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A Matter of Racism

Afrocentric News

Subject: Borders Book Stores -BOYCOTT

I submit this in support of my claim that racism is always more than the individual acts of particular bigots. It is a system of practices which can be and are deployed at will against individuals of marginalized races--just as the complementary practices which define sexism, heteroism, agism, etc--by agents in the community in which the marginalized people operate but are not encouraged to participate. The following is only another case, a datum, in the continuing picture of racism as a common corporate practice.

Here is the story...This is definitely something to think about.

Be careful of blatant and subtle patronized inaccuracies. There's an addendum to the original story, so, if you've already read/heard the original story, scroll down to see the latest update.

Please pass this on to as many people as you can. Its important that we take a stand and not let them treat us anyway they want to just because of the color of our skin.

On September 2, 1997, I went into a Borders Book Stores in Arlington, VA, and purchased $137.00 worth of Books. It had started out as a normal pleasurable shopping experience. I located all the reading reference materials that I came out to purchase. When I went to pay for my purchase, I wrote a check.

The cashier ask me if my drivers license address matched the one on my check, and it did. She wrote my information down and scanned my check which was approved. She then called her manager to approve it. This is where the disappointment started. The manager looked at me...looked at my check... and said "I have to call your bank and make sure you have enough money for this." So, it calls my bank while I stand at the counter in total disgust.

Then I notice that there are other customers writing checks and their banks are not being called. So I start questioning the situation. I asked the cashier, why is this happening? She advised I need to direct my questions to the manager when he gets off the phone. Now my senses have all returned and my blackar (black radar) starts to operate. I read the check cashing policy that basically states that the customers addresses need to match. Ten or fifteen minutes past when the manager finally advises me that my bank said that I had funds available.

So, I start drilling this young man on what's happening here. Why did you call my bank? Why if this is a policy was everyone else's bank not called? Why is this alleged portion of your check cashing policy not posted? He can't provide me with an answer that I find satisfactory.

So, I demand that he call the Customers Service Department. They confirm my suspicion that this is indeed not a policy at all. So now, I'm not angry anymore, I'm insulted and humiliated. I demand that they cancel this purchase and return to me my check at once. I was advised by this same manager that I was required to wait 10 Business Days to receive a refund of my money. Now, I'm providing Good Customer Service to all my Brothers and Sisters.

Please do not patronize Borders Books, Walden Books (sister company) or Kmart (the parent company). I believe that they do not want our business and that we should not give it to them.

I've always been a strong advocate for minority business. My only problem is where do we purchase any reading material that's not African American in nature? (i.e.. reference material, cook books, business material. If anyone has any wonderful suggestions, I'm all ears. I thank you for your time & request that you share this information to that you know!!!!

Cordially indeed,

Angie Moore

Here's more details of the story!

In reference to Borders. For the record it was Arlington, Va., their Pentagon City Store to be exact. I didn't go into all the details, but after seeing the response I have too, so please bear with me for a few moments.

FACTS THAT I DIDN'T INCLUDE:

1) The day of the event @ Borders, I contacted not only the Customer Service Department while still shopping in the store, but called their regional office in Ann Arbor, MI upon getting home. First I was advised by a Senior Manager that it was impossible for this to have happened to me. He advised he'd look into my "alleged" story and call me back. Upon him calling me back I was advised that he had confirmed that this did indeed happen, and without the knowledge of Senior Management the store had instituted an additional check cashing policy.

I responded by advising him that the manager at the store that handled this situation, advised me that this was a corporate policy & that their customer service department disputed this fact. Then the same manager changed his story after I called I had spoken to customer service in his presence that it was a regional policy. Either way I found it really difficult to believe that a policy like this was in existence without the knowledge of some higher ups.

2) Upon leaving the store I have a friend (white male) go to the same store to make a purchase by check & he received none of the same disparaging treatment that I received. I can assure you that his purchase was in the same range of dollars that I spent, and we have the canceled check to prove it.

3) Several days after the event I had not received a satisfactory response from Borders Corporate office, after several conversations, I sent a press release to the Washington Post, speaking of my outrage of being treated in a poor manner. Being completely honest I also faxed a copy of my statement to Borders, both the store & the corporate office. I received an instant response from the same member of Senior Management, reprimanding me for going to the press. I was berated & verbally attacked for at least 5 minutes. I again (also in every conversation I had previously) advised him that all I wanted from Borders was an acknowledgment that a wrong had been committed against me, a written apology and some assurances that these types of things would not continue to happen. His response was to offer me a gift certificate. To date, I have not received an apology or an acknowledgment that anything everhappened incorrectly.

4) Since this all types of events have occurred that I cannot discuss because I now have legal representation. But one item that I fell obligated to state is at this point we are negotiating meeting with senior management. .

In closing I must defend my honor by stating that I am not a thin skinned or overly sensitive person. When I tell you it was blatant, it was blatant. Traditionally, without fact I would under no conditions accuse anyone of being a racist. But I still stand by my position that the only thing that retailers understand is $$$$.

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