Chick-fil-A has named a vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion — and some fans of the company are not happy about it.
The fast-food giant has been a favorite among many social conservatives over the years, due in large part to its religious roots and sporadic financial support of traditional family organizations, but a previous announcement of Erick McReynolds being named vice president of DEI, has some claiming the company has “gone woke,” “The Hill” reports.
Loosely defined, DEI is a variable set of controversial principles that organizations and companies are increasingly incorporating in their work environments.
The Heritage foundation says DEI growth is because of the words diversity, equity and inclusion. “Who could oppose these ideals? It’s like the term “black lives matter,” writes Mike Gonzalez.
So it is important to repeat again, clearly, what DEI has come to mean. Each of these words means the opposite of what we think.
“Diversity doesn’t mean celebrating people of different colors, according to the Left. It means a tightly policed uniformity of views. Just ask Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) who is black and rising fast in his caucus. Someone recently sent him an illustrated copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, implying that he is a race traitor because he holds conservative views.
At best, diversity has come to mean an identity-based approach to society and racial quotas. At worst, it is a rigid enforcement of leftist orthodoxy. By definition, if you hire only people who pledge attachment to diversity, you ensure having a workforce with the same mindset—or one that is too cowed to speak out.
Inclusion is a call for language codes because it demands that people only use “inclusive” language as defined by the Left. It means you can’t wear a T-shirt that says ‘Jesus saves’ in a mall because a mall cop will toss you out because ‘Jesus is associated with religion and it’s offending people,’ as happened recently,” Gonzales says.
Chick-fil-A is modeling all the niceties of DEI say critics pointing to McReynolds statemetns:
“Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well,” McReynolds said. “Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding and dignity everywhere we do business.”
According to Chick-fil-A’s DEI page, its initiative hopes to focus on promoting equal access to opportunities, valuing differences and “creating a culture of belonging.” The company cites several groups it says it has supported, including Women in Business and the Black Employee Resource Group.
After years of criticism for its donations to organizations that uphold biblical standards of marriage and sin (the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, to name two of around 80), Chick-fil-A announced in 2019 it would transition its support elsewhere. Chick-fil-A said in its resurfaced announcement that it hopes its “Better Together” DEI actions signals a positive change for the company.
“We’re early on in our journey, but we’re honored by the opportunity to steward our organization’s greatest asset — our people — and are energized by the road ahead,” the company said.
The move is calling many former fans of the fastfood chain to call for a boycott.
“This is bad. Very bad. I don’t want to have to boycott. Are we going to have to boycott?” says conservative strategist Joey Mannarino.
Mannarino asked his 166,000 followers if a boycott should be instituted.
More 47% of respondents voted in favor of a boycott while more than half — 52.4% — voted against it.
That could spell doom for the chicken chain and trouble similar to that experienced by Bud Light, Kohl’s, Target and other companies.
Fans on social media had mixed responses. “I am hoping they will stand by their Christian values,” one Twitter user commented.
DEI is literally wokeness. You can dress it up in nice language that appeals to your Christianity or sense empathy but in practice it always boils down to the same SocJus nonsense that is destroying every industry and institution. pic.twitter.com/wuPIK0tpit
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 30, 2023
“Everything good must come to an end,” tweeted Wade Miller, executive director of Citizens for Renewing America—a conservative organization that’s against “woke” policies. “Here @ChickfilA is stating it’s [sic] commitment to systemic racism, sexism, and discrimination. I cannot support such a thing.”
“Something tells me @ChickfilA is going to be called to repent soon,” tweeted one person.
Another Twitter user wrote that the company is “hopefully going to lose millions of loyal customers for bowing to DEI.”
“Chick-fil-A is infected with DEI and it will only be a matter of time before that place falls in every way possible,” another person predicted.
–Alan Goforth and Wire services
