MONKEY BOOK ON DISPLAY IN AN OBAMA-THEMED B&N
YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED
The Barnes & Noble bookstore's storefront in the Miracle Mile Mall in Coral Gables, Fla., featured several books about Obama and one about monkeys.
In a public statement, Barnes & Noble spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating said, "We believe that a customer played a cruel joke and placed an inappropriate title in the front window of our store. We are looking into it and are taking the steps necessary so that it does not happen again."
A photo of the display began circulating via e-mail by an unknown photographer and has sparked widespread criticism and the public apology from the U.S. bookseller. But is putting the blame on a customer really an apology?
Much like the apology "to those who were offended by the image" from the Post, B&N's statement seems more like a transfer of responsibility.
The e-mail, by an unknown original sender, stated, "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 … How far have we really come?"
It went on to persuade all those who received the e-mail to forward it and boycott the bookstore. "Boycotting Barnes & Noble will show the economic effect of people who will not tolerate racism," the e-mail read.
The racist connotations associated with the display are undeniable. However, B&N says the incident does not reflect the attitudes of its management or its employees.
Keating told the NAACP, "Barnes & Noble would certainly not do something like this. We put up a display to honor President Obama. Once we discovered this, four days later, it was immediately removed."
COPIED FROM DIVERSITYINC
The Barnes & Noble bookstore's storefront in the Miracle Mile Mall in Coral Gables, Fla., featured several books about Obama and one about monkeys.
In a public statement, Barnes & Noble spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating said, "We believe that a customer played a cruel joke and placed an inappropriate title in the front window of our store. We are looking into it and are taking the steps necessary so that it does not happen again."
A photo of the display began circulating via e-mail by an unknown photographer and has sparked widespread criticism and the public apology from the U.S. bookseller. But is putting the blame on a customer really an apology?
Much like the apology "to those who were offended by the image" from the Post, B&N's statement seems more like a transfer of responsibility.
The e-mail, by an unknown original sender, stated, "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 … How far have we really come?"
It went on to persuade all those who received the e-mail to forward it and boycott the bookstore. "Boycotting Barnes & Noble will show the economic effect of people who will not tolerate racism," the e-mail read.
The racist connotations associated with the display are undeniable. However, B&N says the incident does not reflect the attitudes of its management or its employees.
Keating told the NAACP, "Barnes & Noble would certainly not do something like this. We put up a display to honor President Obama. Once we discovered this, four days later, it was immediately removed."
COPIED FROM DIVERSITYINC
