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Dr. Jamal H. Bryant and The JHB Movement to Host Strategic Town Hall Revealing the Next Phase of the TargetFast Movement

As national momentum continues to build around the TargetFast movement, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and founder of The JHB Movement, will host a high-impact, invite-only TargetFast Town Hall on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 7:00 PM EST in Stonecrest, Georgia.
This private strategic gathering marks the conclusion of the first 40 days of TargetFast.org — a bold initiative launched on March 3, 2025, calling for a community-wide economic divestment from Target in response to its quiet rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As a critical moment for reflection, recalibration, and media engagement, the town hall will unveil the movement’s next phase and reaffirm its call for corporate accountability. Special guests that will be speaking at the event include:
Dr. Jamal H. Bryant – Senior Pastor & Movement Leader
Dr. Karri Bryant – Educator & Cultural Strategist
Dr. Rashad Richey – Political Analyst & Commentator
Tamika Mallory – Renowned Civil Rights Activist
Dr. David John – Economic Advisor & Policy Strategist
Tezlyn Figaro – Policy ConsultantNina Turner – Political Economist
In just over a month, TargetFast has sparked a measurable shift in corporate accountability. Since the launch of the boycott, Target has experienced 10 consecutive weeks of declining foot traffic and a sharp drop in stock value — from $104 on March 13 to $92 on April 13, resulting in an estimated $12.4 billion loss in market value (source: Reddit and public market data).
But beyond the numbers, the movement speaks directly to the economic vulnerability of Black-owned brands that once thrived under Target’s DEI efforts, including:
Mielle Organics
Tabitha Brown’s Home & Kitchen Collection
The Doux Haircare Products
Black Girl Sunscreen
“This is not just a protest—it’s a prophetic move toward permanent change,” said Dr. Bryant. “TargetFast is a demand, not a plea. If corporations choose to walk back their promises to our community, we will meet them with economic consequence.”
Attendees can expect a powerful review of the first 40 days of the TargetFast movement, along with exclusive insights from key voices leading the charge. The town hall will offer strategic vision casting and a clear roadmap for the next phase of the movement’s expansion. Participants will also gain access to new resources, including a comprehensive Black Business Directory and a 30-Day Devotional Guide designed to support both faith and financial discipline. With a major media presence on-site, the event is positioned to amplify the movement’s message and national impact.
JHB Movement and the Path Forward
This initiative is being led by the Jamal Harrison Bryant (JHB) Movement, a faith-driven social justice organization committed to economic empowerment, community activism, and racial equity. To support those participating in the FAST, Dr. Bryant is providing registrants with a Black Business Directory and a 30-Day Devotional Guide, offering alternative shopping options and spiritual encouragement throughout the boycott. Supporters can sign up at Targetfast.org to receive the Black Business Directory and 30-Day Devotional, as well as track updates on the FAST’s impact. The JHB Movement will also release a report at the end of the 40-day period to quantify the economic effect of this demonstration.
We Speak Entertainment
BET MEDIA GROUP HONORED BLACK LGBTQ+ TRAILBLAZER WITH A POWERFUL NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
FROM BOB THE DRAG QUEEN’S GROUNDBREAKING RECOGNITION TO HOPE GISELLES’S INSPIRING REMARKS– THE 3RD ANNUAL BET BLACK + ICONIC SOIREE HIGHLIGHTED THE BRILLIANCE AND IMPACT OF BLACK LGBTQ+ LEADERS

(New York, NY)– May 28, 2025 – The 3rd Annual BET Black + Iconic Soirée made its Washington, D.C debut with inspiring evening celebrating the past, present, and future of black LGBTQ+ excellence. The 2025 theme, “Excellence Ascending,” paid tribute to cultural change makers leading with authenticity, courage and purpose.
Hosted by entertainment journalist and Access Hollywood anchor Scott Evans, the Soirée gathered trailblazers across activism, arts, business, and media for a powerful evening of storytelling , performance, and legacy-building.
Highlights from the BET Black + Iconic Soriée Included:
- Ashlee Davis, J.D. received the Executive Realness Award for her trailblazing work in civil rights leadership, including her legacy of impact across government and corporate sectors.
- Hope Giselle, a powerful advocate and author was named Emerging leader for her unrelenting work championing visibility and inclusion for Black trans communities.
- Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, was honored as Active Advocate for her decades of leadership advancing reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights.
- Ashlee Marie Preston, a nationally recognized activist and media strategist, accepted the Creative Visionary Award, saluted for using her voice to shift narratives and build intergenerational coalitions.
- Bob the Drag Queen, Emmy-winning entertainer and global icon, received the Culture Trailblazer Award, closing the evening with a heartfelt speech about identity, freedom, legacy.
- The Center for Black Equity and the Take Resource Center each received $5,000 through the BET Thrive Fund Recognition, honored for their work advancing Black LGBTQ+ wellness, equity and community organizing.
The night also featured a soul-stirring medley performance by Broadway powerhouse Avery Wilson, fresh off stage from The Wiz revival. Presenters included Eva Marcille (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Carter The Body (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Bryan Terrell Clark (Diarra from Detroit, BET+), and Arrington Foster (The Family Business, BET+), each bringing star power and heartfelt tributes to the evening’s honorees.
“From the very beginning, we knew this couldn’t be just another event,” said Tiyale Hayes, EVP of Insights and Multiplatform Analytics and Co-Lead of Social Impact at BET, During his opening remarks. “It had to an intentional space to uplift stories too often silenced and celebrate contributions that have shaped the world in powerful ways.”
The evening also spotlighted Gilead Sciences, a long standing partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Gilead’s Rashad Burgess, Vice President of U.S. Advocacy and Health Equity, emphasized and the importance of equitable healthcare access, visibility, and long-term impact for Black LGBTQ+ communities.
Additionally, the event welcomed Truth Initiative as a new partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Dr. Kendrick Dartis, Vice president of Outreach and Engagement, addressed the urgent issue of tobacco use in Black and LGBTQ+ communities and emphasized the need for culturally relevant cessation support. He also announced a $5,000 BET Thrive Fund donation, sponsored by Truth Initiative, to Us Helping Us– a D.C.- based non profit dedicated to advancing health equity.
BET Black + Iconic Soirée stands as defining moment in the 45th anniversary year of the media group– underscoring its mission to center Black culture, honor its LGBTQ+ communities, and drive meaningful, measurable impact.
Join the conversation using #BlackAndIconic and relieve the nights most powerful moments on BET’s official social channels. The Televised premiere date and time will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP
The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ:PARAA;PARA), is the worlds largest media company dedicated too entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Back audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements visit bet pressroom.com.
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