Tag Archives: racism

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Emil Guillermo: United CEO Munoz saw the light, but not soon enough. Apology comes too late.

After that shriek from an Asian American airline passenger heard round the world, methinks United needs to bleed a little more.

When it perpetrated a violent act that caused an innocent passenger to shed blood, United crossed a very serious line.

It declared war on the American consumer.

I was riled that it was an Asian American. But in this de-racinated corporate world, we’re divided into just two camps:
the business and the consumer. And the consumers have united against United. It’s behavior shows a callous disregard
for the people who have kept them in business.

If you didn’t see the apology, here is the statement of United CEO Oscar Munoz:

“The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened.Like you, I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way. I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right.”

Munoz plays the right notes. It just lacks a little soul.

Consider his memo prior to the apology when Munoz praised his employees and seemed to blame the victim, calling the passenger “disruptive and belligerent.”

If you see my post at http://www.amok.com, you know I thought that was a little odd.

In fact, when I heard it, in conjunction with news reports about the passenger, Dr.David Dao, I figured this was the set up for a lawsuit.

It may still be. But I think Dr. Dao can extract a little more for the pain and suffering he experienced at the hands of United, and witnessed by millions throughout the world.

Free advice to United: Keep the apologies coming. The shrieks of Dr. Dao have shattered public trust in your brand. It will take a lot more than a statement to restore.

Check back for new Emil Amok’s Takeout on this story here:

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Emil Guillermo: Washington Post’s “C-man” Yao headline only revives spirit of initial Shaq FU transgression

yaoheadline

The Washington Post won’t apologize for that “C-man” headline about Yao Ming it used the other day.

Instead of showing some sensitivity, the Post  preferred to show off the slur in its full glory.

Because, of course, there’s nothing like getting in a second helping of hate rhetoric when you can under the guise of reporting.

Ultimately, editors did change the word.  They just didn’t really  apologize.

But say if the story were about a top black player. Would an editor have used a black ethnic slur now commonly referred to as the “N” word?  Or would they have truncated it or avoided the word choice completely  to accommodate DC’s black readers?

So one must ask,  why don’t Wash Post’s editors respect  its  Asian American readers more than they do?

Putting the word  out there in all its glory legitimizes the slur in a way.  It says,  “It’s OK, we saw it in the Post. ”

Even the original culprit, Shaquille O’Neal offered an apology. If you want to read about the incident check out this link to my 2011 post which includes a link to my original 2003 article that talks about how Shaq’s Yao FU began.

Incidentally, even Steve Kerr, the Golden State  Warriors coach, was involved in a slur incident involving Yao.

Kerr was a TV commentator at the time,  and has since apologized.

But that’s how little respect Asian Americans had in 2003.

And even now,  apparently.

And  as much as I am a Golden State Warrior fan, and hope they break the record, I must confess I don’t forget the incident whenever I see Kerr,  or even Shaq for that matter,  on TV.

That’s how deep transgressions go.

Apology or no apology, media slurs cut deep

.

 

 

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PODCAST–PART 2: Arthur Chu,”Jeopardy” Champ, Talks About Race, Being Asian American, & Racist Tweets (second installment)

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Arthur Chu, the Asian American who has amassed more than $235,000 in two-weeks on “Jeopardy.”

But it’s also made him the target of racist and intimidating tweets and comments on the internet. He talks about what it’s like to be a racial minority, and how despite opportunities and success, there’s always a feeling of a  compromised sense of belonging. He hasn’t forgotten what his father told him as a young boy growing up Asian American.

But he also has chosen to be very open and  confront any racism he perceives head on.

[powerpress]http://www.amok.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Arthur-ChuJeopardyChamp-Talks-About-Race-The-Game-Racist-Tweets-Part-2.m4a[/powerpress]

 

Arthur Chu,"Jeopardy"Champ, Talks About Race, The Game, & Racist Tweets, Part 2

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CBS’ Julie Chen’s the “Talk” about her eyes at the EYE; But candor on race has come pretty late for the TV star

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Here’s my initial reaction to the Julie Chen reveal of how she dealt with racism in TV News that I posted on my “Emil Guillermo Media” Facebook site– https://www.facebook.com/emilguillermo.media  :

Post by Emil Guillermo Media.

 

I think the bottom line is it’s still a self-serving reveal for Chen, especially since she appears to have only done it to fill out a show theme on “secrets” for her program, “The Talk.”
Wouldn’t it have been better–and more credible–if she had come out boldly after the “Big Brother” debacle this season? Yes, BB is also Chen’s show, but the presence of a specific contestant who spouted anti-Asian comments throughout the show, would have given Chen a real opportunity to come out more naturally about how she dealt with anti-Asian racism in the past.

So instead of seeing  Julie Chen as Rosa Parks, I’m wondering, what’s up Julie Chen?
Here’s someone who knows how hard it is as a minority to get ahead in TV news. She recalls the blatant racism she experienced in Ohio. And frankly, she must know that some version of that conversation can be heard in newsrooms even today.

And yet, prior to this, Julie Chen has not been known in broadcast circles as a pioneering diversity advocate.

This is after years of success as Chen represents the best example of hair and makeup, and now plastic surgery. She has quite a career as one who has married a network president and has an ubiquitous presence in daytime, primetime, and bedtime.

But maybe this is the start of a brand new Julie. Perhaps someone has told her about that old phrase of the jazz great Ramsey Lewis, “When you take the elevator up, don’t forget to send it back down.”