Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free

Local rapper Head-Roc has a message for Walmart

Diversity: Keeping DC Walmart Free

By: Tamara Braunstein

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”:

1. Move in and crush competition by underselling
2. Pay workers nothing and block unionization
3. 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?

Busboys & Poets Owner, Andy Shallal Editorial Takes on Walmart's Impact on Small Business

Busboys & Poets Owner, Andy Shallal Editorial Takes on Walmart's Impact on Small Business

Featured in today’s Washington Post editorial page includes an opinion letter from Andy Shallal, chairman of Think Local First DC and owner of several popular DC restaurants, including Bus Boys and Poets. Mr. Shallal explains the potential devastating impact the opening of four Wal-Mart stores in the Distric would have on local businesses and their communities. From the article:

Some facts are indisputable. Local, independent businesses give a neighborhood character. They create more local jobs, pay more taxes and keep more money in the community. And they cannot compete against the world’s largest retailer, whose track record of destroying local businesses speaks louder than any academic research.

For more on the campaign to hold Wal-Mart accountable, visit www.respectdc.org

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, May 11, 2011:

"Wal-Mart would water down D.C.’s Character"

The May 8 Local Opinions commentary by David Merriman and Joseph J. Persky [“ The Chicago precedent: Wal-Mart’s arrival was a wash for workers ”] made clear that the first Wal-Mart store in Chicago had a profound effect on surrounding businesses, as 82 businesses that sold competing goods closed within two years of Wal-Mart’s arrival. Imagine the disastrous consequences of four stores in a city like the District, which has a fraction of Chicago’s population.

Wal-mart: The People’s Self-Inflicted Weapon

Wal-mart: The People’s Self-Inflicted Weapon

Today the Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the largest gender discrimination lawsuit in our nation’s history against the big-box retailer, Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart Stores vs. Betty Dukes class action suit involves more than 1.5 million women throughout the retailer’s 3,400 stores seeking back pay for practices of sex discrimination and unequal pay.  While Supreme Court justices will deliberate if such discrimination is valid and how to award billions of dollars to the women if vindicated, Wal-Mart continues to push its presence into urban markets like Washington, D.C.  With plans to open a store in each of the city’s four quadrants, DC residents hope to end what seems a common flawed practice with Wal-Mart: paying poverty-level wages, poor benefits and forcing closure of competing small businesses.  Respect DC, also known as “Living Wages, Healthy Communities” is a grassroots coalition telling Wal-Mart, to “Respect DC” by paying potential employees living wages (more than $11.75/hour which is below the Federal Poverty Level of $22,500 for a family of four) and good benefits.  Unfortunately, the very people who shop at Wal-Mart to save money, are contributing to a devastating event beyond the cash register. Wal-Mart has used their mass patronage as a weapon to crush those who can least afford injury. But for those familiar with the story of David and Goliath, we know giants can fall. Here's hoping!

Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, March 29, 2011:

"Justices question next step for massive Wal-Mart discrimination suit"

By Robert Barnes

Even Supreme Court justices who sharply questioned Wal-Mart’s pay and promotion policies regarding female employees expressed concern at Tuesday’s oral argument about how the largest gender discrimination class-action suit in history might proceed.

Also visit Respect DC to learn how DC is responding to Wal-Mart and learn how you can get involved!

Hey Walmart—Try a Little “Conscious Capitalism”

Hey Walmart—Try a Little “Conscious Capitalism”

Putting employees before profits (and even customers) is very profitable.  Just ask Container Store co-founder Kip Tindell, who not only boasts excellent profits this year for the 50-store chain but actually exceeded promised performance in the first year of the recession.  Although Tindell gives the retail industry as a whole a ‘C minus’, Tindell’s peers give him an ‘A’.  The National Retail Federation awarded the retailer and his stores this year’s Gold Medal, the most coveted award in retail, given to individuals who have served the industry with distinction and achieved a national reputation for excellence.

According to Tindell, retail success comes from balancing the needs of all stakeholders - employees, suppliers, customers, community and investors. A business has to have a purpose other than profits in order to achieve profitability. Under “conscious capitalism,” the shareholder isn't Number 1.  In the case of the Container Store, the employee comes first.

Walmart certainly could use a lesson in this refreshing approach.  For more about the Container Store strategy, see www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358608n.

Smoke and mirrors... Or is Wal-Mart serious about a new corporate image?

Smoke and mirrors...  Or is Wal-Mart serious about a new corporate image?

One can only hope that first lady Michelle Obama’s praise of Wal-Mart’s healthy foods campaign, announced yesterday at a Washington, DC-based community center, is not misconstrued nor lets the retail giant off the hook for past transgressions.  The Arkansas-based corporation’s history of opposing workers’ right to unionize, paying low wages and not offering benefits are still major concerns, and little has been done or said by the corporation to suggest a significant shift in these practices.  No one denies that the chain’s push to provide healthy and affordable foods in underserved communities is a step in the right direction.  But we still need evidence that Wal-Mart is cleaning up its anti-worker business practices along with its growing expansion into inner-city neighborhoods.

Highlighted Clip for Friday, January 20, 2011:

White House support of Wal-Mart food initiative shows new tone toward retailer

Perry Bacon Jr. and Nia-Malika Henderson

Four years ago, leading Democrats were virtually at war with Wal-Mart.