Target has announced that it will cease the sale of a product dedicated to Civil Rights icons following a viral TikTok video that exposed significant errors within the product. The video, posted by Tierra Espy, a high school teacher from Las Vegas, showcased how three prominent Civil Rights icons - Carter G. Woodson, W.E.B. DuBois, and Booker T. Washington - were misidentified in the magnetic learning activity.

Espy, who goes by the TikTok handle @issatete, expressed her concerns in the video, stating, "These need to be pulled off the shelves immediately. I teach U.S. History... and I noticed some discrepancies as soon as I opened this." In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Espy revealed that she had purchased the "Civil Rights Magnetic Learning Activity" at the end of January with the intention of using it for her students. However, upon opening the product at home, she quickly discovered the glaring errors and decided to share them online.

Shortly after the video gained traction, Target confirmed that they would discontinue the sale of the product. "We will no longer be selling this product in stores or online," stated the Minneapolis-based retailer. "We've also ensured the product's publisher is aware of the errors." Target did not provide immediate details regarding how long the product had been available for purchase or a timeline for its removal.

The removal of the product coincides with the beginning of Black History Month, a time when Target and other retailers typically release special collections to celebrate Black history. The magnetic activity featured in Espy's video, which contained the errors, displayed a Bendon manufacturing label. However, the Ohio-based children's publisher has yet to respond to requests for comment as of Friday.

Espy expressed her satisfaction with the product being taken off the shelves but also voiced her disappointment in the lack of an apology from Target and Bendon. She emphasized the importance of thoroughly reviewing products before making them available to consumers, stating that this would help prevent harmful errors like the ones she discovered. "Google is free, and like I caught it in two seconds. They could have caught it by just doing a quick Google search," she remarked.

Furthermore, Espy expressed her gratitude for the support she received from fellow TikTok users, who played a crucial role in ensuring that the errors did not go unnoticed. "I'm happy that people are realizing that history, period, matters," she added.

As of now, Target and Bendon have not reached out to Espy directly. However, her video has shed light on the significance of accurate and respectful representation in educational materials, particularly during Black History Month.