Scandal at the Bookstore

In February of 2009, a scandal in connection with a recognized bookstore evolved into a ghastly rash that made its way into email accounts of hundreds, maybe even thousands of people. Normally, I steer away from stereotypical propaganda, believing if people put enough energy into negativity of any kind, it can only exacerbate a flame set to devour the spirits of the oppressed. However, this story refused to die, not so much among others but within myself. So, since I devoted a section of my blog to the social responsibilities and irresponsibilities of the media, what better topic to begin with than this?

In Coral Gables, Florida, a spectator took a photo of a Barnes & Noble display window featuring books on Barack Obama into which another book titled ‘Monkeys’ had been inserted. Naturally, once this offensive image began circulating, it ultimately gave birth to a cyber-mob of angry African-Americans.

The email along with said photograph went as follows:

barnes-and-noble-obama-display

FW: Barnes & Noble - Racism???

Subject: Racism still exists obviously Let us not be lulled into a sense of complacency, due to the recent political success of President Obama.

Racism still exists in this country. Like all things, nothing is perfect on this planet, in this world.

We have an obligation to be active on issues that simply cannot be ignored.

Along these lines we should all actively spread the word of how Barnes and Noble apparently feels about black people or at least our President.

Please forward this to as many people you think should be aware of this and would be offended by this.

Boycotting Barnes and Noble will show the economic effect of people who will not tolerate racism.

Barnes and Noble had this as their store front display in Coral Gables FL in the Miracle Mile Mall. I am totally disgusted and I think it is important that we all find a different place to buy our books. Obviously this is a place of extreme ignorance. How far have we really come? God bless.

Although this occurred nearly 7 months ago and now considered old news, the reaction to it is not. Initially, I never intended on writing anything about the story itself because I didn’t want to feed any more attention to the matter than it already received. What I really want to discuss is how the black community is constantly lathering itself into an uproar about every misdeed no matter how small.

Is racism alive and well in 2009? You would have to be a fool to believe it isn’t. Did you think having a Black President in a country once torn apart in the fight for freedom could be forgiven? Has this country healed from its squalid history? There could never be enough distance between 1865 and 2009 to ever erase the suffrage of our ancestors. It isn’t to say we must be shielded like infants from world atrocities or that we should allow offenses committed against us to go unpunished, but this is where media responsibility and common sense begin to play a grander part.

We’ve got to choose what we will and will not allow ourselves to hear and see. This was nothing more than a silly act committed by someone lacking the tools to properly deal with anger and fear issues. With so many other important battles facing us, this did not deserve the energy and attention it received from African-Americans. Sending out loads of emails, clogging up inbox’s with pleas to boycott Barnes & Noble is not a noble cause… no pun intended. I choose to pick my battles wisely and this, I’m afraid, isn’t even a battle worth picking up a slingshot for.

Did a representative of Barnes & Noble maliciously commit this act? Surveillance cameras could discover what I really don’t need a camera to tell me: Of course not. Every white person working for Barnes & Noble could hate black people with a passion but do you honestly believe they would jeopardize their monetary flow by placing a book on monkeys among books featuring the very first black President? If not for the sheer fact alone that it’s just distasteful, it is clear that Barnes & Noble isn’t personally responsible for this trite act, as it would clearly reflect poor judgment in business. I just don’t believe that Barnes & Noble would knowingly place their books in the red by consenting to repugnant activities like this.

I couldn’t look at this photo and not have it bother me. It should bother anyone no matter what race they are, but on whatever small-minded scale of operation, that customer accomplished his one-dimensional goal when we became angry enough to actually place energy into that puerile rubbish. The adult African-American should be intelligent enough to responsibly decide what we put energy into. We should be adjusted enough to separate real news from utter garbage. So guess what? I am not going to boycott Barnes & Noble. If I am looking for a book and I find it there, you best believe I’m buying it. If my car is low on gas and an Iraqi owns the closest station to me, guess where I’m going? Or if my children are hungry and a Mexican restaurant is directly in our face, you do know that I’ll be ordering chimichanga’s before you could say que pasa, right?

Because we have bigger fish to fry, we have to stop wasting our time with petty acts of foolishness. Somewhere, there is a career advancement that we deserve but won’t receive simply because of color or gender. Talk to me about that. Let’s discuss how we can combat racial profiling when many tend to believe it’s nothing more than urban legend and yet, young black men are getting pulled over and accused of stealing their own car. We have real issues to contend with- matters that can physically harm us, sometimes even kill; take money out of our pockets or food from our tables. The only thing that got hurt from all of this was our feelings and only children whose lives are built of candy and cartoons should have their world fall apart when their feelings become hurt.

Barnes & Noble did acknowledge that the photo was authentic and appeared in a window of its Coral Gables location. Naturally, they were apologetic- a spokesperson released a statement claiming that it did not reflect the attitudes of Barnes & Noble, its management, or its employees. An apology is the least they could offer since the racist implications were undeniable. But… even though I personally accept their apology, I can’t help but wonder how the exhibit managed to escape their attention long enough to remain on display for an entire four days. Hmmm…. that’s a long, long time not to notice your own storefront. Oh well…it’s neither here nor there, as it only proves that the manager should probably work on strengthening her attention to detail.

Be it as it may, outside of this short article, I refuse to waste any more energy on the issue. All I can do is ask whoever did it, “ How did you even manage to make it inside a bookstore?” Otherwise, I’m gonna let that person have this one. I choose to give my attention to matters that are more useful and beneficial to all of us.