Rolling Back DEI Initiatives

By Mario Xavier Carrasco / ThinkNow

I considered writing a think piece on what Walmart rolling back its DEI initiatives means, but as I started, it hit me: they were never really about DEI.

For decades, Walmart has contributed to widening wealth inequality—profiting off the very communities that work for them and shop with them. Their DEI efforts were, at best, a veneer, not a meaningful shift in how they operate or who they serve.

This rollback isn’t surprising; it’s a return to their roots. Real change means addressing the systemic issues of economic inequity, not just surface-level commitments. DEI should be more than a buzzword—it must be a true investment in people, equity, and opportunity. Walmart’s decision reminds us how far we still have to go.