A group of trolls are calling for a total boycott of Sam’s Club after the Black female CEO of the Walmart-owned stores called for more diversity in the boardroom.
Four years ago, Rosalind Brewer became the first African-American and the first woman to head a Walmart Stores Inc. brand. Brewer stopped by CNN earlier this week, where she explained why she made having a diverse team a priority, reports the Washington Post.
“I demand it of my team and within the structure,” Brewer said. “I try to mentor many women inside my company and outside the company because I think it’s important.”
She then went on to explain her response to finding herself faced with an all-White and all-male team.
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“Just today we met with a supplier, and the entire other side of the table was all Caucasian males,” she said. “That was interesting. I decided not to talk about it directly with [the supplier’s] folks in the room because there were actually no females, like, levels down. So I’m going to place a call to him.”
People immediately jumped on Brewer, calling her a racist who discriminates against White men.
“As a White person, I need a safe space from racist Blacks,” one individual wrote on Twitter. “I do not feel safe at Sam’s Club.”
Wrote another: “Sam [sic] Club’s idea of ‘diversity’ is to not hire White men. That’s why I’m going to #BoycottRacistSamsClub.”
Walmart president and CEO Doug McMillon was quick to offer a response in support of Brewer.
“For years, we’ve asked our suppliers to prioritize the talent and diversity of their sales teams calling on our company,” McMillon said in a statement earlier this week. “Roz was simply trying to reiterate that we believe diverse and inclusive teams make for a stronger business. That’s all there is to it, and I support that important ideal.”
Case closed.