Target’s diversity chief says ‘white women’ should take action against systemic racism

Target’s chief diversity and inclusion officer has suggested that ‘white women’ should help tackle systemic racism in the workplace. 

Keira Fernandez made the comment earlier this year in the context of Target’s changing demographic shifts, and encouraged white women to speak up against transgressions ‘so the woman of color in the room doesn’t always have to.’  

While speaking, she singled out a white person on the panel, and made the claim that their voice would ‘be heard differently than mine,’ reports Fox News. 

Fernandez said: ‘And that is why we’re doing this work. That’s why it’s so important to have this conversation. 

‘But we also can’t ignore the systemic history that got us here and then the things that we have to do differently to remove those barriers.’ 

Keira Fernandez has worked for Target for 22 years and is currently the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer 

Fernandez made the comment earlier this year in the context of Target’s changing demographic shifts, and encouraged white women to speak up against transgressions ‘so the woman of color in the room doesn’t always have to’

Keira Fernandez has been leading Target’s Racial Equity Action and Change initiative to accelerate the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, especially following the death of George Floyd in 2020. 

The retail giant promised to increase the amount of black employees they have, as well as spend more than $2billion with black-owned brands by 2025. 

Fernandez, who has worked at the company for 22 years, said: ‘One of the hardest things in the world to be every day is black.

‘I think the number one thing that I would encourage White women to do is take the [Diversity, equity, and Inclusion] learnings… and use your voice… so the woman of color in the room doesn’t always have to.’ 

She added that Target’s ‘tolerance for intolerance will definitely be a significant challenge to any company that’s thinking about how they build a culture. 

Target has lost billions of dollars in market capitalization in the span of a few days as it continues to face backlash for a Pride-themed clothing rollout currently on display in its stores. Pictured: the Pride collection in Target

‘It was talking about culture like that’s so deeply woven in your strategy. It has to be. So it is daunting. It’s not for the faint-hearted. It is it. But it gets easier every day.’

The retail giant describes Fernandez as: ‘A dedicated diversity advocate who sparks, inspires and challenges the lens in which we view and practice diversity, so we can all grow the circle together with shared accountability and responsibility.’ 

This comes after Target lost more than $12.5billion in market capitalization in the span of 14 days – as it continues to face backlash for Pride-themed merchandise.

Prior to the controversy – which stems over a LGBTQ-geared clothing campaign that touts ‘tuck-friendly’ bathing suits and pro-trans T-shirts for kids – Target shares were trading at $160.96, giving the retailer a market valuation of roughly $74.3billion.

By the time The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closed Friday, the blue-chip stock was trading at $138.93 – marking a market valuation of 64,2billion, and loss of $10.1billion.

The sum, moreover, stands as the superstore’s lowest market value in an entire year – all achieved in a matter of days as customers swear off its products in response. 

Meanwhile, Target’s share prices continued to plummet for an eighth-straight day Tuesday as the retailer faces its biggest losing streak in five years.

Shares fell 3.66 percent on Tuesday, amid widespread backlash to its Pride display, which included ‘tuck-friendly’ women’s swimwear.

Tuesday’s losses put the stock on its longest losing streak since November 2018, according to FOX Business, with shares at a 52-week low of $133.88 — down nearly 15 percent over the month.

Conservatives and moderates alike have been boycotting Target since it was revealed last week that the retailer was selling clothes with LGBTQ-friendly slogans like ‘Trans People Will Always Exist!’, ‘gay’, and ‘Live Laugh Lesbian.’