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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)
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By: vdog on 8/26/2010 8:11AM
Their PIZZA is terrible anyway. BOYCOTT. I'm in I never got there anyway. Go someplace and get a REAL PIZZA not that CORPORATE CRAP they serve and hlep a SMALL BUSINESS.
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By: Jennifer on 8/26/2010 1:44PM
Hypothetically speaking, if every single black person stop saying the N word with the -er and -a it does NOT mean non-blacks will stop using saying it.
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By: keeping it real on 8/26/2010 2:39PM
You are so right! My son uses this word all the time in front of his children. I tried to caution him about this and he just keeps on using it. People get it together! Just start using another word in the place of the n-word and you will see your efforts pay off. You must respect yourself in order to get respect. And please....a lot of people don't give tips. Reason: Your service wasn't good enough to get a tip. Work on it!
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By: E Joyce on 8/26/2010 3:45PM
We can't see you and for all I know you are really Dr. Laura. The N-word is used by a small minority of African Americans and they do not speak for me or my community. It is a word intended to defame and dismiss us as a people. As I write, they are attempting to make Muslim the new N-word of hate. Get a clue.
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By: Gerard on 8/26/2010 6:40PM
Give me a break! What kind of rational mind accepts the widespread casual use of a word by 1 group of people in regular conversation, in popular music etc while at the same time reveling in their victimhood over the use of the SAME WORD by some other folk.
And then you want to blame Dominos! The use of the word got the fool fired and their are numerous civil & criminal remedies to the receipt of those threatening phone calls - quit crying & prosecute the racist fool and then sue his ass - quit being a damn victim!
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By: LAZONIA on 8/26/2010 10:06PM
before you talk about all black people you need to meet all of us and you are WRONG for misspelling the word "wrong."
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By: d booker on 9/08/2010 4:06AM
I do not believe you are in a position to even comment on this subject. it is obvious that you are a white male. yes, we as black people use this word between ourselves but it is a BIG difference when we another race uses it. How would you like if I were to call you a "racist pig, or better yet, a pig, or a white trash, i can go on and on, but i am sure it would not be pleasing to you. everyone deserves respect and this person has the right! Now you move on to something else!!!
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By: Amber Harris on 8/24/2010 2:30PM
Hello BV....
I am sooo tired of some of us falling short to these silly games that krackers play...I am a 32 year old whose happy wit my skin color. The one thing did right(and most important of all) is the fact that WE TOOK THE POWER OUT OF THE WORD NIGGER...and simply took the "er" off and added an "a"... either way its just a word....our ancestors may have suffered with the issue way back then...but dont you think that they would like for us to move on...times aren't the same...My grandmother was just buried Jan.6 2010...She was 95... she lived the dream of wanting to see our race succeed...to have a black President...at the same time she used the word NIGGER more than any one I know..as well as her children..including my dad..and on my mothers side of the fam...where i am related to white folks..the word is used loosely. Its just that some of us, whom are not as accepting of the sweet and sourness of our race, look for any and everything to get royalties for our ancestors hard work...C'mon folks its just a word
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By: Jewel on 8/24/2010 8:39PM
WHAT???!! Do you have any idea of how many black people lost their lives just trying to stand up for themselves and be respected as men and women and human beings? To them n*gger was an afront, much like being spat upon. It means, I don't respect you - at all - why do you even exist? One cannot adequately re-package n*gger with n*gga, n*ggah, jigga or whatever else. Older black folks who use the term, I give a pass to because they really went through some hell that would make most of us commit suicide or lose our minds. On top of that, the word was a constant in their lives and eventually worked its way into the subconscious of many. But, I have no doubt that they would be appalled to learn that some of us would even attempt to justify our use of the word.
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By: Patty Roldan on 8/24/2010 9:05PM
You are no better than the man that called her the N word. You calling white people krackas. What makes you no different, I dont use the N word or refer to any other race in this manner. Black people cant use the word and expect other people not use it. But I see young black people use it all the time and it aint always love. If you see yourself as a N---er than that is what u are. rappers say it and call black women whores and bitches and that is ok with the black community. White people see this and think we dont even respect ourselves. Wake up and stop saying words like cracka and honkie. This is what your kids learn and that is the facts. I dont care if you dont like it because it is very clear you are a racist yourself.
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