Comments on: Customers Choosing White Men

By: Vladamir

Vladamir — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:08:36 +0000

Everyone –white, black, men, women—think the white man is more valuable. Someone needs to call customers out on their biases.

Why do they need to be called out? It is choice and it is true a white man is more valuable

By: Randy B.

Randy B. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:39:27 +0000

Dave- I agree with you totally, this is a result of years of socialization into the dominant white racial frame and shows a continuance of white privilege in society today. I am not surprised that most people find the white male as more valuable. And I agree with Black Girl that is could be because there was a since of approachability or security with the white sales representative that did not exist with the other two sales people, but really I think that the media has so saturated us with the idea of white male salespeople, we subconsciously chose white male salespeople when we are given a opportunity. Let’s take a small look at Infomercials and pitchmen. Heck the word pitchmen suggests a gender bias. On late night television, how often do you see non white females pitching products? You don’t! What are white men the only ones out there that can pitch Kaboom or Oxyclean. Couldn’t an African-American pitch Shamwows or Snuggies? Even in health and fitness equipment commercials, I predominately see white men.

But the media isn’t going to change anytime soon. Not as long as 95% percent of the wealth in America is controlled by 3% of the people, all white men. I am not sure what the solution is, but at least some people out there are still pointing out that system still has a racial problem, and the election of a bi-racial, predominately Black man to the office of the Presidency does not mean that the racial issues in America are now solved.

By: Dave Paul

Dave Paul — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:49:36 +0000

I think this a result of years of socialization into the dominant white racial frame. White consumers (and possibly consumers of color as well) spend years watching media representations of people of color, most of which depict Blacks (especially Black men) in a negative light. It is no surprise then, that white consumers prefer to deal with white workers. And I don’t want to hear any “birds of a feather” baloney. The fact of the matter is that most white people are socialized to view Blacks with scorn and distrust. This is the American way. Our nation needs to really, REALLY analyze how we teach our children about people of diffferent backgrounds. And we need to overhaul our media outlets to provide more avenues for Black expression. Until we have public spaces where Black Americans can speak openly and publically, and until we challenge the whole racist “prison industrial complex,” we will continue to teach our young to view people of color with scorn. We need to truly challenge the racial stereotypes we propagate in media, music, science, public policy, and education. Children need to grow up with diverse peoples and views represented. I could rant and rave but I’ll stop there.

By: José Cobas

José Cobas — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:51:10 +0000

Black Girl
You are absolutely right: it isn’t new knowledge. But it still is valuable, especially as a reminder to those who argue that racism “is a thing of the past.”

By: Black Girl

Black Girl — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:43:04 +0000

This isn’t new knowledge. The minorities, especially the Black race was and will be deemed as the most inferior.

By: José Cobas

José Cobas — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:10:28 +0000

Siss, interesting indeed.

Black Girl:
It is impossible to know what the students were thinking. No study has access to this sort of information. “Approchable” and “Secure,” however, are valuable traits. Regardless of which favorable quality the students had in mind, the article’s point was that the students, in all probability, associated “white” with positive traits. This interpretation relies on the knowledge of the racist character of U.S. society.

By: siss

siss — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:13:40 +0000

Interesting…

By: Black Girl

Black Girl — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:07:27 +0000

How do they know the White man was more “valuable”? What if he looked more “approchable”. What were they all wearing?

Maybe they think the White man looks more secure in his answers.