Target rolls back DEI initiatives

Target, one of the most stalwart corporate supporters of Black, LGBTQ and women’s rights, said it has rolled back DEI initiatives.

Target’s DEI initiatives

The major retailer once featured celebrated displays of themed merchandise for Pride Month and Black History Month.

After the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, a few miles from the company’s Minneapolis headquarters, the retailer committed to increase the representation of Black employees across the company and spend more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025.

Target DEI initiatives and programs rolled back

The retailer said it was ending those diversity programs, after cutting back its Black and LGBTQ-themed merchandise in 2023.

Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH)

One of the DEI initiatives affected is Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH), under which Target had pledged to invest over $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025.

The initiative included plans to add more than 500 Black-owned brands and a funding program from its in-house media company, Roundel, to increase exposure of diverse-owned brands through paid media.

Supplier diversity program

In 2021, Target introduced its supplier diversity program, aimed to provide a better experience for Black shoppers and to use Target’s size and scale to create economic opportunity for Black-owned businesses.

As part of the program, Target invited Black entrepreneurs with early-stage startups to join an accelerator program to help grow their businesses.

But as of Friday, Jan. 24, Target said it also would end the workforce diversity established three years ago, pledging to increase the representation of Black employees across the company’s on leave.

Companies following suit

Target joins a slew of companies withdrawing from their diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies and initiatives.

DEI programs, designed to promote opportunities for women, ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people and other underrepresented groups, we’re developed after nationwide protests in 2020 over police shootings of unarmed Black people.

The company’s decision follows President’s executive orders, made almost immediately after his Inauguration, to end the government’s DEI programs and put federal officials overseeing those initiatives on leave.