The 'unfathomable' arrest of a black scholar

[Vteckidd]

I actually have a personal story to tell about how i was discriminated against.

In 2002 i worked for Dobbins ARB as a contractor for Griffin Services. I had a bunch of different jobs over my tenure there, but i started out as a Landscaper. Pay was awesome, $15/hr, 7am-4pm , full benefits, etc, not bad for being 22 and to be honest i wasnt half the person i am today. but anyways, so i worked hard, i was at work everyday on time, whatever.

Well one day i was sick, i called in (after being there about 9 months without losing a day). I went to the doctor and got a doctors note. I actually got sick on a friday, called in, missed friday, came back to work monday.

Anyways no big deal about 3 weeks go by and i get called into my bosses office (white). He politely tells me that i missed a day few weeks ago and i had to be written up on it. I was furious! i had followed policy and didnt want anything on my record. He explained to me "Mike, this doesnt mean anything, it wont go on your record, its just a little warning dont make a big deal out of it". I fought even more, and then i was called into HIS bosses office. I was told then that i should just sign the little piece of paper, and it was just for "documentation" that i had missed a day.

Funny thing was that TONS of people had called in sick without a doctors note or even with one and never had to be "written up" like i had been written up.

Well when i walked out of the office after signing the piece of paper, they immediately called in a guy i worked with named Bill who was black. They fired him for missing 4 days of work without calling in (no call no show).

I later found out the only reason they wrote me up was because they were firing a black guy on the same day. They were preparing themselves in case bill decided to file a discrimination suit they could say "no way we wrote Corvey up too on the same day"

Interesting none the less

[tony]

I actually have a personal story to tell about how i was discriminated against.

In 2002 i worked for Dobbins ARB as a contractor for Griffin Services. I had a bunch of different jobs over my tenure there, but i started out as a Landscaper. Pay was awesome, $15/hr, 7am-4pm , full benefits, etc, not bad for being 22 and to be honest i wasnt half the person i am today. but anyways, so i worked hard, i was at work everyday on time, whatever.

Well one day i was sick, i called in (after being there about 9 months without losing a day). I went to the doctor and got a doctors note. I actually got sick on a friday, called in, missed friday, came back to work monday.

Anyways no big deal about 3 weeks go by and i get called into my bosses office (white). He politely tells me that i missed a day few weeks ago and i had to be written up on it. I was furious! i had followed policy and didnt want anything on my record. He explained to me "Mike, this doesnt mean anything, it wont go on your record, its just a little warning dont make a big deal out of it". I fought even more, and then i was called into HIS bosses office. I was told then that i should just sign the little piece of paper, and it was just for "documentation" that i had missed a day.

Funny thing was that TONS of people had called in sick without a doctors note or even with one and never had to be "written up" like i had been written up.

Well when i walked out of the office after signing the piece of paper, they immediately called in a guy i worked with named Bill who was black. They fired him for missing 4 days of work without calling in (no call no show).

I later found out the only reason they wrote me up was because they were firing a black guy on the same day. They were preparing themselves in case bill decided to file a discrimination suit they could say "no way we wrote Corvey up too on the same day"

Interesting none the less

Discrimination - treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

Nobody wrote you up for being white, straight, religious reasons, whatever. They were just covering their ass, doesn't matter if Bill was Black or White.

[tony]

i lost my job because i was called a cracker in a corporate enviroment, who do i complain to and who do i suue because i bet if i used a racial slur back i would have been reamed and mr sharpton would be outside my house with a loudspeaker. seriously guys i was racially descriminated against at a company with 85% black employees and was picked on from the day i started but when i was called a cracker i was offended, my black supervisor heard him say it and guess who got in trouble and lost their job. . .me. my mother works for the gov't, a fellow employee was caught stealing yet she is not fired because she will sue becuase she is black, her boss even said so so please explain this fellas. it makes no damn sense.

Your employer should have had an EEOC office, filing a complaint and documenting situations like this is the best way to deal with it and bring it to light. Discrimination is discrimination regardless of race.

That said it doesn't remove the fact that the majority of discrimination comes from Whites, its just the way it is and the way it has been and bringing that to light is not using the race card, its creating an awareness.

[AirMax95]

I have to give up on this thread. We have Tony, Total Blender and Airmax that will not see the black man at fault no matter what the situation is. I mean really guys, how much crystal clear evidence do you need to figure this out? Gates over-reacted and pulled the race card, Crowley was a complete professional throughout. There is NO other explanation to be had when you look at the evidence.

I keep hearing about how racism is alive and well in this country, we have whites still being blamed for something that happened in our grand and great grandparents days at the very latest and even that was only in the south. For the rest of the country it ended more than 150 years ago.

Its time to quit being alarmist, and realize that while racism does exist, not everyone is a racist just because they happen to be white. The Jackson and Sharpton, and now Gates crowd are making claims of racism a complete joke. The last 2 major cases of "racism" both happened to be complete BS. If you really want race relations to improve, look inward just as much as you look outward. Keep the idiots like Jackson, Sharpton, and Gates out of the news. Keep hateful people like Rev. Wright off the pulpit. Most important, speak out AGAINST people that make BS claims of racism.

No need to give up. You have clearly skipped several of my post. I said, and Tony also I believe, this incident was not racially motivated by the officer, and also that Gates was out of line.

With that said, you feel racism end more than 150 years ago is so far off the mark it would take me the better part of my work day to correct. Abe Lincoln signing a document did wonders on paper, and you know what the kick back was.....lynching and continued slavery. Remember the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s.....you get my point. A piece of paper means jack shit when the majority can have their way. No one feels every act by a white person is racial. The "whites" that are blamed occurs due to the fact that MANY WHITES STILL PRACTICE the mentality of the "old south". Dude, I can't stress it enough, until you walk in a black, caramel, or mocha Americans shoes, you will never understand. Your friends can express to you what occurs, but you can relate to the frustration 100%. A simple counter to my arguement would be "You didn't live in those times", but I studied the history and was hit hard on a personal level.

i lost my job because i was called a cracker in a corporate enviroment, who do i complain to and who do i suue because i bet if i used a racial slur back i would have been reamed and mr sharpton would be outside my house with a loudspeaker. seriously guys i was racially descriminated against at a company with 85% black employees and was picked on from the day i started but when i was called a cracker i was offended, my black supervisor heard him say it and guess who got in trouble and lost their job. . .me. my mother works for the gov't, a fellow employee was caught stealing yet she is not fired because she will sue becuase she is black, her boss even said so so please explain this fellas. it makes no damn sense.

That should not have occured and I'm sorry you had to encounter that type of treatment. Not to point blame, but I am prettty sure in your orientation there was a piece that covers the process of handling this situation. If your supervisor did not correct it, then on to his boss. No help there, on the the corporate level. Still doesnt work, call a lawyer. In regards to the lady stealing and threatening to sue, sounds like there was no sufficient evidence, else the gov't would have thrown the book at her.

[leobond001]

Affirmative Action requires racial bias. Wait, I though AA was meant to help remove racial bias?

in the work place yes it was meant to remove, but if the people both black and white still have it( mostly out of anger that a black person was hired an the fear that I'm workin with all these white pol) it will remain and only diversafy the workplace.

[Vteckidd]

Discrimination - treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

Nobody wrote you up for being white, straight, religious reasons, whatever. They were just covering their ass, doesn't matter if Bill was Black or White.

Treating me different from everyone else because i was WHITE and they were firing a BLACK person, that isnt somehow racially motivated?

I mean the people doing this to me were white, but doesnt that say something?

They didnt pick me cause i was black, they picked me because i was white.

[tony]

Treating me different from everyone else because i was WHITE and they were firing a BLACK person, that isnt somehow racially motivated?

I mean the people doing this to me were white, but doesnt that say something?

They didnt pick me cause i was black, they picked me because i was white.

Did management come to you and say "you're white so we're going to write you up?" No they were covering their ass as to NOT seem like they were discriminating.. that is what I find interesting about that. lol I'm not going to act like I have a better understanding of your situation, but the way you explained it.. it seems like you're stretching it to seem like a victim of discrimination when really they just used you as a tool to avoid a lawsuit.

Furthermore policy is policy, if you felt like you were being treated unfairly you should have taken it up the chain. If the policy was to write someone up for missing a day or two then so be it, you should've been written up. If the policy was not, put your foot down if you feel like you're being treated unfairly.. by even discussing injustice that is all we are doing, putting our foot down. Call it reverse racism, making excuses or whatever but I know what is going on out here.

[Vteckidd]

I was chosen to be written up even though i did nothing wrong, because i was white. End of story. I got a mark on my record because i was WHITE.

Its actually funny when i think about it, but that was my point. I received demerits at my job because a black guy decided not to come into work. I was picked on because i was white, merely so they could cover their own ass.

Racism or not, that is a form of discrimination

[AirMax95]

Mike, they used you as a pawn. Why were you chosen probably will never be known. It sounds like if not you, another white person would have been chosen to cover their ass. Most likely, they did it because they had poor documentation on the black employees tardiness, they let several white employees "slide" on tardiness (on purpose or accident), or they were simply fearful of an uproar.

"Jim, we gotta fire this Bill guy today. Well, Rob, before you do, document a white guy fast so they can't say we haven't written up/fired any white employees. Well, that Mike guy missed a day last week, he is smart and will understand what we are doing."

[BobbyFresco]

This thread has veered so far offcourse...


As I previously stated in this thread, when it comes to the original subject at hand, had he presented the proper credentials or identified himself when asked to do so, there would have been a different outcome to the situation.
I don't buy into the justification of his actions because he supposedly deemed the police officer to be racist nor should his course of actions be condoned.
This is not an example of racism. Not even a little.

The problem with racism in this country is not as cut and dry as some would like to believe however, I'm of the opinion that along with many other issues currently facing this country, we have become a society that is plagued by its inability to take accountability for our actions.

Cases like this one are counter productive in the sense that when a situation that warrants scrutiny based on real examples of racism comes up, ppl will write it off as just as another "boy that cried wolf" kind of deal. This country is becoming desensitized to real issues in regards to racism because of bullshit like this. The time has come for Blacks to stop hiding behind racism as a shield for inapropriate behavior and failure. White people aren't keeping us from going to school and educating ourselves...White ppl aren't forcing Black men to rob, sell drugs, murder, and commit whatever other multitude of crimes for which Black men are being incarcerated in record numbers....White ppl aren't lynching us anymore....We are killing ourselves...White people aren't impregnating Black women and leaving said women to raise multiple children on their own.

Conversely....

To say that because YOU have nothing do with what your ancestors may have taken part in or to proclaim that because this country elected a Black president that racism is not an issue is foolish.... it is not indicative that racism does not exist and the belief that racism is not a substantiative issue is asinine.
Black people didn't initiate Affirmative Action. Black people were not responsible for Black History Month. Black people as a whole have never had as much power in this country as you'd like to attribute.

Racism is alive and well. It is real, whether you want to see it or not.
There are still towns and cities in America where segregation is prominent. Police officers still profile. Judges still hand out sentences to Blacks that are more severe than that of their White counterparts. Predominantly Black schools receive funding and resources that are disproportianate to that of schools in the suburbs.


Reading stories from others, I figured I'd share one of my own.

It was the summer when I was about 10 or 11, I believe.
My parents, my sister, and I were driving back from a vacation in FL. I remember being woken up to a tap on the car window. It was a cop shining his flashlight in the car with his gun drawn. My dad had been pulled over by 4 cop cars. The cops pulled my dad over because his Range Rover fit the description, supposedly, of a stolen car.They pulled him out of the car, guns out, detained and questioned my father for about an hour, even though they had searched the car and had seen a. us(kids) and b. luggage and such that would indicate that we were on a trip.Even though his ID, insurance info, and registration matched. I can't recall exactly where we were but I do remember we were in the boonies somewhere, on the side of the road and my sister and I were freaking out as my mom attempted to calm us down.

This was my first encounter with racism in the form of racial profiling and something that I will never forget.

I just want to add in closing that for those of you that hate the "race card" being "used" and have an issue with this new school "reverse racism" way of thinking, being so against racism and all, should advocate for an end to racism in any and every form...Not just against Whites but Blacks and every color and ethnic group in between. Racism is racism, no matter the victim or the perpetrator.

[LizBiz]

So this is definitely OFF TOPIC when it comes to the OP but I wanted to share my current experience and then maybe tell me that racism is over.

The neighborhood I reside in is in Henry County Ga, the neighborhood is rather small, there is one way in and one way out. There are quite a few children that use the school bus system to get to Middle and High School. For 2 years the bus has stopped at the beginning, middle, and end of the mile long main road of the neighborhood.

Call it coincidence if you want, but all the African American kids get on at the end of the main road. This year the school system has decided to do away with that particular bus stop to "decrease the # of stops the bus driver has to make" so any children that used to get on at the end of the road must now walk half a mile to the middle of the road to catch the bus.

You can argue that "the BOE didn't do it on purpose, they don't know that's where all the African American kids get on at" valid point. BUT they will have the same bus driver that they have had for the past 2 years. The same bus driver that has had numerous "problems" with "those kids" in the past. Maybe I'm thinking too hard here. But it doesn't seem right to me. Why THAT stop? Why make any child walk half a mile to their bus stop? And "there's nothing we can do about it" says the BOE. We will see about that.

[AirMax95]

Its funny, I looked at past threads on "race" in this forum. Amazingly, the same people are preaching the same things.

[BanginJimmy]

This thread has veered so far offcourse...


As I previously stated in this thread, when it comes to the original subject at hand, had he presented the proper credentials or identified himself when asked to do so, there would have been a different outcome to the situation.
I don't buy into the justification of his actions because he supposedly deemed the police officer to be racist nor should his course of actions be condoned.
This is not an example of racism. Not even a little.

The problem with racism in this country is not as cut and dry as some would like to believe however, I'm of the opinion that along with many other issues currently facing this country, we have become a society that is plagued by its inability to take accountability for our actions.

Cases like this one are counter productive in the sense that when a situation that warrants scrutiny based on real examples of racism comes up, ppl will write it off as just as another "boy that cried wolf" kind of deal. This country is becoming desensitized to real issues in regards to racism because of bullshit like this. The time has come for Blacks to stop hiding behind racism as a shield for inapropriate behavior and failure. White people aren't keeping us from going to school and educating ourselves...White ppl aren't forcing Black men to rob, sell drugs, murder, and commit whatever other multitude of crimes for which Black men are being incarcerated in record numbers....White ppl aren't lynching us anymore....We are killing ourselves...White people aren't impregnating Black women and leaving said women to raise multiple children on their own.

This is very similar to what I said in a previous post. This country will NEVER get past racism if blacks keep using it as a crutch and whites are infected by white guilt. Cases like this, and especially considering Gates position, it makes me wonder exactly what is being taught in these african studies classes. Are they teaching to hate whitey, or are they teaching the evolution of blacks in this country? Are they just teaching the brutality of white slave owners, or are they including the brutality of black slave owners?



Racism is alive and well in a small percentage of the population. That will never change, but I do challenge ANYONE to find a case of institutional racism as prevalent as affirmative action.

[BanginJimmy]

Its funny, I looked at past threads on "race" in this forum. Amazingly, the same people are preaching the same things.

This includes you right?

[AirMax95]

This includes you right?

Yes, I will never change MY stance or views on the topic of race relations. I agree both "sides" have lots of work to do. My personal knowledge, studied knowledge, and inferred conclusions are not ones that the most common of people cannot understand. I am about to leave work, so I will not type my fingers off, rather save it for a thread that is open (off the Gates crap).

For instance, your post always seem to blast black people and say that We need to get past it and move on. Correct me if I am wrong. Just read your response to BobbyFresco's post. He addressed both sides, in a well thought out reply, yet you still ignore the part where white people STILL have a hand in the issue. Do you follow me? Now, I'm not saying NOR implying that you are racist (others may, but I dont throw the flag too often), but as I addressed Mike, your post come off VERY one sided. Aside from the Gates incident, you have always posted replies in this manner.

Feel me?

[BobbyFresco]

This is very similar to what I said in a previous post. This country will NEVER get past racism if blacks keep using it as a crutch and whites are infected by white guilt. Cases like this, and especially considering Gates position, it makes me wonder exactly what is being taught in these african studies classes. Are they teaching to hate whitey, or are they teaching the evolution of blacks in this country? Are they just teaching the brutality of white slave owners, or are they including the brutality of black slave owners?



Racism is alive and well in a small percentage of the population. That will never change, but I do challenge ANYONE to find a case of institutional racism as prevalent as affirmative action.

While I can respect that you agreed with me on some of my views, you still neglected to address the second part of my post. White guilt has nary a thing to do with REAL racism, not that which is perceived.

[BanginJimmy]

Conversely....

To say that because YOU have nothing do with what your ancestors may have taken part in or to proclaim that because this country elected a Black president that racism is not an issue is foolish.... it is not indicative that racism does not exist and the belief that racism is not a substantiative issue is asinine.

I will go as far as to say that institutional racism is an non-issue. Outside of a some backwoods towns and counties, it simply no longer exists. As for individuals, NOTHING can change someone's personal views unless that person realizes they are in the wrong and actively changes them.

Black people didn't initiate Affirmative Action. Black people were not responsible for Black History Month. Black people as a whole have never had as much power in this country as you'd like to attribute. Racism is alive and well. It is real, whether you want to see it or not. There are still towns and cities in America where segregation is prominent

Never said they did, nor have I inferred that. I only mention AA because a piece of legislation that encourages, and in some cases requires, racial biases cannot be used to remove racial bias. If anything, it will only increase them. Only 45 years ago blacks had zero power, now the President is black. Does that mean all racism is gone? Not by a long shot, but it is proof that racism as an everyday fact of life is gone.

Police officers still profile.

Yes they do, and profiling is not the horrible thing that people make it out to be. EVERYONE profiles people in their everyday life. You would not be able to function in society if you didnt profile people.

Profiling on the basis of race alone is a completely different story. Sitting here trying to think of a way to say what I am thinking and I am drawing a blank. I simply cannot think of a reason to use race as a basis for profiling.

Judges still hand out sentences to Blacks that are more severe than that of their White counterparts.

Before I will swallow this one or comment further I would need to see a breakdown showing the differences between the sentence for a white and black judge.

Predominantly Black schools receive funding and resources that are disproportianate to that of schools in the suburbs.

School funds are drawn from the counties or cities that the schools are located in and service. A lower income school district will have less funds than one in a wealthy district. That is an economic issue, not a racial issue.

[preferredduck]

No need to give up. You have clearly skipped several of my post. I said, and Tony also I believe, this incident was not racially motivated by the officer, and also that Gates was out of line.

With that said, you feel racism end more than 150 years ago is so far off the mark it would take me the better part of my work day to correct. Abe Lincoln signing a document did wonders on paper, and you know what the kick back was.....lynching and continued slavery. Remember the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s.....you get my point. A piece of paper means jack shit when the majority can have their way. No one feels every act by a white person is racial. The "whites" that are blamed occurs due to the fact that MANY WHITES STILL PRACTICE the mentality of the "old south". Dude, I can't stress it enough, until you walk in a black, caramel, or mocha Americans shoes, you will never understand. Your friends can express to you what occurs, but you can relate to the frustration 100%. A simple counter to my arguement would be "You didn't live in those times", but I studied the history and was hit hard on a personal level.



That should not have occured and I'm sorry you had to encounter that type of treatment. Not to point blame, but I am prettty sure in your orientation there was a piece that covers the process of handling this situation. If your supervisor did not correct it, then on to his boss. No help there, on the the corporate level. Still doesnt work, call a lawyer. In regards to the lady stealing and threatening to sue, sounds like there was no sufficient evidence, else the gov't would have thrown the book at her.

you are correct it should not have occured but it did. i followed the chain of command up and nothing was done. i called corporate and after that was when i was in trouble. the sad part is my complaint was used against me after going to corporate and i really wanted to punch a few people in the face that day because that sorry piece of crap needed that smirk off his face, including my supervisor. i have the time documented and it was a call center so everything said in the floor was recorded whether on the phone or not so it was heard because it was yelled across the aisle. even the girl who sat next to me looked at me like "i hope he did not hear that." there were also several other things that i have documented that happened that was not right. i have a pinched nerve in my neck and had to leave one day because i was throwing up i was hurting so bad. well i was told to go to the ER or get written up. i went to the ER and the next morning i had a write up to sign for it. two weeks later one of the 8 not so nice people up there who was a black lady mysteriously lost her voice and was able to be absent from work for 4 days with no Dr's note, nothing, and also had no previous history of a health condition. another thing that bugged me was the breaks in the evenings. if i were gone more than 15 minutes i had a search party looking for me where as these two girls averaged a 25 minute break every night. tis was also complained on with that incident and we had to sign a log book, well thats all the manager went off of(he was white). well a manager from another department said he could easily look at the log in and log out times on the dailer system and their computer but this was not done. i have not found an attorney that will take the case even though the manager who gave me the info is willing to come forward but i would love for something to be dome.

out of the 100 people in my office i liked all but 7 of them and they were the ones who always picked on me about being "the white boy from the suburbs" etc. a couple of folks went to bat for me with the write up to the hospital because they were in the bathroom when i was puking and noticed it wasnt from a hangover, 3:30 in the afternoon and i should not have that problem. i would like to bust that companies ass for it and the guy who made the comment to be unemployed for sure.

the point im making here is it happens on both sides of the fence and to all races but you really don't hear about cases like mine on the news because no matter how hard i tried to get any attention on this people looked the other way. take the hate crime bill for instance, i used to collect bad debt for a personal finance company. this black lady blocked me in the driveway and called me every bad name you could think of and almost threw a punch at me. if she would have it would have been a minimum sentence, no hate crime, etc. but if i got out of the car and said the magic word and backhanded her i would b in jail for 25 years for a hate crime. do you guys get what i'm saying here, its bassackwards on some shit.

also those 7 that gave me crap loved me when they had car trouble, even when my supervisors battery went dead in his lexus.