I have many thoughts about the recent statements from Walmart abandoning their DEI policies.
I am an Overnight Stocker who was hired on September 5th, 2023. When I first started, I was required to go through many training modules on the computer. Some of these were food-related, such as keeping things at the right temperature and avoiding cross-contamination. Some were about what to do in emergencies or active shooter situations. However, my favorite was the one on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It had specific examples with cartoon characters and voices about what to do in situations when someone is being mistreated because of their race, gender identity, disability, etc. I thought it was one of the coolest trainings I did because it was about how we should treat people.
And now, with the news that Walmart is removing DEI from their communications, I can’t help but wonder if this is just a political movement to save their reputation by pleasing the customers and politicians who have an agenda to eliminate LGBT people and people of other races. This news also does not hit very well for me because I am Transgender, and two black female coworkers who were good friends of mine were fired in the past year. These women were not new hires either, and they had both been there much longer than I have. Is the goal to bring society to a time where only cisgender, heterosexual, and white men are able to have jobs? That is how it used to be a long time ago.
To me, DEI is just a reminder that we should remember that people are different and learn to understand and treat them with respect. But apparently, others do not see it that way.
https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-walmart-boycott-its-easier-said-done-2056526
Chastity White Rose 
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