Print 
PDF
Several prominent companies, well known to the American and global shoppers, have scaled back or set aside the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that much of corporate America endorsed following the protests that accompanied the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020.
Why the reversal by corporate America?
Be informed, not misled.
Time Magazine published an article that was actually written by the Associated Press.
AP says in the article, "Emboldened by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that outlawed affirmative action in college admissions, conservative activists have used the courts and social media to target workplace programs. They've targeted corporate sponsorships, employee-led affinity groups, and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups."
There's much more to this "death of DEI" than AP wants there to be, so they explain:
"DEI policies typically were intended as a counterweight to discriminatory practices. Critics argue that education, government, and business programs which single out participants based on factors such as race, gender and sexual orientation are unfair and the same opportunities should be afforded to everyone."
AP says it was the critics using the courts that killed DEI.
Why is there a rush to get out of the DEI trap by the largest, most well-known retailers in the world?
These are some of the companies that are dropping "equity" in favor of "merit."
Target
Let's take a look at Target first.
The retailer said Friday that changes to its “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy would include ending a program it established to help Black employees build meaningful careers, improve the experience of Black shoppers, and promote Black-owned businesses following Floyd's death in Minneapolis, where Target has its headquarters.
Target, which operates nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, said it also would conclude the diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, goals it previously set in three-year cycles.
On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order to end diversity, equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government.
Four days later, saying it had already planned to end the racial preference program this year, Target announced that it would also conclude its DEI goals.
In an X post and video responding to the "MASSIVE news," Robby Starbuck breaks down what that means.
For starters, the retailer will no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign's scoring system.
"They are concluding their racist … I mean racial equity action and change initiatives for 2025 and beyond," he says. "Employee resource groups are going to be expected to be focused on the core business – development and mentorship – not wokeness."
Target, which Starbuck says has had a major wokeness problem for years, will also be reevaluating all its corporate partnerships to ensure they are directly connected to their business. Supplier policy is also changing to where everything is based on merit and not preferential treatment to "diverse" suppliers.
"It's just going to be who's the best supplier, the way that every business should be run," says Starbuck.
Meta Platforms
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram said it was getting rid of its diversity, equity, and inclusion program, which featured policies for hiring, training, and picking vendors.
Like other companies that announced similar changes before, Meta, the social media giant, said it had been reviewing the programs since the Supreme Court's July 2023 affirmative action ruling.
Amazon
Amazon said it was halting some of its DEI programs, although it did not specify which ones. In a Dec. 16 memo to employees, a senior human resources executive, Candi Castleberry, said the company has been “winding down outdated programs and materials, and we’re aiming to complete that by the end of 2024.”
McDonald's
Four years after launching a push for more diversity in its ranks, McDonald’s said earlier this month that it is ending some of its diversity practices.
McDonald’s said it will also pause “external surveys.” The burger giant didn’t elaborate, but several other companies have suspended their participation in an annual survey by the Human Rights Campaign that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees.
Walmart
The world’s largest retailer confirmed in November that it would not be renewing a five-year commitment to an equity racial center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd and that it would stop participating in the HRC's Corporate Equality Index.
Walmart also said it will better monitor its third-party marketplace to make sure items sold there do not include products aimed at LGBTQ+ minors, including chest binders intended for transgender youth.
Ford
CEO Jim Farley sent a memo to the automaker's employees in August outlining changes to the company's DEI policies, including a decision to stop taking part in HRC's Corporate Equality Index.
“We will continue to put our effort and resources into taking care of our customers, our team, and our communities versus publicly commenting on the many polarizing issues of the day,” the memo said.
Harley-Davidson
In a post on X, Harley-Davidson said the company would review all sponsorships and organizations it was affiliated with and that all would have to be centrally approved. It said the company would focus exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling, retaining its loyal riding community, and supporting first responders, active military members, and veterans.
John Deere
The farm equipment maker said that it will no longer sponsor “social or cultural awareness” events and that it would audit all training materials “to ensure the absence of socially motivated messages” in compliance with federal and local laws.
Takeaway
What is HRC's Corporate Equality Index?
Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees.
BlackRock is the largest investment firm in the world, with $ 11.5 Trillion in assets last year. Vanguard is the second largest with similar assets.
The largest corporations in the world, including some of those I mentioned earlier, borrow operating funds from these investment firms.
BlackRock has been using what they call an ESG measurement to help guide whom they will lend to and whom they will not, essentially rewarding those who are "woke" and punishing those who are not "woke" on the issues of energy and social issues.
Forbes reports that "From July 2023 until June of this year, the firm backed only 4% of the 493 climate and social proposals. In 2021, BlackRock supported 47% of such proposals by shareholder activists."
Forbes continues, "BlackRock’s pullback is part of a broader move by large investment firms that are shying away from ESG strategies. They are doing so, at least in part, in response to attacks by Republican politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Egged on by right-wing groups like the Heritage Foundation, these conservatives have accused investment firms of practicing 'woke capitalism.' At least 20 states have enacted local laws to prohibit public pension funds under their control from investing in ESG funds."
Gov. DeSantis has pulled $2 billion in Florida pension funds from BlackRock.
BlackRock refused to comment on the Forbes article.
Before the current pushback, Larry Fink, BlackRock’s CEO, had become increasingly outspoken in promoting environmental sustainability as a hedge against global warming.
Forbes says, "Most large U.S. investment firms and many of the companies in which they invest have joined BlackRock in bowing to conservative political pressure and wishing away pressing environmental and social challenges."
"Rather than ceding ground, they should recognize the need to seriously address these escalating problems which pose material risks to people and our planet," Forbes concludes.
BlackRock is not taking Forbes' advice, nor should any company, large or small.
How does this affect the average person? It affects the price of almost everything we buy, from food to fuel.
I believe we are rediscovering the right path on so many issues.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.