# Activism run insane: NAACP to boycott Target **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 19, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114 "2006-07-19T02:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/21 "2006-07-19T04:22:00Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Sure it’s a boycott and the NAACP is free to request such from their members. If you disagree, your best course of action is to write a letter to the NAACP and announce that you’re going to freely choose to shop at Target _because_ of their action. [/QUOTE] The letter would read better if it was written on stationary from Target. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/22 "2006-07-19T04:26:01Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Umm, maybe you could point me to the part of your cite that says the surveys were of employees, and not surveys of business practices?The grading is based on the surveys (one would assume), and I don’t think your average employee knows much about the corporations level of charitable giving, or how much of the advertising budget is targeted at minority communities. CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] This is a good point and I’m surprised I overlooked it myself. Nothing in the linked story says that employees themselves were asked to take the survey, only that companies were asked ABOUT black employees. Target’s excuse is even weaker than I thought. How does answering questions about hiring and business practices compromise the fostering of diversity in a workplace? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/23 "2006-07-19T04:27:26Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Sure it’s a boycott and the NAACP is free to request such from their members. If you disagree, your best course of action is to write a letter to the NAACP and announce that you’re going to freely choose to shop at Target _because_ of their action. [/QUOTE] Go right ahead. That’ll show them, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/24 "2006-07-19T04:30:42Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Go right ahead. That’ll show them, I’m sure. [/QUOTE] I’m sure it will too. Good advise. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/25 "2006-07-19T04:32:42Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Go right ahead. That’ll show them, I’m sure. [/QUOTE] Well, what would you suggest, buying some propane cylinders at Target and torching the NAACP headquarters? In any case, I thought this wasn’t about the NAACP _or_ Target; it was taking a symbolic stand against stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/26 "2006-07-19T04:39:36Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Well, what would you suggest, buying some propane cylinders at Target and torching the NAACP headquarters? [/QUOTE] No. Your idea is fine. Let the NAACP know that you’re going to keep shopping at Target. That’s exactly the right response if that’s how you feel. I just don’t think the NAACP will care very much. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/27 "2006-07-19T04:41:30Z")
I actually find myself compelled to apologize for jumping to wrong conclusion i.e. you were being sarcastic. Far out. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/28 "2006-07-19T04:51:28Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] No. Your idea is fine. Let the NAACP know that you’re going to keep shopping at Target. That’s exactly the right response if that’s how you feel. I just don’t think the NAACP will care very much. [/QUOTE] The only way they wouldn’t care would be if it was a bullshit publicity stunt. If their goal were to bring harm to Target then creating a windfall for the company would be pretty stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grits_and_Hard_Toast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/29 "2006-07-19T04:53:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What did the NAACP lie about? [/QUOTE] :The NAACP has graded corporations since 1997 on how well they work with blacks in employment, charitable giving, advertising, contracting and community service." Not a far jump that if an organization grades companies on certain things, and a company then gets an F, that it is meant to imply the company failed those things. Why not just say, “refused to answer”? Why give an F that implies that the company is horrible in its “work with blacks in employment, charitable giving, advertising, contracting and community service.”? There is a certain pattern here. If you don’t answer our survey, you get an F. So to avoid an F you must answer. When you answer, you may still get an F if you don’t give enough money, do certain things we want you to do. Take our survey and then you will know what you have to do to avoid a boycott. I don’t blame companies for not responding. I hope more refuse to respond in the future, knowing a NAACP boycott is not based on fair conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/30 "2006-07-19T04:53:57Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I actually find myself compelled to apologize for jumping to wrong conclusion i.e. you were being sarcastic. Far out. [/QUOTE] No apology necessary. I was being a LITTLE sarcastic with “that’ll show them” but if enough people did it, it might actually get their attention. I almost always think free speech is best fought with more free speech. And showing extra support for a company when they’ve done something you approve of is a perfectly valid response. That’s how the free market is supposed to work. The business makes its decisions and the market responds. Whatever decisions cause the market to respond favorably are good business decisions and vice versa. We all know that good business decisions don’t have to be good _ethical_ decisions and good ethical decisons can sometimes be “bad” business decisions…and in the case of the latter, that’s just how it goes. In this particular case, I think the “boycott” such as it is will have a negligable effect at best and that Target is unlikely to be injured by it. For the record, I’m a pretty regular shopper at Target and don’t intend to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/31 "2006-07-19T04:56:52Z")
[QUOTE=Grits and Hard Toast] :The NAACP has graded corporations since 1997 on how well they work with blacks in employment, charitable giving, advertising, contracting and community service." Not a far jump that if an organization grades companies on certain things, and a company then gets an F, that it is meant to imply the company failed those things. Why not just say, “refused to answer”? [/quote] That’s exactly what they did say. They said they gave Target an F BECAUSE they wouldn’t answer the survey. They didn’t conceal their reason and they didn’t make any other claims about them. How is that dishonest? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/32 "2006-07-19T05:34:40Z")
Activism run amok. Couldn’t have said it better. ---
**Author:** ![Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grits_and_Hard_Toast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/33 "2006-07-19T05:41:03Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] That’s exactly what they did say. They said they gave Target an F BECAUSE they wouldn’t answer the survey. They didn’t conceal their reason and they didn’t make any other claims about them. How is that dishonest? [/QUOTE] It feels dishonest to me that the end result is a list of companies graded, top to bottom, on what is supposed to be a certain criteria, but then an F can be given for not answering the questions. An honest version of the the criteria would state: “The NAACP has graded corporations since 1997 on how well they work with blacks in employment, charitable giving, advertising, contracting and community service.” And add, “and if they will participate in our survey.” The F implies they are treating blacks poorly, etc. Otherwise they could have just listed the companies that didn’t reply and then suggest a boycott because they didn’t reply. I think that would be a more honest reflection of what the survey found. But instead they give the F, not based on the criteria, but on going going along with NAACP. That is how I see it as dishonest. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/34 "2006-07-19T05:44:02Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Umm, maybe you could point me to the part of your cite that says the surveys were of employees, and not surveys of business practices?The grading is based on the surveys (one would assume), and I don’t think your average employee knows much about the corporations level of charitable giving, or how much of the advertising budget is targeted at minority communities. CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] Hmm, the story is not clear on that. I read it one way, but you may be right. I actually hope that you are, because it makes my respect for Target much stronger. If people are equal, then they are equal, nothing further need be said. Good on them for putting their money where their mouth is! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/35 "2006-07-19T05:47:26Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] Hmm, the story is not clear on that. I read it one way, but you may be right. I actually hope that you are, because it makes my respect for Target much stronger. If people are equal, then they are equal, nothing further need be said. Good on them for putting their money where their mouth is! [/QUOTE] How would answering the survey make people unequal? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/36 "2006-07-19T05:48:47Z")
[QUOTE=Grits and Hard Toast] It feels dishonest to me that the end result is a list of companies graded, top to bottom, on what is supposed to be a certain criteria, but then an F can be given for not answering the questions. An honest version of the the criteria would state: “The NAACP has graded corporations since 1997 on how well they work with blacks in employment, charitable giving, advertising, contracting and community service.” And add, “and if they will participate in our survey.” The F implies they are treating blacks poorly, etc. Otherwise they could have just listed the companies that didn’t reply and then suggest a boycott because they didn’t reply. I think that would be a more honest reflection of what the survey found. But instead they give the F, not based on the criteria, but on going going along with NAACP. That is how I see it as dishonest. [/QUOTE] Not answering the survey is explicitly stated as their criterion for giving Target an F. There’s no decpetion here. ---
**Author:** ![Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grits_and_Hard_Toast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/37 "2006-07-19T06:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Not answering the survey is explicitly stated as their criterion for giving Target an F. There’s no decpetion here. [/QUOTE] We would really have to see the the actual survey and actual letters asking for involvement to see what is what. I still think the survey is claiming to be how blacks are treated by companies, community involvement, etc, and the grade is not based on those things. They state the reason for the grade in this report, but know that won’t always be cited. I concede this is not the best source, but it still makes my point. This is from Wikpedia on Target: > **[Target Corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Corporation)** > > Target Corporation is an American retail corporation and discount department store chain headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Target operates small-format and large-format retail stores and hypermarkets. It is the eighth-largest retailer in the U.S. and a component of the S&P 500 Index. The first Target retail store was co-founded as a discount retailer by John Geisse and Douglas Dayton in 1962 for department store Dayton's in Roseville, Minnesota. Dayton's was renamed Target... Diversity The Target employee diversity program is called “The Power of One”. It specifically seeks to work with vendors and contractors that are minority-owned or owned by women.[33] It is has long extended domestic partner benefits to straight, gay, and lesbian employees. It has received an 86 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index Score. [34] In addition, Target Corporation was named one of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” in 2004 by Working Mother magazine. Despite Target’s stated commitment to diversity, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has repeatedly given Target failing grades on its annual Economic Reciprocity Initiative report card, a measure of the company’s “commitment to the African-American citizenry”. In 2003 and 2005, the NAACP has rated Target an “F” on this report; in 2004, Target was rated a “D-”. In contrast, Wal-Mart, which scored higher than all of the other retailers on the report for 2003 and 2004, was given a “C+” for both of those years.[35] When reported the bottom line is they were graded and they failed. No mention of why. This is what the NAACP is relying on. The bottom line report making a company look bad. They tell the companies ahead of time they will boycott them if they don’t answer, at least being honest there. But it is not fair to then still give an F for failing something they didn’t participate in. I guess you can say Target’s refusing to answer shows its lack of “commitment to the African-American citizenry.” But I don’t think refusing to answer a survey when threatened with a boycott if you don’t, shows a lack of “commitment to the African-American citizenry,” which is what they claim the survey is. I think is shows a desire not to be forced to do something they don’t think is in the best interest of the company, for whatever reason. And I can see how that is the case here. ---
**Author:** ![Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Grits\_and\_Hard\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grits_and_Hard_Toast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/38 "2006-07-19T06:24:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] How would answering the survey make people unequal? [/QUOTE] We really need to see a copy of the survey. Any thoughts on how to get one? I would bet that it works like this. You don’t answer the survey you get boycotted. You answer the survery. And if more of your money goes to just any minority, or women, which it looks like is the case for Target, then you get a bad grade. So in order to answer the survey and not look like you treat blacks poorly, which it looks like the survey focuses on, you must make adjustments to where your charity money, employment, vender practices go. Answering this survey could result in Target’s feeling a need to take money from their current program “Power of One,” and put more in specific programs for just blacks. So that would then make things unequal. Again, we don’t have the actual survey, but until we do, I am pretty sure the goal of the survey is to not show what companies are currently doing, but to shape where there money will go in the future. That is fine for the NAACP to think that is a good way to accomplish their goals. But I think Target could have a point in rejecting it. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/39 "2006-07-19T06:31:22Z")
At which point does this become blackmail? “Distribute our survey or we call for a boycott and give you a poor public rating!” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114/40 "2006-07-19T07:29:59Z")
[QUOTE=SaintCad] At which point does this become blackmail? “Distribute our survey or we call for a boycott and give you a poor public rating!” [/QUOTE] It does not become blackmail until the person.group threatening the boycott engages in a threat of violence or other illegal activity. Given that few people are going to hear about the NAACP actions, it is a pretty toothless threat. They have been issuing these scorecards for several years without having any effect on any retailer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/activism-run-insane-naacp-to-boycott-target/365114.md?page=3)