Target DEI Rollback Leaves Black Media Entrepreneurs Facing Broken Promises
BLCK Press founder Georgia Fort is speaking out after Target ended its Racial Equity Action and Change initiatives, a decision that cut short corporate support programs designed to uplift Black-owned media outlets. Fort says the rollback sends a dangerous signal about accountability and the fragility of corporate diversity commitments.
When Georgia Fort launched BLCK Press in 2020, she did so with the mission of creating a journalism platform that centers communities of color, a challenge she embraced in a media market where Black journalists often have to “cut their teeth” locally before finding broader opportunities.
Fort’s entrepreneurial journey intersected with corporate diversity efforts in 2023 when she applied for the New Roundel Media Fund, part of Target’s Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative. The program was intended to support Black‑owned media outlets and help amplify their reach with paid media and business development opportunities.
“Target had an RFP specifically for Black media, and so my company applied,” Fort said during a community forum on Dec. 11. “We were selected among Minnesota media organizations to produce results … to promote local Black‑owned businesses and get that information out to the community.”
Target launched REACH after the global protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020 as part of its broader diversity, equity and inclusion strategy, which also included workforce diversification and supplier‑diversity commitments. But in early 2025, the Minneapolis‑based retailer announced it would end its three‑year DEI goals and phase out many related programs, including REACH.
The company said the shift was part of adapting to an “evolving external landscape” amid political, legal and economic pressures facing corporate DEI programs. The rollback puts BLCK Press and other small Black‑owned firms that had hoped to benefit from Target’s funding and media support in a difficult position.
“We didn’t do anything wrong,” Fort said of her company’s efforts. “I’m frustrated not just that Target rolled back on their promises, but that they fail to understand how their decision created a culture where it’s acceptable for corporations to abandon the promises they make.”
Target’s decision reflects a broader national trend: Several major corporations, including Walmart, Meta, Amazon and others, have scaled back or ended their DEI initiatives amid rising scrutiny from conservative groups and executive actions discouraging such programs.
In a memo to employees, Target said it would conclude its Racial Equity Action and Change initiatives in 2025, stop reporting to third‑party diversity evaluations such as the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and shift its “Supplier Diversity” team to a broader “Supplier Engagement” function.
The move has sparked public backlash in the Twin Cities and beyond. In late January, civil rights and community activists protested outside Target’s Minneapolis headquarters, urging the company to reverse course and reaffirm its commitments to DEI.
“Target has received immense support from the Minnesota community and beyond,” civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong said at the time, noting the company’s values statements and local ties.
Local organizations have responded in different ways. Unidos Minnesota Executive Director Emilia Gonzalez Avalos said corporations can and should do more to ensure their properties and policies support, not alienate, diverse communities. “This is a multibillion‑dollar corporation … but what signals are they sending about who belongs?” she asked.
Luis Argueta of Unidos MN said the rollback even affected his personal shopping choices. “I have a lot of great memories bringing my kids to Target,” he said. “But when a company changes its commitments in ways that don’t align with your values, that matters.”
Critics of the rollback argue that abandoning long‑held DEI efforts could have long‑term business consequences. According to the New York Post, last year, Twin Cities Pride cut ties with Target as a sponsor after the retailer scaled back its DEI policies, a decision that led organizers to seek alternative funding for community events.
National advocacy organizations have also weighed in. In May, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund urged Target to reverse its retreat from diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies, warning that ending structured DEI goals could lead to less welcoming workplaces and fewer opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.
For entrepreneurs like Fort, the experience underscores how dependent small, community‑centered businesses can be on corporate support, and how quickly that support can shift. BLCK Press, she said, will continue its mission, focusing on diverse voices and community information, even as the funding landscape evolves.
“I’m committed to media that serves our community,” Fort said. “But we need structures that truly support that work, not ones that disappear when political winds change.”
For more information on BLCK Press, visit www.blckpress.com.
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