And another one bites the dust!
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The internet is outraged after wireless carrier AT&T announced they’re committed to ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The controversial move comes as the company seeks approval from President Donald Trump’s administration to buy wireless spectrum assets, according to CNN. But while AT&T is falling in line with the president’s orders, it’s Black costumers who are expressing their grievances online.
Many Black folks on X even pledged to end their service with AT&T entirely. @_iDoTheMost wrote, “I will not be a customer to a company that doesn’t support program that are to advance marginalized groups.”
@TelvinGriffin said, “These people are such cowards man!”
AT&T is simply the latest company to bow down to Trump’s anti-DEI agenda. Back in November 2024, the company took part in a billion-dollar deal which required approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), CNN reported. Here’s the issue: under Trump, the FCC requires companies to completely end DEI. So when money talks, it seems AT&T picked their side.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump called out the phone service company for falling into Trump’s trap. “Under this administration, companies are choosing profit over equity,” he tweeted. “DEI can’t be a bargaining chip.”
Other users online agreed with the activist. “Make no mistake: Trump is using Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as a dog-whistle,” @Edmond_Frost wrote.
“Have they ever needed that incentive to sell us out?” @rondaracha asked. “Remember that they implemented these programs as requirements for contracts to get them to include the rest of us in the first place.”
“‘Dear Trump, we’ve taken all measures required to prove we are down with race discrimination again,’” @SayMane901 tweeted while mocking the company.
@ProfJeffries wrote, “Time to switch from AT&T. Can you hear me now????”
“Let me go head and port this number over,” @jenngradybklyn said. “It’s been real AT&T.”
@Mr_SpotLite_10 wrote, “Welp, time to pack them up like Target.” Earlier this year, Pastor Jamal Bryant and other Black leaders called for a mass boycott of Target after the company ended DEI.
“Of course they are. I’m so sick of this performative s**t,” @SourceRyan tweeted. “If I could leave them I would.”
@YeahImhere38 encouraged Black folks to cancel their AT&T subscriptions. “Your money is your power people. Don’t complain. Act,” he wrote. Another user, @iRunYhuCheer, declared that “Black people stop doing business with AT&T TODAY!!!!”
But while Black folks were frustrated by AT&T’s sudden move, other phone carriers have already followed suit. In July, T-Mobile ended its DEI initiatives. Verizon also ended its DEI initiatives in March 2025, NPR reported.
“B***h..I literally just switched over like 3 years ago & they do this,” @LunarSnow1 said.
“All of these companies are essentially saying they are too stupid, lazy-minded, dependent & indifferent to leave. To stand for anything,” @MsAndrea3000 said.
Straight From 
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