Walmart Slammed Over Juneteenth Product Sales

Walmart was slammed online recently for selling and advertising Juneteenth-themed products, including ice cream, in honor of the national holiday.

Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. and is celebrated on June 19, was only made a federal holiday in 2021. The declaration that the day was made a federal holiday saw some backlash from prominent Black voices on Twitter who claimed that making it a holiday wasn't enough.

This year, Walmart advertised new Juneteenth merchandise, including party decorations and even Juneteenth-themed ice cream, which many of the options questioned on social media.

Journalist Chris Lovingood tweeted photographs of Walmart's Great Value brand Juneteenth ice cream. The ice cream, which is a red velvet flavor, also has a trademark logo by the word "Juneteenth."

Lovingood also posted a screenshot of questions sent to a Walmart representative, asking why the word "Juneteenth" had been trademarked.

Many more on Twitter have called out the themed products for using Juneteenth as a marketing scheme. One user wrote, "Capitalism is a retail conglomerate, owned by a white billionaire family, marketing an ice cream to celebrate a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of slaves in a country that was literally built on the backs [of] slaves. See: Walmart's Juneteenth ice cream."

Another user tweeted, "I knew when they'd declare Juneteenth as a holiday it was just a bone being thrown at Black ppl in typical gaslighting fashion. Walmart's new action to trademark a Black American moment of historical significance is the epitome of white supremacy in action."

Another questioned what Walmart was doing for their Black employees in order to commemorate Juneteenth, writing, "Since @Walmart is so clearly feeling moved to celebrate #Juneteenth, I guess all black employees will have the option of either a paid day off or double time that day. Right?"

Actor, comedian and content creator Kevin Fredericks, also known as KevOnStage, made a video on TikTok regarding all of Walmart's Juneteenth products, saying, "This is what happens when you commercialize federal holidays."

Fredericks also pointed out that amidst the Juneteenth party supplies on the website was a banner that reads "Congrats Officers," which some have pointed out on Twitter as well, one user commenting, "Seems very intentional."

Several Twitter users have stated that instead of purchasing the Juneteenth ice cream, another brand being sold at Walmart is a Black-owned brand with the same ice cream flavor.

A Twitter user who goes by the name Queen Jayyy wrote, "If you're at Walmart and you're thinking about buying the one on the left. Take a few seconds to look for and buy the one on the right. They are the same flavor except Creamalicious Ice Creams is black owned."

Newsweek reached out to Walmart for further comment.