By: Dominique Heath | Guest Columnist
On February 28, 2025, a nationwide economic blackout is planned, urging consumers to refrain from making any purchases from major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. This initiative, led by The People’s Union, aims to protest recent rollbacks in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs by these corporations. Participants are encouraged to avoid spending money not only at these retailers but also at fast-food chains and other large corporations, both online and in-store.
The movement has garnered support from various activist groups. For instance, civil rights leader Dolores Huerta is advocating for the “Latino Freeze,” encouraging Latinos to stop shopping at big stores and restaurant chains like Target, Walmart, and McDonald’s in response to their recent DEI rollbacks. Huerta emphasized, “If you don’t respect our community, then you shouldn’t have our dollars.”
However, some Black-owned brands and entrepreneurs are urging consumers not to boycott certain retailers, such as Target, despite the retailer’s decision to end its DEI efforts. They argue that a boycott could harm minority-owned businesses by decreasing sales and visibility of their products in these stores. Entrepreneurs like April Showers, founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn, emphasize the importance of strategic spending to ensure their products remain available to a wide audience.
This planned economic blackout reflects a broader trend of consumer activism in response to corporate decisions affecting DEI initiatives. As the date approaches, it remains to be seen how widespread participation will be and what impact it may have on the targeted retailers and the broader conversation around corporate responsibility and inclusivity.
