Exploring the power of economic silence and how Blackout Days aim to reshape financial narratives.
On Feb. 28, National Blackout Day seeks to demonstrate Black economic power via boycotts of anti-DEI companies.
Screenshot from “The 24-Hour Economic Blackout” video on YouTube.
This post was originally published on Defender Network
Black consumers and their allies plan to make a national statement with their dollars.
On Friday, Feb. 28, a National Blackout Day is planned. During this day, individuals nationwide will protest companies that they contend are disrespecting Black people and others negatively impacted by the companies Amazon, Target, Walmart, McDonald’s and others that have chosen to end their DEI initiatives.
“This is a nationwide Blackout just to demonstrate the economic power from our community to show that you’re not going to play in our face,” said Dr. Otis Moss III, pastor of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, the former church home of President Barack Obama.
What Is the Blackout
Reverend Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, was one of the national leaders who called for this “Blackout.” The assignment for participants is to refrain from making any purchases online or in-store from businesses that aren’t verified Black-owned.
A communication issued by Sharpton also reads, “No Amazon. No Walmart. No Best Buy. No McDonald’s and other fast food stores… No gas. No major retailers. Do not use credit or debit cards for non-essential spending… If you must spend, only support small local businesses.”
Several companies had previously sworn to commitments of conscience and values to push DEI efforts in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd. However, with President Donald Trump’s declaration to end all DEI efforts, several corporations chose to moonwalk away from those pro-DEI decisions of conscience and values.
National Blackout Day is a response from U.S. consumers who feel played by corporations. But truth be told, several businesses that ended their DEI efforts, Target and Walmart included, are already feeling the heat of huge sales drop-offs, worrying shareholders.
Though many Black people are interpreting the Blackout as a Blacks-only effort, there are countless individuals and organizations of other races and ethnicities who have signed on and are leading the call for participation in their communities.
Interestingly, but probably not surprisingly, since over 90% of local news stations are owned by highly conservative and right-wing, pre-coverage of the event has been somewhere between dismissive and outright negative.
Still, some stations are taking a more respectful approach to coverage of the effort.
And before the scheduled Feb. 18 National Blackout, Pastor Jamal Bryant called for a 40-day fast from Target.
#BlackEconomicPower #CommunityInfluence #EconomicActivism
