Nobody from Target can explain why they thought ending DEI programs and cutting ties with Black businesses would have no impact on Black consumers spending money in their stores. They knew we'd stop. They simply underestimated the impact of us cutting them off. That's why it's still "no" for me.
Time to rebrand. The name Target has always meant I would never shop there. Just carrying that bag is problematic. Especially in a nation with so many guns. I’m not looking to be mistaken for a target. It’s time to put away the target. We get it.
White guy here... I've stopped spending at Target, too. I want Black businesses and prospective employees to get a fair opportunity. (Brown and rainbow businesses and people, too)
I will never shop target ever again
What really gets me about this, though, is that all research points towards two things: DEI practices boosting overall business (any kind of business), and fcking with Black consumers COSTING business.
Target, of *all* retailers, should have been acutely aware of this.
I honestly believe they thought all the other companies would get rid of their initiatives too and that we would eventually shop there again once we saw how all these businesses were doing it too.
They obviously severely miscalculated and I hope they never recover from this. To build your whole company around diversity and do this…
I worked in HR for a decade at a Target store in Texas. We really believed in and valued diversity in my store and I was so proud of working for them. They are dead to me now.
My understanding is that it was a major founding principle
Yessss exactly!
I think Target thought the “I accidentally spent $200 at Targét again” jokes/reality had them so deep in American culture that folks would maybe boycott for a day or a week and come right on back. They didn’t think it would stick. They don’t think Black people have willpower or integrity?
Or that we didn’t have enough self respect.
Target was convenient for me, twice a month shopper. No more ever.
This white woman will never step foot in a Target again. Ever. They can sell, rebrand, “become an ally,” and it will still be a no from me.
I wrote to the CEO the moment it happened to let them know that their white customers care about this too.
The also assumed that affluent older white women who don’t shop at walmart, perhaps the most performativly anti-racist of our bunch, the very reason for those “in this house” placards and pussy hats and Lawrence O’Donnell’s career, wouldn’t also join in.
They underestimated the possibility that the racists they would impress with this move were already shopping there. I swear they think racism is a disease that only poor white trash can catch.
I think they thought making a statement would be a signal for all the racists to come and shop, but they didn't balance it out. Also, they underestimated how the current environment would deepen Black folks resolve. My elementary school aged nephews know we're not supposed to shop at Target.
Teach the babies.
You didn't value my business. Now you're negotiating to get me to act like you didn't feel like i was dispensable. Returning things to how they were isn't enough. Imagine your spouse's DMs fo public and they're saying they hate you. Now they want you to go back to how it was before you knew.
I always wonder who told them which Black "leaders" to reach out to. Not saying they got the right/wrong ones. Just wondering who decides that.
Apparently they tried to bring in Jamal Bryant but he refused unless they met a list of demands before meeting him. So they opted for the easiest “leaders” to buy
The Black lady who was VP for DEI inititatives and the one they used to deliver the policy change to the masses. Probably.
No more happy measures. I know most (if not all) of those companies feel the same way. And I'm doing my best to not put any of MY money in their pockets.
They thought it would blow over and we’d return to their store. Bless their heart.
We talked about it at work. They didn't realize that once people changed their behavior it would make it easy to not go back to shopping at target. A lot of consumer behavior surrounds including retail in to your habits.
Yes. They blinked and now their stock and profits are in free fall. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
And using AL SHARPTON to do it at that. Just add insult to injury.
Good stay NO. Wish everyone would.
Target looked at the conservatives' war-on-Christmas "boycott" of Starbucks and thought people would come and spend their money out of spite.
Done with Target. Done!
On the plus side… when my daughter asks to go to target for toys we get a chance to explain to her why we don’t go there anymore..
Years ago Texaco was outed for the ‘black jelly’ bean debacle that was leaked! To this day I drive by Texaco gas. I will push my empty gas tank car up a hill to another station before I buy gas fromTexaco! Let that be a lesson Target! When some Black folk says NO, they mean it!
Just like Denny’s.
It will never be a yes for me! 🦋💙
Us too!
Hard no for me as well. Shit I still boycott ExxonMobil because of the oil spill in 1989. I have a LONG memory and a vindictive streak.
Shareholders should sue them.
I think they are. Shareholders were blind-sided like “we didn’t vote for this. You didn’t let this go to a vote. Wtf…”
It’s still a no from those of us who joined the boycott. Wrong is wrong. I’m not going back unless there is massive change.
The way they did the transgender folks was bad enough, but there is almost no place in America with enough people to support a Target store profitably where there isn't at least 10% black population. The stores run on volume, they can't lose 10%. It feels just plain hateful to me.
Still no for me too, and I'm not Black.
Same here. I joined in solidarity and now I don’t even have the desire to go back. I’m basically Costco only. The rest is local owned businesses.
Same, autistic kiddo, fuck target. They deserve the Musk effect.
I nearly bought my Godson a gift from there for his birthday. I spent the extra 10 minutes finding out where else I could find it. Our choices matter - a rEVOLution starts by centering our collective needs in these choices.
I've only gone to Target twice in my life and that was cause a friend needed something from there, never had a need to shop there myself thankfully #FuckTarget
They're in the FO Forever category
👏👏👏👏✊🏻Me too !
Me too. They lost me with their (lack of) Pride
Yeah. When they gave in to the alt right I was done. They’re in the same category as Hobby Lobby and Chik Fil A
That seriously took the wind out of my "sales" when I saw that. Pride 2024 basically was a non event. Really nothing was in store, and quite a bit of their meager offering was online only.
Yeah, they lost me in 2023 when they refused to stand up to the right-wingnuts. Instead of supporting their store teams, they moved the Pride merch back and out of sight. Then in 2024, you saw their "meager offering". I was a Target shopper since 2010. Nope.
2023, they still had a reasonable Pride display near me, with all their Pride merch right up front. My local stores didn't kowtow then, which made me kinda happy. 2024 though was a complete night and day difference though, with Pride being pretty much not even being shown at all.
Why be a corporate overlord if not for good
I mean, in this case, sure shows being evil ain't profitable for them.
That’s when I started looking elsewhere for things that I used to buy regularly from them. Since these new shenanigans I haven’t spent a single dime there. Gap and old navy for my kid’s clothing basics now.
We really have the power of our wallets. Target made it fun and easy to shop there, and then they didn't. I had shopped there for over 15 years. Nope. 👎
My local Target lost my business when they started locking everything up behind plexiglass. Treat me like you think I'm a thief and I simply do not feel welcome. Then the DEI stuff happened and I'll never set foot in one again. Booo Target!
The two Targets near me have had half empty parking lots ever since they cut their DEI program. I love this for them.
They think DEI is going to far, but it’s only the lowest bar, and that’s on the jungle gym built by them. I’ll buy from Target and the others at their foreclosure auction.
As a white guy, I’m glad to report we joined you too.
You could even say they were off target with that
