South Africa, Feb. 13 -- It all started late last month when the retailer announced that it was ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.

The move drew widespread rebuke from social justice organisers, including New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dr Jamal Bryant.

Although Target said one set of its racial-equity initiatives had already been scheduled to conclude, the timing was notable: The move came just days after the White House called for a federal DEI ban, and as several other companies took similar actions.

Beyond renaming its "supplier diversity" team - now called "supplier engagement" - and ending "diversity-focused surveys," Target hasn't said what the change will mean for the many Black entrepreneurs who ...