Amazon Lambasted After Giving Employees Chicken And Waffles On Juneteenth

Juneteenth, which is also called Liberation Day, Emancipation Day, or Jubilee Day, means a lot for many Americans as it is the day that all those who have been enslaved in the United States were emancipated. On this day, Amazon decided to offer its Chicago warehouse workers chicken and waffle to celebrate the event. The gesture backfired.

Juneteenth Backlash

On the morning of June 19, a sign posted on the Facebook Page of the DCH1 Amazonians, says: “We stand in solidarity honoring the Black community by supporting local Black businesses. We are happy to share an authentic meal crafted by Chicago’s Chicken + Waffles June 19th.” Many of the workers were unimpressed; however, as they started to post replies saying the e-commerce giant should have offered them something more meaningful.

One of the DCH1 Amazonians reminded Amazon that Juneteenth is a day that marked the liberation and freedom won by black Americans. “Amazon is ‘standing in solidarity’ and ‘honoring the Black community’ by giving us, majority Black workforce at DCH1, Chicken and Waffles,” a reply apparently laced with sarcasm read.

A Racist Form

DCH1 Amazonians also deplored Amazon’s offer by reminding officials that people around the world are rising up against police brutality, oppressive corporations, and the anti-black capitalist system that they live under. They also asked why the company is mocking them with their ‘racist’ form of celebration. “So much for supporting your Black/African American employees. Where’s the Solidarity in that?” they added. The group also reiterated their demand for a paid holiday and not some chicken.

Online commenters chimed in by slamming Amazon in their posts. One posted a reply asking if they should bring watermelon to the event too. In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC that the official who organized the event had good intentions to celebrate Juneteenth by supporting a local small business shop owned by a member of the Black community.

The spokesperson added that the Juneteenth catering at the warehouse was ordered from one of the favorite restaurants of their employees. The e-commerce monolith was also hit recently for the reported ‘inhumane’ conditions in its warehouses, as well as firing employees who try to unionize.