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Target Boycotts and its Effect on Both Sides of the Black Dollar

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The sentiments of this Target employee highlight a key issue: while boycotts send a clear message to corporations, they can also inadvertently harm small Black businesses and working-class consumers.

Published

10 months ago

May 2, 2025

Oakland Post

By Dr. Patrise Holden, Washington Informer
Special to Black Press USA

Black and Hispanic street vendors, positioned along the street in front of Target, expressed worry that decreased foot traffic from sustained boycotting will affect their ability to make a living, and possibly put them out of business. (Photo/Dr. Patrise Holden)

Signs in hand, on April 19th, a small crowd of about 10 people gathered in front of the Target at 14th and Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC. Voices raised, as part of a three-day economic blackout from April 18 to April 20, the crowd marched while urging Black and Hispanic shoppers to refrain from purchasing from Target, which has been criticized for its stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Ongoing national boycotts launched as a protest against Target’s cessation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, have ignited a powerful economic and cultural conversation and corresponding action from Black communities across the nation. Backed by spiritual and community leaders, including Pastor Jamal Bryant, who initiated a 40-day fast from shopping at Target, the movement has drawn national attention. The goal is to harness the power of Black dollars to demand respect, representation, and equity.

Boycotts Heighten Economic Stress for Many African Americans

While many celebrate the boycott as a bold stand for economic justice, its ripple effects have been complicated, especially for many within the very community that it is meant to empower. Emmy award-winning host, actress, and multi-NAACP Image Award winner Tabitha Brown, who has partnered with Target on several successful product lines, expressed concern in a January 2025 livestream over the long-term effects of the Target boycott on Black-owned businesses. “As disheartening as it is for me, I am not the only one affected by this. It is for so many of us who worked so very hard to finally be seen. Contrary to what the world might tell you, it has been very hard for Black-owned businesses to hit shelves,” said Brown.

Under immense pressure from boycott participants to pull their products from Target and Walmart shelves, Brown sought to educate the public gently regarding the finances and logistics required to pull products from national stores. “You have to have a place to store it, another place to sell it, which is almost impossible sometimes. Even if you sell online, it’s a process, and everyone does not have the availability or the space to house their own products.” Employees within the company are also feeling the strain. A middle-aged African American female Target worker at the 14th and Columbia location, under anonymity, said, “Although this location has not seen reduced traffic due to the boycotts, I have colleagues in other Targets that have had their hours cut due to low sales. Some Targets have had to lay off workers, and yes, a high number of these workers are Black. Black mothers and Black families are trying to work hard to feed their kids. We can’t say we are uplifting the Black dollar and impoverishing working-class people at the same time.”

The sentiments of this Target employee highlight a key issue: while boycotts send a clear message to corporations, they can also inadvertently harm small Black businesses and working-class consumers. African Americans shopping during the active Target boycott expressed frustration, indicating that they cannot afford to buy from multiple independent Black-owned vendors online, each with separate shipping costs and separate delivery dates and times. A young African American couple, six-month-old baby in hand, related, “In theory, I support the boycotts. I’d love to do it because control of Black dollars uplifts our people. But I have two children and limited transportation,” said the mother. “I honestly don’t have the money to pay online separate shipping fees and lose the savings of Target sales and specials, which would not be available by buying from each individual website.”

Boycotts: Celebrated Yet Questioned by Small Vendors and Many Consumers

The Target boycott has been undeniably successful in raising awareness and showing the collective power of the Black dollar. However, many African Americans say that it is essential to strategize more to ensure that economic protests do not unintentionally weaken the very ecosystem that it seek to empower. “For us to move forward, the movement doesn’t start with Target. When we focus within, lasting change from without always follows. I am for the boycotts, however, when we focus on us as a collective internally, I think the path to widespread, sustainable change becomes more attainable. Through it all, faith in God and working on changing the men and women in the mirror is how we continue to advance as a people,” said Richard B. Lewis, 37, upon exiting Target. Uniquely located, one block from the Metro, inside a multi-story mall containing a grocery store, a large electronics chain store, two major clothing retailers, and a shoe store, the Target at 14th and Columbia experiences high amounts of diverse shoppers and foot traffic.

Street vendors, exclusively Black and Hispanic, have fought city regulations for years for the right to sell products and retail along the street in front of the corporate giant. Many vendors expressed worry that decreased foot traffic from sustained boycotting would affect their ability to make a living and possibly put them out of business. Miss Carol of My Virtue, a handbag and accessory vendor, said, “As entrepreneurs, many of us Black vendors depend on foot traffic and sales from customers shopping at Target. People who don’t even plan to shop with us become return clients because of the convenience of having so many diverse vendors right here outside the store. Revenue loss from decreased Target sales could mean financial ruin for many vendors out here.”

Understanding the devastating loss of revenue to vendors, small and large, Brown continued in her January livestream, “Businesses who were affected by DEI, you take all our sales and they dwindle down, and then those companies get to say, ‘oh your products are not performing,’ and they can remove them from the shelves.” When sales dip, companies re-evaluate shelf space. If Black-owned brands underperform, they can be quietly pulled from stores. In six months to a year, we could see a whitewashed version of Target and Walmart, places where Black retailers fought for decades to get representation, disappear overnight. Brown emphasized, “Sometimes, that is what they want, and in times like this, they are telling us that.”

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Poll Shows Support for Policies That Help Families Afford Child Care

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

Published

22 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Oakland Post

By First Five Years Fund

New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

The national survey was conducted by UpOne Insight on behalf of the First Five Years Fund from January 13–18, 2026.

Key findings include:

• Parents need help: 80% of voters say the ability of working parents to find and afford child care is either in a state of crisis or a major problem.

• This is an affordability issue: 82% believe federal child care funding will help lower costs for working families — including 69% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats.

• And there continues to be strong support (62%) for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a federal program that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families to afford safe, quality care for their children while parents work or go to school, including a majority of Republicans, 63% of Independents and 72% of Democrats.

• Support for funding child care programs remains strong: 75% believe child care funding should be increased or kept at current levels — including 75% of Republicans, 85% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.

• 74% say funding for child care is an important and good use of tax dollars, including a majority of Republicans, three-quarters of Independents, and nine in ten Democrats.

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling said, “Voters across the country are sending a clear message: federal child care and early learning programs work. These investments help parents stay in the workforce, strengthen families, and support healthy child development. They have also long had strong bipartisan support in Congress. At a time when affordability is top of mind for families, continued federal funding is essential to ensure child care remains accessible and within reach.”

First Five Years Fund works to protect, prioritize, and build bipartisan support for quality child care and early learning programs at the federal level. Reliable, affordable, and high-quality early learning and child care can be transformative, not only enhancing a child’s prospects for a brighter future but also bolstering working parents and fostering economic stability nationwide.

We work with Congress and the Administration to identify federal solutions that work for families with young children, as well as states and communities. We work with policymakers to identify ways to increase access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning programs for children. And we collaborate with advocacy groups to help align best practices with the best possible policies. http://www.ffyf.org

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Trump’s MAGA Allies are Creating Executive Order Plan to Steal the 2026 Midterms

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Oakland Post

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

A group of MAGA pro-Trump activists, who say they are working in coordination with the White House, are circulating a 17-page draft executive order that would claim without evidence that China interfered with the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential to President Joe Biden by over 7 million votes. Since Trump lost to Biden in 2020, he has repeatedly claimed that the election was “stolen” without evidence. The report of a group of “Trump allies” preparing an executive order to give Trump power over elections was first reported by The Washington Post.

The lies around the right-wing campaign that pushed falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen was trafficked through right-wing media, particularly Fox News. Fox News was then sued for defamation for the claims by Dominion Voting Systems. Fox lost the case and had to settle for the largest defamation amount on record of $787.5 million in April 2023.

The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

The story in The Washington Post arrives as Trump increasingly signals that he may take actions that would alter the result of the 2026 midterms. The Republicans are widely expected to lose as their approval ratings plummet as a result of a failing economy under Trump. Over 50 members of Congress have announced they will retire this year and not return in 2027.

The Trump Department of Justice, which now has a large image of Trump on the side of it, “sued five new states Thursday [Feb. 26, 2026] demanding access to their unredacted voter rolls — escalating a campaign that has been rejected by multiple federal courts and faces resistance from Republican-led states as well,” according to Democracy Docket, a group that works to protect voting rights.

Trump claimed back in late 2020, the last year of his first term, that he had the authority to issue an executive order related to mail-in voting for the 2020 elections — which he would then lose. But the Constitution states that control of elections lies with the states. As the GOP works to place hurdles in front of voting, Democrats worked to make voting easier.

In March 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to expand voting access as part of the Biden Administration’s effort “to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections.”

Trump’s focus is clearly on altering the November 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s polling numbers and the elections and special elections that have taken place around the U.S. over the last year clearly indicate that Republicans are about to be hit by a blue wave of Democratic victories.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN LIVE on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

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PRESS ROOM: NBA Hall of Fame Nominee Terry Cummings Joins 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to Launch Victory & Values Initiative

NNPA NEWSWIRE — NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

admin

Cummings becomes an honorary member, joining other role model sports stars

NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings has officially become an honorary member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, marking a powerful new chapter for the 100 Black Men and youth development across the region.

Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th. The moment signified more than membership — it marked the launch of the organization’s transformative new platform, the Victory & Values Initiative.

The Victory & Values Initiative is a groundbreaking youth development program designed to empower elementary and middle school students through a dynamic blend of sports, mentorship, and STEM exposure. The initiative focuses on building health, discipline, character, leadership, and access to opportunity — creating pathways for long-term academic and personal success.

“This is about more than sports,” said Cummings during the ceremony. “It’s about using the platform of athletics to teach life lessons, create access, and build the next generation of leaders.”

The induction ceremony also featured notable guests including NASCAR’s newest Star Driver, Lavar Scott and NASCAR Director of Athletic Performance, Phil Horton, who joined Cummings for a powerful Victory & Values Town Hall discussion. The Town Hall was moderated by renowned Sports Emcee John Hollins and focused on leadership, resilience, discipline, and the importance of mentorship in shaping young lives.

A “Day at NASCAR” for 75+ Youth

Cummings wasted no time getting to work. On his first full day as an honorary member, he joined his new brothers of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to host a “Day at NASCAR,” escorting more than 75 youth to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at EchoPark Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).

The youth participants received behind-the-scenes access including: an exclusive tour of Pit Row, access to the Garage Area and exploration of the interactive Fan Zone.

The experience culminated with a surprise meet-and-greet and Q&A session with NASCAR Superstar Bubba Wallace, who shared insights on perseverance, preparation, and breaking barriers in professional sports.

The day served as a living example of the ‘Victory & Values’ Initiative in action — exposing youth to new industries, expanding their vision for the future, and connecting them directly with high- level mentors and role models.

Building Leaders Through Access and Mentorship

The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County – a chapter of the largest, national mentoring organization in the county – continues to expand its footprint with programs focused on academic excellence, economic empowerment, leadership development, and health & wellness.

The launch of ‘Victory & Values’ represents a strategic expansion of the organization’s impact

intentionally integrating athletics and STEM to engage youth at an early age while reinforcing core principles such as integrity, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance.

“Our mission has always been to mentor the next generation,” said Vaughn Irons, President-Elect of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County. “With Terry Cummings joining the brotherhood, along with partners in NASCAR and professional sports, we are creating unprecedented access and exposure for our youth. Victory & Values is about turning inspiration into structured opportunity.”

By connecting elementary and middle school students to professional athletes, executives, STEM professionals, and community leaders, the initiative aims to:

Increase youth exposure to careers in sports business, engineering, and performance science
Strengthen mentorship pipelines
Promote physical wellness and mental resilience
Build character-driven leadership at an early age

Open Invitation to Youth and Families

All youth are invited to participate in the Victory & Values Initiative, along with the other countless, impactful programs offered by the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County.

Parents and guardians seeking mentorship, leadership development, academic enrichment, and transformative exposure opportunities for their children are encouraged to connect with the organization.

As NBA Legend Terry Cummings’ induction demonstrates, Victory & Values is more than a program — it is a movement designed to build champions in life, not just in sports.

For more information about the Victory & Values Initiative or to enroll a student, contact: 100 Black Men of DeKalb County at Phone at 404.241.1338, info@100bmod.org or Tee Foxx at 404.791.6525,