to make money,” Gerhard said.
Overall, companies scaling back their DEI initiatives, particularly Target, can expect a decline in sales. This week a 40-day boycott of Target was launched, due to this decision.
Many students support the boycott, especially since Black people make up a significant portion of Target’s shoppers.
According to Vicki Bogan, a professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, Black Americans account for approximately 8.9% of consumer spending at Target.
As Black shoppers continue to act out against Target, students said that these decisions send a message that companies are disregarding the well-being and representation of marginalized groups.
Obiang Ze also said that the cutback is also harmful to the future of Black professionals.
“Even though they already copied everything that Black people have created, they’re still trying to stump future Black successors,” Obiang Ze said.
