National Baptist Convention President Accepts Target Donation Amid Ongoing Boycott

Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, has faced significant backlash after accepting a $300,000 donation from Target amid a nationwide boycott of the retail giant. The controversy emerged as Kimber, who assumed leadership in January, had previously announced the formation of an economic development committee aimed at engaging with corporations to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He had emphasized the importance of dialogue with companies like Walmart, Target, and McDonald’s, stating, “Many of our people buy from Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, and so those people certainly would have to come to the table to talk about the diversity and talk about the inclusion of Blacks in their business.”

The boycott, led by Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta, has been a central focus of the National Baptist Convention’s engagement with Target. Bryant and his congregation have spearheaded the effort, which began as a 40-day fast in March and has since expanded into an indefinite boycott. The movement is rooted in Target’s rollback of DEI initiatives following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Bryant has outlined four key demands for the company, including honoring a $2 billion pledge to the Black business community, establishing community retail centers at 10 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and fully recommitting to DEI at all levels.

In a recent sermon titled “Something’s Gotta Break,” Bryant expressed his concerns to Kimber during a call, urging the convention to align with the boycott and the marginalized communities it seeks to uplift. “I said, ‘Rev, we can’t go out like that,’” Bryant recounted. “I told him he’s got one week to send me in writing that the Baptist Convention stands with the boycott, stands with the oppressed, stands with the marginalized, stands with the nameless and faceless people who are on the front lines.”

Bryant also criticized Target for employing influencers and celebrities to counter the boycott, a tactic he likened to the film *The Color Purple*. The boycott reflects a broader tension within the National Baptist Convention between advocating for systemic change and engaging with corporate entities, a dynamic that has sparked internal debate and public scrutiny.

In a press release, Kimber addressed the controversy, though the full statement was not included in the source. The incident underscores the complex role of historically Black denominations in navigating social justice issues while maintaining relationships with major corporations. As the convention grapples with these challenges, the situation highlights the delicate balance between advocacy and collaboration in the pursuit of equity and inclusion.

Source: Read the original report