PHOTOS: Pre-Grammy Gala Becomes Whitney Memorial
Simon Cowell: Whitney Would've Been The Ultimate 'X Factor'…
A woman in Apex, N.C., had just taken delivery of two Domino's pizzas when her 10-year-old niece pointed out the words "N**GER" and "DON'T TIP" at the bottom of the receipt.
Not exactly thrilled with this level of customer disservice, she complained to the Domino's, and the driver was subsequently given the boot. Which might explain why she's now received over a dozen threatening phone calls.
Says the customer:
"They were saying basically the same stuff that was on the receipt. They were saying 'N-this, you got me fired. You did this, you did that,' just being real ugly to me, just being real mean... I'm thinking it is 2010, it's never good to do that. You can't do stuff like that anymore."
This is very interesting considering the fact that Dr. Laura recently tried to explain away how harmless the N-word is today. It may seem benign to some, but it is still frequently used by people seeking to emotionally and in some cases physically harm African Americans. No, America is not post-race at all, if African Americans can still be flagrantly disrespected as customers in this way, by even a Domino's pizza delivery boy.
Certainly Domino's is not totally responsible as a company for the racist word on a receipt delivered to one customer. But we have to ask what kind of employee training practices are in place at Domino's if this former employee felt comfortable doing such a thing? The question then becomes, whose responsibility is it to address the continuing racial prejudice in this country, and its effects? Do corporations like Domino's have a responsibility to train workers on how to deal with workplace frustrations and issues they may have with the many different types of people they come into contact with?
It would make sense for companies like Domino's to take the lead on educating people on how to deal with race differences. More than any other area of American life, workplaces are a melting pot of different nationalities, races, genders, sexual orientations and ethnicities. When you throw direct customer service into the mix, a whole new level of patience and understanding is required. To the company's credit, a Domino's representative has stated:
"I'm horrified this occurred. This was the action of a lone individual and it does not reflect my views. Upon learning of the incident, the General Manager of the store fired the responsible person immediately. I have reached out to the customer and offered my sincere apology."
But is saying "we're sorry" enough? Now that Domino's has exposed this African American woman to hateful racists who are making physical threats, is Domino's going to be there to protect her if the situation takes a turn for the worst? If Domino's had better screening and training practices, perhaps this African American woman would never have been insulted by seeing "N*GGER DON'T TIP" on her receipt -- and she would not be worrying for her safety today.
Comments: (261)
Add a comment
By: Charles Hill on 8/24/2010 6:06PM
NOW THIS 2010 AND WE SEE BY US USING THE N WORD BETWEEN US. IT WORNG, FOR SOMEONE ELSE? THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP TRIPPING. I HEAR BLACK PEOPLE USING THIS WORD ALL DAY LONG,SO OTHER PEOPLE USE IT, SOMETHING WRONG, CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER WE CHANGE THE WORLD.STOP THE MADNESS
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Sue on 8/25/2010 6:42AM
I am a black woman I myself Do Not throw the "N" word around under any circumstances. I too have heard this word used frequetly amongst black people. However whenever I've heard it being used in my community "amongst black people it's used as a term, of friendship/endearment, not to hurt the other person.
If I may ask you, based on your statement are you saying that "YOU" dont mind if a white person or any person who is not of your ethnicity calls uses the "N" word against you in a hateful/demeaning manner?"
I'm just curiouis.
I personally believe that the "N" should be abollished and removed from the vocabulary. However it's like that ole' saying "You can lead a horse to water BUT you can't make him drink." In this case the "N" word can be physically removed from books, dictionaries etc. However it will not stop people from saying it.
No matter how much we all sqwaul about the "N" word over 100's of years the "N" word has been ingrained into the minds and vocabularies of both whites/blacks and other ethnicities.
If you know your history the "N" word is a very hurtful and hateful word. I myself would NOT Accept being called that word under any circumstances. If I knew the person(s) who created this vial word to demean black people I'd kick there azz royally and I mean that.
Report This
By: Andrew Thompson on 8/26/2010 12:42PM
I have said all along and will continue to say so that if we want others to stop using the N-word we first must stop you cannot get RESPECT if we don't respect ourselves. Keep complaining whenever the word is used and hopefully all of the bad seeds will be shown the door.
Report This
By: Earl on 8/25/2010 8:55AM
Charles Hill you sound really stupid. I hear Black people use the word like it's in the webster dictionary but it is no way acceptable to have this done to you. I'm sure not all Black people use the worf just as not all white people. How dare you say get over it.
The woman is being harassed and threatened.
Report This
By: THE TRUTH on 8/25/2010 9:04AM
People who order for delivery should tip. It's how waiters waitresses and delivery drivers make their money. If you can't tip go get it yourself.
As to the infamous N-word. People repeat what they are taught. Go ahead, keep using it and continue wondering why you just can't get any respect. how can anyone respect a people always putting one another down. A term of endearment? Sounds like a cop out for ignorance. Oh and by the way, It could also be an inside job for someone to sue Dominoes, so let's not be too hasty until this is all "Settled" (Out of court that is). THINK
Report This
By: DeiaynciaCimone on 8/25/2010 9:58AM
It ain't a matter of her trippin'. She ordered a pizza not the racist remark for the day. If folks want to call someone black a nigger please do it to their face so the "nigger" can help them out with a new dental plan. Not advocating violence but if ya bad enough to use it, be bad enough to take whatever comes your way. Thats why alot of rednecks have no teeth. No medical coverage and a fondness of using the word nigger. We all are raised to know and be better than the BS being fed to us about racism. Sure you maynot like who you work for, or whom you may have to serve or take care of, BUT you do recognize the almighty dollar. If you want to prosper in life with a full set of teeth you should think before you act out. I bet that delivery guy once he stops threatening that black lady will replay it over n over in his stupid head.
Report This
By: Nelson on 8/25/2010 10:46AM
Thank you the word is disrespectfull from anyone,start with the man in the mirror and we change the world
Report This
By: Fed Up on 8/25/2010 11:03AM
I totally agree!! Im so tired of black people saying its ok for "us" to use this word and not whites-what?? We as a people and race are so under the spell that its not even funny smh We got black folks out here saying its 'our' word?? wtf!! We got black folks saying that its ok to use amoungst ourselves because when we use it no harm is being done? what the hell, yes there is im so sick of it!! Black people use the word constantly in rap on the street in the movies comedians use it and theres no problem but a white person uses it all hell breaks loose lol c'mon people.Look at all the black on black violence thats going on look at chicago its crazy, people arent all over the news and internet Jesse and Al arent marchin or calling for news conferences day in and day out for that BUT as soon as a white man/woman pinches a black person oh we hear about it all day and night we got online polls to vote on, continuous news coverage, cnn debates etc., wtf U people that claim that this is our word need to watch Goodbye Uncle Tom and Birth of A Nation and get some damn sence about urself lets ALL stop using this word
Report This
By: Rea on 8/25/2010 11:28AM
Mr. Hill, it is not the word itself. It is how the word is used. In Dominos, case a descriptive of a Race of people, the usage. I hear the M.F. word all the time from various cultures. However, you cannot walk up to a person in anger and call them a "Mother F-----". It is clear that this employee has an issue with Race. I am African Caribbean and I Tip, all the time. Even if we did not use the word prolifically, some would still use it derogatively towards us. I am Jamaican and if you walk up to a man and call, him one of the many explicates in his language you would be confrontational, and it is used in songs. So banning the N word in song or books is not going to change the superiority of one Race of people over another. The reason the N word is bad is subsequently that it was and is still being used, to denigrate a Race of people. The M. F. word is just an adjective. The N word is a stigmatic classification for one group of people. Its usage in song is not a stigmatic way; it is cultural, just like other cultures use of their own explicates. DL Hughley and Paul Mooney use it because they take the power out of it and turn it around to let you and your culture know that we know you that is how you view us. Paul Mooney is right about the issue of Race, nothing has changed. We are still at the bottom of the cultural chain, because of the color of our skin. I dare you to conduct your own experiment as in "Black Like Me" and tell me how you feel afterwards. You have no idea what it is like to be Black. To be judged in a group all the time. The N word is nothing unless you use it as a weapon. Even if some of you do not use it, you certainly treat us as if you do. You do not have to say it. Bob Marley said; "...they say that we are free, only to be chained in poverty, good God I think its illiteracy, only machines that made men free..." Which means the legacy of slavery is still evident.
Report This
By: mannup on 8/25/2010 3:50PM
Sue, I hear what your are saying but unfortunately the n word will never be erase from any dictionary until we stop using this derogatory word to describe ourselves. That n word has been ingrained in us especially in the inner city area's since tots first learned to walk and talk and the sad thing it that it won't stop until eduacated parents of young black children eradicate this terrible and demeaning word from their mind and memories, i can remember every time as a child when i was called the n word and it was always for something negative that we as children do from time to time by my parents which they foolishly like a lot of others to this day think that there is no harm in tossing the word like it's some stately term and what they forger is the fact that babies imprint on their rearing. A lot of our elders had died to give us the dignity to call ourselves men and women and still the vast majority of us continue to use this vile term then has the audacity (for most know better)that when we use the n-word, it's endearing but when others use it we get supersensitive and rightfully so! We should also have the same feeling no matter who says the word, white black red or yellow especially blacks! and until this word cease from our lips, the disrespect and killing of our own race is not going to fade away. Until this the n word is ostracize from the blacks, we as a people will never get to the top rung of the ladder
Report This