Well this is a good look for Milwaukee...

[warriorchick]

Data for only the largest suburbs in Chicago, plus various cities mentioned in this thread. Generally, many of the smaller cities not listed here (such as Hinsdale, New Lenox, Libertyville, Geneva, St. Charles, Glenview) have higher percentages of white residents.

In a former life, I almost got fired once for telling of my company's customers that my boss lived in Aurora.  He lived in White Eagle, a subdivision of million-dollar homes. It is within the city limits of Aurora, but most of the residents lie and say they live in Naperville, which is on the other side of the street.  The developer even advertised in a manner that suggested it was in Aurora.  In response, the city of Aurora posted a huge "Welcome to Aurora" sign at the front entrance of the subdivision, and threatened to cut off city water to the development unless they stopped the chicanery.

[mu_hilltopper]

Yeah I guess the alleged victim has no clue whatsoever.  As opposed to you, you know, a guy who's met the owner a few times.

"No clue" .. and you accuse me of hyperbole?  I've based everything I've written off of the media and police reports, and one email Tom sent me that concurs with the police report.    Where there is theory or conjecture, I've noted it as such. 

And Henson did give a follow up interview.  He said the owner apologized, and was sincere, and acknowledged it wasn't handled appropriately.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/store-owner-sincere-in-his-apology-bucks-john-henson-says-after-racial-profiling-incident-b99600060z-334712911.html

"He knew that shouldn't have happened. He's had some prior incidents, but it still doesn't make it right for them to do what they did..."

Props to Henson.  His words are calm and proportionate.  He acknowledges that things were not as simple as they presented.

You just seem to be going out of your way to make excuses for what seems VERY obvious.

That claim works both ways:  You seem to be going out of your way to make excuses to claim racism on this VERY obvious story of phone calls, possibly stolen trucks, and frightened employees.

"Don't BE racist, you won't be CALLED racist."  That's a fun game to play, since the slightest wrong is interpreted as being racist.  Call in a police tip; racist.  See the car the police told you to call about and do so; racist.  Be frightened and ask for the police to stay a while longer; racist.  Not to mention, I'm gonna guess my analysis of this episode have given me that title as well.

As claims of racism are made so frequently, so loosely, it loses meaning becoming  whatever anyone wants it to be, case in point.

--- On a broader issue .. fascinating how often the most famous (recent) cases of "racism" come with caveats that align one group versus another.  Trayvon Martin and Ferguson spring to mind, where a tremendous amount of effort is taken to label, and defend from labeling the episode as racist -- by people who are quite reasonable.   

Can't we rally around the absolutely certain cases like Charleston ... and Donald Trump?   

[brandx]

Not to split hairs here (even though I will), but why are you qualifying only the "actions of his employees" as racist?  Is it possible for non-racist people to act racist, or did you attend an anti-libel/slander seminar this morning?

Probably because this case is not a one-off.

It happens over and over in this country day after day, week after week, month after month, etc. The Chicos of this world ALWAYS look to criticize the black guy first. And there are tens of millions of Chicos. Henson, who has only committed the heinous crime of being born black, was the first person criticized by this guy.

This affair is not about Henson - it is about the racist act committed by employees of a local business. But I am not surprised than some people's first response is to excuse the actions of these employees.

[brandx]

I would like to give credit where it is due however.

Dixon issued a statement:
"I appreciated the opportunity to personally meet with John Henson this morning to look him in the eye, shake hands, and apologize. No one should ever have to experience what he experienced.

We all agree that racial profiling is never acceptable and deeply regret how the circumstances unfolded Friday and Monday. John Henson is a valued member of the Bucks basketball organization and a valued member of the Milwaukee community. We believe that everyone – professional athlete or not – deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."


Especially meaningful after seeing comments on this incident on Breitbart. Disgusting vile people that read the crap on that site.

[Spotcheck Billy]

talk about White Folks Bay, look at some of these worthy candidates topping the list, wonder how they compare to WFB?

any chance the Bucks will have a Rolex night thanks to S-K?

Data for only the largest suburbs in Chicago, plus various cities mentioned in this thread. Generally, many of the smaller cities not listed here (such as Hinsdale, New Lenox, Libertyville, Geneva, St. Charles, Glenview) have higher percentages of white residents.

[Pakuni]

talk about White Folks Bay, look at some of these worthy candidates topping the list, wonder how they compare to WFB?

According to the Census Bureau, Whitefish Bay is 91.9 percent white.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/5586700.html

[GGGG]

"Don't BE racist, you won't be CALLED racist."  That's a fun game to play, since the slightest wrong is interpreted as being racist.  Call in a police tip; racist.  See the car the police told you to call about and do so; racist.  Be frightened and ask for the police to stay a while longer; racist.  Not to mention, I'm gonna guess my analysis of this episode have given me that title as well.

Wow.  I guess you have decided to go the Chicos victimization route.  Congrats!

And as has been said earlier, the staff asking the Police to stay around was clearly racial profiling.  There was no reason for that.  No reason to be afraid.

Just keep burying your head in the sand.

[GGGG]

I would like to give credit where it is due however.

Dixon issued a statement:
"I appreciated the opportunity to personally meet with John Henson this morning to look him in the eye, shake hands, and apologize. No one should ever have to experience what he experienced.

We all agree that racial profiling is never acceptable and deeply regret how the circumstances unfolded Friday and Monday. John Henson is a valued member of the Bucks basketball organization and a valued member of the Milwaukee community. We believe that everyone – professional athlete or not – deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

So the owner of the jewelry store just implied that racial profiling occurred.  Maybe someone should alert topper.

[JWags85]

"Don't BE racist, you won't be CALLED racist."  That's a fun game to play, since the slightest wrong is interpreted as being racist.  Call in a police tip; racist.  See the car the police told you to call about and do so; racist. Be frightened and ask for the police to stay a while longer; racist.  Not to mention, I'm gonna guess my analysis of this episode have given me that title as well.

As claims of racism are made so frequently, so loosely, it loses meaning becoming  whatever anyone wants it to be, case in point.

I was with your point until the bolded portion.  Be frightened?  Come on man.  While we can argue the semantics of the Red Tahoe and what it signified, it was established who Henson was, that he was no threat, and the whole thing was a misunderstanding.  To claim they were "frightened" and thats why the police were asked to stay longer is asinine.  Nobody is going to call you racist  for defending the first portion or the store owner who wasn't a part of the situation and has pretty much done everything right since then, but that piece is a bit too contrarian. 

[Benny B]

Opps. Despite being a great accountant....... mid 6 figures.

And how do you know that (the house thing, not the great accountant part)?  I hope you haven't been asking your neighbors what they paid for their homes.

[jsglow]

I would like to give credit where it is due however.

Dixon issued a statement:
"I appreciated the opportunity to personally meet with John Henson this morning to look him in the eye, shake hands, and apologize. No one should ever have to experience what he experienced.

We all agree that racial profiling is never acceptable and deeply regret how the circumstances unfolded Friday and Monday. John Henson is a valued member of the Bucks basketball organization and a valued member of the Milwaukee community. We believe that everyone – professional athlete or not – deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."


Especially meaningful after seeing comments on this incident on Breitbart. Disgusting vile people that read the crap on that site.

Seems as if there was a very positive meeting today in St. Francis.  Let's all pray for real progress.  The more folks talk and build bridges the better off we are.  Again, both sides in this very unfortunate situation can serve as role models going forward.

[brandx]

Seems as if there was a very positive meeting today in St. Francis.  Let's all pray for real progress.  The more folks talk and build bridges the better off we are.  Again, both sides in this very unfortunate situation can serve as role models going forward.

Absolutely. A great portion of the racism is this country is institutional rather than overt and, while we will never be free of racism (no society will), I do believe it will get better as time passes.

To me, the greatest legacy of Obama is bringing race to the forefront. Uncomfortable, but necessary if we are ever to get past it.

I think this board represents society in general, so we have some who see racism and others who rush to defend whites first.

[keefe]

complaining that 'unsavoury' black people are at the 16th Street bus stop

They must prefer sweet black people then...

[keefe]

IMO the employees were prejudiced against JH, not necessarily racist.  I believe racist and prejudiced are not one in the same.  Words and actions are important.  Do these jewelry employees in their everyday life walk around committing consistent acts of hate against AA?  My guess is no.  In this insistence, did they use use race to prejudge JH and his friend and overreact?  It sounds like yes they did.

So you would say that there is a difference between adulterous behavior and moments of weakness?

"I wasn't unfaithful because I was drunk..."

"I didn't cheat on my wife because the other woman had great tits..."

"It was only a blow job..."

"I didn't mean to actually have sex with her..."

[mu_hilltopper]

And as has been said earlier, the staff asking the Police to stay around was clearly racial profiling.  There was no reason for that.  No reason to be afraid.

(re: JWags85's comment as well.)

No reason to be afraid?  Not rationally, we agree, no.  I think it's safe to assume they were not 100% rational at that moment.  They'd just been locked in their back room, fearing the worst.

I offered this detailed explanation for a staff member asking police to stay:

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=48945.msg765380#msg765380

Police arrive, evaluate Henson, talk to employees: This is a Buck, no robbery.  Be calm, carry on.   Employees shouldn't be freaked out anymore, but .. they are.   They've gone from holy crap, we're locking ourselves in the back room and are going to be in our 4th armed robbery in 18 months to .. calm down.   

So the police report says .. an employee requested the police stay.    We don't have body cam footage, so all we have is our theories of that moment.   Was she saying "I'm a racist and this black man scares me" or was she saying "The past 10 minutes have scared me, please stay."

Both theories are viable, no doubt.  It's this point where we just need to decide what to believe.  Do we think this employee is racist, or just scared, or both?  And what should the punishment be for each of those crimes?

Why would you think it's unreasonable the employee isn't plainly frightened by these events, unable to snap out of it instantly?   

(And would you change your mind if we knew this employee was a 60-year old grandmother?  Or a 40-something dude?  I know it would for me.  I'd be more reluctant to give the benefit of the doubt to a 40 year old asking for police to stay than a 60 y/o gal.   I want to evaluate the whole scene.  Do you?)

[GGGG]

There was absolutely no reason to be afraid topper.  Why would they be frightened?  The person they thought might be a thief turned out to be a NBA athlete who just wanted to buy a watch.  If anything they should have been relieved.

But frightened?  Nope. 

And it wouldn't change my mind one iota if it were a 60 year old grandmother.

So again, we now have your apologist scenario, versus the words of John Henson and the actual implication of the owner that Henson was the victim of racial profiling.

[ChicosBailBonds]

They asked the officers to stick around while the black men were looking at the Rolexes.  If you think that the employee would make the same request if these were two white dudes, I think you are incredibly naive. 

Furthermore, where did you read that he had been let into the store before?  I haven't seen that anywhere.

But do we know?  Say it is two white dudes all tatted up, wearing trench coats?  Say it is two white dudes with ZZ Top beards and speaking with an Armenian accent.

You get the idea.  People react to what the believe is a threat, and it certainly isn't exclusive to black guys.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Here is the main reason I think it was racial profiling:  John Henson thought so. 

But if you want to use hyperbole instead of acknowledging that this bit of ugliness exists in your little town, go right ahead.

To be fair Sultan, plenty of people have said they felt an incident was racist when it wasn't.  Tat doesn't make Henson wrong, but let's acknowledge that this happens also.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think Chicos is probably coming at it from a different racially insensitive position.  I think his point is going to be, was he outraged enough to not purchase or did he stay and shop despite the event.  He'll likely correlate that to some sort of justification along the lines of "well if he bought the watch anyway, how bad an experience could it be".

My apologizes in advance if I'm ascribing motives you don't have Chicos....just testing this baby out.

Reading Brandx lying comments is always a pleasure.

At any rate, no my point was if he felt disrespected, racially profiled, etc, why would he give them the time of day by staying there?  That's all. 

If he felt outraged, why stick around?  No what I mean.  That's why I asked if he bought something there. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

I can attest that none of this is exaggerated in the least.  And they aren't even the most ridiculous complaints of these outrageous helicopter parents, but the best ones aren't racial and I don't want pull this thread off-topic.

Did you ask how many of them are from Lilly white neighborhoods, gated communities and practicing dems?  Those are my favorites.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I wasn't calling the owner racist.  I was calling the actions by his employees racist.

But were they?

Again, two white guys tatted up show up in red Tahoe, trench coats....cops called?

I have my guess

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wow.  I guess you have decided to go the Chicos victimization route.  Congrats!

And as has been said earlier, the staff asking the Police to stay around was clearly racial profiling.  There was no reason for that.  No reason to be afraid.

Just keep burying your head in the sand.

I'm with Hilltopper on this.  You want to assume racism.  You might be right, but there is no certainty.  I've given you ample alternatives.

Ironically, this stuff isn't so black and white the way many of you want to make it.

[wadesworld]

People are actually trying to say these employees weren't wrong for asking a police officer to stick around while Henson and his buddy looked at a watch or 2 even after he was identified as a man who just signed a $45 million deal?  Wow.  Frightened?  Of what?  Did they ask the police officers to stick around for the rest of their business hours?

[brandx]

(re: JWags85's comment as well.)

No reason to be afraid?  Not rationally, we agree, no.  I think it's safe to assume they were not 100% rational at that moment.  They'd just been locked in their back room, fearing the worst.

They chose to lock themselves in the back room.

[brandx]

Reading Brandx lying comments is always a pleasure.

At any rate, no my point was if he felt disrespected, racially profiled, etc, why would he give them the time of day by staying there?  That's all. 

If he felt outraged, why stick around?  No what I mean.  That's why I asked if he bought something there.

I stand by my words. You had 4 posts in this thread before your pathetic comment comment about me. Here they are.

1st quote:
Why did he proceed to do business there? My guess, the business will do just fine especially if they do this as a regular occurrence with customers across the board.  It won't be knocked down to zero if that is an action they have take before regardless of race, gender, etc if they can show it was done for safety without malice.

2nd quote:
Again, am I misunderstanding but did Mr Henson despite this treatment stay to purchase a watch? That was unclear to me...are there details around this?

3rd quote:
But do we know?  Say it is two white dudes all tatted up, wearing trench coats?  Say it is two white dudes with ZZ Top beards and speaking with an Armenian accent. You get the idea.  People react to what the believe is a threat, and it certainly isn't exclusive to black guys.

4th quote:
To be fair Sultan, plenty of people have said they felt an incident was racist when it wasn't.  Tat doesn't make Henson wrong, but let's acknowledge that this happens also.


Not one word criticizing the white employees who blatantly racially profiled a customer. You only question the black guy. No one else. And this a a pattern that racists like you use over and over. Rich whites are never to blame.

If only you could show the class exhibited by the owner of the jewelry store just once in your life.