(flckr)
Today, CNN presents another installment of BLACK in America by Soledad O'Brien. O'Brien worked for the past 18 months on developing this story. Sources for the story are numerous including:• National Council of Negro Women• The Women of Color Network• Marry Your Baby Daddy• Daddy's Promise• East River Development Alliance• Boys & Girls Clubs of America• Jack and Jill• Big Brothers, Big Sisters and more.
The CNN website features a behind the scenes article that is near and dear to posh politics- BLACK and SHOPPING in America. In the article, three women (in their 20's) tell the story of racial profiling, discrimination, and desecration in Atlanta, GA.
"We were dressed professionally," Wells told me[Soledad O'Brien]. "It was casual Friday. We had on dresses, and casual office wear. We were racially profiled. It was as simple as that."
Wells says she and her friends were detained by six Gwinnett County, Georgia, police officers for "about an hour and a half" at the entrance of an Old Navy store owned by Gap. Their crime, as Wells sees it, was being black in America.
Leah Wells tells me [Soledad O'Brien] she is "coming to an understanding" with Gap. When I contacted Gap myself, a spokesperson told me an internal investigation led to the firing of a manager. Later she e-mailed this statement: "We realize it's probably too late. We regret that we did not apologize for what these ladies experienced at our store, and this goes against everything we stand for as a company."
Today, CNN presents another installment of BLACK in America by Soledad O'Brien. O'Brien worked for the past 18 months on developing this story. Sources for the story are numerous including:• National Council of Negro Women• The Women of Color Network• Marry Your Baby Daddy• Daddy's Promise• East River Development Alliance• Boys & Girls Clubs of America• Jack and Jill• Big Brothers, Big Sisters and more.
The CNN website features a behind the scenes article that is near and dear to posh politics- BLACK and SHOPPING in America. In the article, three women (in their 20's) tell the story of racial profiling, discrimination, and desecration in Atlanta, GA.
"We were dressed professionally," Wells told me[Soledad O'Brien]. "It was casual Friday. We had on dresses, and casual office wear. We were racially profiled. It was as simple as that."
Wells says she and her friends were detained by six Gwinnett County, Georgia, police officers for "about an hour and a half" at the entrance of an Old Navy store owned by Gap. Their crime, as Wells sees it, was being black in America.
Leah Wells tells me [Soledad O'Brien] she is "coming to an understanding" with Gap. When I contacted Gap myself, a spokesperson told me an internal investigation led to the firing of a manager. Later she e-mailed this statement: "We realize it's probably too late. We regret that we did not apologize for what these ladies experienced at our store, and this goes against everything we stand for as a company."
This story is not the first and sadly, it probably won't be the last. It's sad Leah and her friends could not go "power-shopping" just like her fellow white women would without being falsely charged. This issue and more will be covered in CNN's Black in America. We urge you, no matter what color you are, to watch it!
Leave a comment, has this ever happened to you? Let posh know you are watching tonight!Martini's up for a close CNN look on being BLACK in AMERICA!!
Please check back for post-commentary tomorrow.
Are you planning to watch the special? Leave a comment, let us know!
2 comments:
i think i've been racially profiled, but i was too busy trying to stay alive to notice.
for real.
go 'head, posh.
note: i like how you refer to yourself by the name of your blog... i know someone else who does that! *wink*
m dot, NMN
I LOOOOVE it! But why did it take so long for you to notify me of the existence of this politically chic site you have here???
Anyway, Old Navy is noted for racially profiling shoppers. I worked at Old Navy (properly named Old Slavery by Adolph!) when I was in high school and an incident similar to the one in this post happened to two of my close friends...while I was on the floor! I heard it over my headset and needless to say that was my last night employed there...and a nice long letter to the corporate office followed.
But when are we as black people going to take a higher stance and stop frequenting these stores that don't think our money spends like theirs...i know i'm not there yet (*as i dust the shoulders of my Old Navy top*)
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