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| Local rapper Head-Roc has a message for Walmart |
Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free
Local rapper Head-Roc released a new track last week calling out the social justice issues of allowing Walmart to infiltrate some notoriously impoverished neighborhoods in DC.
The video, produced by Empower DC, is shot in black and white and relies heavily on imagery reflective of the Chocolate City moniker, especially small, minority-owned and operated businesses. Subtitles are provided, but one of the most interesting moments occurs around the 1 min. 23 sec. mark, when Dr. Jared Ball, “the Funkinest Journalist,” cuts into the track with the “Three Walmart Commandments”:
- Move in and crush competition by underselling
- Pay workers nothing and block unionization
- Take all that money, put it into the Walton Family Foundation, and turn that into political influence to protect yourself and make even more
Mr. Head-Roc goes on to rap that “the Walton families are big contributors to bigoted representatives and senators…results in Black and Brown casualties.” Despite Walmart’s conspicuous self-promotion to win our approval, it’s clear from this video that some residents are aware and wary of the big-box’s intentions. But what does it mean on a broader scale?
Has Walmart become just another embodiment of DC’s classic racial socio-economic disparities debate?
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