More letters from Jacqueline Clay’s incident at Kohl’s, when a little white girl called Clay (who was shopping with her kids) a you-know-what and then a black manager told her there was no store policy for when a customer uses a racial epithet to another customer. Folks went off on this story.
Take the First
Having read of the plight of the woman at Kohl’s Department store three times now, I find that I’m asking myself the same question: Why is this a story? It’s not that I wasn’t offended by what the young girl allegedly said (I was). It’s not that I wasn’t upset with her grandparent for apparently approving of such an outburst (I was). But the issue is with those two individuals, not the store. Whether we agree with it or not, the statements of the (clearly ignorant) people in question are protected by the First Amendment. We are obligated to protect all speech, even if it makes our blood boil. Had one of the employees of the store uttered the comment, then we would be talking about something entirely different. While I do not shop at Kohl’s, I see no reason not to start.
Cedric Hendrix
St. Louis
Boycott Kohl’s
My first reaction to your article about Kohl’s was why did the customer continue to shop in the store? Her request to not patronize the store is well taken. I will not be going to a Kohl’s store in the future.
Dorothy Blocker
Via email
Managerial problem
I read this story and I thought to myself, what could the manager of the store done? I would have just confronted the grandfather about it. It sounds like the customer was holding the manager up to a higher standard just because he was black as well. All Ms. Clay did was put the manager in an awkward situation which he could do nothing about.
P. Jackson
Via email
Action, SISTA
She had said the right things to the manager and showed him that she wasn’t going to take it lightly. That was total disrespect not only to her but to all blacks. If one of our children would have called a white woman a cracker, honky or redneck, you better believe a white manager would have had him locked up for harrassment. It should not be tolerated. Do
you think you are free because you are in America? Hell, no. So what
better way to make a change than to take action, SISTA!
Felicia Moore
Via email
Real power
We spend a disproportionate amount of money on items that have little to no lasting value. Furthermore, we spend this money in venues where we’re often disrespected. We have to stand up for what’s right and show our kids that we don’t have to curse, fight, and argue to draw attention to our plight. We can simply say I am not going to spend my money with you. That is where the real power is. That type of restraint and quiet dignity is sorely lacking in our society today. I have had to walk away from numerous situtations such as the one Ms. Clay was in and refuse to spend my hard-earned money in establishments that allow poor treatment.
K. Williams
Via email
‘Simple, happy Negro’
As a black woman I feel really bad for what happened to Jacqueline Clay at Kohl’s. I feel even worse that she accepted a coupon and continued to shop and spend her money at that store. She was made a fool of twice. She should have given the child and her grandfather as well as management a nice but nasty remark to make them look as stupid as they were. Instead, Clay decided to play the role of the “simple, happy Negro” and accept a coupon to shut her up. How dare you ask us to spend our money elsewhere. You didn’t. Bad move.
Adrian Denise McGee
Via email