Congressional Black Caucus Says Its Meeting With Target CEO Fell Woefully Short
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) joins the list of Black leaders pushing for corporate accountability. Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke and members of the Congressional Black Caucus’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force met with Target CEO Brian Cornell to discuss the company’s rollback of its DEI efforts, according to a press release.
In January, the retailer announced that it would end its three-year DEI goals, conclude its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives by 2025, and discontinue a program focused on carrying more products from Black— or minority-owned businesses.
Congressional Black Caucus meeting with Target
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus had a “candid and direct” conversation with Target. Still, they felt that “the explanations offered by the leadership of the Target Corporation fell woefully short of what our communities deserve.”
The CBC asked Target leadership about the demands of the “Target Fast” – a 40-day boycott against the retailer, which began on Wednesday, March 4. It also highlighted the financial burden that Target has already taken since it ended its DEI initiatives. Target’s foot traffic declined for eleven consecutive weeks amid the boycott.
“Black consumers contribute overwhelmingly to our economy and the Target Corporation’s bottom line. Our communities deserve to shop at businesses that publicly share our values without sacrificing our dignity. It is no longer acceptable to deliver promises to our communities in private without also demonstrating those values publicly,” the CBC said in a statement.
Holding Target accountable
The CBC outlined four steps Target can take to restore its relationship with the Black community:
- Publicly restore DEI efforts
- Reinstate Target’s DEI initiatives that were eliminated or rolled back
- Share status on previous DEI-related financial investments
- Disclose the makeup of Target’s workforce, business supplier diversity, and community investment
Image: AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib
