General Discussion

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

64. It could have happened to any POC people claim isn't discriminated against because they are rich

Fri Aug 9, 2013, 10:28 AM

Aug 2013

Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Will Smith. Any one of them can be a victim of racism. And to someone who said rich people sometimes dress scruffy, I often dress scruffy and no one anywhere has ever suggested I might not be able to afford anything. My husband dresses down as well. I remember when we bought our last car, I had been doing lawn work and my husband had been doing something messy in the garage, and I was worried about shopping for a car when we looked so messy and horrible. But no, the salesman assumed we could impulse buy a sports car on top of the car we were planning to get. "You work hard. You deserve something fun to drive around in when you don't need to take a family car someplace." He didn't know where my husband worked or how hard he worked. Maybe he assumed our filthy clothes were filthy due to work? But even that assumption is privileged. If you're white, you're dirty because you work so hard. People of color don't get that particular assumption if they're filthy.

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Oprah Winfrey 'was victim of racism' in Switzerland [View all] Generic Other Aug 2013 OP

ha. Nothing is too expensive for Oprah. bunnies Aug 2013 #1

Oprah belongs to the 1% avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #84

Post removed Post removed Aug 2013 #173

Well avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #185

So... Lancero Aug 2013 #221

The sales clerk served Oprah and showed her several purses. avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #222

Wow. Nothing is too expensive for Oprah BainsBane Aug 2013 #2

Not insane malaise Aug 2013 #5

Yes BainsBane Aug 2013 #6

Ms. Winfrey should buy the shop and then personally fire the shop assistant. Solly Mack Aug 2013 #3

+1 AZ Progressive Aug 2013 #12

Exactly my first thought. She should really do it. n/t Fla Dem Aug 2013 #68

I think I would have written down my name, told the saleslady to look her up on google and CTyankee Aug 2013 #141

did they not recognize who she was or had never heard of her ? JI7 Aug 2013 #4

Celebrity does not always export. JVS Aug 2013 #9

I, for one, would easily recognize the show hosts kentauros Aug 2013 #57

I asked about foreign language talk show hosts. All of those guys speak English and 3 appear... JVS Aug 2013 #60

I consider the "english" they speak as foreign kentauros Aug 2013 #61

You know, it is one thing to be an ugly american CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #101

Lighten up, Francis! kentauros Aug 2013 #106

As the OP illustrates, it's apparently not just Americans who are "ugly" these days. whathehell Aug 2013 #158

they'd consider the same of the "english" you speak. Ken Burch Aug 2013 #174

I've heard my NZ girlfriend imitate me, kentauros Aug 2013 #176

I'd have gone with the "sarcasm" smilie in your previous post, then. Ken Burch Aug 2013 #184

The raspberry smilie I used was good enough. kentauros Aug 2013 #187

I walked into a Jewellry store behind a gentleman who looked rather ragged......... PDJane Aug 2013 #7

My grandmother used to enjoy telling a story about how she & my grandfather went to a HiPointDem Aug 2013 #40

Didn't this happen to her before in Italy? sammytko Aug 2013 #8

No, it was Pais- she complained the closed Hermes store wouldn't open for her.... bettyellen Aug 2013 #10

It was a having a private event and she showed up after the doors had closed... joeybee12 Aug 2013 #154

I kind of hope she buys the store Recursion Aug 2013 #11

But it's noT race, it's cLass!1!one" Number23 Aug 2013 #13

Holy shit... Number23 Aug 2013 #14

Europe is showing its true colors Generic Other Aug 2013 #16

What a truly ignorant statement on your part. Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #17

Seriously? Generic Other Aug 2013 #20

I suggest you pick up a map. Maybe then you'll realize how much bigger Europe is... Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #22

I suggest you read a history book Generic Other Aug 2013 #26

"It's pretty much all over the map." - Is that a direct quote from your history book? Gravitycollapse Aug 2013 #27

I am not doing your homework for you Generic Other Aug 2013 #29

Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2013 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author whathehell Aug 2013 #160

Seriously? ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #34

Historically Europe has run roughshod over the rights of colonized people Generic Other Aug 2013 #36

It doesn't offend me. ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #37

Too many people tend to downplay and deny racism Generic Other Aug 2013 #43

How do you know what race I am? ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #51

Listen to yourself Generic Other Aug 2013 #53

You don't know. ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #54

Europe is every bit as racist (moreso i would argue) than the US. woolldog Aug 2013 #74

That's good, because the "ignorance" of using broad brushes apparently doesn't extend to Americans whathehell Aug 2013 #45

Huh? ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #50

Huh? whathehell Aug 2013 #56

He probably is serious and sadly reflective of the knee-jerk Euro-reverence one often sees on DU whathehell Aug 2013 #42

Actually, you *are* "the ignorant one here" nt mr blur Aug 2013 #55

Defend racist attitudes if you like Generic Other Aug 2013 #75

There is some scary racism in some parts of Europe. MADem Aug 2013 #30

Generic's post is rather well-informed, not ignorant. iemitsu Aug 2013 #88

You obviously know nothing about Europe. The region is among the most racist in the world. bluestate10 Aug 2013 #163

Nah. RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #172

There is a similar uproar in Australia. The government is *this close* to reneging on the Number23 Aug 2013 #19

It happened in the 60s in the Pacific Northwest Generic Other Aug 2013 #24

Non-seq. Indian fishing rights in the PNW have nothing to do with immigrants being turned away HiPointDem Aug 2013 #44

But they had rights no one wanted to uphold Generic Other Aug 2013 #48

in response to a post describing how immigrants were being turned away from australia & HiPointDem Aug 2013 #49

Sorry this is what I meant to suggest Generic Other Aug 2013 #52

Switzerland had an empire? When? Spider Jerusalem Aug 2013 #23

Haven't the Swiss a history of accepting asylum seekers? Generic Other Aug 2013 #25

If neutral leftynyc Aug 2013 #41

True they did aid and abet Generic Other Aug 2013 #46

Even when I was in Europe, I knew that Switzerland was not the most hospitable place to color MrScorpio Aug 2013 #215

Poor Oprah. Why doesnt she give them a car or six. nm rhett o rick Aug 2013 #15

Judging by your sarcasm, it sounds as if you think racism toward Oprah is "okay" because she's rich. whathehell Aug 2013 #47

Wrong again. Racism is never ok. Millions suffer from it, but I guess it's news when rhett o rick Aug 2013 #71

It's news because it shows how pervasive racism is--no amount of money and power geek tragedy Aug 2013 #72

Thank you. That is the lesson/message in the story, iemitsu Aug 2013 #91

That's it... Phentex Aug 2013 #134

They're deflecting from the story about racism to the cost of the bag gollygee Aug 2013 #136

Really? Responding that she should "give them four or five cars" sounds non-empathic whathehell Aug 2013 #105

I could always work to express myself better. But maybe you were looking for rhett o rick Aug 2013 #150

Yes, you could. If you did, I expect you'd encounter fewer people whathehell Aug 2013 #156

" My point was that when shit happens to the 1%..." RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #175

Oprah seems to have bad luck RudynJack Aug 2013 #18

It's not bad luck. woolldog Aug 2013 #31

+1 Generic Other Aug 2013 #38

Actually, it means that you are the issue that the west is struggling with. iemitsu Aug 2013 #113

Did you see what people called the president in Arizona yesterday? Generic Other Aug 2013 #147

Yes, this is telling evidence. iemitsu Aug 2013 #182

Oprah doesn't deal with "routine racism" RudynJack Aug 2013 #188

This is not as troubling as the article on asylum-seekers in Switzerland linked from that page Spider Jerusalem Aug 2013 #21

It seems out of character for the Swiss Generic Other Aug 2013 #28

Maybe not so out of character...... woolldog Aug 2013 #32

..... woolldog Aug 2013 #33

The rise of these far right groups in Europe Generic Other Aug 2013 #81

That would be so infuriating. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #39

Does Switzerland take her money into its banks? Octafish Aug 2013 #58

Schwarzfahrer CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #59

A wonderful little film. iemitsu Aug 2013 #220

The truly rich often dress the scruffiest mainer Aug 2013 #62

Oprah should have bought the store, fired the employee then sold it back to the owners. nt Javaman Aug 2013 #63

It could have happened to any POC people claim isn't discriminated against because they are rich gollygee Aug 2013 #64

And the owner's 'apology' doubles down suffragette Aug 2013 #65

What can I say without sounding nasty. closeupready Aug 2013 #66

White guy acquitted for profiling and killing poor black kid with skittles Generic Other Aug 2013 #90

Okay, then see post #86 - that sums up how I feel pretty well. closeupready Aug 2013 #93

So you support this thesis from post #86 Generic Other Aug 2013 #95

A rich black woman who spends post-tax annual salary closeupready Aug 2013 #97

I'm ususally not one to defend the uber-rich, iemitsu Aug 2013 #130

Thanks. whathehell Aug 2013 #167

It dumbfounds me that some are so obtuse iemitsu Aug 2013 #186

Yes, in this case I'm not sure what their problem is, but since you seem whathehell Aug 2013 #194

I'm not really a patient sort but it drives me crazy iemitsu Aug 2013 #208

If even Oprah is getting profiled like this gollygee Aug 2013 #133

My husband and I were just talking about purses this morning... Phentex Aug 2013 #138

Good point! gollygee Aug 2013 #142

She should have bought the shop and fired him lame54 Aug 2013 #67

Perhaps they'd met her before and it was personal vs racism elehhhhna Aug 2013 #69

as you project your own issues with absolutely no facts to support them. kwassa Aug 2013 #177

evidently you are not acquainted with her or any of her employees elehhhhna Aug 2013 #183

yeah, sure, what an excellent example hfojvt Aug 2013 #70

Seems like no example would be good enough to illustrate profiling to you Generic Other Aug 2013 #78

The comparison would be between her and a white billionaire gollygee Aug 2013 #79

Imagining Donald Trump taking no for an answer Generic Other Aug 2013 #82

Trump's toupee did not come from a high end shop. iemitsu Aug 2013 #132

I hope not gollygee Aug 2013 #137

Of course he would. iemitsu Aug 2013 #144

of course it would be hfojvt Aug 2013 #157

No, that's not what it means gollygee Aug 2013 #165

I'll bet she wouldn't suffer discrimination in setting up a Swiss bank account. n/t duffyduff Aug 2013 #73

She could finance a movie, "The Color Green" KansDem Aug 2013 #80

Oprah Winfrey is a very talented person who worked her way to the top, hedgehog Aug 2013 #76

As a billionaire, she might have some of her wealth in secret Swiss tax havens... KansDem Aug 2013 #77

Does this take the sting out of racism? Generic Other Aug 2013 #87

I think it was racist to assume the woman cannot afford a handbag based upon her skin color. eilen Aug 2013 #83

I think it is grotesque that a person of Oprah's character avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #85

This is a reasonable stance on your part Generic Other Aug 2013 #89

Fair enough gollygee Aug 2013 #114

Valid point. Many people could afford things that they will never buy because owning it bluestate10 Aug 2013 #168

Not sure how much sympathy I have for Ms. Winfrey on this AndyA Aug 2013 #86

Yes, this sums up my feelings much better than I put into words. closeupready Aug 2013 #92

It's not about the damn purse Generic Other Aug 2013 #94

Plus, how do we know Oprah even knew the price? Phentex Aug 2013 #96

Does it hurt that bad that your thread is a failure? closeupready Aug 2013 #98

Oh bless your heart Generic Other Aug 2013 #115

When I want someone to interpret what I write and twist it around, I'll let you know. AndyA Aug 2013 #104

I simply repeated your words Generic Other Aug 2013 #117

Part of communication also involves the person reading not interjecting their own thoughts AndyA Aug 2013 #129

+1 gollygee Aug 2013 #107

"I was in Zurich the other day..." cherokeeprogressive Aug 2013 #99

I don't think I buy this at all. Dreamer Tatum Aug 2013 #100

So you are calling Oprah a liar now too? Generic Other Aug 2013 #119

she has a profound sense of self importance markiv Aug 2013 #214

The clerk today is reportedly calling Oprah a liar - closeupready Aug 2013 #224

Why would she do this? Phentex Aug 2013 #135

The store owner admits it. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #148

Absoluetely not. Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #202

Absolutely. Oprah had indeed been in the store. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #205

Sorry, misread your exchange... Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #206

No problem. PotatoChip Aug 2013 #207

I don't really see the racism claim. I am sure if I pulled into a Rolls Royce dealership doc03 Aug 2013 #102

What? gollygee Aug 2013 #109

Come on a $35000 purse, if I was a salesperson I sure as hell wouldn't doc03 Aug 2013 #111

Whom would you hand it to? gollygee Aug 2013 #112

I doubt the clerk had any idea it was Oprah, who would think Oprah is just going to doc03 Aug 2013 #120

Why would you think she was wearing jeans with holes and a faded old dirty t-shirt gollygee Aug 2013 #121

Have you ever seen Brad Pitt? Phentex Aug 2013 #128

Gollygee Generic Other Aug 2013 #122

Bingo! Phentex Aug 2013 #126

That is what makes people like Oprah look rediculous doc03 Aug 2013 #116

You keep saying things that make no sense gollygee Aug 2013 #118

It's funny you bring up O'Donnell RZM Aug 2013 #152

You know what makes people look "rediculous"? whathehell Aug 2013 #159

So you know how Oprah was dressed? Your post, on it's merits, is an incredible piece bluestate10 Aug 2013 #169

I didn't know the Swiss were "banning asylum seekers from some public places" Sunlei Aug 2013 #103

But no racism according to DUers on this thread Generic Other Aug 2013 #124

A lesson in how to be the victim of racism AND not get any sympathy at the same time. hughee99 Aug 2013 #108

It's an example gollygee Aug 2013 #110

I agree, if Oprah is treated this way in this store by this salesperson hughee99 Aug 2013 #139

The story is more supposed to highlight that profiling really does exist gollygee Aug 2013 #140

I agree, I just didn't think that there was even a question about whether profiling exists. n/t hughee99 Aug 2013 #145

See #102 gollygee Aug 2013 #146

Yes. Apparently if you're rich, you deserve every nasty thing that's out there whathehell Aug 2013 #161

There are many on DU that hate the rich so much that they are blind to even the most egregious bluestate10 Aug 2013 #170

35 THOUSAND for a PURSE? duffyduff Aug 2013 #123

It was genuine red herring Generic Other Aug 2013 #125

Took me a few minutes to get past that, too... AngryOldDem Aug 2013 #204

It's classism that's the problem duffyduff Aug 2013 #127

Wow!! Apparently a bargain compared to the others mentioned Generic Other Aug 2013 #149

To me the problem isn't race, it's class duffyduff Aug 2013 #151

I didn't take it that way Generic Other Aug 2013 #155

it's both. whathehell Aug 2013 #166

You miss the point in a stunning fashion. kwassa Aug 2013 #178

Yep. Don't put ink pens into some of those bags. nt bluestate10 Aug 2013 #171

Oprah could always save a few thousand bucks duffyduff Aug 2013 #131

Racism in Switzerland? I'm shocked! SHOCKED! dogknob Aug 2013 #143

I'd bet you are, actually. whathehell Aug 2013 #164

The side of a barn called. You missed. dogknob Aug 2013 #189

Ask not for Whom the Barn calls...It called for you, Lol whathehell Aug 2013 #192

If you try harder, you might go pro. Later. n/t dogknob Aug 2013 #211

If you try harder, you may actually be able to debate me, Lol. whathehell Aug 2013 #216

Yeah, poor Oprah... pipi_k Aug 2013 #191

I'm sure you do...The problem is you don't seem to understand anyone else. whathehell Aug 2013 #193

You know what pipi_k Aug 2013 #195

You know what, "hon"?...You missed the point entirely whathehell Aug 2013 #196

You. pipi_k Aug 2013 #197

You. whathehell Aug 2013 #198

Actually the first pipi_k Aug 2013 #199

I disagree because when you open your post sarcasticly with "Yeah, poor Oprah" whathehell Aug 2013 #223

Jealousy? What a laugh. This is about somebody with screw-up values. n/t duffyduff Aug 2013 #200

She should have done her Julia Roberts on Pretty Woman impression. Just Saying Aug 2013 #153

Let me see. Oprah could likely buy enough of those bags to fill a long rail train, without bluestate10 Aug 2013 #162

Shop's story differs. Skip Intro Aug 2013 #179

Swiss Tourism officials expressed outrage Generic Other Aug 2013 #180

They can both be true... Blasphemer Aug 2013 #181

White privilege... pipi_k Aug 2013 #190

Boy oh boy, the commission she missed is gonna hurt. bravenak Aug 2013 #201

I have said it for a long time now. All italians are racist. Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #203

perhaps she can start the Billionaire Victims Society markiv Aug 2013 #209

how many anonymous people markiv Aug 2013 #210

it is most shocking, that a store that sells $35,000 handbags markiv Aug 2013 #212

great pic of her that day markiv Aug 2013 #213

Is Oprah Big Brother? Or Goldstein? Who do you want me to hate and why? Generic Other Aug 2013 #217

7 paragraphs in response to a Disney pic markiv Aug 2013 #218

5 rather trite posts to say what? Nothing. Generic Other Aug 2013 #219