In the wake of nationwide protests against systemic racism in 2020, many corporations and institutions publicly committed to being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Five years later and some are starting to backtrack without ever meeting promises made. As businesses reverse their commitments, it is time to hold them accountable.

The NAACP issued the Black Consumer Advisory to inform and caution Black consumers about the ongoing and intentional rollback of nationwide diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments. We encourage you to spend your money where you’re respected, support Black-owned businesses, and demand businesses prioritize people over profit. Above all, we must continue to advocate for policies that insure people of color, women, veterans, those with a disability, and all protected groups have equal access to opportunities across the country.

The Power of Black Dollars

Many corporations continue to profit from Black dollars while simultaneously undermining commitments of diversity, equity, and inclusion. These rollbacks not only harm Black communities, professionals, and entrepreneurs but also erode the progress made toward creating equitable economic and social systems.

The Cost of Abandoning DEI

Walking away from diversity, equity, and inclusion programs threatens economic opportunities, workplace diversity, and community investments, directly impacting Black communities nationwide by:

• Eliminating roles in diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Reducing supplier diversity
• Declining community investments
• Shifting away from equitable hiring practices

These rollbacks reinforce  historical barriers to progress under the guise of protecting “meritocracy,” a concept often used to justify exclusion.