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Barnes and Noble: Obama-Monkey Display Was a ‘Hate Crime’

Yeah Riiiiiiiight! Did you heard Leonard's interview on Tom Joyner this morning? He was sooooooooo incredibly rude and condescending, it was unbelievable! He was talking to them like they were idiots for asking him about the incident, asking if they felt any responsibility, etc. He sais “Well I've already told you twice, but I guess I'm going to tell you again…” THEN he said something like “We have 700 stores, and 400 of them have open display areas, we can't police them.” LATER in the interview he said “We have 150 stores with open display areas…”

This guy was a HUGE D*ck!!! Just because of his attitude, I'm done with Barnes and Noble for good. I don't care if the whole thing turns out to be a hoax – he was so rude and nasty, I never want to buy from that company again – EVER!!!

BARNES AND NOBLE CORP. KNOW THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSILBLE FOR SOMEONE OTHER THAN AN EMPLOYEE TO HAVE PUT THE BOOK ABOUT MONKEYS ON DISPLAY. THE DISPLAY IS BEHIND THE REGISTER ; BEHIND A WOOD LIKE WALL. JUST CAN NOT SEE IT HAPPENING WITHOUT THE HELP OF SOMEONE WORKING THERE

I believe that someone put the book there deliberately. However, I don't think Barnes and Nobles had anything to do with this, after all, they did have a Barack Obama Display! We need to channel our time and energy on real important matters such what we can do as a people to make the economy crisis better. We need to move on from this topic and get over it.

I think it was a customer who did this. I think with all of the stories like this one (Watermelons on the White House Lawn)… it would be like Suicide for a major company to do something so racist.
I think Barnes & Noble have a little more tact than that!

I dunno. I guess it is differenct than this. bushorchimpDOTcom because of the history of racism in America… but not much.

Why are we act SO surprised about about the acts of the AMERICAN people (white). In my opinion it's in their hearts and there to stay till death do them in. They are hateful people and for my 56 years on this earth that's the way it is. From the White House to the State House. Yall be shocked of anything you might see for the next eight years. YESSS 8 years. Thank you.

this is just silly. it's quiet easy in many stores to place books in the front display. customers reach back behind there to grab featured books because they're too lazy to ask an employee, so i can see how it would happen, ESPECIALLY since the company has cut its hours dramatically with the economy and at any given time there may be only 2-3 people covering the entire book floor. i am a measly retail employee who doesn't LOVE where she works but can spot asshole customer behavior from a mile away.

Get over this, people. Why does everyone think that the whole world is against us? This was a stupid prank probably done by some mindless, bored teenager looking to start an online war. Quit perpetuating the angry black man/woman stereotype and cut B&N some slack. Do you seriously think a large publicly owned corporation would jeopardize its integrity by displaying something so hateful? Really? I worked retail and know how difficult it is to ensure things are kept in place every minute you're open. Can't be done.

I cannot believe that someone should commit such an incredibly disgusting hate crime right out in the open. For the first time in American history, we actually have a President who represents ALL the people, not merely a privileged group or sect.

We have cross-burning statutes on the books and this clearly falls within that category. I sincerely hope that when they nab the hate criminal behind this vile display, they give him 20-years in the slammer, hopefully with a large, African American cellmate!

I agree. The unintended consequense of this outrage will be stores like Barnes and Noble just not putting up displays about blacks. Then we will complain that they are ignoring Blacks. The store that I frequent always has prominent displays featureing Blacks, women, etc. And another thing. The store that I frequent is located in the Mall with high traffic by blacks. I'm sad to say that I don't see very many Blacks there or in the Books a Million store either. I say, unless the store is obviously discriminitory, encourage Blacks to frequent it often. We need to read more.

Who cares. I like a monkey too.

I totally agree. Even President Obama says that this is not a Black America nor a
White America, but he United States of America. Those who choose to do dumb stuff like this are not a part of the “united”. Acts like this are the very ones that keep us divided. Like you stated before, get over this people. We are intelligent enough to know the difference between blatant disrespect and racism and stupidity. This was pure stupidity. And the person who did this is laughing at us because we are reacting so angrily about it.

How is putting a book of a Monkey in amongst Obama related books? If you had a bumper sticker on the back of your car(assuming you have one) with a sticker of a Monkey head in place of the O on an Obama sticker, would that be considered a hate crime by the standard of the federal statute. Where in US Code Title 18, Part 1covers that?

How about all the hate shown to the last president – give me a break!!! It's just one person's idea of a joke – to some, in bad taste, to others maybe funny. But hate crime I don't think so – this is still America – right?

FYI – They made Bush out to be a monkey all the time. You didn't here a bunch of whining then – did we make such a “huge step” by electing a black president and then get so sensitive we can't let people have their opinions or make fun? Get over it!!!

After listening to the comments this morning by the CEO of Barnes and Noble, I feel that he did not feel any remorse for the incident. He did not say, “Although I do not know who might have placed the book in the window, I do apologize for the implications. I will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again. It may not be full proof.” He said nothing close to this futhermore damage control should have been in place as soon as the incident took place. As a result going on the radio weeks after the ordeal sends out negative message to the African American community. The message is “So what get over it people.” Therefore until there is a public apology I will not purchase any more books and I will tell my colleagues thoroughout the public school system in four to six cities. Sometimes the only message that is understood is that of tightening the pockets.

Diane

I am very very sorry that you feel that way about white people… and I would just like to inform you that i am white and I in no way shape or form think hatefully to or towards anyone that is black, African AMERICAN, or any other name that you would like to call yourself…. while yes many white people do think like that it only shows their lack of a right up bringing and stupidity… and I just want to say that I am only 18 but in my much shorter time on this earth I have seen both blacks and whites being hateful… so if you are going to blame people and start pointing fingers, I would encourage you to please look at both sides and not be so completely biased one way or another… an open mind helps to decrease such episodes like this… and I also just want to say I look forward to seeing what Obama has in store for this country for as loing as he is president… thank you

I actually voted Third party, for the monkey.

Who ever took that picture and put it on the enternet is the person who put that picture in the window at Barnes and Noble. I'll guarantee that this sick person has a beef with with Barnes and Noble or they just have no conscience and want to cause trouble.

That's funniest picture i've seen in a long time ahahahahaha.

Calling the (thankfully) former president a monkey was not a racial slur. There is a BIG difference. And the hatred rendered him was entirely deserved. President Obama has not been in office nearly long enough to deserve such treatment. In 8 years, if he screws up the world and America as much as Bush did, hate away.

A hate crime? Are you beginning to understand now White people how the very presence of the Negro in our midst means we have already LOST our former right to freedom of speech?

America is OVER people, wake up from your denial and face it. Now lets move on to something new and BETTER.

This douche bag is NOT my president, never will be. I will not obey anything he says or does. I view him as a CRIMINAL!

To the person that thought this was funny, the last laugh is on you. And to Bob, you can use the term Negro all day long. If you're trying to be offensive, it didn't work because that Negro is still Mr. President!

Boy, this is an objective post.

I am a Barnes & Noble Employee, the Coral Gables Store to be more exact, i wanted to clarify what's reall taken place ever since this whole monkey display incident that took place last month.

While the store manager and corporate offices claim that this whole display incident was caused by an irresponsible customer, the turth is they don't know who really did it. The most tight knit groups within the store don't even know who did it and that has led everyone to believe it was a costumer.

Personally i wouldn't be suprised, since the beggining of the new year, hours have been cut astoundingly. Employees have relatively a fraction of a shift to complete three times the regular amount of work. To top this off most employees hired since roughly one year ago are under trained and are left to fend for themselves. Take the example of Julissa Carvahal, the young woman that you quoted at the beggining of your article. She was recently hired and promoted to a lead cashier position but her poor training often overlooked costumers walking freely into the storefront display when they're clearly not allowed.

Barnes & noble Store manager Robert Martin was told what to explain to the media in order to save face for our inadeccuacy but the display itself remained up there for at least two days, Managers also have a hard time completing their daily objectives due to a low staff working daily, this only allows room for more mistakes.

As i said, no one at the store knows who commited this tastless act. All signs and best way to excuse ourselves from this whole ordeal is to blame a faceless costumer. However we are still responsible, while there is no one person to accuse, a poorly managed corporation that allows mistakes like this to happen is to blame.

The truth as it should have been told from the beginning.
Thank you for your time,

Anonymous

ofcourse barnes and noble didnt have anything to do with it!duh!it was someone just playing a joke.now,get over it and move on with our lives!

GOD BLESS U BOB…U NEED SOME HELP

HOW WHERE U TREATED GROWING UP…U HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS…I FEEL SORRY 4 U WHEN JUDGEMENT DAY COME W/ ALL THAT HATE IN UR HEART. GOD BLESS U, AND I WILL PRAY 4 U

I think if you are so disappointed in the American people than why be one. Simple – leave! I know you are not african american because we have a black man as our president in case you haven't noticed. Black people have reached the top. Slavery and all the ranting about it is OVER!!! Everyone has the same opportunities in this country. The monkeys displayed at B&N are examples of that! Relish in your accomplishments – its all deaf ears now! Hope you are happy!

“So what? Get over it, people.”, is the exact right answer.

Right on Bob. Finally, someone rational leaves a comment. Obama is as much of a Nazi as Bush. People just refuse to see it.

You, are STUPID!

Wow what beautiful words from someone so young .It's because of beautiful souls like yourself that Obama is president and blacks have been able to over come great adversities keep speaking up and following your heart and soul. It's on the right path. I'm an older black man who has experienced many adversities because of the perception of how far a black man should be able to rise. things are changing …thanks to “hoping and dreaming”. I now believe it is your state of mind that imprisoned you…and that is eaten away one day at a time.

The chairman jeopardized the company's integrity by having such a negative attitude. I could care less if an employee did it or not, but if someone who represents a company wants to make their company look good, they would not have a negative when asked some simple questions. THAT is what I don't like. THAT is what offends me. Barnes and Noble is not the only bookstore in America and won't be the last. I have other places where I can take my business: Books A Million, McKay's Used Bookstore, I can even go to the library. If the chairman wants to be a jerk about the situation, then he should not complain about how the company looks.

Hey, I got a question for you. If us Black folks are so much on top now than why is the only image that is still heavily pushed by the media [in terms of Black people] is this new brand of garbage so called “Hip-Hop”? Why is it that almost every time I turn on the TV and see black people it has something to do with the entertainment industry? Why is that the channel that is supposed to be OURS [B.E.T.!] consistently perpetuating the same stereotypical and degrading image of Black people? Why is that every time I go outside the people on my side of town [South Side of Chicago] seem more and more like the stereotypes that we are supposed to be trying to eliminate?

Reached the top my ass. If we were ever close to being on top it was when MLK and Malcolm X were still alive leading people into a revolution and a REAL change! If we were ever close to being on top it was back when Black people suddenly had plenty more POSITIVE recognition in the media before our communities got flooded with drugs by the government! If we were ever close to being on top it was back when people like Public Enemy were telling us to stand up and fight the power or NWA was trying to tell us to not let the police run our lives unjustly!

If THIS is what you call on top than we must have had a short ass ladder to get there because from here it looks like “Whitey” is still miles above us. -_-

No worries, man. “Not surprised” is obviously one of ours who has had a lot of negative experiences in their time. The problem with that is when you get inundated with so much of that you begin to lose sight of what you originally hope for and become consumed with more hate then anything.

I am multiracial myself but my mother is quite dark compared to me. I had the interesting case of being born and looking very much like a White person. So I get the “pleasure” of my OWN people looking at me like I'm “the enemy”. However, I still look forward to the day when we will ALL look at each other like the HUMAN brothers and sisters that we are in reality.

Bush deserved hatred, but Obama doesn't? Really? Obama has turned our great country into a socialism/communist country, all within the first 100 days of his presidency. Forced service, no right to worship, no right to protest the government. Yes, he has usurped our Constitution and his Obama Youth group will now be expanding/growing. Hmm, Bush was compared to Hitler. Sounds like Obama can be compared to Hitler as well…

As for the economy, what has Obama done to change anything? More people are being laid off, more are losing their homes. The bailouts are complete crap, our tax dollars at work. Oh yeah, and in his first 100 days, Obama has ushered in a $4 TRILLION budget over the next 4 years. That's our money too. Where's it going? Do we even know where ALL of the bailout money has gone?

Hatred is a strong word, and it's not right to hate anyone. I don't hate Obama, but I sure dislike his policies that are destroying my country. People need to wake up and realize that all in Washington, black, white, green, purple, don't care about the rest of us.

CoryCow – many black people tend to listen to hip hop and play basketball, so how can you blame these stereotypes for existing? Black people have “dug their own grave”, so to speak. Nobody forced them to take drugs, they made that decision on their own, and they must accept the consequences. I'm a white upper-middle class man, and I lived in the ghetto in Cleveland for 2 years. I noticed that most of the stereotypes about blacks are true, which is sad. Black people need to own up and change their lives, rather than expect someone else to do it for them.

And I'm pretty sure that activists like MLK wanted equality of all races so that black people could be successful, which they have been since we now have a black president, who was voted for by many white people.

im going to assume your white. you have absolutely no idea what its like to be black and how having slavery as out only background in America has effected our present and future. there is a huge difference between the opportunities of black and white people.. and that will never change. racism is not dead. and “ranting” about slavery. the only reason people “rant” (as you call it) is because its not just the fact that it happened and black people persevered. its the fact that though its technically over. it has created such a void between races that its something that black people in america will have to deal with. im not going to expect you to understand this because you never went though it and never will, but im just saying you should leave things alone that you don't know about and believe me you DONT know about it

MAiya (16)