Yesterday's economic blackout sent a message to the president and the big box stores. Did it work? it may be too early to tell.Should we do it again to make a stronger statement? Absolutely!!!
The reason for the blackout was to honor companies that still maintained their DEI - diversity -equity and inclusion policies and to protest those that followed President's Trump new policies.Atlanta based pastor Reverend Jamal Bryant organized a forty day protest through the website targetfest.com.It was supposed to start on Ash Wednesday - March 5th 2025 and continue for forty days during the Lenten period.Right before this plan Reverend Al Sharpton announced in late January of this year that it would identify two companies for ninety day boycotts focusing on businesses that had abandoned diversity pledges. The reverend stated that while federal government might eliminate DEI programs it was ultimately the consumers retained the power of where they could shop and spend their money. Unfortunately many stores where we shop for food and kitchen appliances scrapped their DEI programs. Topping the list were Walmart,Target , Amazon and it's subsidiary Whole Foods. Certain companies like General MIlls and Nestle also got rid of their diversity programs.
What does this mean? Do we still shop at these stores and buy their products? That's up to you. However it pays to research a store's hiring policies. Both Aldi and Lidl, German based companies that have the European sense of fairness (as many European based companies do) hire on a DEI basis.Anyone is welcome to work in their stores and there is a very likely chance of promotion in their first year of work. American based grocery stores like Acme and Stop & Shop. Shop at these stores as much as possible. Ldl has delicious foods like Aldi and at cost. Lidl offers clothing and household goods like pots and pans along with linens so you don;t have to rely on Target or Amazon for everything. Another economic blackout might also call for avoiding such fast food chains as Chick Fil't and Starbucks. What do you do then? As the organizers suggest look to the smaller family ownded businesses. There are some good coffee shops that are privately owned. Many bakeries also offer coffee and places to sit. Their homemade treats area lot better as we all know than the mass produced muffins and doughnuts. The same is true with family owned restaurants. The food is always fresh and they can easily customize your food to the way you want.
Another economic blackout may be planned. Be ready and knowledgeable about where to shop and eat. Support the places that still strongly support DEI in this turbulent time.
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