Essay 480

The following appeared in The Washington Post. Looks like “White Trash” is the new “N-word.”

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The Selling Of ‘Trailer Park Chic’
One Person’s Trash Is Another's Marketing Treasure

By Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 18, 2006

Perfect is out. In its latest twist, marketing has taken up what Michelle Lamar describes as the anti-Martha Stewart, the anti-Pottery Barn. Offensive or not, it’s called white trash.

“If you’re not that ideal person, then you’re white trash,” says Lamar, a mother of two from the outskirts of Kansas City who runs online retailer White Trash Palace.

The book “White Trash Etiquette” dispenses advice on how to win bar fights. Earlier this month, gift bags for the Oscars included kitschy T-shirts, from White Trash Palace, with slogans such as “Every mother is a working mother” -- alongside a pair of $1,000 black diamond Havaiana flip-flops.

Once strictly a pejorative label with racist undertones, the term “white trash” is now being taken up by marketers and retailers. Call it white-trash chic, redneck couture or trailer fabulous -- whatever it is, the idea is to make it cool.

Lamar calls herself white trash and proud of it. Just read her blog, titled White Trash Mom. Her Christmas lights stayed up months after all the gifts were unwrapped. She has mastered the art of driving while talking on her cellphone and yelling at her kids in the back seat. And sometimes -- just sometimes -- she buys cookies from the store and crumbles them at the edges so that they look homemade.

Now she has an agent who is shopping a White Trash Mom book. That’s a sign that “white trash” has shed its connotations of rural poverty and poor education to become a symbol of everyman, said marketing consultant Simon Sinek. It now evokes a simpler life and more comforting times -- terrorists don’t attack trailer parks.

“We live in times of high stress,” said Sinek, who also teaches at Columbia University. “Messages that are simple, messages that are inspiring, messages that are life-affirming, are a welcome break from our real lives.”

The trend has been percolating in pop culture for several years: Think Von Dutch trucker hats, Kid Rock’s White Trash on Dope tour and the recent MTV trailer-park home makeover show.

Pennsylvania State University sociologist Karen Bettez Halnon, who finds the selling of white trash troubling, describes it as the latest incarnation of a broader movement she calls “poor chic,” in which well-off consumers mimic the culture of the lower class. From punk to grunge to hip-hop, American consumers are constantly seeking ways to keep it real.

“What consumers are shopping for more and more is authenticity,” Halnon said. “And where they can find authenticity . . . is to go through traditional activities of the lower class.”

She worries that sends the wrong message.

“This is making fun of poverty, making it recreation,” she said, “… but divorced of any kind of social obligation.”

The term “white trash” still carries a heavy stigma in many communities. Sociologist Carl Taylor of Michigan State University said he has seen young people fight over the label.

“They may call each other and may laugh and make reference to being white trash,” he said. “But if I was doing a survey and said, ‘How do you feel about the words white trash?’ they would reject the word itself, the label.”

Writer Pete Kotz has written an entire book about the ins and outs of white-trash living, “White Trash Etiquette,” due to be published in June by Broadway Books, a division of Random House Inc. Booksellers will receive a promotional beer cozy that reads, “Light beer is for guys who cried during ‘Sleepless in Seattle.’”

Kotz, who lives in Cleveland and writes under the name Dr. Verne Edstrom, Esq., said the premise of the book is that white-trash tendencies are universal. His topics include “How to scam out of your gambling debts” and “Is eloping bad financial management?”

“It’s kind of a state of mind, I guess,” he said. “I used to get letters from black guys who wanted to be white trash. … You just have to follow the belief system and not turn yuppie.”

Lamar started her retail Web site in August on a lark. The response was almost immediate, with as many as 4,000 visitors a day, she said. She had no previous retail experience, but her career in advertising had honed her instincts for what consumers want.

“You just get used to the lowest common denominator,” she said.

Her business received celebrity cachet when Distinctive Assets, a Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing and corporate gifting firm, discovered her site. They tagged her products for awards-show gift bags and the VH1 reality show “The Surreal Life.”

“I was like, ‘I love it!’” Lash Fary of Distinctive Assets said of his reaction when one of his sales reps bought him a Lamar creation. “It’s not like they’re in every hot-spot boutique in L.A. -- yet.”

Jason Saffer of Alexandria may be trying to make just that happen.

He operates a Web site called Jolene’s Trailer Park and claims to be one of the first white-trash retailers on the Internet. He sells T-shirts along with novelties such as trailer-park awareness bracelets (“in lovely wood-paneling brown,” he says) and light-switch plates.

Business is booming, he says. He is developing a fragrance called Trailer Park Woman, along with a line of shampoos. Saffer also hosts a regular comedy night at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington and teaches a cooking class as the larger-than-life character Jolene Sugarbaker, Queen of the Trailer Park. He is negotiating with several producers to create a TV show.

“It’s a way of living,” he said. “White trash with class: That is real Americans.”

Essay 479

A magically delicious MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn won’t be marching in the 245th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The official, who is a lesbian, hoped to participate wearing symbols displaying gay pride. But the parade chairman squashed the plans and declared, “If an Israeli group wants to march in New York, do you allow neo-Nazis into their parade? If African-Americans are marching in Harlem, do they have to let the Ku Klux Klan into their parade?” Hey, aren’t you supposed to act like a loud, obnoxious drunk during and after the parade?

• Workers who participated in the immigration rally in Chicago last week (see Essay 464) were fired from their jobs, according to complaints received by two federal agencies. 28 employees of a suburban factory filed grievances, and there is speculation others were reprimanded or terminated too. “It sends a chilling message,” a workers’ rights expert said. “It’s one of the scariest things someone can say to you: ‘Agree with me, or I can take away your livelihood.’” Welcome to America.

• Starting in the fall, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will institute a ban on junk food in elementary and middle schools. It’s one of the scariest things a governor can say to you: ‘Agree with me, or I can take away your Twinkies.’

• Under a new initiative, Stanford University won’t charge tuition to undergraduates from some of the lowest-income families. “Many families … may be discouraged by the stated tuition, so we want to be more forceful with this new program in encouraging talented low-income students to consider Stanford,” a university official said. The average costs for an undergraduate at Stanford total about $47,000. Damn, even rich families may be discouraged by the stated tuition.

Essay 478

The following appeared in The Chicago Sun-Times…

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Ever-cool Cornelius keeps ‘Soul Train’ rolling
March 17, 2006
BY LYNN ELBER

LOS ANGELES -- If any businessman can lay claim to soul, it’s Don Cornelius.

It’s in the baritone rumble of his ex-disc jockey’s voice, his coolly unflappable manner and, most of all, in his “Soul Train” franchise that brought a slice of black culture and music to the snow-white TV landscape more than three decades ago.
Even in the midst of mild chaos, while the staff at his Sunset Boulevard office scurried to finish plans for this year’s “Soul Train Music Awards,” Cornelius looked and sounded relaxed.

But if his tone didn’t reflect excitement over the 20th anniversary ceremony, his words did.

“We can’t make it important to anybody else,” Cornelius said. “Some of the audience we serve doesn’t really care about what you did yesterday and you have to be cognizant of that. ... But it’s important to us.”

The ceremony, taped March 4 and airing at 7 p.m. Saturday on WGN-Channel 9 with hosts Vivica A. Fox and Tyrese Gibson, celebrates the work of artists in R&B, hip-hop and gospel.

Performers include the Black Eyed Peas (who also are among the leading nominees), Charlie Wilson, John Legend and Chris Brown. R. Kelly, Mariah Carey, Kanye West and Gwen Stefani are among the nominees.

Jamie Foxx and Destiny’s Child were recipients of the Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievement, while Legend received the Sammy Davis Jr. Award. A new award for songwriting, named in honor of Stevie Wonder, was presented to Kelly by the legendary singer-songwriter.

“We just seem to be surrounded on this anniversary show by all of our personal favorites,” Cornelius said. “I have to say that in the first person, because they’re my personal favorites.”

Using first-person singular is rare for Cornelius, who tends to prefer “we” when he’s referring to himself and his achievements. It’s a verbal tick that comes off more protective than pretentious, especially in light of his cautious approach to an interview.

Although it took years for major advertisers, including Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, to board “Soul Train” after the black version of “American Bandstand” debuted, Cornelius declines to criticize their slowness.

Major companies weren’t “big fans of syndication,” he said, rejecting the idea that racial bias might have been involved. (He doesn’t shy away from calling out discrimination when it's “hard-core” and malicious, he said.)

He’d like to see more support from record companies and Madison Avenue for his awards show, but again is measured in his remarks. “It could be stronger” but expectations have to be “realistic,” he said.

Cornelius, 69, is far more direct when he talks about the start of “Soul Train” on Chicago TV station WCIU in 1970. It went into syndication the following year.

“There was not programming that targeted any particular ethnicity,” he said, then added: “I’m trying to use euphemisms here, trying to avoid saying there was no television for black folks, which they knew was for them.”

“Soul Train,” with its trademark animated train opening, chugged gradually onto TV screens nationwide: Only a handful of stations initially were receptive to the newcomer. Johnson Products Co., maker of Afro Sheen and other hair-care goods, was its major sponsor.

“When we rolled it out, there were only eight takers,” he recalled. “Which was somewhere between a little disappointing and a whole lot disappointing.”

The reasons he heard?

“There was just, ‘We don't want it. We pass,’” he said, with race going unmentioned. “No one was blatant enough to say that.”
Audience reaction to the show and the high-powered talent it attracted helped it spread; “Soul Train,” now the longest-running show in first-run syndication (as opposed to network repeats), reaches 85 percent of TV markets.

Besides the series and the “Soul Train Music Awards,” the brand includes the “Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards” and the “Soul Train Christmas Starfest.” Cornelius, who remains executive producer but stepped down as “Soul Train” host in 1993 (Dorian Gregory has the job now), toyed with the idea of a Soul Train cable channel.

“We came to the conclusion that we came along a little late to make it happen. There’s also the problem of whether or not I had the energy to start something of that magnitude from scratch,” he said.

Besides, Cornelius said, the Internet can reach a mass audience without the hassle of building a cable channel from scratch. He drops intriguing hints that his never-released treasure trove of “Soul Train” tapes could, theoretically, end up online.
Among the many legendary artists on the tapes: Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Barry White. Filmmaker Spike Lee called the collection “an urban music time capsule,” Cornelius said.

The tapes are jealously guarded by Cornelius, who refuses to say if or how the public might get a peek at them.

AP
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company. All rights reserved.

Essay 477

From the current issue of Marketing y Medios…

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Seven Tips to Create Good Ads in Spanish
March 01, 2006

[Yehudit Mam is a Hispanic market creative consultant. Until March 2005 she was vp creative director at The Bravo Group. Born and raised in Mexico City, she has lived in New York for 14 years.]

Spanish Is Not English

All too frequently, marketers and advertising agencies wish Spanish behaved a little more like English. It doesn’t. Spanish has a different grammatical structure. It’s a third longer than English. In Spanish, to communicate a word like “crowded” we need at least two words. So it’s helpful to be flexible with translation. As long as the gist of the communication is the same, make sure your message is delivered in correct, user-friendly Spanish.

López is Not Cervantes

I recall one general-market client that had its TV commercials for a beauty product translated by a legal translation agency. Not only was the copy 37 seconds long, it was scary. You wouldn’t expect a paralegal to write your dishwasher commercial, would you?

A good rule of thumb is: Don’t do in Spanish what you wouldn’t do in English. Unless they’re linguistics professors, most people with a Hispanic last name don’t speak better Spanish than the average professional Hispanic market copywriter. So why trust them more than the pros? This drives Hispanic agencies crazy, and with good reason.

Some Adaptations are More Equal Than Others

There are different degrees of adaptations. Some campaigns or slogans, like “Good to the last drop,” for example, translate perfectly in Spanish. Buy many don’t. Sometimes the same global strategy works for Hispanics but with a different execution, like the Heineken “It’s all about the beer” campaign. The fact that a global idea works well for the Mexican or Latin American market doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work for the Hispanics in the U.S. Your Hispanic agency should be able to tell you honestly when an idea translates successfully and when it does not.

You Need Not be Cheesy

Some marketers demand single-minded, clutter-breaking advertising from their general-market agencies. Yet when it comes to their Hispanic agencies, they forget about all that. Perhaps it’s because they are unfamiliar with the culture or because they have one chance a year to make a splash and they want to say everything about the brand in 30 seconds.

Remember, Hispanics channel surf and they may come across an exciting commercial for a brand on English stations and then watch its cheap, confusing counterpart for the same brand on Spanish TV. How do you think they will they feel about that brand?

Hispanics Are Like Everyone Else ... Only Different

A marketer for a financial services company wanted to know how Hispanics get married. Well, besides the fact that there may be more relatives at the wedding, or that instead of vodka tonics people may drink rum or tequila, the Hispanic agency came to the conclusion that, at weddings, Hispanics booze, boogie and bawl just like everyone else.

A better question would have been, “What do Hispanics think about financial services?” This is where they differ from the general market. This is the difference between a relevant cultural insight and a stereotype.

A Good Idea Is a Good Idea

General-market clients tend to ask: What’s Hispanic about this idea? We may have a different sense of humor, different customs and cultural traits, but what will persuade us above all is a good idea. And good ideas for Hispanics don’t always need to include a piñata, men with moustaches, enormous families or silverhaired abuelitas (in many cases all in the same commercial). The rule should be that if it’s relevant and it strikes a chord, then it is Hispanic.

Show Us the Love

Hispanic consumers are not as jaded as their general-market counterparts. New immigrants appreciate the fact that marketers reach out to them in their language. Acculturated Hispanics appreciate when marketers court them across language boundaries.

Therefore, fresh ideas with good production values and a solid media buy will get your brand a lot of good will, whereas dubbing a commercial intended for someone else and putting it on air for two weeks will not.

In conclusion, build up your brand with quality, consistence and perseverance. The rewards can be enormous.

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(To visit Marketing y Medios online, click on the essay title above)

Essay 476

Men behaving badly in a Mini-MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The rapper formerly called C-Murder may be released on bond to await his second trial on charges of — you guessed it — murder. The rapper allegedly fatally shot another man at a nightclub in 2002. Since then, he’s changed his stage name to C-Miller. Good idea.

• Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper denied doing anything wrong during the infamous sex boat party. Culpepper wrote, “Without admitting to the ridiculous allegations, I do apologize for any embarrassment that this situation has caused the community, the organization and especially my family.” Culpepper still owes Minnesota an apology for all his embarrassingly obscene on-field performances.

Essay 475

The following editorial appeared in The Chicago Tribune…

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Perceptual apartheid, Chicago-style
Racial disparities after all these years
By Salim Muwakkil

March 15, 2006

Fifty-two years after the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed legal segregation, racial disparities in perception between black and white Americans remain so divergent we may as well be living in an apartheid state. Two current stories vividly remind us of this reality.

One story concerns the effort by Chicago Ald. Madeline Haithcock (2nd) to name one block of Monroe Street in honor of Fred Hampton, the Black Panther leader slain by Chicago police in 1969. Haitchcock’s proposal has sparked an explosion of criticism from the Fraternal Order of Police and some white aldermen. “It’s a dark day when we honor someone who would advocate killing policemen and who took great advantage of the communities he claimed to have been serving,” said FOP President Mark P. Donahue.

Ald. Tom Allen (38th) called the proposal “an embarrassment,” and Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) likened it to naming a street “David Duke Way,” after a notorious white supremacist. Allen and Mell represent wards with predominantly white populations.

Hampton and Mark Clark, another Panther leader, were killed by police as they slept in their West Side apartment. Investigations of the raid concluded that police guns were responsible for all but one of the bullet holes riddling the residence. No one has been held legally accountable for what appear to have been the assassinations of Hampton and Clark. The political defeat of Cook County State’s Atty. Edward V. Hanrahan, whose office coordinated the deadly 1969 raid, seems to have been the lone consequence. Donahue's rantings seem absurd framed in that historical context.

Equating the Panthers to white supremacists is a similar misreading of history. The group was relentlessly anti-racist and even incurred the wrath of other black nationalist groups for its multicultural perspective. Had Mell simply referred to historical accounts, he would easily have found that Hampton attracted multiracial support.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Claudette Marie Muhammad to the state’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes is another issue best explained through historical context. Muhammad is chief of protocol for the Nation of Islam, led by Minister Louis Farrakhan.

As of the latest count, five Jewish members of the commission have quit because Muhammad refuses to repudiate Farrakhan’s latest controversial comments. A chorus is growing urging either Muhammad to resign or the governor to rescind her appointment. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn so far is the only member of the Blagojevich administration to jump into the fray, urging her to resign.

“I think she should resign, and if she doesn’t resign the panel ought to be disbanded,” Quinn said. “I think Sister Muhammad has had ample time to repudiate the anti-Semitic remarks of Louis Farrakhan, and she’s not doing that.”

She will never do that as long as she’s an official of the group. Obedience to Farrakhan is a requirement in the authoritarian organization. One reason for the Nation of Islam’s continuing popularity within the black community is the group’s resolute image. Other civil rights groups have come and gone, but Farrakhan has managed to keep the Nation of Islam relevant with public shifts between charm and bile. Just when you think he has mellowed, the crafty septuagenarian will drop a rhetorical bomb that lands him back in the headlines. Cynics have suggested that the true target of his occasional bombs is a larger NOI membership.

Farrakhan’s willingness (eagerness?) to risk white disapproval is an attractive leadership trait for a people historically repressed by a rigid racial hierarchy.

That was the Black Panthers’ appeal as well. Long victimized by police departments that tolerated racist brutality in their ranks, black youths embraced the Panthers’ swaggering style and bellicose rhetoric like a long lost lover. This was the era of the “long, hot summer,” when charges of police brutality sparked explosions of violence in hundreds of American cities.

The Panthers sought ways to channel that destructive energy into programs designed for community empowerment. Their sense of mission and disciplined audacity gave black youth a new sense of relevance and greatly lessened the appeal of predatory street gangs. This historical context should frame attempts to name a street after Hampton, one of the group’s most revered leaders.

Most white Chicagoans don’t know this history; a history that included 12 generations of chattel slavery and four more of Jim Crow apartheid. This repressive history has produced an eccentric legacy and odd heroes. Farrakhan is one of those heroes, and Jewish groups gain nothing by avoiding dialogue with him. Perhaps they could help him understand how the tragedies of Jewish history have made them particularly sensitive to anti-Semitic expressions and why they take such offense at some of the minister’s rhetoric.

They could explain their reasoning that if Farrakhan isn’t anti-Semitic, he at least is tone deaf to Jewish sensibilities.

I humbly suggest that Blagojevich’s commission convene a dialogue somewhere on Chairman Fred Hampton Way.

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Salim Muwakkil is a senior editor at In These Times.

Essay 474

Poetry in motion with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The tale of the rhyming rascal (see Essay 472) has an ugly new twist. Postcards bearing swastikas were littered around the school where the 7-year-old poet made her original presentation. Police claim the postcards have appeared throughout the area in recent weeks and insisted, “There’s nothing at this point to conclude that there’s any sort of connection between the two matters.” Unless you consider hate and bigotry as potential connections.

• Michael Jackson has agreed to pay wages to employees at his Neverland ranch, preventing any legal action at this point (see Essay 472). If Jackson knowingly had people performing services without compensation, wouldn’t that technically make him a slave owner?

• The New England Journal of Medicine reported on a massive survey showing there is no racial disparity when it comes to receiving health care. Everyone gets about the same treatment. The catch is that everyone gets equally mediocre health care. “It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, white or black, insured or uninsured,’ said a study author. “We all get equally mediocre care.” Unless you’re a slave at Neverland ranch.

• A new survey revealed a lack of diversity in visitors at Chicago cultural museums and institutions. The majority of folks showing up are White, educated and affluent. “Chicago’s large arts organizations are not successfully engaging households with poor socioeconomic backgrounds,” researchers concluded. “Areas with high concentrations of African Americans and Latinos have among the lowest participation rates.” Not to sound discriminatory, but why would large arts organizations be expected to “successfully [engage] households with poor socioeconomic backgrounds?”

• Kanye West is taking his art to a new level, with plans to produce a feature film. The flick will take inspiration from West’s music, plus create “a multiperspective portrait of America.” Sounds like the perfect movie to play at Chicago cultural institutions.

Essay 473

The following appeared in The Los Angeles Times…

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Reminders of Bigotry Unearthed
Remains found at an MTA excavation site shed light on a time rife with anti-Chinese bias.

By David Pierson
Times Staff Writer
March 15, 2006

They could not marry, they could not own property, and they performed the most undesirable jobs: ditch diggers, canal builders, house boys. They were banned from most shops and public institutions and were the target of racist violence that went unpunished.

Los Angeles was home to an estimated 10,000 Chinese in the late 19th century — almost all men who came to America to work on the railroads and ended up in desperate straits, crowded into a filthy Chinese ghetto near what is now Union Station.

A recent discovery by a new generation of railway workers building the extension of the Gold Line commuter rail line through Boyle Heights has unearthed this dark but largely forgotten period in Los Angeles history.

Last summer, workers found the skeletal remains of 108 people just outside the Evergreen Cemetery, one of the city’s oldest and grandest burial sites.

A few weeks ago, the MTA told a community review board, which includes members of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, that the agency’s archeological study found that the majority of the remains were from people of Asian descent.

Three-quarters of the remains were adults and most were male. The finding supports the belief among Chinese American historians that the bones belonged to Chinese male sojourners who died a century ago at a time when immigration laws sought to reduce the Chinese population by prohibiting Chinese women from entering the country.

The workers also found rice bowls, jade bracelets, Chinese burial bricks, Asian coins and opium pipes.

Historians have long believed that there was a potter’s field for Chinese workers in Boyle Heights but did not know precisely where. The last known public record of the cemetery was from the 1920s.

The discovery has generated excitement within the Chinese American community along with concern about the way the MTA has handled the find.

Irvin Lai, one of the historical society's longest-serving members, said the remains belonged to men who lived at a time when Chinese were relegated to the lowest rung of society.

“They treated the Chinese just as bad when they were dead. They were treated like animals,” said Lai, 78, who grew up in the pre-civil rights era and said the memory of being denied service at barbershops or restaurants because of his ethnicity still stings.

In the late 19th century, racial intolerance toward the Chinese was particularly heightened because some whites believed the Chinese were taking jobs away from them.

Most of the Chinese did not speak English. Politicians and newspapers seized on the anti-Chinese sentiments. The Los Angeles Times described denizens of the Chinese ghetto as “Celestials” and as the “the pig-tainted fraternity.”

“While the Chinaman is a natural-born thief and scoundrel, he is also the most superstitious of God's creatures,” a Times reporter wrote in a breathless 1887 travelogue of the ghetto.

Members of the historical society say they believe the excavation site is part of a Chinese cemetery that disappeared sometime after the 1920s, when development obscured most of the graves’ whereabouts. It dates from 1877, when the owners of the nearby Evergreen Cemetery gave the city five acres in which to bury indigents.

Chinese were not permitted to be buried in Evergreen Cemetery, where some of the city’s most prominent early families — such as the Van Nuyses, Lankershims, Hollenbecks and Workmans — were laid to rest. Chinese were given a corner of the city potter's field next to the indigents.

But unlike the white indigents, who were buried at no charge, the Chinese had to pay $10 for a burial, a substantial fee for that era, Lai said.

Lai said he found what could be the last official acknowledgment of the Chinese cemetery at the Los Angeles County Hall of Records.

The document, dated June 19, 1923, is from the superintendent of the county Department of Charities, Norman R. Martin, to the secretary of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Chan Kai Sing.

Martin wrote that the potter’s field where the Chinese were buried was badly crowded.

“Recently your people established a new Chinese cemetery on East 1st Street, and it would be highly desirable if the bodies buried in the county cemetery could be transferred to your new location,” he said.

Martin said he wanted the chamber to move the remains and offered compensation of $2 per body even after acknowledging that each grave cost the Chinese $10. “The idea being that you would move all of the bodies as fast as practicable,” Martin wrote.

The letter said there were 902 Chinese buried in the vicinity of what is now the MTA excavation site, at Lorena and 1st streets.

Lai found a list of some of the dead buried at the old Chinese cemetery. In cursive writing were hundreds of Chinese names, such as Wong Wah Mow, who at 46, was killed after he was “shot in heart” in a homicide. Tom Ping, 51, died from opium poisoning. Wah Lee, 51, committed suicide by hanging.

While historians said they hope the find will broaden their understanding of the sojourners’ lives, some expressed anger at the way they learned about it.

The historical society and other Chinese American community leaders have accused the MTA of concealing the fact that the bones were of Chinese immigrants for months so that it would not delay the extension of the Gold Line, a long-anticipated $898-million project that will connect Union Station to East L.A.

“It’s a slap in the face,” said Ken Chan, president of the historical society. “These men weren’t respected when they were buried, and it’s like they're not being respected now.”

The MTA denies that it held back information. Once it found the bones, officials said they shipped them to an archeologist for study.

They said they found no reason to halt construction after all the remains and artifacts had been removed. Once the archeology firm concluded the bones could be Chinese, they said they immediately informed the historical society.

MTA officials said that if they had known earlier they were dealing with a predominantly Chinese grave site, they would have contacted members of the Chinese community, such as the historical society, and asked for their help.

“Everything would have been directed differently if we knew we were dealing with a preponderance of Chinese remains” earlier, said Carl Ripaldi, the MTA project’s environmental specialist. “We realize the sensitivity of the issues here. We have to be very sensitive to all people, all cultures and customs.”

In recent weeks, the historical society has been helping with the identification of some artifacts. It is unlikely it will find relatives in the U.S. today because of the prohibition of Chinese women during that era.

“These guys probably had a friend or two bury them,” Lai said. “They probably threw wine over the grave, burned some incense and paper money, and if they were lucky, had a eulogy read with some kind words.”

Lai wants the MTA to re-inter the bodies at Evergreen Cemetery — the place where at the time of their death they were not allowed to enter let alone be buried. That decision will ultimately be up to the MTA and the community review board, which includes Lai and Boyle Heights residents.

Lai said: “We need to give them a dignified burial with elected officials” present.

Essay 472

Freestyling with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The rhyming rascal (pictured above) who sparked controversy with her Black History Month poem (see Essay 471) continues to speak out. “I feel good about the response,” said the 7-year-old artist. “I know it was the right thing.” The schools felt differently, sending out recorded phone apologies to 3,000 parents last week. The child’s original performance included reciting a Black Panther oath, where she requested only Black and Hispanic students stand during the presentation. “We had kids who were really upset,” the school superintendent said. “We said [to parents], ‘If your child was upset, we apologize for that.’ There is nothing wrong with that.” Damn, whatever happened to “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?”

• Feminists of Color United, a women’s activist group, plans to assemble a picket line to protest R. Kelly’s concert at the University of Texas. Hey, it won’t be the first time Kelly crosses the line with women.

• A coalition of anti-gay groups is planning to boycott Ford Motor Company for its continued advertising in gay media. “We cannot, and will not, sit by as Ford supports a social agenda aimed at the destruction of the family,” the groups wrote in a letter. Ford should produce a commercial featuring an Explorer riding through Brokeback Mountain.

• A judge in Ohio is close to ruling on the case involving a couple who kept their 11 adopted kids in cages. Wonder who will be in cages when this is all over.

• Michael Jackson has until today to deliver back pay to over 30 employees at his Neverland ranch. He owes about $400,000 in wages and fines, and failure to act may lead to a lawsuit. At this point, Jacko qualifies for his own mini-series on CourtTV.

• Pat Robertson was censored for calling Muslims “satanic” and “crazed fanatics… motivated by demonic powers.” The Christian Broadcasting Network removed the statements from its website “out of concerns they could be misinterpreted if taken out of context.” Nah, they’re all clearly the ravings of a crazed fanatic motivated by demonic powers.

Essay 471

Homey Schooling with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Now Al Sharpton is riding to the rescue of a controversial rhyming rascal (pictured above). A 7-year-old in the Westchester town of Peekskill sparked controversy for her Black History Month poem titled, “White Nationalism Put U In Bondage” — which compared Christopher Columbus and Charles Darwin to pirates and vampires. School officials called the child’s work offensive. “Whether one agrees or disagrees with what she said, there was an entire overreaction and I intend to look into it,” Sharpton said. “This could have an indelible impact on this young lady’s growth and creativity.” As if having Sharpton defend her isn’t traumatic enough.

• Master P pleaded guilty to possessing pistols — picking up prison time (previously served), paying papes, plus public penance. Try saying that three times PDQ.

• P. Diddy is launching a reality TV show — Celebrity Cooking Showdown. Master chefs will school celebrities in the kitchen. And the celebrities will probably teach the master chefs how to handle firearms.

• Responding to the risk of lawsuits and political pressures, colleges and universities across the country are allowing White students to benefit from scholarships and financial programs traditionally created for minorities. An official with the NAACP remarked, “How is it that they conclude that the great evil in this country is discrimination against White people? Can I put that question any more pointedly? I struggle to find the words to do it because it’s so stunning.” Look for the UNCF to change its meaning to “United Neutral College Fund.”

Essay 470

Extra! Extra! South Park has gone too far!

At least that’s the contention of Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef. Hayes has resigned, arguing he disagrees with the show’s jabs at religion. “There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins,” Hayes realized. “Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored… As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices.” Co-creator Trey Parker shot back, “[We] never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we [spoofed Hayes’ Scientology religion]. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin.”

God help us all when religious debates are inspired by South Park.

Essay 469

A slow news day, a short MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Young Jeezy allegedly participated in a shootout with his friends on Saturday. Police busted the rapper for having two guns without a permit. Actually, it all started with a street brawl involving associates. A passer-by filmed the altercation, but refused to hand over his video camera, which led to gunfire. Given the rapid escalation of violence, it’s a good thing Young Jeezy wasn’t packing nuclear devices.

• Jay-Z is involved in a non-violent shootout. The rap mogul is judging a contest to create a hip-hop anthem for the New Jersey Nets, the NBA team he co-owns. About 600 wannabe rappers submitted entries. Which means it all may ultimately end in gunfire.

Essay 468

The email below appeared from AdAge.com last week. The MultiCultClassics response directly follows…

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THE AD AGENCY RACIAL DIVERSITY PROBLEM
Be Part of the News
VOTE IN THE AD AGE WEEKLY ONLINE POLL

> BACKGROUND: Ironically, the ad industry, which crafts the blizzard of messages that shape this diverse nation’s image of itself, has long been criticized for its own lack of diversity. That racially charged issue has been hovering in the background of the business since the 1970s, when New York City’s Commission on Human Rights first went public and forced three of that era’s largest agencies to agree to do something about it. But decades later, according to New York City Council Civil-Rights Committee chairman Larry Seabrook, the racial balance within advertising agencies has not only NOT gotten better, it’s gotten worse. (See this week’s “Ad Industry’s Minority-Hiring Practices Called a New York City ‘Embarrassment’” -- http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=48142). The initial wave of comments that have come into the Ad Age poll since Monday clearly show a sharp divergence of feelings within the advertising ranks. One voter wrote, “If white women are still struggling to break through the glass ceiling -- especially in creative departments -- I can only imagine how it feels to be a racial minority in this white, alpha-male-driven industry.” A second countered, “Advertising is very special because people are hired on their talent, not race, not gender, and not looks… Besides, should minority agencies be forced to hire more white people?”

Clearly, the advertising industry and its trade organizations have made some earnest efforts to address this complex issue over the years, but do YOU think they have done enough and, more importantly, as an insider, can you suggest practical measures that might help mitigate this continuing problem?

> THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Are there too few minorities in the New York advertising industry?

> VOTE & COMMENT for possible publication in next week’s print edition of Advertising Age at http://www.adage.com/poll.cms

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There are traces of cluelessness, clichés and bias in the AdAge email. A fair amount of bullshit, too.

For starters, if New York City’s Commission on Human Rights called out Madison Avenue way back in the 1970s — and even industry leaders realize little visible progress has been made over the past three decades — why hasn’t anyone been reprimanded? The clients who employ these ad agencies would never get away with such arrogant resistance to change. Activist groups, government institutions and the public would demand immediate action. But the ad industry takes advantage of its incognito status; that is, the industry knows most people are relatively unfamiliar with and unaware of the existence of ad agencies. So with no real pressure to do the right thing, the industry proceeds to do nothing.

The “sharp divergence of feelings” reveals the bias still runs rampant. To proclaim “people are hired on their talent, not race, not gender, and not looks” demonstrates some truly outdated thinking. Sadly, this statement has been made in nearly every industry slow to embrace diversity. See Major League Baseball or the National Football League for relevant comparisons. Yet when industries choose to attack historical discrimination, there is ultimately indisputable evidence that minorities do not fail — in fact, they succeed beyond everyone’s expectations. Why do we permit obsolete, stupid arguments to flourish in a community allegedly based on breakthrough ideas?

“Besides, should minority agencies be forced to hire more white people?” is a question that also displays stereotypical and disturbing beliefs.

The truth is, minority agencies are hiring more white people than majority agencies are hiring non-white people — and they’re being forced to do it partly because the industry has done a remarkable job of discouraging minorities from even considering advertising careers.

Plus, if minority agencies do hire disproportionate numbers of minorities, it’s because they’re seeking experts who can relate to and reflect minority targets. Mass market agencies might consider similar tactics — although this would require realizing the mass market is no longer predominately white.

Sure, many will insist you shouldn’t have to be a minority to communicate to minorities. And that’s true. But you also shouldn’t be culturally clueless when communicating to multicultural audiences. And that’s a big dilemma no one seems to want to recognize.

The following paragraph demands serious dissection:

“Clearly, the advertising industry and its trade organizations have made some earnest efforts to address this complex issue over the years, but do YOU think they have done enough and, more importantly, as an insider, can you suggest practical measures that might help mitigate this continuing problem?”

First, somebody PLEASE provide examples of the clearly “earnest efforts to address this complex issue over the years.” Granted, “earnest” is a highly subjective word. But even leaders of the AAF confess the complex issue remains unresolved and poorly addressed.

Second, why does AdAge ask, “…do YOU think [the advertising industry and its trade organizations] have done enough…” when most industry bigwigs already admit not enough has been done. The mere question insults everyone’s intelligence and the integrity of critics like Larry Seabrook.

Third, history has shown insiders who suggest “practical measures that might help mitigate this continuing problem” may look forward to being completely ignored — and often shunned. See Hadji Williams for input here. Additionally, calling it a “continuing problem” contradicts the earlier question of whether enough has been done. Nice writing for a publication specializing in communications.

Finally, THIS WEEK’S QUESTION is thoroughly ignorant. If the answer were anything but a resounding yes, would this even be a topic for discussion?

Essay 467

Columnist Clarence Page weighs in on FX series “Black. White.”

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Trading races drama
Can we ever get out of the skin we were born in?

By Clarence Page

March 12, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Compared to its obvious inspiration, “Black Like Me,” it is easy to knock “Black.White.,” the new reality TV experiment on race relations on FX--and many people do.

“Nonsense masquerading as substance,” scoffs USA Today critic Robert Blanco. Maybe it is. Or maybe it’s a rare injection of substance into TV’s usual nonsense.

Maybe, wrapped in its unreal “reality-show” grab for drama, suspense and easy laughs, it might actually help us Americans learn something about how we get along or don’t get along in our ethnic stir-fry.

In a twist on the TV show “Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy,” FX offers what might be called “Trading Races: Meet Your New Angst.” Through the magic of modern Hollywood makeup, “Black.White.” allows the black Sparks family of Atlanta and the white Wurgel/Marcotulli family of Santa Monica, Calif., to trade races in suburban Los Angeles.

Racial and ethnic passing are old themes in America, a land of ambitious border crossers.

- Gregory Peck played a journalist who passed for Jewish in the 1947 film “Gentleman’s Agreement,” to expose everyday anti-Semitism.

- The real-life writer John Howard Griffin turned himself black with a doctor’s help to tour the segregated South in 1959 for “Black Like Me.” Griffin’s racial tourism offered few laughs. It was a relentlessly humiliating and ultimately death-defying experiment. Afterward, he endured death threats for having challenged the South’s racial apartheid.

- Years later, Griffin's racial tourism compares to the 1986 movie “Soul Man,” in much the same way that lightning is like a lightning bug. A spoof of the “Black Like Me” theme, “Soul Man” offers a white youth who passes for black to get an affirmative-action scholarship to Harvard. Although he eventually learns in typical Hollywood fashion that it’s harder out here for a black dude than he thought, “Soul Man” squanders a great opportunity to get substantive for the sake of cheap laughs.

It might be easy for some to say the same about “Black.White.” The participants obviously have a tougher time in this, the era of Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, etc., to find exciting video of racial conflict. The pilot episode, the only one I have seen, reaches for stereotypes while supposedly trying to break through them. Black father Brian Sparks, for example, is steered as a “white” man to observe life in a “redneck bar” (Note the lingering shot of a bald, burly and tattooed biker guy) and a golf course. White teen Rose Wurgel is steered as a “black” girl to a black poetry slam group. The show’s idea of “authentic” white and black experiences obviously leans toward the bold and visual.

And one cannot help but wonder how desperately some of the participants are looking for evidence to fulfill their personal agendas. Brian Sparks, for example, seems hypersensitive to racial slights at times. Even when some white people move aside to let him and artificially black Bruno Marcotulli walk by on the sidewalk, the whites are suspect in Brian’s eyes. Bruno sees common courtesy in their moving aside. Brian suspects bias because he doesn’t like “the way they did it.”

Bruno bubbles with an irritatingly cheerful sense of liberal white-guy entitlement. A teacher, he seems overly eager to treat black people like his students, preaching the virtues of hard work, proper attitude and high tolerance for racial slurs.

In fact, Bruno, in and out of his blackface, seems to relish throwing around slurs like “honkie” and “nigger,” even when they make others wince.

How many episodes, one wonders, before we see a Brian-versus-Bruno smackdown? Hey, suspense is good for ratings, right?

If anything rises up as rays of hope in the pilot episode, it is the teenagers. Rose bubbles with adventurous excitement at the prospect of becoming black for a while. Nick, the Sparks’ son, unintentionally upsets his mother by failing to object while he is “white” when a white kid uses the N-word in a conversation.

The youths, typical of a generation that can’t even remember when Michael Jackson didn’t have a nose job, are a lot more relaxed than their elders about the old racial rules. In the age of white rappers like Eminem or black golfers like Tiger Woods, it’s not as big of a deal as it used to be for today’s teenagers to cross racial boundaries. Some of them are doing it every day.

Essay 466

The Sunday Edition MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Cracker Barrel agreed to pay $2 million to 51 current and former employees in Illinois, ultimately settling charges of racial and sexual harassment. Female employees accused male managers and workers of subjecting them to inappropriate comments and touching. Black employees were allegedly called “spear-chucking porch monkey,” “ghetto” and “nigger.” Maybe the settlement should have included removing “Barrel” from the restaurant’s name.

• A news report revealed the Army National Guard appears to be rebounding from three previously lousy years of recruiting. They signed up over 26,000 soldiers in the first five months of fiscal 2006, which ranks as the best results in 13 years. Oddly enough, the news report didn’t speculate on possible reasons behind the sudden success. Which probably means there’s probably something very fishy about the situation.

• Michelle Bachelet was sworn in as the first female president of Chile. She then proceeded to name women to half of her Cabinet positions. Bachelet said, “I want a government in which citizens will have an active participation, a government at the service of people.” Looks like it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her country’s mind.

Essay 465

The Chicago Reader devotes its cover story to the Illinois Minuteman Project. The chapter’s founder is Rosanna Pulido, who happens to be the daughter of two Americans of Mexican descent. “I felt like I had to take leadership on this particular [immigration] issue because I am of Mexican descent, but it’s proved to be a joke,” Pulido said. “I’ve been interviewed by Spanish newspapers and TV, and they’ve said to me, ‘Why are you betraying the Mexican people?’ And they call me a racist. It’s not about race. It’s about American sovereignty, it’s about enforcing the laws on the books.”

Click on the essay title above to download the complete story.

Essay 464

A MultiCultClassics Monologue dogged by controversy…

• Accusations of racism have been turning up within the Los Angeles Fire Department, highlighted by the story of a Black firefighter who was served pasta mixed with dog food by his peers. According to an audit, 87 percent of the department’s Black firefighters either witnessed or experienced discrimination at work. “We do have a problem,” Chief William Bamattre said. “The fire service in general has been very resistant to change, and while I do think we’ve made progress in some areas, I don’t dispute the findings; they are valid.” Better watch out for the firehouse chili.

• The Washington Post reported The Washington Post is firing 80 staffers — about 9 percent of its workforce. Wonder which reporter had to investigate that story.

• Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich continues to spark racial controversy. The past weeks have seen problems surrounding resignations and arguments in his anti-discrimination panel (see Essay 460). Now reports show that last month the governor signed a proclamation honoring a Nation of Islam group advocating Black separatism. Maybe he should change his name to Blackojevich.

• About 100,000 mostly Hispanic folks marched in Chicago on Friday to support immigrants’ rights. Governor Blagojevich spoke to the masses in Spanish, saying his parents are immigrants and he understands their issues. He was probably recruiting new members for his anti-discrimination panel.

• New York Knicks executive Isiah Thomas continues to battle a lawsuit from a former employee who insists Thomas sexually harassed her — including calling her a “Black bitch” and “ho” and later saying he was in love with her. Thomas charges the woman is simply a disgruntled ex-staffer who couldn’t stand the changes made under his leadership. Given the team’s current 17-43 record, it’s safe to say there must be a lot of disgruntled staffers not digging the new directions.

Essay 463

A Never-ending MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Workers at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch were barred from entering the premises because of insurance policy issues. Coverage for nearly 70 employees lapsed in January, leading to the shutdown. The ranch’s animal inhabitants — elephants, giraffes, snakes, orangutans, tigers and a crocodile — have probably scheduled a meeting with the Aflac duck.

• Approval ratings for President Bush have entered Neverland status. Nearly 70 percent of people believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. The biggest losses of support came from White males. But only because Dubya’s numbers among Blacks and minorities couldn’t possibly get any worse.

• Air Force recruiters in New Mexico are in court for allegedly instructing their ranks to “to use Jesus Christ as a recruiting tool.” Recruiters were apparently told “to accept Jesus Christ in order to perform their job duties” and “to use faith in Jesus Christ while recruiting.” Guess the recruiting theme music will change from “Highway to the Danger Zone” to “Highway to Heaven.”

Essay 462

CrAzY commentary with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• A Florida woman is suing Walgreens for a shocking note on her prescription printout. The message attached to her depression and anxiety drugs read, “CrAzY!! ... She’s really a psycho!!! Do not say her name too loud, never mention her meds by names & try to talk to her when … ” “I was devastated, humiliated and embarrassed,” the woman said. “I honestly couldn’t speak. I was trembling.” Damn, she sounds CrAzY!!

• Bill Cosby has a way with words. While serving as master of ceremonies at the Jackie Robinson Foundation Annual Awards Dinner, he launched some new curious quotes. “We need to teach the kids the true meaning of [the N-word]. [The N-word] was used against Jackie Robinson when he played baseball, but now the youth dance to this word,” Cosby said. Pointing to the JRF scholars at the event, Cosby questioned, “Do you see any [the N-word] sitting up there? Do you see any bitches?” Rush Limbaugh declined to comment.

• The late Johnnie Cochran’s law firm is sparking controversy as it continues to evolve since the iconic attorney’s death. Some express concern that the company is being taken over by White partners. Others complain that the practice is now serving criminal clientele that Cochran would not have approved of. One community activist said, “The new changes, they’re tainting Johnnie’s legacy. They’re now going into an area of law that Johnnie never advocated — the defense of rapists and child molesters…” OJ Simpson declined to comment.

Essay 461

Black. White. Vanilla.

The premiere episode of the new FX series “Black. White.” didn’t live up to the hype. Or the Ice Cube track and video.

At the beginning of the show — in typical White folks fashion — Bruno’s family drove up and parked in a handicapped space.

The White-chick-acting-Black got to hang with spoken word artists. And her poetry was criticized for having too many big words.

The Black-dude-acting-White wanted to do something all White kids do. So he went to etiquette class. Yeah, that’s a genuine part of the White experience.

Maybe the series will get better over time. But right now, it’s barely passing for entertainment.

Essay 460

I want you to read this MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• A Pew Hispanic Center study shows undocumented immigrants numbers have grown to roughly 12 million, with 7.2 million employed. This means they make up nearly 5 percent of the total U.S. workforce. “If you kick out 11.5 million to 12 million people,” said a senior executive with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “it will bring this economy to a screeching halt.” But it will absolutely delight millions and millions of Minutemen, Nazis and assorted conservative bigots.

• A fifth member of the hate crimes commission in Illinois has resigned (see Essay 449). The latest quitter’s letter of resignation proclaimed the group was “damaged beyond repair” by recent controversies. It all started when another member refused to criticize offensive comments made by Louis Farrakhan. The member, Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad, proclaimed during a radio interview, “For those who try to condemn me because of the honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s remarks… which were perceived by some as anti-Semitic, it’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.” Yes, it’s ridiculous to think Farrakhan would ever intentionally offend anyone.

• A man in Ohio has been charged with making thousands of obscene calls to cell phones — with records indicating 2,623 calls over a 20-day period. He probably insists he was just having conversations with Louis Farrakhan.

Essay 459

It’s hard out here for a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• It’s hard out here for “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” There’s a growing negative response to Three 6 Mafia’s Academy Award winner. Talk shows are griping — Chris Matthews and Al Sharpton performed a rant duet on Hardball. The Washington Post published a story with more complainers. “It was a struggle for us [during the Oscars telecast] because we wanted to root for the blacks, but the blacks were pimps and hos on the Oscars, so it was confounding,” one viewer said. “Image is everything, and we have to be so careful about the way we position ourselves in front of larger audiences.” Oops. Too late.

• Hood College in Maryland sparked controversy when a lesbian was crowned homecoming king. “It is cool that Hood allows people to be themselves,” the appointed king claimed. “If people didn’t want me to be king, they wouldn’t have nominated me and voted for me.” Hey, Three 6 Mafia could say the same about their Oscar win.

• Yanni was arrested for a domestic dispute after allegedly beating up his girlfriend. And folks are whining about Three 6 Mafia being hardcore and potentially violent?

• Two people pleaded guilty to secretly videotaping Michael Jackson when the King of Pop flew in their charter jet. Assistant U.S. Atty. Daniel Shallman said, “These guys went out and tried to make a bundle of money by attempting to sell these tapes to the tabloids… It was pure greed.” It’s hard out here for a pilot.

• A moron in Atlanta is launching a legal fight with Wal-Mart over a parody t-shirt. The man compared the retailer with Nazis, incorporating “WAL-OCAUST” into his design. Wal-Mart took offense and sought to legally stop the man. Now the t-shirt producer is suing, claiming his rights to free speech are being violated. “My stuff is in bad taste, because what Wal-Mart does is in bad taste,” the man said. Now there’s a brilliant legal strategy.

• Consumer groups are already protesting the planned buyout of BellSouth by AT&T, claiming the deal would hurt competition and increase prices. Additionally, AT&T admits the combination might lead to the loss of 10,000 jobs. Maybe they should revise their tagline to, “Your world. Downsized.”

• A Brookings Institute study shows a growing diversity across the country. Minority populations are increasing in places like Las Vegas, Atlanta and Orlando. Plus, White numbers declined in over 100 metropolitan areas including Los Angeles and New York. However, the figures do not apply to the advertising industry in any of these regions.

Essay 458

The article below appeared on Adage.com — and it’s followed by a MultiCultClassics response…

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NYC TO SUBPOENA AD AGENCY EXECS IN DIVERSITY PROBE
Industry’s Minority-Hiring Practices Called a City ‘Embarrassment’
March 06, 2006
By Lisa Sanders

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Madison Avenue’s white management ranks are about to be exposed in public hearings on ad agencies’ minority-hiring practices that could drag industry stars such as Andrew Robertson, Kevin Roberts and Shelly Lazarus -- and their clients -- into an unflattering spotlight.

New York City plans to call top advertising agency executives to public hearings in city hall as it investigates the industry’s minority hiring practices.

‘An embarrassment’
Blasting the New York industry’s hiring practices as “an embarrassment for a diverse city,” City Councilman Larry Seabrook said he will call hearings within the next three months and likely subpoena industry executives for a grilling on the subject.

Agencies won’t be the only ones called to testify. “We can ask [clients] for their positions on diversity and how they feel about working with agencies that aren’t diverse,” added Mr. Seabrook.

Shockingly little change
The last investigation of advertising’s minority-hiring practices was undertaken in the early 1970s, when three agencies agreed to implement approved procedures in hiring. But shockingly little has changed since those days, when Gerald Ford was in office and the Watergate perpetrators were being sentenced, according to Mr. Seabrook. In fact, “conditions within the industry have gotten worse,” he said.

Year-and-a-half investigation
The hearings are the latest twist in a year-and-a-half-long investigation by New York City’s Commission on Human Rights, spearheaded by Human Rights Commissioner Patricia Gatling, that has put under the microscope 17 of the city’s agencies, including BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi and Ogilvy & Mather. On Feb. 14, Ms. Gatling welcomed help from the City Council civil-rights committee that Mr. Seabrook chairs to further the probe.

The city’s Human Rights Commission’s jurisdiction includes the ability to prosecute discrimination based on race, creed, color and national origin in employment and various other areas. Those found to have violated the law face fines as well as other penalties.

Under the City Council’s post-election organization, the civil-rights committee’s status has been upgraded to full-standing status, giving it power to hold hearings, which Mr. Seabrook said he intends to “fast track.”

Allegations of violations
So far, 17 agencies -- some with more than 1,000 employees and others with a quarter of that -- have been embroiled in the inquiry that began in November 2004 as a fact-finding exercise. Letters were mailed to nearly 20 agencies requesting data on the number of staffers employed in various categories, with a breakdown of employees by race in each category.

The catalyst was allegations that agencies were in violation of New York City human-rights law. By May of last year, the fact-finding was upgraded to an investigation. Many of the agencies have sought counsel from outside attorneys, including Howard Rubin of Davis & Gilbert, Jonathan Sulds at Akin Gump and Edward Hernstadt at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.

Following the requests for data, the commission and attorneys representing agencies have had conversations about how to address the issue of hiring and retaining minorities. One attorney representing several large agencies said that discussions continue “on how the agencies can seek to attain the same objectives the commission is trying to — that is, to find the most reasonable way to proceed toward increasing the number of minorities in ad agencies.”

Possible agreement discussed
Another executive familiar with the matter said at one point the commission asked one of the agencies involved whether it would be willing to accept a “vague, general” agreement on hiring a particular of number of minorities. The agency wanted more information on the possible agreement before committing, but got none.

A third executive said that last fall the commission presented a plan to agencies that would have required them to reach established goals on hiring, promotion and retention, but no agency agreed to it. The commission will not comment on the talks.

Neither the commission nor attorneys representing the agencies will comment on the particular sticking points to reaching a resolution.

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MultiCultClassics celebrated its one-year anniversary today. Coincidentally, the bullshit detailed by Advertising Age inspired this blog. In fact, Essay One made direct references to the efforts of the New York City Commission on Human Rights.

Larry Seabrook and Patricia Gatling demand our serious attention. And they deserve our respect. It’s unfortunate that industry outsiders may ultimately initiate change. But industry insiders continue displaying an unwillingness to do the right thing.

Let’s see what happens when Seabrook makes good on his intentions to call out agency leaders and clients. How will these people possibly navigate through the inevitable interrogations of a formal hearing? It’s hard to imagine even the most skilled huckster fabricating a positive spin on the ugly reality. The mess will be more uncomfortable for clients, who can’t afford to appear politically incorrect in this society.

Seabrook is accurate in his contention that “conditions within the industry have gotten worse.” The discrimination has evolved and expanded. Hadji Williams’ “Knock The Hustle” and online rants confirmed the persistent race-related issues. Ditto R.J. Dale and the Illinois State Lottery fiasco. Neil French and Nancy Vonk spotlighted gender bias. Ford Motor Company and American Family Association created as much gay controversy as Brokeback Mountain. And Ernie Schenck probed the impending dilemmas of ageism.

What role will industry minorities play in the unfolding drama? The multicultural shops tend to operate under the radar, typically steering clear of these political train wrecks. But it’s going to be difficult to remain invisible — or even neutral — at this point.

Click on the essay title above. Time to decide where you’ll stand on it all.

Essay 457

Last year, Allstate awarded its Black business to Burrell in Chicago. Don’t know if this is an example of their efforts.

Vehicular reincarnation? This one should have been killed in the concept stage — with a “no resuscitation” order.

Essay 456

A phat MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• A new study predicts a dramatic growth of obese kids worldwide. By 2010, expect nearly half the kids in North and South America to be overweight. Guess Jared from Subway hasn’t been a strong role model after all.

• Investigators and lawyers in Washington, D.C. have been using federal anti-trafficking laws to prosecute and sentence pimps. The anti-trafficking laws provide extra tools and stronger penalties for those convicted versus relying only on local statutes. Guess it really is hard out here for a pimp.

• A study conducted by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company showed Blacks and Hispanics take longer to uncover identity theft than the general population. Plus, criminals tend to target checking accounts from Blacks and Hispanics more than other groups. Let’s not forget that Nationwide was originally caught redlining in minority communities — so maybe the company has unique expertise and insights for ripping them off.

• Bill Cosby is crying foul and pressing legal action over an Internet cartoon titled, “House of Cosbys.” The online series stars Mitchell Reynolds, a Cosby fanatic who clones Cosby characters with special powers. Not sure if there’s a ‘toon who uses his super strength to scold poor minorities.

• Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Family Reunion” held its top position at the box office, with total sales for 10 days exceeding $48 million. Maybe the Academy Awards will go from Three 6 Mafia to Madea — just imagine her beating out Dame Judi Dench.

• Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, a Miami immigrant rights organization, celebrated its 10th anniversary today. The group held a special dinner and saluted an FBI agent, a congressman and an immigrant advocate. No word if any Minutemen crashed the party.

Essay 455

Today marks the one-year anniversary of MultiCultClassics.

Thanks to everyone who has visited, supported and contributed over the course of 12 months and roughly 455 essays. There are too many names to list. Plus, listing names would only lead to trouble.

So click on the essay title above to review the basic goals, then reread Essay One from March 6, 2005.

Essay 454

An Oscar-winning MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” took home the Oscar for Best Song. Queen Latifah presented the award to Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard — following a raucous onstage performance by Three 6 Mafia. Network censors managed to edit a few remarks and lyrics, but they could not contain the raw energy and enthusiasm.

While films like “Brokeback Mountain” and “Crash” tore down barriers and challenged exclusivity, the achievement by Hip Hop artists during the 78th Annual Academy Awards may have been the most dramatic and real breakthrough of all.

Jon Stewart put it into unique perspective by announcing, “Martin Scorsese — Zero Oscars. Three 6 Mafia — One.”

And finally, Stanley Crouch — who has our undying respect and admiration — must be vomiting right now.

• Kudos to everyone involved with “Crash” for nabbing the Best Picture Oscar. Stanley Crouch had praised the movie when it first appeared, so maybe he’ll view this victory as compensation for the win by Three 6 Mafia.

Essay 453

It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.

This could explain the Sybil-like advertising produced for Dove over the past few years.

Following the contrived Super Bowl spot promoting the brand’s alleged concern for girls’ self-esteem, Dove now presents a new campaign for its Calming Night products.

The creative centerpiece is a series of online films featuring Felicity Huffman. Dove has swerved from celebrating real beauty to modeling an Academy Award nominee and Desperate Housewives superstar. Despite her appearance in Transamerica and her marriage to William H. Macy, it would be hard to deny Huffman’s glamorous sex appeal.

Maybe Dove officials believe they satisfied the real beauty initiative by hiring plain-Jane Penny Marshall to direct the webisodes. Marshall could certainly benefit from the miraculous powers of Dove firming lotion.

The films show Huffman interacting with classic TV moms Carol Brady, June Cleaver and Lily Munster. You know, iconic female characters that symbolize the ideal standards. And it’s all served up via high-tech special effects without a semblance of reality.

If this latest effort generates better responses than the real beauty campaign, look for the next Dove billboards with women in underwear to exhibit Teri Hatcher, Nicollette Sheridan and Eva Longoria.

You’ve come a long way, baby.

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To view past Dove-inspired rants, start by clicking on the essay title above. Then check out Essays 119, 340 and 373.

Essay 452

Oh brother, it’s another MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Jermaine Jackson (pictured above) was trying to sell a tell-all book about brother Michael. The book allegedly detailed creepy interactions between Jacko and children, the family’s suspicions about the King of Pop’s feelings for young boys and allegations that Joe Jackson may have sexually abused his son. However, the big brother failed to find interested publishers. Which really demonstrates the respect and credibility of Jermaine Jackson.

• Getting buried in Detroit’s Woodlawn cemetery will now be more expensive. Prices have soared by thousands of dollars since civil rights icon Rosa Parks was entombed there last fall. “I know some people might want to be buried near her, but we’re just private people and so was she,” said a Parks family member. “When will people stop taking advantage of her legacy?” Look for a book proposal from Jermaine Jackson soon.

• While playing cricket during his trip to Pakistan, President Bush was struck by an errant delivery. No word if Dick Cheney was the wild bowler. Sorry if the cricket references are inaccurate, but you hopefully get the gist.

• The Army has launched an investigation into the April 2004 death of Pat Tillman, the former NFL player who allegedly died from friendly fire in Afghanistan. Now there are suspicions the shooting may have been a homicide. A Pentagon official said the Army Criminal Investigation Command will conduct a probe and “let the facts take them where they may.” With the Pentagon, the facts usually take them to lies.

• A recent graduate of the University of North Carolina who plowed his SUV into a group of bystanders may face assorted charges including executing a hate crime. The 22-year-old man is a native of Iran, and officials claim he “allegedly made statements that he acted to avenge the American treatment of Muslims.” Well, let’s hope he wasn’t merely anxious to place bets on a March Madness pool.

• The former state senator who sponsored Ohio’s hate crimes law thinks things need to be updated. “We need to send a message in our society that when you commit a crime against someone because of the color of their skin or religion or ethnic heritage, you are not just committing a crime against that person,” said Lee Fisher. “You are committing a crime against that entire community and society, and it deserves stiffer punishment.” Hating hate is no longer a redundant term.

• Quinnipiac University conducted a poll that showed 72 percent of Americans oppose giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants; plus, 62 percent oppose making it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens. And nearly 100 percent have never heard of Quinnipiac University.

• 12 folks kicked off the Day Laborer Run for Peace and Dignity, a cross-country trek from California to New York City intended to bring attention to the exploitation and discrimination placed on immigrant workers. “We’re trying to show the federal government they should recognize the contributions of immigrants, especially day laborers,” a participant said. “We demand fair legislation, not just for Latin American workers but also for workers from Africa, Asia and all over the world.” Hey, it would have been easier to obtain a driver’s license and travel by car.

• There’s a growing movement against soda pop, linking the product to the problem of obesity. Anti-soda initiatives include taxing and labeling sodas like cigarettes or liquor. Come to think of it, has anyone ever verified Dr. Pepper’s medical license?

• AT&T is seeking to acquire BellSouth in a $67 billion deal. Right now, the two companies both own Cingular wireless. The impending deal means customers will ultimately have only one source to call when complaining about the lousy service they receive.

• Libraries in northeast Missouri have moved a book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin after parents griped the story had homosexual undertones. The book is actually based on the true tale of male penguins Roy and Silo from New York City’s Central Park Zoo, who adopted an abandoned egg. Roy and Silo vehemently deny being gay. But Hollywood executives are probably brainstorming on a movie tentatively titled, “The March of the Penguins to Brokeback Mountain.”

Essay 451

The New York Times published a story about discrimination in advertising on the Web. Discriminating readers should click on the essay title to check it out.

Essay 450

Here’s a recent column from Stanley Crouch…

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How dare they try to copyright the N-word

One of the most repulsively fascinating facts about contemporary black popular culture is how it continues to reach fresh lows. It finds new ways of leaping all fences that would bar it from falling into a bottomless pit of tastelessness. All of the insults and burdens of minstrelsy have been bested by black comedians and rappers who have made stupidity, hedonism, pimping, misogyny, pornography and violence their stock in trade.

One defense of this amoral sense of life and culture is that black people didn’t invent any of it, so why shouldn’t they, like the white people, be able to make big money from it? As one imbecilic black man in television said to me, “I ain’t hating on these brothers. All they are doing is dealing with a market the same way that the white people do. This is capitalism and they’re responding to a market. You know the old saying, ‘Whatever the market will bear.’”

Now we find that comedian Damon Wayans has spent the past 14 months trying to copyright the N-word with “iggas” instead of “iggers.” He wants to put it on apparel and whatnot. So far, he has not been successful but one can imagine young American kids wearing that word emblazoned on clothes and listening to rap “songs” in which the N-word frequently appears, in conjunction with “bitches” and “hos,” among other denigrations.

Of course, there is a defense. One Hollywood Negro said that “Damon is no fool. He might be pulling a Brer Rabbit move that would mean that he would take control of the word and make everyone pay to use it.”

I responded rappers and others would merely put the cost in the budget. The Hollywood guy agreed.

However this comes out, it is further proof of how remarkably decadent our moment is. On the one hand, opportunistic numbskulls use the rhetoric of free speech and the liberal arts to justify the thick presence of misogyny and insult in their material, meaning that constantly referring to women as bitches and hos is an expression of their artistry and their freedom of speech. So is the constant screaming of the N-word.

Now we have a comedian attempting to copyright the N-word so that everyone who uses it will have to pay him for the right. I guess that takes its place right next to John Singleton, Spike Lee and Will Smith supporting the dehumanizing “Hustle & Flow.” In the world of entertainment, the siren call of the commercial, however hollow and denigrating, seems impossible for many to resist, a fact that transcends all ethnic, sexual and religious distinctions.

When Essence magazine began a campaign against the prevalence of misogyny and insult in rap material, literally hundreds of thousands voiced their approval. This proved that this product is disgusting to millions of black women and their supporters. Unfortunately, the most important movement in popular culture since the emergence of rap itself floundered. Essence let the campaign fizzle after editor Diane Weathers, who shaped the magazine’s response to popular muck, left the magazine.

If Damon Wayans wins his quest for ownership of the N-word, one wonders to whom - if any - he will have to answer.

Originally published on February 27, 2006

Essay 449

Another reverent MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The Los Angeles Times reported on the growing impact Catholic leaders are making in the immigration debates (see Essay 447). The Roman Catholic Church has been running a nationwide campaign designed to influence Congressional policies. “Ultimately, the Justice for Immigrants campaign is a response to the Lord’s call, for in the face of the migrant we see the face of Christ,” said Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington. “If you want to live out your faith, you have to understand you cannot abandon those in need,” said one pastor in Manhattan Beach. “In the eyes of God, no one is illegal.” Except all those sex-abusing priests.

• British Prime Minister Tony Blair indicated God influenced his decision to send troops to Iraq. “That decision [to send troops to Iraq] has to be taken and has to be lived with,” Blair said in a televised interview. “And in the end there is a judgment that — well, I think if you have faith about these things, then you realize that judgment is made by other people.” When asked to elaborate, Blair offered, “If you believe in God, it’s made by God as well.” Well, at least Blair didn’t reference Flip Wilson’s classic line, “The devil made me do it!”

• Two more members resigned from Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, protesting another member’s unwillingness to denounce comments made by Minister Louis Farrakhan (see Essay 448). “The commission has been tasked with the laudable goals of promoting understanding, fighting intolerance and bridging divides,” one member wrote in his resignation letter to Blagojevich. “I fear it is painfully obvious that the commission as currently constituted is not serving those goals. I cannot serve on a commission that, by implication, accepts divisive and bigoted standards.” Ouch.

• The Washington Post spotlighted Dave Chappelle, who doesn’t blame his decisions and behavior on God or comments by Minister Louis Farrakhan. Click on the essay title above to view the story.

Essay 448

A Friday night MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Illinois Governor Roy Blagojevich’s Discrimination and Hate Crimes Commission saw two members resign — because they hated another member. The two leading Jewish members took offense to working with a Nation of Islam official who wouldn’t condemn recent insulting remarks made by Minister Louis Farrakhan. Hey, you’d think the commission would be focused on combating discrimination and hate versus creating it.

• The Washington Post reported the Hyattsville City Council has initially approved a measure arguably designed to discriminate against immigrants. The proposal allows officials to check out the homes of folks renting rooms or basements, and even ask about the relationships of renters and homeowners. Immigrant advocates expressed concern over a guideline in the proposal that actually defines the extended family as relatives within “five degrees” of the homeowner. Sounds like the Hyattsville City Council put the bs is bias.

• Police have been collecting video evidence from the recent shooting involving Busta Rhymes. But now officials believe the footage has been edited to delete critical scenes. “Busta Rhymes is still not cooperating,” a police source remarked. “His attitude is ‘go f--- yourself.’” Guessing that shouldn’t be misread as “Go film yourself.”

Essay 447

Just another MultiCultClassics Monologue...

• The people of Bahrain have mixed feelings about Michael Jackson spending so much time in their country. Some folks are delighted and intrigued by the King of Pop. Others don’t appear to be fans. “I’m not against [Jackson] being in Bahrain — but against him using Bahrain to run away from his problems,” said one citizen. Another griped, “He should keep his concerts and his effeminate manners away from us… We don’t want him turning Bahrain into Las Vegas.” Don’t look for Siegfried & Roy to show up in Bahrain anytime soon. Unfortunately, there are no such guarantees regarding LaToya and Jermaine.

• Los Angeles Cardinal Richard Mahony’s immigration preaching received mixed reactions from parishioners (see Essay 445). Some folks offered support. Others delivered condemnation. One woman remarked, “We are overrun with illegals and they want everything for free. I am very much resentful, and especially that the Catholic Church wants to support them.” Another man said, “I came for my ashes [on Ash Wednesday], and I don’t like [Mahony] to be so political.” What would Jesus do? (Jesus the illegal immigrant, that is — not the more famous Jesus.)

• Busta Rhymes doesn’t turn the other cheek — rather, he’ll punch it. Rhymes is facing a lawsuit for allegedly attacking a fan who asked for the rapper’s autograph. “[The alleged victim] just wanted [Rhymes’] autograph. He didn’t want his fingerprints on his face,” said the accuser’s lawyer. Since the assault, the fan is “continuing to have headaches, back problems and sleepless nights.” At least until he gets paid by Rhymes.

• A report by MarketResearch.com shows the buying power of the Hip Hop Generation. The Hip Hop Generation is defined as American youth who identify with hip-hop culture, totaling over 24 million people aged 15 to 29 — roughly 39 percent of the whole age group. The report said these consumers “lust for anything new, with strong affiliations for the latest hand-held devices and internet technology, drinks and snacks, and personal care items.” By 2010, this audience is expected to have $644 billion in disposable income. Even more if they pursue lawsuits after getting punched by Busta Rhymes.

Essay 446

Ebony may not be in the Black after all. The Audit Bureau of Circulations reported the magazine’s circulation was 1.49 million. Johnson Publishing Co. had promised advertisers an audience of 1.6 million during the second half of 2005. Plus, the magazine also revised its numbers down for 2003 and 2004. Now Ebony could be forced to pay about $15.7 million in rebates. The magazine has experienced a decline in newsstand sales, despite a redesign in 2003. Critics insist Ebony has diminishing appeal to younger readers. “It’s a classic magazine, but the kids want new… I think it still looks dated,” said Hermene Hartman, publisher of Black titles N’Digo and Savoy. Uh, Hartman needs to take a closer look at her own stuff. That’s like Rue McClanahan calling Estelle Getty an old lady.

Essay 445

An Ashy Wednesday MultiCultclassics Monologue…

• Cardinal Mahony of the Los Angeles Archdiocese is speaking out on impending anti-immigration legislation. Responding to measures designed to zap people aiding illegal immigrants, Mahony remarked, “The whole concept of punishing people who serve immigrants is un-American… If you take this to its logical, ludicrous extreme, every single person who comes up to receive Holy Communion, you have to ask them to show papers. It becomes absurd and the church is not about to get into that. The church is here to serve people… We’re not about to become immigration agents. It just throws more gasoline on the discussion and inflames people.” Maybe the Minutemen will volunteer to serve as altar boys.

• Wonder why Harry Belafonte didn’t attend the services for Coretta Scott King? Belafonte insists President Bush pressured the King family to withdraw their invitation from the legendary performer and civil rights activist. According to Belafonte, the family was “fiercely intimidated by the president’s representatives.” Dick Cheney probably threatened folks with a shotgun.

• A new study found Americans know more about Homer Simpson than about the First Amendment. In the case of President George W. Bush, this is not surprising.

• The riots between Black and Hispanic inmates continue at California prisons, as 13 men were injured in the latest melees on Tuesday. A prison official said, “Ninety-nine percent of these inmates didn’t want to fight, but once a fight begins inmates divide along racial lines and their code demands they fight.” Yeah, most of these guys are law-abiding prisoners.

• There’s a new magazine titled “100 Proof” — a bimonthly publication showcasing the Hip Hop scene in Cleveland. The 52-page magazine highlights Cleveland-based artists, musicians, fashion designers, models and photographers. Publisher Eric Sales said, “The music scene here is horribly overlooked; it’s the perfect place for 100 Proof.” Check the website at www.100proofmagazine.com.

Essay 444

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

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Black WWII airmen to get Congressional Gold Medal
March 1, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of black American fighter pilots, will receive the Congressional Gold Medal under a bill passed in the House on Tuesday.

The bill, which passed 400-0, would be the airmen’s second congressional recognition. Both chambers passed a resolution honoring the pilots last year.

“They have fought not really just for black folks. They fought for a better America. They fought for a better world,” said Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), the sponsor of the bill. “They were pioneers not only in fighting the war but showing and giving self-esteem to so many younger people.”

About 1,000 black pilots were trained to fly and maintain combat airplanes at the Tuskegee, Ala., air base during World War II. Facing strong discrimination in the segregated military, the airmen flew bomber escorts. They were credited with never losing a bomber and with shooting down more than 100 enemy aircraft. Military officials estimate about 200 of the Tuskegee Airmen are alive today.

The bill requires House and Senate leaders to present a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award of the House, collectively to the Tuskegee Airmen. About 300 individuals and groups, including civil rights activist Rosa Parks and Olympian Jesse Owens, have received the honor since 1776.

A similar bill passed in the Senate last October.

Last year the House voted to tighten rules on such congressional awards -- specifically eliminating the ability of groups to win the Gold Medal. That bill died in the Senate.

AP
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company
All rights reserved.