Walmart has pulled its “Juneteenth ice cream” from its freezers and apologized after receiving backlash on social media from users who accused the company of commercializing the holiday that commemorated the end of slavery for Black people in America.
The multinational retail corporation released a limited-edition ice cream under its Great Value label called “Celebration Edition: Juneteenth Ice Cream.” The ice cream was packaged in a container adorned with Pan-African colors and an image of two Black hands high-fiving each other. The label read, “Share and celebrate African American culture, emancipation, and enduring hope.”
After the debut of the ice cream and other Juneteenth limited edition items, social media became abuzz with comments condemning the retail giant for “whitewashing” and monetizing the holiday and its history.
Walmart backed Juneteenth ice cream is in the same vein as what’s happened to BLM, and Pride, and Anti Work. As our ideas become more “mainstream” we have to think of how to protect them from being recuperated and de-radicalized.
— Uncle Simp (@FDsignifier) May 24, 2022
TODAY IN HISTORY
— LongTime🤓FirstTime👩💻 (@LongTimeHistory) May 24, 2022
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1861—Union Army declares escaping slaves won’t be returned to Confederacy.
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2022—Walmart is trying to trademark “Juneteenth” to profit off new federal holiday celebrating emancipation.
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If corporations are people, they’re not the best people.#Fresh #wtpBLUE pic.twitter.com/kIY5Ykvg3g
🗣We said REPARATIONS…not Red Velvet 😩 @Walmart #GreatValue #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/jZ3z7IyOqQ
— xyvesaintlaurenx (@yvesaintlaurenx) May 22, 2022
The power of social media. Walmart tried it, and after all the backlash that shit is coming off the shelves. Let’s not whitewash this holiday. It’s not for sale. #Juneteenth ✊🏾✊🏾
— J- 🌎✨ (@MajorFactor2) May 24, 2022
After removing the items from its shelves, a Walmart spokesperson released a statement regarding the situation.
“Juneteenth holiday marks a celebration of freedom and independence,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement. “However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers and we sincerely apologize. We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate.”
Juneteenth will be celebrated this year on Sunday, June 19, and several cities across the country have recognized it as a paid federal holiday. If you would like to support a Black-Owned ice cream company try Creamalicious Ice Cream. The ice cream is sold at Target stores nationwide. You can learn more at the company’s official website at SoCreamalicious.com
