Picture Of The Week (Nelson Mandela)

I love this picture of Nelson Mandela.  Two of my favorites....

The REAL Issue With That Racially Offensive Home Depot Tweet

Last week, everybody was up in arms about a racially insensitive tweet that Home Depot posted from their company account.   

Take a look: 

Pretty offensive, right?  Yep.  There's no need for me to go into details about WHY it's offensive. If you don't know, I honestly don't have the time or energy to break it down for you.  But take it from me - a reasonable, rational, super nice, liberal black woman with a great smile - It. Is Offensive.  

OK-enough about me...  

So, listen.  I like Home Depot (told you I was nice).  I shop there often and when I purchased my new home five years ago, I visited their store 4-5 times a week for months.  I was there so much the staff knew me by name!   

From a PR perspective, I commend Home Depot for taking swift action after this tweet was posted. They acknowledged it was wrong, stated their zero tolerance policy for things like this and terminated the agency and employee who were responsible for the post. They're also reviewing their social media policy so that incidents like this won't happen again.    

But here's the real issue with that tweet.  It shows first-hand the lack of racial diversity among employees in major corporations and national advertising agencies in this country. In other words - I can almost guarantee you, there were no African Americans in those initial meetings about the content of this post. That tweet was posted by someone who didn't know any better and/or someone who has had little to no racial sensitivity training. Either way, it's bad. 

I'd like to think if there was an African American employee working on this project and someone suggested this terrible tweet, that employee would have paused and said, "Wait. A monkey and black men?  Hell no."  Crisis averted. 

Companies aren't perfect. What happened with Home Depot could have happened to any Fortune 500 company in America.  But if corporations want to continue to grow and prosper, they should have a diverse and inclusive employee base - from the board room to the mail room.  Why? Diversity breeds a culture of fresh creativity and innovation.  It allows people from various backgrounds to contribute to the success of the business.  

If companies don't embrace diversity and understand the importance of cultural sensitivity, we'll continue to see these kinds of public mishaps and crude blunders.  

Note: Diversity = Attributes such as gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, age, etc. 

  

Hey Paula (My Open Letter To Paula Deen) *sigh*

It's 2013 and folks are still out here spewing racist hatred in these streets....  Case in point: Celebrity chef, Paula Deen. She recently admitted to using the N-word, telling racist jokes and wait for it...wait for it - wanting African American employees to dress/act like slaves for a big wedding she was planning. *sigh* Slaves at a !&@% wedding. *sighs again*  Here's my open letter to her: 

Hey Paula, 

First, let me say - I would have preferred to do this face-to-face. I want nothing more than to look into your big, beautiful, blue eyes and tell you some things.  BUT--this could get ugly.  So maybe it's best this way. No, wait.  What am I saying?  I'm a lady, so I'll always take the high road.  Claire Huxtable taught me that. No ugliness here. 

Anyway...You know, I've always admired you. I love a "come-up" story and you've got one of the best. You've overcome a lot and accomplished such great things in your life. Oprah herself even called you an inspiration to women. So did Michelle Obama. And up until about 24 hours ago, I agreed with them. 

But things have changed, Paula.  Things. Have. Changed.

Listen. I'm a black woman, OK.  So I know racism is alive and well in this country.  And I know there are no perfect people. We all make mistakes. We all mess up. We all do stupid things. I get it. However--and this is a big however, when it comes to racist remarks/behavior, things are different. 

It's hard to forgive when it comes to racism.  Not impossible.  But very, very difficult.  Why?  Real prejudice takes dedication.  It's a genuine representation of your heart.  The real deal.  You can't fake hatred. That comes from deep down in your soul, Paula. 

And it's crazy because the African American community has welcomed you into our homes for years. We've patronized your businesses, supported your family projects and helped you build your empire (Yeah, I know about Dora Charles).  And THIS is what you think of us?  Damn shame. 

To make matters worse, it's been more than a day since your comments hit the news and you haven't said a word. Your lawyer gave a weak, tired response, but you?  Nothing.  No apology.  No explanation.  No remorse.  Nada.  

Things have definitely changed, Paula....

I've decided not to support you or your brand moving forward.  Can't do it.  I really hope you've learned a valuable lesson from this.  Mainly about respect, sensitivity and tolerance.  But more importantly, I hope you can take this situation and turn it into an opportunity to teach your grandkids and others that racism, no matter what shape or form it comes in is wrong.  Plain and simple. 

-Steph 

Paula Deen

Tie Tuesday (Frederick Douglass)

Juneteenth is tomorrow!  It marks the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It was on June 19th (in 1865) that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the war was a wrap and slaves were now free - a WHOLE two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. *side eye*  News traveled really slow back then. *sigh* 

Juneteenth has always represented history and freedom, but it also represents the culture and achievements of African Americans.  Tomorrow, a statue of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) will be unveiled in the United States Capitol Visitor Center.  A formal ceremony will be held to honor this former slave turned leader of the abolitionist movement.  I SO wish I could be there!

Douglass was a firm believer in the equality of all people. He sought to embody three keys for success in life:

• Believe in yourself. 
• Take advantage of every opportunity. 
• Use the power of written language to effect positive change for yourself and society.

 When you get a chance, take a look at some of his writings.  Ahhhmaaazing!