TELL H-E-B BLACK and BROWN CUSTOMERS MATTER, TOO

H-E-B Should Tell North Oak Cliff When They Will Build On The Land They Purchased 4 Years Ago - Since They Announced Moving To White Affluence!!!

Almost four (4) years ago H-E-B purchased land in North Oak Cliff, Texas with the promise to build a grocery store (according to the Dallas Morning News in 2017). H-E-B/Central Market recently announced its plan to open two (2) new stores in the North Texas area: Plano, Texas and Frisco, Texas. Thereby, ensuring a largely Caucasian (white), perceived affluent community, has two (2) H-E-B stores and a Central Market in an area which is less than 18.8 miles apart, if driven from the furthest most point of Plano to the furthest most point of Frisco, - cities range in distance 11.57 miles apart.

There can only be one reason H-E-B would open two (2) new stores in Plano and Frisco area, and not on the land it purchased almost four (4) years ago. In the words of the rapper Nelly, and with a significant twist, “It Must [NOT] be the money”; it must be the people.

Plano, Texas and Frisco, Texas are considered more affluent areas, with a largely Caucasian (white) population. According to the United States Census, the annual household income breaks downs as follows:

·        Frisco, Texas: $116,884

·        Plano, Texas: $95,602

·        OAK CLIFF, TEXAS: $96,000

Remember it’s NOT about the money, because Waxahachie, Texas and Burleson, Texas, both of which have H-E-B stores, have a lower annual household income, than Oak Cliff, with $65,589, and $79,784, respectively.

What is the most apparent difference of the four (4) communities versus Oak Cliff? The cities, with the exception of Oak Cliff, are representational of a more Caucasian community. Whereas Oak Cliff is more representational of America’s promise of a “melting pot”- with several ethnicities and people of all ilk living together, working together and playing together, in a well- established food desert.

Should H-E-B be forced to correct the food desert? Perhaps, not! However, it begs the question: Why purchase land (with the promise of building a grocery store), if it is not building a grocery store? The area in which H-E-B’s land is located is a thriving area with new home construction and new businesses? Again, it begs the question: Why is H-E-B NOT building a grocery store on their land – land they’ve had  for four (4) years? Why is H-E-B going to an area it already has a footprint?

Systemic racism does NOT rest on racial slurs or denying a person of color a job, or acceptance into a particular school. Systemic RACISM is about denying people the opportunity to have resources. Often systemic racism is not always about the socially low economic tax bracket. It can also be a perception of the communities’ demographic make-up -REDLINING.

Opening a store in Oak Cliff would also service the residents, of surrounding suburbs: Duncanville, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Red Oak, Ovilla as well as the Dallas’ downtown area residents, and Waxahachie residents which work in Dallas. The idea there would be a greater need from a consumer base, or for business purposes, it would service a greater population, and thusly, more revenue does not calculate – not in dollars.

Signing this petition holds H-E-B accountable. It also puts other businesses on notice that systemic racism is no longer tolerable. It is no longer an actionable dismissiveness that will be accepted by the masses, regardless of color, race, sexual orientation, social status, and/or domiciliary.

H-E-B needs to utilize the land it purchased for the intended rational. Putting Oak Cliff’s citizens hopes on hold is cruel and it does not make good business nor fulfill its philanthropic commitment.

Sign this petition because Enough is Enough! Let’s ask H-E-B why there isn’t a plan for a grocery store on its land in Oak Cliff. Help us get to the truth