ETHNICALLY SPEAKING

Larry Meeks
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Dear Larry: I am sure you've heard about the Walmart controversy. But in case you do not know about it, an unknown man made the following announcement over the address system: "Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now." Obviously, this caused a lot of minorities to become very upset.

Almost immediately after the announcement, the manager apologized over the address system and called the police to investigate who made such a racist statement. To date, no one has been apprehended.

I discussed this incident with a co-worker, who happens to be black. My friend is upset and thinks Walmart should do more to make amends besides give an empty apology.
Updated: Fri Mar 19, 2010

Dear Larry: I am sure you've heard about the Walmart controversy. But in case you do not know about it, an unknown man made the following announcement over the address system: "Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now." Obviously, this caused a lot of minorities to become very upset.

Almost immediately after the announcement, the manager apologized over the address system and called the police to investigate who made such a racist statement. To date, no one has been apprehended.

I discussed this incident with a co-worker, who happens to be black. My friend is upset and thinks Walmart should do more to make amends besides give an empty apology.

I asked, "What more should the store do?" She did not have an answer. She is just angry and does not feel enough has been done.

Larry, do you have any suggestions? — Etna

Dear Etna: Words are like darts; once thrown, the damage is done. I believe the manager took the appropriate action to apologize and call the police to investigate.

Please do not jump to the conclusion that the person who made the statement is a white racist. I know plenty of minorities who would do such a thing thinking it was funny or just to cause a stir. Let's wait and see whether the culprit is found and/or identified.

I think Walmart could establish a system that prevents non-employees from accessing the public address telephone. Each employee could be given a code to use the phone. That code quickly would identify any mischief in a store.

The store could write a flier to be passed out to customers as they enter, expressing dismay over the incident and assuring them that everyone is appreciated regardless of race, color, etc.

Just in case the culprit is an employee, management could require a class on proper employee-customer relations.

Another thought: The company could offer a reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the perpetrator.

The purpose of all these suggestions is for the store to let everyone know it is serious about stopping this kind of unacceptable behavior.

You didn't ask, but I think your friend should lighten up a bit and not be so quick to be offended.

The biggest loser in all of this is Walmart. It does not take many incidents for a store to lose customers. Once a store has a bad reputation, it is very hard to reverse.

Dear Larry: It is a little-known fact that the word "Americans" was coined by English writers who used the term in a derogatory manner to describe a marginal or secondary population unworthy of all the rights of full-blooded citizens of England. The "A-word" was understood as an insult implying you were a person of lower class.

We have the N-word and other demeaning words, but if we just wait awhile, they may change. — Eldon

Dear Eldon: Thanks for sharing. English is a very dynamic language. Words that had certain acceptable meanings when I was growing up are not allowed in polite company. Dictionaries add scores of new words every year.

Maybe that is the reason I don't understand the language of young people.