To address what she claimed was systemic racism in America, a Target Corporation diversity official urged "White women" to get to work. She noted that the retail behemoth was making certain internal choices based on projections of changing demographics.
According to Target's Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Keira Fernandez, being Black is "one of the hardest things in the world to be every day." This quote is from early 2023.
Target Intensifying Its DEI Efforts
After George Floyd was killed, Target stepped up its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Target has formed the Racial Equity Action and Change, headed by Fernandez, to accelerate these efforts.
In a report by Fox News, the task force has goals focused on increasing the number of Black clients and expanding the number of Black staff. The company also said it would significantly grow its current Black workforce population by 50%.
The plan is to invest over $2 billion in Black-owned businesses by 2025. "We've already increased our investments with Black-owned companies and suppliers - including marketing agencies, construction companies, facilities maintenance, and more - by 50% since 2020," Fernandez stated.
She then emphasized the need to consider how to lay the groundwork now for future demographic changes. She went on to argue that White women should speak out when they see transgressions.
"Because whether it's right or not... there are places where you and I will go where your voice will be heard differently than mine. And that is why we're doing this work. That's why it's so important to have this conversation," Fernandez explained. She added, "We also can't ignore the systemic history that got us here and then the things that we have to do differently to remove those barriers."
Companies that want to follow Target's example of tolerating intolerance will find it difficult to do so without first establishing a strong cultural foundation. Businesses are spending more time and money on diversity and inclusion initiatives, but Fernandez pointed out that everyone must do their part.
She said building the proper infrastructure with the proper tools will help corporations to successfully integrate DEI into their ecosystem.
Customer Backlash Forces Target to Remove LGBTQ Merchandise
Meanwhile, one of the most recent stories about Target is its decision to pull certain LGBTQ goods from stores due to negative consumer feedback after the launch of its Pride Collection in early May.
About 2000 items, including books, mugs, and clothes, were removed from the store's Pride Collection. This decision was made amid reports of hostility from regulars, which escalated into fights between customers and staff.
Some customers were especially interested in children's books with titles like I'm Not a Girl and Bye Bye, Binary. There was a rise in demand for Queer All Year calendars and Gender Fluid mugs, too. In addition to the traditional rainbow of colors, the collection also included shirts with the phrase "love is love" printed on them.
