Shopping While Black--- Doesn't matter if you are a billionaire

[ViagraSaint]

Yeah, making accommodations like this for celebs is totally standard.  It is odd that they didn't care if Opera talked up their handbags.

You're missing the point entirely. 

How can Oprah allege she was being discriminated based on her race, and on the other hand claim she should have been given special priviledges not afforded to others based on her class status?

crying wolf over a double standard?

[ViagraSaint]

They're not stupid. They knew who she was and they know how much money and influence she has. I think that if they could have accomodated her, they would have.

The party wasn't going on yet; they were setting up for it.  I've also worked in retail - if they wanted to go the extra mile for a billionaire, they could have.

Also, are we all completely satisfied that the N. African comment was made up?  Sounds like "he say, she say" at this point.  I don't believe it, but I can't disbelieve just 'cause the store denies it.  Of course they would.

So, you're an advocate now of going the extra mile for those with more privledge?  Let's make the cutoff point at $150k household income.  those benefiting would be mostly white, while most other races (at least in america) would be excluded.  Interesting how this line of reasoning is quite prejudicial.

[amarain]

They're not stupid. They knew who she was and they know how much money and influence she has. I think that if they could have accomodated her, they would have.

The party wasn't going on yet; they were setting up for it.  I've also worked in retail - if they wanted to go the extra mile for a billionaire, they could have.

Also, are we all completely satisfied that the N. African comment was made up?  Sounds like "he say, she say" at this point.  I don't believe it, but I can't disbelieve just 'cause the store denies it.  Of course they would.

Well, nobody can yet back that claim up - we're not even sure who allegedly said it. Right now it's "she was told." But it doesn't even make sense - Oprah is not North African, the stereotypical North African is not black like Oprah.

After all, the most solid source of that quote is from the New York Post - not exactly known for their stellar journalism.

So, if they knew she was Oprah and a billionaire, and could have accomodated her, why would they not? Her being black never seemed to be a problem before, if she's spent thousands of dollars in the store.
The other version is that they didn't know who she was and just turned her away - so then, why would they feel obligated to accomodate some random person off the street when the store was closed? Just because she's black? You think they would have opened the store especially for me, since I'm white?

[ViagraSaint]

the fact there is a camera that discounts 75% of Oprah's story casts doubt on the additional he-said-she-said.

[amarain]

They're not stupid. They knew who she was and they know how much money and influence she has. I think that if they could have accomodated her, they would have.

The party wasn't going on yet; they were setting up for it.  I've also worked in retail - if they wanted to go the extra mile for a billionaire, they could have.

Also, are we all completely satisfied that the N. African comment was made up?  Sounds like "he say, she say" at this point.  I don't believe it, but I can't disbelieve just 'cause the store denies it.  Of course they would.

Well, nobody can yet back that claim up - we're not even sure who allegedly said it. Right now it's "she was told." But it doesn't even make sense - Oprah is not North African, most North Africans aren't black like Oprah (at least, if you're going to stereotype North Africans, it's a different stereotype than what Oprah would fall into).

After all, the most solid source of that quote is from the New York Post - not exactly known for their stellar journalism.

So, if they knew she was Oprah and a billionaire, and could have accomodated her, why would they not? Her being black never seemed to be a problem before, if she's spent thousands of dollars in the store.
The other version is that they didn't know who she was and just turned her away - so then, why would they feel obligated to accomodate some random person off the street when the store was closed? Just because she's black? You think they would have opened the store especially for me, since I'm white?

Oh I agree with you - my point is that we don't have much evidence either way.  It's interesting to see how the White posters seem pretty quick to dismiss the possibility of racism, while the Af-Am posters are quick to believe it.  Is it because Af-Ams experience daily racism that Whites don't and therefore doubt its existence?  Is it because Black people, after years of racism, are now just paranoid?  Makes you think.

That's a good point. I don't doubt that things like this happen every day for real to people who don't have the money and clout to get it on CNN, but I'm still inclined to think that this incident is far more about a spoiled celebrity than about racism.

[blk_reign]

did i make an assumption that there was racism involved? really?? that's interesting since i didn't allude to that in either of my posts on this thread..i did say however that it doesn't make sense that Oprah would pull a race card considering her following and financial status... the backlash that would bring is unreal....

i responded solely on the first article that was posted... i asked questions that were very plausible given the information that was available at the time..


There were no shoppers in the store. It was being set up for a private event.

that information wasn't posted until after i responded.. so you should bring it down a bit...

so.. if all the cases and registers were closed then why were there still shoppers in there...

assuming that the shoppers that were in the store were considering buying a purse... then at the very least one cashier had to have a register open...

correct?

There were no shoppers in the store. It was being set up for a private event.

But then, that's not nearly as good of a story, huh? Much better to assume that it was racism.

[blk_reign]

You're absolutely right Mob.. it is interesting when you think about it.. as a Black woman I have lost count of how many times I have been followed around a store... or the number of times that someone in various department stores or boutiques have informed me of the price of an article of clothing that i was considering buying...

that typically causes one reaction or another... you buy more than you intended..or you leave..

it's trifling though.. this doesn't only happen in dept stores or expensive boutiques.. it'll happen at most places in a mall

and let's not even talk about beauty supply stores

Oh I agree with you - my point is that we don't have much evidence either way.  It's interesting to see how the White posters seem pretty quick to dismiss the possibility of racism, while the Af-Am posters are quick to believe it.  Is it because Af-Ams experience daily racism that Whites don't and therefore doubt its existence?  Is it because Black people, after years of racism, are now just paranoid?  Makes you think.

[_BP_]

Oh I agree with you - my point is that we don't have much evidence either way.  It's interesting to see how the White posters seem pretty quick to dismiss the possibility of racism, while the Af-Am posters are quick to believe it.  Is it because Af-Ams experience daily racism that Whites don't and therefore doubt its existence?  Is it because Black people, after years of racism, are now just paranoid?  Makes you think.

Mobell, get out of my head!   This is how it usually is though.

Say there is an inkling of possible racism:

A) Black person who has been through something similar: "Man sure seems racist to me.  Matter of fact, that's the third time some *&^% like that happened to me and my friends.  Can't be any coincidence!."

B) White person who has obviously never had a similar experience i.e no context:  "you need to show me the ashes from the cross burning in your backyard, or a videotape, something..otherwise, racism? What racism?"

[twarga]

I worked in retail for several years, and yes, the stereotype is definitely there.  We were told to watch the black customers very closely (especially while in the fitting rooms), and to be on guard.  One store I worked in was held up at gunpoint twice, so they felt justfied in being racist. 

However, I believe if Oprah's people made up that story about being shooed away and told they were wary of North Africans (aren't they talking about Moroccans?), Hermes should sue.  Nobody should be accused falsely of racism just because they didn't cater to the queen of the universe's every whim.

[YoungIke]

I worked in retail for several years, and yes, the stereotype is definitely there. We were told to watch the black customers very closely (especially while in the fitting rooms), and to be on guard. One store I worked in was held up at gunpoint twice, so they felt justfied in being racist.

However, I believe if Oprah's people made up that story about being shooed away and told they were wary of North Africans (aren't they talking about Moroccans?), Hermes should sue. Nobody should be accused falsely of racism just because they didn't cater to the queen of the universe's every whim.

I also work in retail. I was in the assets protection dept. This is common practice to profile black customers. We actually followed them around with cameras in the security office. I actually had to leave because this did not sit well with me.

With that being said we need to support our own designers, and become stake holders in other companies. He who has the gold makes the rules. If Oprah really wants to make them mad, she should buy enough of the company that she can make decisions. Oh, and much props for Oprah supporting Apple Bottom.