Posted on 12/09/2014 10:15:24 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
With the entire country seeing demonstrations following the Ferguson decision, I’ve had colleagues and business partners ask me my thoughts—not from my perspective as the chairman and CEO of a $55 billion organization—but as a black man in America.
You would think my experience as a top executive would be different from a black man who is working in a retail or food-service job to support his family. Yet, he and I both understand the commonality of the black male experience that remains consistent no matter what the economic status or job title.
This piece is not to complain about what is, but instead offer hope that we can harness the positive energy from the demonstrations for change and start a new chapter in America based on better understanding of race relations.
As Americans, we must deal with behavior that is unacceptable in today’s global world. The first step in changing negative behavior is to understand the underlying imagery of the black male, which doesn’t represent reality. Whether it’s Michael Brown in Ferguson, Trayvon Martin with his Skittles, Eric Garner who died after a choke hold, or the 12-year-old killed because he was waving a toy gun, when you see a black man killed, the imagery is more complicated than one might think. For example, words used by the white police officer to describe Michael Brown included some such as hulking and demon—words that bring up images going back to the days of slavery....
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Much easier to identify as perpetually offended, takes less explanation.
Dear Leader isn't even black. He's an Indonesian ID thief!
So in "factual" reality, this statement is accurate. In "real" reality stop behaving like savages and you will not be treated as such.
It is so disappointing to see A CEO of a major company writing such ridiculous blather.
“Everybody play nice now and be more understanding.” [paraphrased]
Terrific, that solves everything.
people who constantly try to pass off stolen credit cards do create a stereotype, ya know?
No, I didn’t read the whole article.
Hmmmpfff!!!
Well, uhmmmm...Let me relay to you a few of my own recent experiences.
I too shop upscale, very upscale.
I too eat at the best restaurants in the world and certainly in this country.
Most times, I look fairly GQ but, there are some days I’m just not in the mood to play dress up and with two closets full of clothes, more than 200 pair of shoes and driving every car out there I can out dress most guys.
On to shared experiences, with a common black guy, who I guess occasions a board room.
A few years back I too was shopping in an upscale store, and I was being watched and also followed by an overly anxious person. This was not someone trying to be helpful, but someone who was assessing why I was there. Other shoppers did not have “help” following them throughout the store.
Guess why? I totally rolled out of bed, grabbed a pair of hiking shorts, a crummy gymn shirt, a pair of white sneakers I had muddied up over a rainy week, some crap baseball cap and I didn’t feel like shaving.
I did have on a watch that cost more people make in three months. That’s not to impress anyone, rather to impress I can afford to play dress up or not.
As it turned out, the salesperson approached me as I was checking something out, well into the period of time I had noticed them.
We struck up a conversation and I learned they were new to the job and petrified of approaching me.
I understood right away and sought to allay her fears and asked if she wanted to know how to approach people and help them buy.
She said she really needed the job and success was very important to her.
I continued picking stuff up and proceeded to give her instruction on people, rejection, why people buy and that her role was to help people get what they want.
I’m glad we struck up the conversation as she previously getting on my nerves. I don’t care if you are 50 feet away. I hate being watched or hovered over.
BTW, she is now the manager of her own department and her career prospects are looking up.
Let’s see, next similar experience to a black man.
I too have gone to dinner at fine restaurants and had the food server explain the tipping program, since apparently, depending on how large the number of guests there are tipping is always handled differently.
You, Mr. Black man CEO, trying to be an everyman, should no this and it should come as no surprise when it happens.
Ass hat.
Have 6+ or 8+ guests at Gary Danko’s in San Francisco and tipping is handled very differently and at a higher rate. Why? Gotta dedicate one extra wait staff or a runner for your party and that costs money.
This makes the business of divying the tip much more equitable for the staff serving your race baiting drag on the world.
Let’s draw back on my memory for some other places I’ve dined at where the tip was mandated and it is good policy to verbally explain as much: Picasso, LV & Michael Mina, LV & Mizumi as well as Sinatra (been to every great restaurant in LV and I guarantee this ass has as well)
In Los Angeles ABO, KOI, Katana and many more.
Moving on to the Manhattan Le Cirque, Veritas, Daniel’s, Arial, Union Square Cafe, Jon Georges.
I guarantee you they discuss tipping. I’ve paid and it was worth it.
Oh, and no frickin waiter wants their check split two ways or 5 ways. Don’t be a dick. Pay it and let the little guy get on with their life.
Fatuous ass.
Sometimes I observe two or three white customers ahead of me and after me pay by credit card—and I am the only one singled out to provide proof of who I am before I can make my purchase.
You got me here as I’m totally white. I can tell you a huge difference as to why I’m asked for I.D. and why I’m not.
When I’m dressed up even in something as casual as a sport coat or just plain slacks I never, ever get asked for my I.D.
Recall how I dress like crap, in my first story above?
Well, almost as sure as the sun rises in the east, on days when I dress like crap I pretty much expect to be asked for I.D.
But, I’m more comfortable with myself these days and if I don’t feel like playing dress up I don’t and know the rules.
dress like you don’t belong somewhere and for sure a klaxon will ring with others.
Most CEOs when they are out exercising don’t have car doors locked as they walk by or women move to the other side of the street hugging their purses. Even as a CEO, the black male experience is my reality.
Yer an ass once again. Chicks are pretty damned confident with themselves but, if you are a leering chump and some kind of fatt ass pretending he’s jogging then yeah, I get why women lock their doors and cowar around you.
Stop scaring the bee geesus out of em.
OH! And lose some weight, yuh fat pig. (Yeah, I saw your picture. You don’t look like you’re able to outrun your fork and buffets probably overtake you with some regularity.
Let me tell you.
I was at a certain store in Palo Alto 8 years ago.
The tall white salesperson (I’m white as well, I guess) treated me with complete contempt, refusing to take back a brand new pair of Allen Edmunds that was obviously defective (WTF did he care anyway? It’s Allen Edmunds problem).
It so happened I was not only returning the shoes and wanting a replacement pair, I also needed new clothes for winter.
I pulled my charge card for fun out of the safe and a pile of money.
this punk refused to replace my shoes and his attitude was abysmal.
I walked out, furious. I went over to Neiman Marcus and relayed my experience to a friend who works there.
he was shocked and told me to go to the other store in San Jose.
I arrived at the San Jose store and as soon as I opened the box, without me saying a word, the salesman grabbed em and informed me that there had been complaints with this particular shoe, in that color.
Offered to replace them on the spot.
I relayed my experience at the other store and he was so shocked he called the stor manager.
I told the manager and he too was shocked.
I laughed and informed him my budget for the day was $12,000 and that kid lost a sale.
He then asked if I was a regular shopper of the store and I bl handed him a privelege card.
He informed me the guy taking care if my shoes was a oersinal shopper and he would help me if I wished.
Told him “Sure”
So off I went and ghe lersonal shopper dude following me, which I didn’t care for. Asked if he had a shopping cart as I might go over budget.
he laughed and saud he would carry whatever I pick up.
told him I would just like to lick out my own stuff but, don’t want to carry it.
He grabbed a salesperson and informed theI would be wanxering the store and placing items on the table and no one was to touch them.
I walked around for two hours and the sales manager found me agsin.
He spoke with the other manager and the original salesperson admitted he screwed up and wanted to apologize.
I told the manager I didn’t care and the salesperson probably missed out on $12,000 worth of sales.
To this day I buy from that shoe guy and that store.
it is the only store I shop at that mall
I blew $16,000 that day.
my best friend happened to be there and I bought her a few things she needed as well.
and I got a free cedar shoe tree. Saved $30 bucks right there.
IT’S NOT COLOR, IT’S CULTURE.
+1
Even better was the “black taxi dilemna”; years ago the news was covered with stories about how black men couldn’t get taxis in NYC at night. The issue died quickly when it was revealed that many of the cabbies refusing to stop for them were BLACK.
No reason for anyone else to let down their guard when their own people don’t. One of the reasons for suburban crime is because urban blacks have already secured everything they own that is worth stealing.
I stopped reading here: “...the positive energy from the demonstrations...”
If he calls rioting and looting “positive energy” then nothing else he says is valuable to me.
I’m just glad that I know the secret white privilege handshake that protects me from poverty, ignorance, and all unfairness.
In light of Ferguson we are coming out with a new secret way to establish connections.
Should be out any day now.
There are reasons for stereotypes.
*********************
At my wifes restaurant recently she had a table of 14 black people that required 3 waitstaff... she comped them multiple appetizer platters worth over $50... they returned more than 1 meal for specious reasons ,, ran a tab of over $350 and left a tip of less than $5 ...
This happens regularly.
Europeans don’t tip but aren’t “difficult”.
There are reasons for stereotypes.
“There are reasons for stereotypes.”
My son works for a catering company part-time. So far, the only groups that have tipped him are the gay weddings. Ugh.
bout fed up with the black experience.
“Um - no ma'am. Sorry - those aren't for free.”
“What - is it because I'm black!? It's because I'm black isn't it!”
“Um - no ma'am - but we don't give them out for free.”
“You're racist. How about the peas!!?? (as she tosses them)”
She continued ranting and raving and tossing stuff all over. My daughter's friend (16 years old) was either brave or stupid, and politely asked the woman to stop throwing things as she was getting hit by the stuff flying around!).
It would make a GREAT Saturday Night Live skit.
Unbelievable!
You are a walking movie script waiting to be written
Who doesn’t fantasize about getting even with snotty snobbish store help and being able to blow a bundle in the process? That scene is what memorializes “Pretty Woman”! Forget the hooker stuff, it’s about shopping!
LOL!
As an aside, have you ever wondered why "My People" is PC while "You People" is anathema?
Down with PRONOUN PRIVILEGE!
/s
I’m fed up with government hirelings shooting people, their children, and their canine best friends. It’s maximum bad government. Replace most government paramilitaries with robots that do not need to shoot to protect their life. An added benefit: their software source code can be examined by anyone with a racial chip on their shoulder.
Pssst! Bernard your AA is showing.
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