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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5895
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 03:26 am: | 
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D.C.'s Black-Korean Dynamic: A Simmering Tension
What do the $54 million pants man, Roy Pearson, and the new D.C. schools superintendent, Michelle Rhee, have in common?
Their moments in the news in recent days have lifted the lid off a cauldron of black-Korean tensions. This relationship has a volatile history in Washington, running back to 1986, when Rev. Willie Wilson of Union Temple Baptist Church famously led a boycott of an Asian-American grocer in Southeast who had supposedly disrespected a black customer. The episode culminated in Wilson saying, after being asked if his demands were inflaming racial tensions, that if he and his followers hadn't forgiven the Asian shopkeeper, "we would have cut his head off and rolled it down the street."
Interestingly, until the start of last week's trial, the mail on the Pants Man was focused almost entirely on issues of abusing the legal system, the eternal battle over tort reform, and how the District could possibly have such a fellow serving as an administrative law judge. But once the trial started--and most importantly, once the first news photos of Pearson started appearing online, on TV and in the paper--the tenor of reader reaction changed dramatically. I still heard plenty of outrage about how Pearson was tormenting the owners of the dry cleaners and wasting the court's resources, but now that it was widely known that Pearson is black, a good chunk of the mail shifted to matters of ethnic rivalry.
Similarly, the surprise announcement that Rhee, a Korean-American woman, would become the first non-black chief of the D.C. school system in nearly half a century immediately engendered all manner of comment about supposed antipathy toward blacks by Koreans--all this from people who know nothing of Rhee's background, approach or personality.
I'll spare you the comments that consist solely of racist vitriol, but I think there's value in looking at the texture of the incidents and complaints that readers report about encounters with Korean merchants. I doubt that these incidents are much different from those that could be catalogued about any dry cleaner, no matter the owner's ethnicity, but here's one of the more thoughtful comments I've received from readers who believe the pants case is more about black-Korean tensions than anything else:
"The main thing here is the strained relationship between Korean businesses and Blacks with regard to customer service or lack thereof," wrote Keith Jones, a legal assistant at a major Washington company. He told of an Asian-owned grocery in his D.C. neighborhood where he says the owner routinely sells coffee creamer that has passed its sell-by date, as well as a dry cleaner that he says charges exorbitant rates.
"It is clear that the Korean merchants have a lot of businesses in urban America and that they are unified," Jones writes. "Blacks in these urban settings, for the most part, rely solely on Korean establishments in their neighborhoods. This is due to access and ultimately, their socio-economic status. I am certainly not saying that this justifies the Pearson case, especially not the amount. From the examples I gave from my own experience, however, one can only imagine what a Black person experiences daily dealing with the Koreans."
And here's an account from Rosemary Reed Miller, the longtime owner of Toast & Strawberries, which was one of the city's best-regarded boutiques, talking about her experience with a Korean dry cleaner:
"I had brought in a pair of pants which had a small spot. They cleaned that area, but left a larger spot on another area of the pant. When I pointed that out (unfortunately, I didn't see the spot until after I had paid), they told me that the large spot was on the pant when I brought the pants in. They wouldn't give me my money back, and implied that it would be another fee to get out the second spot. I decided to walk.
"When you're in business--and I had a small shop, Toast and Strawberries for over 20 years--I know you can't be perfect with everyone, but this I thought was unreasonable. I've lived long enough to share [Pearson's] pain. I am African American, but didn't sue. However, I feel as though I should have sued that cleaner even though my silk pants had a modest price tag. I've fought for the civil rights of all people all of my life. People need their rights to be addressed, and the people who 'wrong' them should be educated not to do something like that again to another person.
"I appreciate his suing on my behalf. Obviously $60+ million is 'over the top.' And I understand that Korean-Americans have made efforts to be 'nicer' to their Afro-American clientele, but I think these cases are examples of their needing to be more sensitive. If they had listened with more understanding in the beginning, and paid him for his 'lost' pants, I would hope that Mr. Pearson wouldn't have had such a strong sense of outrage."
Why do the kinds of poor customer service that might otherwise result in a grumble or a decision to shop elsewhere morph into ethnic tension in the black-Korean dynamic? This has been the subject of considerable study since the 1992 Los Angeles riots, in which some Korean grocers took up arms against black rioters, and the years that followed, when some rappers took after Korean merchants in their lyrics? (Warning: That link goes to a song with R-rated language.)
In part, this divide is a continuation of black-Jewish tensions that developed when many shops in American ghetto neighborhoods were run by immigrant Jews. But there's an additional element that many of the academics end up focusing on: It's a culture clash between two groups with very different behavioral mores.
Contrast a Korean social manner in which merchants may put change down on a counter rather than touch a customer's hand, or an infelicitous command of English that can make a shopkeeper seem distant and even disrespectful, against an African-American culture in which strangers are expected to make eye contact and acknowledge one another in a respectful exchange. Here's a black writer's perspective on this, and here's a Korean writer's view of a similar situation.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_n12_v27/ai_19261654
http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/asianamerican/chang.html
Did Roy Pearson sue the Chung family, owners of Custom Cleaners, because they are Korean immigrants? There's no evidence of that. Will the rank and file of the D.C. school system refuse to give Michelle Rhee a chance to succeed because she is Korean-American? Certainly most people are better than that. But in both cases, the noise around the black-Korean tension is loud enough to make hard situations much harder, and that's worth keeping a close eye on.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/06/dcs_blackkorean_dynamic_a_simm. html |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2287
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 03:09 pm: |
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Here's something to try: if you go to a business and you're disrespected....don't go back, tell your friends and family not to go back.
If you live in a PREDOMINANTLY BLACK area and you find yourself always being disrespected by immigrants, try picking up a yellow pages or asking a neighbor or just paying attention when you drive around town and I can GUARANTEE that you will find at least 2 of whatever shop/store/business you're looking for that ISN'T owned by a Korean.
I'm sorry, and this isn't aimed at you Tonya, but I get angry when people, especially those living in predominantly black areas, act like Korean businesses are the ONLY choice of businesses they can go to, and chances are they've PASSED BY black, African, and Carribbean owned businesses to get to the Asian ones.
If they don't want you in their store, DON'T GO IN THEIR STORE.
They treat us like that because they know after all of our bitching and yelling....we'll be back tomorrow. |
Schakspir
Veteran Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 1069
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 03:17 pm: |
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Of course. I stopped going to Korean businesses here nearly twenty years ago. WHY BOTHER???? |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5900
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 3 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 04:47 pm: |
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Renata, I agree with everything except for the "immigrants" part. I’ma support anybody with Authentic Black skin, regardless of their political stance, despite how they feel about us cotton-picking nig.gers. They're our last hope as far as I can tell. So I don't mind putting up with any of the B.S. they might throw my way. Ain't like we haven't been eating booty ever since we stepped foot on this land. We've had white booty, Asian booty, Italian booty, and even Irish...why the hullabaloo now that it's Black booty is what I don't understand. Ain't like their booties taste anything like their cuisines; and if that were the case, how could we love our hamhawks (sp) and not like our Black booties…??? ...(That’s some philosophical shit for you right there.)
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Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2289
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 06:59 pm: |
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I wouldn't even include West African and Carribbean business owners in my comment about "immigrants". Heck, if anything, they go OUT OF THEIR WAY to make sure their customers leave there happy. They're much, MUCH nicer than even black american business owners.
If they don't have a dish you want to try, they'll give you the name and number of a place where you can get it, or of a friend who can teach you how to COOK it. If they don't have a product you want, they'll LOOK for it for you. If they can get it for you, they will. If they sell clothing items and don't have an item from the country you want, they'll tell you where you can find it or introduce you to someone who will make it CUSTOM for you. |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2290
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 07:13 pm: |
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This is what happened the last time I went to a restaurant with a West African owner: We started talking and I told him I really wanted to try "ground nut stew". He didn't have it on his menu, but his wife knew how to make it. He gave me his business card. The next time I was to come, just call him 24 hours in advance and he would make sure his wife made some just for me. It was pretty good. He only charged me 2.00 for a large bowl of it.
There was a carribbean restaurant I ate at and loved their curry chicken roti. They were out one day. She told me to call her early in the day on the days I was coming over and she would make sure she kept enough just for me.
A soul food restaurant I went to (owned by Carribbeans) was out of whiting, but they still had Catfish. Since they were out and it wasn't my fault, they gave me the catfish at the price of the whiting. Saved me 3.00.
You think I'm going to consider any of these people "disrespectful"? |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2291
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 07:14 pm: |
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Also, I went to a carribbean owned beauty supply store for shea butter. They didn't carry it. I talked to the owner. They had it within two weeks. |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5925
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 05:48 am: |
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The Payne's Family
http://paynesbeautysupply-salon.stores.yahoo.net/
1-800-997-4559
Renata, here's where I get my styling tools, alot of my hair/beauty supplies ect. It's a Black owned business out in Charlottesville Virginia. We don’t have many really big Black owned beauty supply stores in Philly...so I was happy to come across this site on Amazon. The service is pretty good, then there's the added convenience of shopping from home when there isn't alot of time for much else! |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5926
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 06:14 am: |
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Shea butter pages, LOVE IT, use it EVERYWHERE:
http://paynesbeautysupply-salon.stores.yahoo.net/nuso.html
http://paynesbeautysupply-salon.stores.yahoo.net/afnashbulo16.html
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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5927
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 06:24 am: |
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The second link, the hand body hair & scalp lotion, I use that on my hair and let it air dry and it leaves my curls soft and fluffy instead of hard and tightly coiled like most leave-ins do. If you wear your hair natural you should try this.
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Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2300
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 09:19 pm: |
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I'll check out their site, but I might not buy anything now. I still have a huge bottle of Aveda Elixir to go through. One thing I like about having natural hair is that I don't have to really buy a lot of anything.....
shampoo/conditioner and a leave-in/moisturizer and that's it. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4743
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 11:27 am: |
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Oh my. I think I'll get a conk.
Where are the lye and the potatoes? |
Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5940
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 02:22 pm: |
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LOLOLOL @ Chris!
Renata, I was addicted to those expensive leave-ins for awhile, I have bottles of them lying around...but, surprisingly, that Shea butter hand hair and body LOTION does PRECISELY what those expensive leave-ins promise to do but never deliver. Chile, I almost hit the sky when I found that out, lol!!
And yup, shampoo conditioner & leave-ins are all that's needed...a major plus!! And even though lots of it is needed, as one of the up-sides of natural hair is more Shampooing (moisturizing and conditioning) ect., it is still less expensive than dealing w/monthly touch-ups and treated hair - ouch!
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Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2303
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 03:04 pm: |
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potatoes?
I'll definitely keep that product in mind, then. I might even just buy some to hold onto until I use the other stuff up.
THANKS! |
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