An African American family (the Bradley's) in California has brought a discrimination law suit against The Office Depot. The family attempted to purchase computer equipment on six The family attempted to purchase computer equipment on six (6) different occasions by personal check and the store manager refused the check for several different reasons (e.g., could not verify their unlisted telephone number, the bank's check verification system was down, etc.). The store manager told the family that he would hold their check and have the products delivered the next business day.The family hired a private detective and asked a white female friend to enter the store and purchase the same equipment by check. She also had an unlisted telephone number. The store manager accepted her check and allowed her to take her merchandise home. The Bradley's then tried to perfect the same trasaction and they were denied again. The beauty of this was that the private detective video and audio taped both transactions! The Bradley's also received written confirmation from their bank stating that their check verification system was functioning on each occasion that they attempted to make a purchase and pay via personal check. The bank also verified that the Bradley's account balance was approximately $20,000! The store manager reportedly made a statement that he was instructed by the corporation not to accept checks from African American males who were trying to purchase laptop computers.
The Office Depot is not admitting any wrongdoing and has filed a counter suit claiming that the Bradley's unlawfully video taped in The Office Depot. What a joke!
Discrimination is at its height in America! The Office Depot will pay just as Eddie Bauer will pay for discriminating against one of its young African American customers in Ft. Washington, Maryland. The family in Maryland has retained the services of a Nupe, Don Temple. The Denny's incident seems just like yesterday.
I ask that we all consider the consequences of supporting these businesses with African American, Jewish, Asian, white, Hispanic, Indian, etc. dollars. At a minimum the African American community needs to send a message that hurts big corporations the most...in their wallets! Please think twice before making a holiday purchase or any other purchase at either of the stores mentioned.