Essay 146

Can’t help but wonder what’s going on across the country…

A New York Post article argues, “A growing number of Latino marketing executives and advertisers feel old-school advertising companies have an unfounded bias against English-language media and mistakenly believe that second- and third-generation Latinos favor Spanish-language media.” Can’t help but wonder how much responsibility for the issue should be placed on clients as well as “old-school” ad shops. After all, too many clients still view minority agencies and minority media as a means to satisfying corporate diversity objectives. Most “old school” agencies consistently beg for broader and bigger media plans. Most “old school” clients deny the requests, opting to keep minority efforts politically correct and ultimately segregated. On the other hand, general market agencies need to do a better job of utilizing and supporting minority media.

A Chicago Sun-Times analysis showed minority drivers are more than twice as likely as Whites to get stopped by police in specific Illinois suburbs — and minorities are nearly five times as likely to get pulled over in certain predominately White towns. While the study drew from state Department of Transportation data, police chiefs whose communities are high on the list insisted the conclusions are inaccurate and do not indicate racial profiling is involved. Can’t help but wonder how many more studies, research and scandalous incidents need to be published before everyone will confess there’s a problem. “If you’re Black and young, they will pull you over,” said a 20-year-old man in the Sun-Times story. “That’s how it is. Cops see a young Black man, and they think the car is stolen. That happens every day out here, anywhere.” Another Black male proclaimed, “In some places if there’s more than three Black people in a car, you’re getting pulled over, that’s automatic…You’ve got your seat belt on, you’re obeying the speed limit, you’re using your turn signals, but you’ll still get pulled over.” A retired Black cop admitted, “Anyone who says racial profiling doesn’t exist has his head in the sand…It’s alive and well.”

Chai Soua Vang, the Hmong immigrant and deer hunter charged with killing six people in Wisconsin last November, contends he acted in self-defense. In the trial’s opening day, the defense attorney claimed the other hunters physically intimidated Vang and verbally abused him with racial insults — calling him a “chink” and “gook.” Additionally, one hunter allegedly shot at Vang first. The entire incident apparently started when Vang accidentally trespassed onto private property. Can’t help but wonder how the race card will play out in this scenario. Plus, can’t help but wonder why people continue to enjoy a pastime that involves high-powered rifles. No offense, Soldier of Fortune enthusiasts.

In 1991 Jonathan Kozol introduced Savage Inequalities, a provocative book that presented school conditions nationwide and showed “what is happening to children from poor families in the inner cities and the less affluent suburbs.” Now Kozol unveils his latest book, The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America. The new book argues students today, particularly Blacks and Hispanics, continue to face savage inequalities on numerous levels. Can’t help but wonder why so little progress has been made over the past 15 years. In fact, it appears the chasm separating the haves and have nots has significantly increased. Whoever named the No Child Left Behind Act should be beaten with a ruler.

A fired employee of the prestigious Nahmad Gallery in New York has filed a $5 million sexual-harassment suit. The former saleswoman claims renowned art dealer David Nahmad made lewd and obscene advances, including an invitation to join a ménage-a-trois. The 58-year-old Nahmad also allegedly asked the woman to “dominate” him sexually as he dominated as “her boss” at the gallery — and Nahmad even requested that she “pee-pee” on him. The suit includes accusations that the old man exposed himself while proclaiming, “Look at what you do to me.” Can’t help but wonder how folks in the courtroom will keep a straight face throughout the proceedings. After all, the ex-employee’s name is Susan Dicker.