Arrested For Being Black At Barney's, NYC

[MoufOfKhaos]

You seem to think that the guy is a 1%er because he bought - or was going to buy - an expensive item at a snob store.

This is so not the case; this isn't Oprah in Switzerland. Extravagance isn't limited to the top of the top.

 

[Kabluey]

How about we separate opinions about race from those about materialism lest we end up judging the victim and forget about the issue.

 

[Kabluey]

He has every right to become one of the elitists who would exhibit contempt for working class people. That there is an onus on us to ignore, accept, or respect that is not so clear.

I'm not sure that casting judgment on his spending habits adds to the debate. Just as there is reverse racism, there's also prejudice against the bourgeois and newly rich.
Buying a fancy belt doesn't automatically mean any of the above, and it's not necessarily an entry drug to a life of sin.

 

[bankside]

So far, the elite are not a named group in any of the anti-discrimination acts that protect civil rights. Rejecting conspicuous consumption isn't yet a contravention of human rights.

To my knowledge, no human rights code in the world says "Equality applies to these listed people, and these people only. Anyone else is fair game."

It does seem to be a perverse kind of equality to say "Well black people/gays/jews should have an equal shot at joining an elitist, snobbish cult of upper-class consumption." Clearly a $350 dollar belt is the very definition of 1% consumerism. It may be a middle-class perk, but only because the middle class enjoy dipping their toes in the 1% pool, even if they can't afford to dive in. The racism of the clerk caused the kid to be seen as too low-class to be shopping there, while if a white kid with cheap clothes bought the same belt, they might have assumed he had daddy's money or something if the kid looked like he could play the part. But if another customer looked even slightly white and homeless, he'd be treated just as badly no matter how much of his own money he had. And if he complained about how he was treated, there would be lots of backlash about "White People's Problems." "Oh noooooo...can't buy a $350 belt!!!! Sooooooo...Sadddd..."

The Oprah thing is an interesting comparison. She thought her domination of American pop culture gave her some kind of elite entitlement in the world of European high fashion. Isn't that noble? But Oprah is a nobody in that world, and she was treated like any other nobody in that world. Oprah waddled into that store acting like she was a somebody! She walked in there thinking she was Grace Jones. And of course if Grace Jones had walked in, they would have shown her any handbag she wanted, and the owner would have been discretely called to come down from the office with champagne.

 

[Kabluey]

So far, the elite are not a named group in any of the anti-discrimination acts that protect civil rights. Rejecting conspicuous consumption isn't yet a contravention of human rights.

That's because they don't need defending. They're better than us

 

[refujiunderground]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/10/26/jay-z-barneys-profiling/3273107/

ironic considering how he rapped and continues to rap about being racially discriminated with songs like "minority report" and "99 problems". he admits to selling out but dude seems to have completely sold his dignity along with it where he's even shitting on harry bellefonte out of all people who simply offered from constructive criticism. then again, this doesn't surprise me considering the things that i've heard from people that dealt with jay-z personally and even jay's own mouth.

 

[xbuzzerx]

The harm done the arrested customer is admittedly worse, but it did not occur in a vacuum. It occured in a snob shop, so it doesn't necessarily follow that it is much more than discrimination against the wrong victim. Normal people are the intended targets of overpriced attire, not necessarily black normal people.

I repeat my prior comment. When this occurs at Sears it will affect real people. I care not for the 1%.

I never even so much as hinted that only black people face this kind of discrimination, or that whites can't.

I did however point out that rich white people aren't very likely to get arrested, harassed or have neighbors call the cops on them for entering their own home or gated community.

There is a difference in social perception of people's socioeconomic class and likelihood to have a legitimate purpose to be in a rich or snobby area based on race in our society.

 

[blackbeltninja]

That's because they don't need defending. They're better than us

No offence, Kiwi, but everyone is better than you.

-d-

 

[darden]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/10/26/jay-z-barneys-profiling/3273107/

ironic considering how he rapped and continues to rap about being racially discriminated with songs like "minority report" and "99 problems". he admits to selling out but dude seems to have completely sold his dignity along with it where he's even shitting on harry bellefonte out of all people who simply offered from constructive criticism. then again, this doesn't surprise me considering the things that i've heard from people that dealt with jay-z personally and even jay's own mouth.

yeah... waiting until there's some proof that Barneys is lying before breaking off a deal that's going to benefit a charity. what a sellout Uncle Tom.

 

[Kabluey]

No offence, Kiwi, but everyone is better than you.

-d-

Tell that to all the Saffas here
Come. You know you want to

 

[darden]

New York A.G. Investigating Macy’s & Barneys Over Claims Of Shopper Discrimination

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has dropped a Friday deadline on the two stores to hand over info about their security policies for detaining and questioning customers based on race, reports Reuters.
“The alleged repeated behavior of your employees raises troubling questions about your company’s commitment to that ideal,” writes the head of the attorney general’s civil rights bureau in letters to Barneys’ Lee and Macy’s Chief Stores Officer Peter Sachse.

 

[refujiunderground]

yeah... waiting until there's some proof that Barneys is lying before breaking off a deal that's going to benefit a charity. what a sellout Uncle Tom.

the only person that's lying in the whole thing is jay-z. something more than charity is going on if he's scared to break off a deal if folks are getting hurt from it.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Tell that to all the Saffas here
Come. You know you want to

Haha tell 'em yourself.

We booted them off to the colonies for a reason.

-d-

 

[pat grimshaw]

...We booted them off to the colonies for a reason. ...

But SA is a colony!

Anyway, I'd love to watch you two battle it out. Shirtless!

 

[Kabluey]

Haha tell 'em yourself.

We booted them off to the colonies for a reason.

-d-

Don't worry, they'll be back.
Damned nouveau riche buying $R350000 belts for no good reason .

 

[yeahright1991]

Mmm...Ferragamo Belt. Not bad thinking. Haven't had one in years (makes mental note). However, the Barney's in Chicago has always been great for me and I've never experienced a problem. Then again, I shop there regularly. It's unfortunate though that someone of color who went in and wasn't recognized was chastised and scrutinized. Regardless of if he looked like the typical shopper. And at Barney's...that doesn't so much mean color of skin...but what you are wearing (LABELS LABELS LABELS). If a white person who came in with a backwards cap and saggy pants etc was in Barneys...they would get some interesting looks...I've seen it happen...and sometimes I've been the one making the looks. However, as long as your money is green or your credit card is gold...there should be no questions at a high end retailer. Unless you make a fuss, break store rules, or shoplift.

Pity. I don't want to have to avoid the original Barney's when I'm in NY - I certainly won't avoid shopping at the one I often do as I've never had an issue. But now I'll have a twinge of guilt.

With that...I'll exit this thread. Shame.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Don't worry, they'll be back.
Damned nouveau riche buying $R350000 belts for no good reason .

You left off a zero.

Our money is really REALLY shit.

-d-

 

[cgymike]

I saw a newspaper article today and it showed BLACK demonstrators, Yep, I know it's about a black guy but it would have been nice ot see a good mix of other races including whites in there.

Otherwise one could view the demonstration as racist.

 

[bankside]

I saw a newspaper article today and it showed BLACK demonstrators, Yep, I know it's about a black guy but it would have been nice ot see a good mix of other races including whites in there.

Otherwise one could view the demonstration as racist.

Racist because non-blacks weren't allowed to join the protest?

Or racist because non-blacks didn't bother showing up?

 

[cgymike]

^Well I'm not American so perhaps in your culture it is normal for demonstrators not to cross the colour line so to speak. Pretty polarized stuff in any case.