Growig up, I remember my grandmother’s weekly ritual of clipping Walmart coupons from the Sunday paper. “They’ve got the best prices,” she’d say, carefully organizing her savings strategy. Like many Black families, Walmart was our go-to for everything from school supplies to holiday gifts.
But times change, and so do corporate loyalties.
Walmart’s recent decision to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives isn’t just another corporate restructuring – it’s a stark reminder of how quickly promises made during 2020’s racial reckoning can evaporate. The retail giant, which proudly touts itself as Black America’s largest private employer, has effectively told its Black customers and employees that “belonging” is enough. No need for those pesky DEI programs anymore, folks. Problem solved.
Let’s talk numbers: Black Americans wield $1.8 trillion in spending power this year. That’s not pocket change – it’s economic muscle that could reshape corporate America’s priorities. Yet somehow, we’re supposed to believe that we need Walmart more than they need us.
The irony isn’t lost on those of us who’ve watched this story play out before. In 2020, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon pledged $100 million to address racial equity and promised to examine every aspect of the company for prejudice. Fast forward to today, and these initiatives are being shuttered faster than a garden center during a thunderstorm.
Black America’s $1.8 Trillion Question: Why Stay Loyal to Companies That Aren’t Loyal to Us?
Right-wing activists are celebrating this as a victory against “wokeness.” But here’s what they’re missing: Black consumers have options. We’re not stuck in the 1960s, when our shopping choices were limited by segregation. Today, we can take our dollars anywhere – to Black-owned businesses, to companies that maintain their commitment to equity, or to competitors who understand that diversity isn’t just a buzzword but a business imperative.
The message from Walmart seems clear: They’re betting that Black Americans will keep shopping there regardless of how they treat us. They’re counting on convenience and low prices to override our concerns about corporate responsibility and racial equity.
But what if we proved them wrong?
What if Black America decided that loyalty is a two-way street? What if we showed corporate America that dismantling DEI programs has real economic consequences?
The truth is, Walmart needs those Black dollars a lot more than Black folks need Walmart. Every time we swipe our cards at their registers, we’re voting with our wallets. And right now, we’re voting for a company that just told us that addressing systemic racism isn’t worth the backlash from anti-“woke” activists.
My grandmother taught me another lesson besides coupon-clipping: self-respect is priceless. Maybe it’s time we showed corporate America that Black economic power isn’t just about spending – it’s about choosing where not to spend, too.
