The Harsh Reality: How Instacart Exploits Black and Brown Communities for Cheap Labor

In recent years, gig economy platforms like Instacart have promoted themselves as flexible ways to earn money. But behind the catchy ads and promises of “freedom” lies a troubling truth. Black and Brown workers are being systematically exploited under the guise of opportunity.

For many individuals in underserved communities, Instacart is not a side hustle—it’s a matter of survival. Rent is due, groceries are needed, and options are limited. These workers are expected to use their vehicles, pay for their gas, and absorb the wear and tear on their cars.

Let’s break that down:

• $10 to shop for 15 items
• Drive to the store
• Shop for the items
• Bag them
• Drive 5+ miles to someone’s home
• Use their gas
• Face traffic, weather, and risk
• Receive no health benefits, PTO, or job protections

All while corporations like Instacart make millions in profits.

This isn’t convenient. It’s modern-day digital exploitation.

And it’s not an accident who is being targeted. In many urban and working-class areas, a large percentage of Instacart shoppers are Black and Brown individuals. Gig apps rely on the fact that people in these communities are often economically vulnerable. The system is designed to benefit from desperation.

What’s worse is the psychological toll. These workers are rated like machines, penalized for delays, and often treated like invisible labor. They’re not offered living wages. They’re offered “batches” that barely cover fuel costs.

This has to stop.

What needed:

• Transparent pay structures
• Minimum guaranteed wages per batch
• Reimbursements for mileage and gas
• Access to health and safety protections
• The end of racial and economic targeting

Instacart—and the gig economy at large—must be held accountable for creating a two-tier labor system that disproportionately burdens communities of color.

Until then, the message is clear: profit over people. And we won’t stay silent.