Pastor Jamal Bryant discusses a boycott against Target, highlighting it as the most successful boycott by Black people in 70 years, leading to a significant drop in the company’s valuation and a reduction in the CEO’s salary [00:09]. The speaker emphasizes the power of community mobilization and focused action [00:27].
Following this, the conversation transitions to Dollar General, explaining the rationale behind targeting this company for a similar campaign:
* Scale and Neglect: Dollar General is noted to be substantially larger than both Target and Walmart, yet it has never contributed to any organizations within the Black community [00:43].
* Widespread Presence and Lack of Responsibility: Dollar General stores are within five miles of 75% of American homes, but there’s a perceived absence of accountability [00:51].
* Contribution to Food Deserts: The company is described as contributing to the creation of food deserts, characterized not only by a lack of food but also by a lack of fairness [01:02].
* Predatory Practices: Dollar General is accused of engaging in predatory practices in rural communities, often acting as the only source of food in areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer [01:35].
* Lack of Diversity and Partnership: Only a small fraction (2%) of Dollar General’s leadership is African-American, most positions are part-time with limited opportunities for advancement, and the company has minimal partnerships with Black farmers and vendors [03:02].
The overarching goal of the campaign is to hold Dollar General accountable and encourage the company to become a genuine partner within the community, rather than merely a presence [03:26].
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