Peloton Employees Undergo ‘Anti-Racist’ Training That Claims ‘Grandfathered In,’ ‘Blacklisted’ Are ‘White Supremacist’ Terms

Employees at Peloton, one of the most popular at-home fitness companies, were forced to undergo “anti-racist” training that claimed common phrases such as “grandfathered in” are “white supremacist” terms.

Over the past few weeks, the fitness company rolled out a series of new social justice trainings inspired by critical race theory, including an “Antiracism Activation Center.” The center is available on Pelonet, the company’s internal employee network.

The “Antiracism Activation Center” provides employees with resources on “global perspectives” on racism, “antiracism” strategies for allies, strategies for enacting systemic change, tools for creating race-related conversations at home — including “age-appropriate” resources for families — and a “Brave Conversation Speaker Series.”

One of the training programs, entitled “Anti-Racist Language,” claims that some of the commonly used technical terms have “white supremacist/racist origins.” Examples included “blacklisting,” “whitehat or blackhat,” or “grandfathered in.”

On January 20, the fitness company hosted Boston University professor Ibram X. Kendi to discuss his book “How To Be An Antiracist.” The lecture from Kendi is part of the company’s “Brave Conversation Speaker Series.”

On April 29, the company plans to host #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke. Burke created the movement to root out sexual harassment and sexual violence in the entertainment and media industries.

Related: ‘MeToo’ Movement Founder On Biden Sex Assault Allegations: He Can Be ‘Accountable And Electable’ 

Peloton Interactive, Inc. is an exercise equipment and media company that brings studio classes into the home. Peloton is widely recognized for its pricey stationary bicycle, which cost between $1,895 to $2,945, not including the monthly subscription required to take classes with the bike. Many of the instructors at Peloton have become famous fitness influencers on social media.

Peloton has a history of promoting political and cultural issues such as LGBT issues and Black Lives Matter. The fitness company offers a series of “Pride” classes each year in celebration of the LGBT Pride parade and instructors have frequently promoted its user-created #BlackLivesMatter group.

The company also offers resources for white employees to become “white allies.” Employees were told that if they purchase books they should “purchase books directly from authors or local bookstores, especially those owned by Black people, Indigenous people, or people of color (BIPOC).”

According to the allyship guide, employees are supposed to “read and listen to resources created by BIPOC” and “financially compensate them” to become sufficiently “anti-racist.” Employees are also told to acknowledge their “whiteness” and “privilege.”

According to internal emails, allyship training is mandatory for managers at Peloton.

The Pelonet network also provided a resource list for employees. Books and articles includes “Becoming,” by Michelle Obama, “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People,” by Reni Eddo-Lodge, the New York Times’ 1619 Project, and “White Fragility,” by Robin DiAngelo.

Part of the resources include Harvard University’s Implicit-Association Test (IAT), which experts say has low validity and reliability.

Companies are increasingly subjecting employees to politics in the workplace, even when it has little to do with day-to-day business operations. Whistleblower documents obtained by The Daily Wire highlight the ongoing “anti-racist” campaigns within Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and Morgan Stanley.

Peloton did not respond to The Daily Wire’s requests for comment.

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