Why White People Freak Out When They're Called Out About Race

[BumRushDaShow]

65. So why was billionaire Oprah Winfrey

refused a purchase of an expensive item?

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/09/switzerland_apologizes_to_oprah_for_store_assistan_racism/

Money and wealth is irrelevant when it comes to white privilege once the perpetrator sees a black face. It is a centuries-old, institutionalized behavior, that continues to be passed on from generation to generation. In this case, a (in relative terms to the customer) "lower income sales clerk" in a high-end shop in Switzerland felt emboldened enough to deny a purchase to a black billionaire because the item was "too expensive". When the store finally apologized, the store's "excuse" was that the clerk "was Italian".

One of the top racism-denial excuses is that it isn't "race", it's "class". I say, that's bullshit.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/08/10/210574193/why-didnt-the-store-just-let-oprah-buy-the-38-000-handbag

Multi-millionaire actor/director Forest Whitaker was profiled because of his black face, was accused of shoplifting, and as is typical for black folks trying to shop, was monitored, followed, and finally harassed by being patted down as he tried to leave the store.

His "wealth" was irrelevant, but his black face wasn't. And thus class is "irrelevant" when it comes to being a member of a certain demographic.