Black Church Leaders Challenge Corporate Retreat from DEI Policies
As corporate America begins to retreat from its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Black church leaders are intensifying their calls for accountability. This movement emerges as a countermeasure to former President Donald Trump’s vigorous campaign against DEI initiatives nationwide.
The urgency of this advocacy is underscored by the Democratic Party’s struggle to respond to Trump’s culture war, particularly as he gains traction among Black and Latino voters in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not charity. It’s not a handout, and the African American community is a valuable partner,” stated Jamal Bryant, a pastor from Georgia. He spearheaded a boycott of Target in response to the retailer’s decision to scale back its DEI initiatives earlier this year. “So we want to know: If you can take our dollars, how come you won’t stand with us?”
In the wake of Trump’s election, numerous corporations, including Meta and Google, began retracting their DEI commitments established after the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020. Just days after resuming office, Trump signed an executive order that dismantled DEI practices within federal agencies, labeling these initiatives as “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences.”
“President Trump is restoring common sense by abolishing DEI policies and reinstating merit as the benchmark,” said White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston. “Performance-oriented companies recognize the value in President Trump’s policies and are aligning with his vision.”
In contrast, Black church leaders view these boycotts as essential to pushing back against the Trump-led wave and ensuring corporate accountability. Bryant noted that his initiative has attracted the support of 2,000 churches and over 200,000 individuals have signed his pledge to boycott Target.
Frederick Haynes, pastor of the 13,000-member Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, emphasized that joining this movement is a reflection of his upbringing, which was steeped in the values of the Civil Rights Movement. He articulated that companies bear “a moral responsibility” when it comes to profit-making.
“They must look inward morally and acknowledge that a United States without diversity, equity, and inclusion is simply unimaginable,” Haynes asserted.
In a response to POLITICO, Dollar General maintained that “our mission is not ‘Serving Some Others’ — it is simply ‘Serving Others.’” The company highlighted its commitment to serving millions of Americans from diverse backgrounds across its 20,500 stores, asserting an ongoing evolution of its programs to support the long-term interests of all stakeholders.
Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights leader who backed Bryant’s Target boycott, called these corporate boycotts among the most effective strategies to counteract the rollback of DEI initiatives.
“The success of the Montgomery boycott changed the law,” Sharpton remarked, referencing the historic mid-1950s bus boycott against segregation. “We can’t merely express grievances; we must target their bottom line.”
While the precise financial impact of these boycotts on companies remains unclear, Target’s CEO Brian Cornell acknowledged in May that some of the retail giant’s declining sales, including a 2.8 percent quarterly drop, could be attributed to “headwinds” linked to the company’s announcement about curtailing DEI programs, alongside issues of consumer confidence and tariff concerns.
A spokesperson for Target assured POLITICO that the company is “absolutely dedicated to fostering inclusivity for everyone — our team members, our guests, and our supply partners.” They expressed pride in the progress made since 2020, believing it has enabled better service to their customers.
However, Sharpton maintained that the boycott remains a formidable instrument of change.
“The strength of the Black church lies in its congregation, which constitutes a significant consumer base,” he explained. “Consider a Black church with 2,000 members; chances are that around 1,900 of them are frequent shoppers.”
Sharpton is also organizing a rally scheduled for August 28, coinciding with the 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. He emphasized the choice of the date as a strategic move to exert pressure on corporations regarding DEI commitments.
“This year, I want to underscore the pressure we’re placing on these businesses regarding DEI; we will be at the heart of industry—where the stock exchange operates—to convey that a lack of diversity in your boardroom will translate to a lack of diversity in your consumer base,” Sharpton articulated.
Yet, these boycotts come with their own set of challenges. Sharpton noted that, at times, congregants have forgotten the ongoing nature of these boycotts, a situation he attributes partly to Trump’s pervasive influence.
“One lesson I learned during the Civil Rights Movement, from Rev. Jesse Jackson and others, is that maintaining public attention is essential,” Sharpton admitted. “However, with the current flood of information from Trump and his affiliates, it’s crucial to remind people, ‘I’m not supposed to be shopping at that store.’ Keeping the public engaged is an ongoing challenge.”
Moreover, Adam Clark, an associate professor of theology at Xavier University, pointed out that the church cannot bear this burden alone, especially given the president’s position.
“The assault on DEI extends far beyond individual companies,” Clark argued. “Trump embodies a broader trend of white aggression against DEI. His authority enables him to federalize these actions, and I don’t believe the church alone can overturn such sweeping changes.”
