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A Concern for Shortages of Essential Goods

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Essential shortages in stores

By April Ryan

“Anything that raises consumer prices on necessities will hit Black Americans hard, says Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. This week, a Senate resolution to reverse President Trump’s tariffs on imports failed in a vote of 49-49. Rhode Island Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse missed the vote as he returned from South Korea, and Republican Mitch McConnell did not vote. According to McConnell’s staffers, he has been “consistent in opposing tariffs.” Recently, Target and Walmart’s CEOs signaled to President Trump that their store shelves could soon be empty due to tariffs. Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, has already heard of store shelves becoming bare as the shortage could resemble the problems like the COVID supply chain chinks a few years ago.

After hearing from economists, Morial says, “We’re going to have empty shelves by mid-early to mid-May because what’s happened is all of the vessels from China are turning around and going back.” So many products on store shelves are from around the world, including bananas and Mangos. The Main Suppliers of Fresh Bananas to the US market are Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Honduras. In 2010, these five countries shipped 94 percent of U.S. banana imports. 86% of the mangos imported to the United States are imported from Mexico. Regarding essential items, Morial contends, “Think about water, think about diapers. Think about toilet tissue, think about eggs, and paper towels, a lot of these paper products come from Canada…Other things come from China. Those things are not made in the United States…Because the type of wood that is used for toilet paper is more plentiful in Canada, is what I understand.”

The expectation is that tariffs will make many items more expensive, potentially leading to price gouging and the sale of items on the black market. Meanwhile, Morial has also ranked the number one item Black Americans consume. Grits are milled chiefly in the southern United States. Second, on the list is anything for hair manufactured in the United States, Africa, China, and the United Kingdom.

Sharpton Secures Meeting with PepsiCo on Equity Rollback

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Rev. Al Sharpton speaking at Metropolitan AME Church Washington, D.C. (Wikimedia Commons)

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

Rev. Al Sharpton said Monday that he will meet with PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta this week following the company’s decision to roll back key diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The meeting comes just weeks after Sharpton warned of a potential boycott in a letter dated April 4, where he condemned PepsiCo’s retreat from its DEI commitments. PepsiCo, whose portfolio includes Pepsi, Gatorade, Doritos, Mountain Dew, and Lay’s, informed employees in February that it would no longer set diversity goals for its managerial ranks or supplier base. The announcement drew swift backlash from civil rights advocates.

“You have walked away from equity,” Sharpton wrote in his letter to Laguarta. “Removing DEI hiring and retention goals and dismantling community partnerships with minority organizations are clear signals that political pressure has outweighed principle.” A spokesperson for PepsiCo did not respond to a request for comment. The National Action Network, which Sharpton founded and leads, has been pressuring major corporations to uphold DEI policies in the face of growing political and legal attacks. Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, numerous companies, including Walmart and Target, have scaled back internal programs to increase diversity and address systemic discrimination.

Trump has also eliminated DEI efforts across federal agencies and warned schools to do the same or risk losing federal funding. Sharpton said he plans to press Laguarta for clarity on the company’s DEI commitments and what steps, if any, PepsiCo still intends to take to support equal opportunity in hiring and contracting. In January, Sharpton launched a “buy-cott” urging consumers to shop at Costco in recognition of its continued investment in DEI, setting a contrast with companies pulling back. “That is the only viable tool that I see at this time, which is why we’ve rewarded those that stood with us,” Sharpton said.

Target Continues to Pay the Price for Breaking Promise to Black America

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Houston, Texas, USA – March 13, 2022: A Target store in Houston, Texas, USA on March 13, 2022.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

Target is losing more than its commitment to equity, it’s losing customers. For the eighth consecutive week, shoppers have turned away from the retail giant following its decision to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program in January. New data from Placer.ai shows store visits during the week of March 17 fell by 5.7% compared to the same time last year. That follows a 7.1% decline the week before, bringing the average drop over the past two months to 6.2%. The fallout has been swift and steady. Target’s quiet retreat from DEI—after years of vocal support for racial and social justice and a multi-billion-dollar pledge—triggered an immediate backlash. Faith leaders, civil rights organizations, and everyday consumers responded with public pressure and calls to action.

Leading the charge is the Rev. Jamal Bryant, whose “Target Fast” boycott encouraged shoppers to avoid the chain throughout Lent. The effort surpassed its original goal of 100,000 participants, with more than 150,000 people now participating. The boycott is scheduled to end on Easter Sunday. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, launched a National Public Education and Selective Buying Campaignto help guide African Americans in wielding their $2 trillion in annual spending power. The NAACP issued a national consumer advisory, warning that Target’s rollback is part of a broader, intentional retreat from DEI by major corporations. “We encourage you to spend your money where you’re respected, support Black-owned businesses, and demand businesses prioritize people over profit,” NAACP officials said. “Above all, we must continue to advocate for policies that ensure people of color, women, veterans, those with a disability, and all protected groups have equal access to opportunities across the country.”

Following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Target Corp. was among a list of companies making specific diversity pledges. Target vowed to spend $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025, increase its Black workforce by 20%, and establish a Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee to advance racial equity within the company and beyond. It has reneged on those promises, making Target a focal point of protests. While Target remains silent on its declining traffic, the contrast with its competitors is glaring. Costco, which maintained its DEI commitments despite political attacks, saw a 5.2% year-over-year increase in foot traffic during the same week—its 13th straight week of growth.

Walmart and McDonald’s—both of which had seen multi-week declines like Target—also saw their numbers shift slightly for the week of March 17. Walmart posted a modest 0.3% increase in foot traffic, while McDonald’s reported a 2% increase. But unlike Target, neither had matched its aggressive stance on racial justice—or its equally visible retreat. Over the last eight weeks, Walmart’s average weekly foot traffic has been down 1.6%, and McDonald’s has seen a 3.6% average drop. Target’s 6.2% average decline puts it at the center of growing consumer frustration—and organized resistance. “It’s been eight weeks, and the numbers don’t lie,” Deja Monet wrote for NewsBreak. “Target faces foot traffic decline for the eighth week after cutting off DEI programs, and the backlash shows no signs of slowing. With a massive boycott underway, declining sales, and silence from the brand’s top brass, Target is walking a tightrope between corporate appeasement and consumer fallout.”

DEI Rollback Costs Target Billions and Loyalty

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By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

Target continues to face mounting financial and reputational fallout after reversing course on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The retail giant has lost more than $12.4 billion in revenue, seen its stock plunge by $27.27 per share, and is grappling with multiple lawsuits linked to its shifting DEI policies. Separate but powerful actions from Black-led organizations and faith leaders have intensified pressure on the company. Rev. Jamal Bryant launched a national Target Fast, calling for continued community mobilization. Meanwhile, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and the NAACP initiated public education and selective buying campaigns. While distinct in approach, the collective efforts have amplified scrutiny and economic consequences for Target. “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard,” said Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the NNPA. “If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken.”

Early data from analytics firms Placer.ai and Numerator confirms a decline in consumer support. Numerator found that Black and Hispanic households are reducing their visits to Target at the highest rates. Placer.ai reported that on the national blackout day last month, Target saw an 11 percent decline in store traffic compared to average Friday visits. Since the company’s January 24 DEI reversal, Placer.ai data shows Target’s overall foot traffic has fallen every week. In contrast, Costco has gained ground. The warehouse chain rejected a shareholder proposal to weaken its diversity programs and stayed firm in its DEI stance. Analysts say Costco’s consistency and longstanding commitment to high wages and strong employee benefits may attract consumers frustrated with Target’s retreat. Costco’s shares have outperformed those of Walmart and Target over the same period. Walmart has also seen a dip in foot traffic, though not as sharp as Target.

While grassroots boycotts are not always financially damaging in the long term, Target’s situation may prove different. “Boycotts put a ‘negative spotlight’ on the company that can have reputational consequences,” Brayden King, professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, told Forbes. He noted that consumer trust, closely tied to corporate reputation, plays a critical role in shopping habits. In addition to its woes, Target issued a string of recalls in 2025 involving products sold on shelves due to undeclared allergens and injury hazards. Affected items included Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks, Dorel Safety 1st Comfort Ride and Magic Squad child car seats, Nuby stroller fans, Baby Joy highchairs, Chomps beef and turkey sticks, and Pearl Milling Company pancake mix. Rev. Bryant said Target Fast has now mobilized more than 150,000 participants and persuaded over 100 Black vendors to withdraw their products from Target. He urged continued focus and unity in holding the company accountable. “It is critical that Black people can’t afford to get A.D.D; we can’t taper off and lose synergy. It’s important that people stay the course and keep amplifying our voices because it is being heard from Wall Street to Main Street,” Bryant said. He added, “No, I’m now committed and grateful.”

As Attacks Against DE&I Heighten, Costco and Apple Prove Inclusion Remains Good Business

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NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Under President Donald Trump’s Project 2025, the administration has launched an unprecedented effort to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) programs. Federal agencies are now prohibited from observing Black History Month, and employees involved in DE&I initiatives have been terminated. Critics argue these measures represent a full-on attack on marginalized communities and signal a clear directive for corporations to follow suit. Trump’s administration, which has no diversity in its ranks, has been accused of setting a dangerous precedent.

Some companies, however, remain committed to their DE&I efforts. Organizations like Costco, JPMorgan Chase, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Apple continue to view diversity as a cornerstone of their workforce strategies, refusing to back down despite mounting pressure from conservatives and the White House.

Corporations Holding the Line

Costco’s board of directors recently rejected the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) proposal that sought to force the company to publish risks associated with its DE&I programs or eliminate them entirely. The board reaffirmed the company’s commitment to inclusion ahead of a January 23 shareholder vote.

“Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and suppliers,” the board said in a statement reported by Forbes. “Our efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion follow our code of ethics. These efforts remind and reinforce with everyone at our company the importance of creating opportunities for all.”

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has also resisted calls to retreat from diversity programs. “We will continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the veterans community, and LGBTQ. We have teams with second chance initiatives — governors in blue states and red states like what we do,” Dimon said in an interview with CNBC.

Apple’s leadership has similarly rejected proposals to scale back DE&I, labeling such measures as attempts to “micromanage” the company’s operations. The board stated, “The proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program,” as reported by Tech Xplore.

Walmart’s Retreat Draws Outrage

Walmart, by contrast, joined corporations like Meta, McDonald’s, Ford Motor Co., and Molson Coors in rolling back its DE&I initiatives. In response, long-term shareholders representing $266 billion in funds wrote a letter to CEO Doug McMillon on January 14, expressing their disappointment.

“Seeing the company retreat from its stated values and the business opportunities associated with a diverse and inclusive workforce is very disheartening,” the letter, organized by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, stated.

Caroline Boden of Mercy Investment Services, a signatory of the letter, added, “DEI initiatives aren’t just ‘nice to have,’ they are essential to breaking down systemic inequities hindering our economy and preventing society from fully thriving. Inequity is bad for business and, ultimately, investors.”

A coalition of 14 attorneys general, including Maryland’s Anthony G. Brown, also sent Walmart a letter urging reconsideration. Speaking to CBS News, Brown said, “When major companies roll back their commitments to these efforts, they signal to smaller businesses that it is acceptable to do the same, creating a ripple effect that inflicts lasting harm across our State and nation.”

Advocates Warn of Long-Term Consequences

Leaders in DE&I initiatives continue challenging corporate rollbacks, warning of the harm such decisions could cause. Tinisha Bookhart, co-founder and director of IT and DE&I at Primary Talent Partners, described the move to abandon diversity programs as deeply troubling. “When implemented correctly, DE&I solutions aim to provide opportunities to qualified individuals who, due to conscious or unconscious bias, might not otherwise have them. Abandoning DE&I altogether is a grave misstep that only serves to perpetuate existing disparities in the workforce,” she said.

In an interview with CWS 3.0, Omni Inclusive CEO Perry Charlton said corporations like Costco and Apple serve as shining examples of why DE&I matters. “Diversity in the contingent workforce is not just a moral imperative — it’s an essential driver of innovation, growth, and long-term success. Abandoning these efforts now undermines progress and jeopardizes the future of equitable work environments,” Charlton said.

OPINION: Small Businesses are Community Lifelines

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By Treva Reid

As a small business owner, I know that small businesses are truly the lifeblood of our community.

With the recent closures of corporate retailers like Walgreens and Walmart in East Oakland last year, many residents were left with limited options to access fresh produce. Thankfully, our mom-and-pop neighborhood grocers stepped up to provide much-needed services and jobs.

I’ve talked to many small business owners across our city, and they want what all Oaklanders want — more public safety resources to prevent break-ins and robberies, and safe, clean streets to create a healthy environment for both customers and employees.

In my first four months as the District 7 Councilmember, I partnered with the County Health Department’s Healthy Retail Program to bring new energy-efficient refrigerators, and supply businesses like Dallaq Market with the resources to ensure customers have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Knowing the social, environmental, and economic impact of illegal dumping, I’ve led regular clean-ups and successfully budgeted additional resources for more city environmental enforcement officers to monitor “hot spots” and coordinate waste removal. I’ve hosted merchant walks, and in response to the public safety concerns of owners, I was able to secure funding to install security cameras in our business corridors. I have also co-authored legislation to improve our small local business program provision and advocated for minority contractor training programs.

I’ve championed small businesses since my first day at City Hall, and as Mayor, my commitment will not change. I believe our post-pandemic recovery plan must prioritize investments in small businesses to create local jobs and grow our tax base to fund critical City services.

As Mayor I will do what I’ve always done – I will listen, and I will continue working to cut the bureaucratic red tape to ensure the needs of small businesses owners — the backbone of our local economy — are met.

Treva Reid currently serves as the councilmember for District 7 and is a candidate for mayor. To learn more about her campaign, go to http://www.reidforoakland.com.

The post OPINION: Small Businesses are Community Lifelines first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

TODAY at 2PM – Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. and Molina Healthcare to provide 1,700 FREE meals

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Milwaukee Health Services Inc. is pleased to announce its Eighth Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway, courtesy of Molina Healthcare, Devin Harris, founder of the 34 Ways to Assist Foundation, Gruber Law Offices, All of Us, Feeding America, and Walmart, on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

 

Milwaukee Health Services Inc. (MHSI), Molina Healthcare, Devin Harris, founder of the 34 Ways to Assist Foundation, Gruber Law Offices, All of Us, Feeding America, and Walmart will jointly host a Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway and Health Screening on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm at their Martin Luther King, Jr. Heritage Health Center location at 2555 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.  Thanksgiving dawns the beginning of the holidays and represents a season of giving.

“The primary objective of the Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway and health screening is to provide both access to health care services and supply a nutritious holiday dinner,” says Pamela Clark, Corporate Communications Specialist for Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. “Community service has always been an important part of the mission of MHSI. The Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway provides an opportunity for our employees and collaborating partners to give back to the community we serve.”

“Molina Healthcare is pleased to be part of a community effort that connects individuals and families to needed health services and access to nutritious food.,” said Babette Honore, director of Community Engagement at Molina Healthcare said. By partnering with Milwaukee Health Services, Molina can better reach people in the community who need health support during the holiday season and throughout the year.”

 

Milwaukee native Devin Harris, guard for the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks, is the founder of the 34 Ways to Assist Foundation. “Devin’s belief is that he is greatly blessed in so many ways through his career as a professional athlete, and his desire is to give back to these communities he calls home as they have given to him.

The mission of MHSI is to provide accessible, quality, primary and related health care services to Milwaukee residents, with the continuing emphasis on medically-underserved families and individuals.  MHSI operates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Heritage Health Center at 2555 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and the Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center at 8200 W. Silver Spring Drive

I Say No to a Starbucks Boycott

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Jerrol Sanders

By Jerroll Sanders

Starbucks has proven to be one of America’s most responsible corporate citizens. In 2014 following the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, by Officer Darren Wilson, then Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz took action when other corporations remained silent.

Starbucks launched its national “Race Together” campaign that encouraged Starbucks’ baristas (workers) to write “race together” on customer coffee cups to spur conversations about race within Starbucks locations. Months later in 2015 following the shooting of Walter Scott, Starbucks CEO Howard D. Schultz was again venturing into the arena of race relations while appearing on stage at Spelman College-a historically-black women’s institution-as part of a panel discussion on the book titled, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”

Again and again, Starbucks has been at the forefront of corporate America when it comes to cultivating a society where all people matter.

As President and CEO of ONUS, Inc.-a national organization committed to Resolving Longstanding Problems that Seem Too Big to Fix, I firmly believe in the power of boycotts. Following the killing of Michael Brown, ONUS conducted one of the most effective and long-standing boycotts in Ferguson, MO, against Sam’s Club and Walmart.

Both stores routinely called upon Ferguson Police to arrest Black men who verbally challenged managers’ decisions. Unlike Starbucks, Walmart, Inc. doubled-down in support of its employees’ hateful actions and made no apology for saddling good citizens, who happened to be black men, with unwarranted police records. Walmart then relied upon its deep purse to vigorously defend its deplorable actions.

Starbucks is no Walmart. While I firmly embrace boycotting as an effective tool of free speech, boycotting cannot and should not be Black America’s one retort to offensive acts carried out by individual employees representing what has proven to be a good corporate citizen. I do not mean to imply that Starbucks is perfect; I surmise that Starbucks still has internal issues related to race and diversity.

Nonetheless, I appreciate the steps Starbucks’ CEO and Board of Directors have and are taking in response to the incident in Philadelphia, such as the swift issuance of a public apology, public rebuke of the offending employees’ actions and the planned shutdown of Starbucks outlets nationwide for diversity and customer service training. Starbucks is demonstrating that its promise to do better is far more than a mere gesture designed to quiet a public uprising.

Starbucks has earned what millennials refer to as “street cred.” Consequently, the Corporation deserves grace when employees make missteps or engage in discriminatory actions rooted in personal perspectives. While I am confident Starbucks will make right with the young men who were wrongfully arrested in Philadelphia, I urge its leaders to again take the corporate lead by helping to revamp policing in America nationwide.

The Uniform Reporting Law Enforcement Improvement Act (URLEIA) is the solution to America’s policing problem and will effectively revamp policing from the ground up. Corporations, like citizens, have a responsibility to ensure policing nationwide is guided not by the whims of individuals and powerful conglomerates but by the constitutional and humane application of law.

Learn more about URLEIA by visiting www.ChangeIsOnUs.org. Learn more about Jerroll Sanders who is a business executive, author of The Physics of Money: If You’ve Got My Dollar, I Don’t, diversity expert, and strategist by visiting www.jerrollsanders.com.

What a potential Walmart-Humana deal means for consumers

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Article courtesy of FOX Business via “The Rundown”

The world’s largest retailer, Walmart, is reportedly in talks with insurance giant Humana in what is likely a bid to keep up with rival Amazon.

“I think Walmart is really responding to Amazon … they’re in an all-out war,” David Friend, managing director of BDO’s Center for Healthcare Excellence & Innovation. “Amazon is the mortal threat to Walmart.

Walmart is obviously pushing back tremendously.”

The Walmart-Humana talks, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, include the potential for a full-blown acquisition of Humana, which has a $37 billion market value.

Amazon has been creeping into health care, announcing a joint venture with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase that aims to improve transparency and reduce costs for employees. The sector has largely been untouched by the disruptive “Amazon effect” until now.