KANSAS CITY STYLING AND RACIAL PROFILING CHARGES AFTER FIRST FRIDAY REVEAL INCREASING RACIAL CONFLICT!!!
The Kansas City weekend is for commerce, shopping and complaining and the aftermath of this First Friday revealed some upsetting accusations about racial profiling.
As usual, our TKC blog community was FIRST to provide an open forum for this discussion of profiling accusations on First Friday . . . In much the same way that we celebrate hottie unity seen in the iconic photo above that offers a journalistic starting point to this discussion of the naked truth of Kansas City fashionista interactions . . .
NOW CHECK THE FIRST FRIDAY FASHION SHOP REAX TO CHARGES OF RACIAL PROFILING AGAINST AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN LADY CUSTOMER!!!
From FB:
Good Ju Ju
"Yesterday during our sale, we had a customer in the store who felt like she was being watched and profiled while she shopped. She expressed her concerns to the store owners. The owners explained to her our Good Ju Ju philosophy about exemplary Customer Service. Part of our customer service policy is that we want our customers’ hands free. Free hands mean that customers can shop and pick up more. We always have and will continue to ask our customers if we can take the things out of their hands to place on our “hold” shelf to make it easier for them to shop “hands free”. We have this posted on our website and it has been something we’ve done since our first day in business. Every one of our customers, regardless, gets this same treatment.
"After talking with the owner, this particular customer decided to not purchase anything and left the store. This customer and a Good Ju Ju associate (not the owner) got into an altercation outside the store. The store owners did not participate in the altercation and do not condone what happened. We have spoken with all of our associates and made sure that it is crystal clear that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. We did our best to diffuse the situation but it wasn’t enough to convince our customer that this isn’t the way we do business. We offer our sincere apologies to the woman publicly here and will reach out to her privately."
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Of course, the logical counter to this argument is that calling the police on this customer probably isn't part of their customer service plan.
However . . .
THE REAL STORY IS THAT THE LOCAL FASHION SCENE IS GROWING MORE DIVERSE AND MORE RACIALLY DIVISIVE!!!
Consider this the local version of the ladies who were kicked off the wine bus in the Napa Valley.
And so, we find that even high class denizens of Kansas City's fashion scene have their problems celebrating local diversity and this excuse has fallen flat on local social media.
You decide who is right and remember that this discussion also has implications for the East Crossroads that hopes to bring together more Kansas City hipsters and denizens of the urban core.
Developing . . .
Welp, I guess we can't all just get along after all.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's too much to ask for shopping women to take a break from cat fighting so they don't ruin a great KC tradition.
ReplyDeletePeople complain about the tempers of some men but I've found that women fly off the handle just as fast or even faster when they are pressed.
ReplyDeleteThe Crossroads will NEVER grow past Troost. Period.
Even the hipsters are too smart to not see the real danger therein. I also find it VERY surprising to not see they kind of Hood-Rat invasion in the Crossroads -- especially on First Fridays -- that the Plaza, Westport and Power & Light have experienced. Though I imagine it will be coming only too soon.
AND I CAN'T WAIT. All the hand-wringing will be AWESOME.
Why is it that black women think they are particularly entitled to special treatment, no matter where they go?
ReplyDeleteHey Latasha, nobody really gives a fuck if you live or die. Just take your stinkin' fat ass back to the east side.
Apologizing needlessly is the world we live in today. I still say a person cannot discern a person's educational attainment or professional title simply by looking at a person. I still think the woman report this is uppity.
ReplyDeleteThe winning thread goes to 6:55! Sorry Latasha, do us a favor and stick to the buy black philosophy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pain in the ass. It's a wonder how any business ever gets done in Kcmo with all of this racial bullshit.
ReplyDeleteFemale minority shopper:
ReplyDeleteI went in XYZ store and they ignored me! The sales people never came by to check on me and see if I needed help. I think they're racists!
I went in XYZ store and they were all over me! The sales people followed me around and were constantly checking to see what I was up to. I think they're racists!
If you think the world is full of racist haters, you'll find them everywhere you look.
Cha-Ching!
DeleteJuJu is where that fucking Wilson the hater over at KCC has his shit at. The lady probably made some comment about his wifes singing and pissed him off and he threatened to have some white union thugs beat her up.
ReplyDeleteMichigan officials are saying there’s no problem with their water supply even though doctors are now warning that drinking the city’s lead-filled tap water could permanently lower your IQ, among other issues.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is the problem with KCMO's receding IQ.
JUJU is nothing but over priced garage sale stuff sure not anything to get uppity about.
ReplyDeleteJu Ju Bwana, Ju Ju!! Don't go there!
ReplyDeleteAnother black lady looking for a payday. "RAYCISS!!!!
7:31 for the win.
fitting because NOBODY like the black JuJuBee
ReplyDeleteSales associate means store employees cant follow people out and do racist bullshit.
ReplyDeleteI think this post is an example where Paco can post any shit he pulls out of his rear end and get 15 suckers to comment on it.
ReplyDeleteThe "racism game" is just that, a game. Negroes think if you fart in the same room with them it's because you're "rayciss." Anything to give the media a boner and try to collect some hush money.
ReplyDelete7:56 that is a lie.. Will wait for facts. Liar....
ReplyDeleteIt is a well known fact that black shoplifters will often try to call out people as watching them in hopes of shaking people they suspect might be store security. Most of it is all about their own paranoia, but if I had a customer starting that shit in my business I'd make damn sure every camera in the place was on her.
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of like a beaner telling you they can't speak English while insisting they aren't illegals.
For the record, the Crossroads has been east of Troost for well over a year. I went to Red Star Crane Yards, 2016 Tracy, two blocks east of Troost for a sensational First Friday opening. One artist was showing a "Siamese art chair" for $28,000. And Peregrine Honig had a very unusual exhibit in a mock hotel room, to honor the fact that she had a studio at the Hotel Phillips for three months and made art there, before mounting the show at Red Star Crane Yards. You made a reservation to enter the locked "hotel room" for 10 minutes, where there was a bed, a video and her art. Very soigne and New Yorkish. The work was priced at $800 to several thousand dollars. That gal is the best art marketer in this town.
ReplyDeleteRed Star Crane Yards is the best ceramic studio in the Midwest. The Waldo clay guild is nice, but this is world class. There is also a clay supply store, so we no longer have to drive to that tepee place in north Lawrence.
And upstairs (very new urbanism) lives the landlord, the fabulous and nationally influential art collector, Dick Belger and his wife. He owns Belger Cartage--which also has a sensational gallery a block south of the old Hereford House. Belger has moved every large art installation ever done in this town, the past 30 years, all the big ones at the Nelson, etc. He is wealthy and could have opened his studio anywhere, even Mission Hills. But he and his bride chose 2016 Tracy. One of the pieces in the gallery is by Don Reitz, for $65000.
So 6:28, perhaps you might go see it.
As for the JuJu incident, it is VERY rare for a store to ask you to check your purse. Even on Fifth Avenue. I hate that. So if I were black and was asked to do that, and it came across as an order, well I can see why one would feel profiled. It's all a matter of tone of voice and how it was explained--and if it was truly universally administered, which I seriously doubt. If the sales associate/clerk had created a more engaging sense of relationship, it might have turned out differently.
On the other hand,I've seen black chicks with an attitude of resentment. Generally, your experience mirrors your expectation. In retail, yes, shoplifting is a problem. So is breakage when the crowds swarm thru a store or a gallery. JuJu's stages their merch like a crowded living room--and so when someone turns around with a giant purse, one of a kind treasures can be easily damaged.
For shoplifting, there are other solutions including electronic security tags. That "have your hands free to shop" excuse doesn't fly with me. I need my tape measure, my cell to take a photo to send to a client, my Kleenex, etc.
Well the store owner sure wasted no time in throwing their employees under the bus now did they?
ReplyDeleteTracy Thomas is an arrogant hipster dooooooooooshbag! A price for everything and the value of nothing!
ReplyDeleteWhen a certain group of people are responsible for a majority of the crime it's not racial profiling to watch that group of people. Fuck those niggers. When I get on a plane I'm not worried about the 80 year old woman from Cleveland, I'm worried about the woman with the head scarf or the guy carrying the Quran. Why? Because they are usually the hijackers.
ReplyDeleteThen you should be scared shitless of white people, who commit the majority of murders, rapes, assaults, drug crimes, and thefts in this nation.
ReplyDeleteKC's art scene is getting bigger, that is a fact. Is it getting better? I'm not so sure. This post leads me to believe that no, it's not.
ReplyDeleteHey Tracy Thomas, send me a photo of that hot ass up in the air. I need to arouse my bull. It's time to make baby bulls and you are going to give him the needed incentive. Maybe wear a dental floss thong with your asshole gaping....
ReplyDelete5:45 NO dumbfuck, they don't.
ReplyDeleteIt's not even close.
http://www.amren.com/news/2015/07/new-doj-statistics-on-race-and-violent-crime/
Then, think about the fact that blacks who ONLY make up 14% of the population commit the majority of crime, the per capita rate is outrageous. So shut the fuck up, blacks SHOULD be profiled, just like Muslims at the air port.
Wow. The "gros" have discovered Crossroads ? The end is near.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Crossroads have in common with the following:
Bannister Mall
Indian Springs
63rd & Troost
Zona Rosa
The Plaza
P&L
Westport
Oak Park
Olathe
Roland Park
Mission
Shawnee
Gladstone
Raytown
Independence
Yeah, you get the picture. The plague continues. Can't wait to load my GoPro's and film the demise of Crossroads.
First Friday......it's history. The "gros" have discovered another event that they can destroy with their vile violence and heathenistic behavior. "CAN I HELP YOU".............
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ word
ReplyDeleteI don't know who this Tracy Thomas is, but I'm sure the "urbanites" in Niggertown appreciate her public broadcast of the value of their possessions. What a moron.
ReplyDeleteGood juju is in the WEST BOTTOMS. Why are you making it sound like it's in the Crossroads, Tony? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteOne has to take Tracy views on things as just another view of things most of us never see. Not saying it's good but it isn't a bad thing either. She is who she is and I rather like seeing her artsie fartsie thoughts on things even when I don't agree with them most of the time. But she does have an inside look at things in Kansas City most of us tend to avoid looking at so to me it's easier to read her thoughts over having to attend those artsie fartsie events.
ReplyDeleteHaving been in the Antique business for 20 years ,there is theft ,especially in antique malls.
ReplyDeleteI always found the JuJu concept as odd.Many of their dealers complain about theft. The theives aren't who you think they ,its other dealers
IN YOUR OWN MALL.
There is an attitude at JuJu, they are very rude especially to minorities. I've witnessed it personally.
I think its basically the fear of minorities of the owners.
I think owners promote this type behavior, when they should be watching their dealers and staff.
This altercation was basically over crap/junk and overpriced overated antiques and dealers and store owners who simply lack experience owning a business in the urban core . Very sad they view black clientele as theives.SHAME ON THEM
Yeah, 7:25, how dare they suspect darkies as thieves when such crimes are such a rarity in their culture.
ReplyDeleteThe whole JuJu concept to me is stupid. The place allows you to rent space which will be open to the public only two days a month and along with paying for your space your're expected to help out with running the place over all. The spaces are on top of each and jammed completely full of well as someone said "Garage Sale Crap" and simply moving around in a mind field might be a safer venture. The so called staff I saw as a whole was that "I have great shit and you don't" attitude that I find to be obnoxious and very irritating. The Boulevard Swap and Shop is a much nicer place to go then a dusty ole warehouse full of snobs and has better selection of things at common sense prices.
ReplyDeleteA lot of stores offer to hold you items while you shop. It makes the customer more likely to buy more.
ReplyDeleteYet another person looking for racism around every corner.
"...high class denizens of Kansas City's fashion scene have their problems celebrating local diversity"
ReplyDeleteFalse. Attend any of the Kansas City Fashion Week events. Diversity is not only present, but celebrated.
No one in retail ever said "we miss black shoppers".
ReplyDelete