In an effort to appear more ‘inclusive’ and ‘socially conscious’ Google, Amazon, Door Dash and even Yelp (is that thing still around?) are giving consumers the ability to search for and patronize businesses that are owned by Blacks.
GWU! Sports editor Johnny Jock says it’s as easy as asking your phone: “Hey Google, how can I virtue signal my obedience to the current thing by shopping at a Black-owned business?”
RAISE YOUR SHOPPING FIST IN THE AIR!
In a strangely racist ‘anti-racist’ move, Google says identifying businesses by the race of their owner is “another way people can support a diversity of businesses across its products.” The search is integrated into Google search, and into both Google and Apple Maps.
On a support page, Google notes that self-identification is currently optional and is only available to retailers based in the United States.
While some are celebrating the segregational shopping, social media users have been divided.
INCLUSIVE DIVISION ONE APP AWAY
Google also has the search option for businesses that are Asian, Latino, LGBTQ, and other groups.
Customers will notice a small icon signifying the ethnicity or sexual identity of the retailer in the corner of the screen.
But Google isn’t the only online segregationist shopkeeper in town. Along with retailer Amazon, food delivery app DoorDash and whatever Yelp is, there is every colour of the rainbow of apps available to make all your separate but equal shopping dreams come true.
As one Twitter user pointed out though if this way of finding and supporting businesses were applied to another certain skin colour, would it only then be considered racist?