1. Magoo

November 22nd, 2006 at 2:29 pm

I can’t believe this response - and am behind you all the way in your response, Sokari - I couldn’t put it better. Anonymous is talking about a world famous author and trying to justify the way his treatment. There is no justification for treating people this way. Once a person who is not staying there has indicated they are not ordering something then I believe they can be asked to leave - I think if there was a doubt about the Professor being a guest then that could have been handled discreetly and gently - by the staff member discreetly enquiring with reception or asking politely for the Prof’s room number.

The whole incident is similar to a lot of experiences that fellow Africans have had in the USA - whether it is because we look different, do we really? or because of cultural nuances in our behaviour that indicate that we are “the other”. Visiting the USA is often a traumatic experience for Africans because of the widespread racism experienced.

2. imnakoya

November 22nd, 2006 at 6:03 pm

It appears Hotel Vitale has a huge problem on their hands. May be they need to have a notice on their dorr entrance stating their code on dress style, body odor and hair style.

I wouldn’t worry about this comment from annonymous, obvious he/she belongs to the vast pool of the ignorant that roam about continental US thinking they are all that…!

The problem of unwanted guests using public spaces in hotels/restaurants located in urban areas isn’t perculiar to Hotel Vitale or San F; obviously this hotel doesn’t deserve to be in business if it’s yet to devise a clear and workable strategy to deal with it.

3. Kym Platt

November 22nd, 2006 at 6:13 pm

I would worry about this comment from “anonymous”! His policy of racial profiling and prejudice cause him to treat customers of the hotel in which he works differently based on skin color, Afro-centric hairstyles, and perceived class status. He assumed, based on appearence that a highly successful black person was homeless and therefore did not belong at the hotel. Anonymous’ sentiments shape the way he treats black people (black customers). It should be reported to his superiors and his/her identity should be revealed. It’s a powerful thing to make comments under anonymous conditions. The person who made the above comment knew their statements would land them into trouble.

4. sokari

November 22nd, 2006 at 6:24 pm

Imnakoya and Kym@ I wouldnt say I was “worried” more disgusted but then its not as if I dont know individuals like this one exist and more so than I would care to think about.

5. Different Realities - Ngogi & bias. at Innovation@LPFI

November 22nd, 2006 at 7:20 pm

[…] And finally, here’s one of the comments from a staff member at the hotel, which reveals the distance we need to travel to clarify the insidiousness of bias to people that consider themselves rational, logical, and only ‘doing their job’. “This is not an incident of racism … ” Read more. […]

6. Josef

November 22nd, 2006 at 7:24 pm

As someone raised in the San Francisco, I am NOT surprised by the behavior of the employee toward the professor except for the language he used!
Racism is still present in the so-called “most liberal” city in America. It is just more SUBTILE. You can just feel it by the sub-standard customer service when you go to a bar, restaurant, etc.. There are areas and business in the city, where they do not like to see a black person. They just do not put a “sign” in the front to save you the trouble.

This hotel vitale place is a “boutique” hotel, chic type of a place according their website. There are certain type of people it geared for or marketed to… What is image it is trying to sell? Maybe the employee, felt the professor does not fit the image of the place?

I am sure he tried to get rid of the professor because he was black. The only difference he was not subtle about it. I believe he decided not be subtle- because I am assuming maybe the professor had an accent and he thought “this guy is an immigrant”.. “he can’t do any harm to me” “he does not the rule”.

I doubt it that the employee would have used that kind of language toward an African-American person but I am sure he would have tried to get rid of him.
I saw the reply from the owner of the hotel Chip Conley about “diversity training”, “racism” training. Well, that is a little too late for the professor. They training might help in the future. But I think the best thing to do for hotel or send a message is to fire that employee. If not for his blatant racism at least for bad customer service. I thought the hotel is in the hospitality and customer service business. Well, how hospitable can you be if your employees are saying “You are a black, you have to leave”?

I hate these empty apologies.

In terms of treatment of African people in America, it will not never change until Africa gets organized and removes the image it has on the world stage. Most American do not know anything about geography or history outside there borders except what they see on CNN and when it comes to Africa it is like darfur, etc.. that is the only Africa they know.

7. sandra

November 22nd, 2006 at 7:51 pm

Why didn’t the hotel worker just ask if the Professor was a guest at the hotel as soon as he approached the Professor? I do believe this happens more often than we think–or will ever know.

8. Andrea

November 23rd, 2006 at 12:35 am

I agree. It’s sad that no matter who a black person becomes, whether a professor, a doctor, an ambassador, or whatever, we still cannot get past the negative ideas about the thin layer of skin. It’s such a strange complex.

9. Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » African Diaspora: color or appearance?

November 23rd, 2006 at 1:23 am

[…] An anonymous reader responds to Black Looks’ post, “You are a blackman, you have to leave”: “Service was refused to this man based on his appearance not his race. If anyone has strong enough evidence than I to contest this statement I would like to know. We are a tolerant community and a diversely employed restaurant, how dare you try to bring down our good name for an issue that has been dead for years.” Ndesanjo Macha […]

10. GND

November 23rd, 2006 at 3:44 am

Sure, homelessness is a big problem in San Francisco, as it is in multiple big cities around the world. Yet, anyone who works in a service oriented business knows you’ll come in contact with people who span the entire socio-economic, racial, and political scale. One’s race is definitely part of one’s appearance. Sure, one may be uncomfortable serving a person but this does not justify treating anyone inhumanely. This incident is a big insult to all of us.

11. Steve Ntwiga Mugiri » Archives » feed the addiction: East African fiber and telecoms, The case for contamination, “Line Rider” and more . . .

November 23rd, 2006 at 6:08 am

[…]  + Sitting while black: an update. Sokari Ekine at blacklooks.org who won Deutsche Welle Radio’s Best English Weblog user award in November 2006 has been carrying a story about Ngugi wa Thiongo, a UofC Irvine professor and acclaimed writer of Kenyan extraction formerly with the New York University was apparently kicked out of a restaurant veranda at the Hotel Vitale , San Fransisco where he was staying while promoting his new book by hotel staff for “sitting while black”. […]

12. Abdurahman

November 23rd, 2006 at 6:45 am

Sokari,

Thank you, I think it’s great that you took it on yourself to hightlight the issue. The recent Michael Richard’s “coming out” as a racist showed that racism is far from extinct in America.

On the other hand, the “anonymous” comment could have been made by anyone, even someone who isn’t from the hotel. If the hotel agreed to a public apology and better diversity training, particularly from senior management, then we shouldn’t worry about an “anonymous” commentor.

13. Sokari

November 23rd, 2006 at 9:29 am

Abdurahman@ Thanks I dont know about the “Coming Out” or who is Michael Richards but will check online. Yes I had thought about the anon being anyone from the hotel or elsewhere. Whoever he was his lack of humanity, racism and whole tone was vile.

14. Renegade Eye

November 23rd, 2006 at 9:32 am

Thank you for that post.

Racism is the main way people are divided in this society.

San Francisco housing is ridiculously expensive. No surprise that homelessness is so high.

At Silicon Valley, if you make $75,000/yr, you’d probably live in a shelter.

15. Abdurahman

November 23rd, 2006 at 11:11 am

Micheal Richards is the actor who played Kramer in Seinfeld. Here is a video of what happened:
http://www3.youtube.com/watch?v=LgHj_YxyhGc

And here is the video of his “apology” on Letterman’s show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC3nqiK785U&eurl=

This is worse than anything I’ve seen lately, it goes along way to show that racism is much bigger in the US. It wasn’t just a mistake, he went for minutes to describe how black were and “should be” treated in his opinion just 50 years ago.

16. Jay

November 24th, 2006 at 2:09 pm

I wouldn’t worry about this comment from annonymous, obvious he/she belongs to the vast pool of the ignorant that roam about continental US thinking they are all that…!

This made me laugh out loud. So true!

Cities in the northern and western part of the U.S. remain in many ways untouched by anti-racism work. The anti-racist work that exists in the u.s. remains marginalized.

17. Sokari

November 24th, 2006 at 2:20 pm

Abdulrahman@ God - well we always knew that this is really what lies beneath the surface of much of white america.

18. why only blacks

November 26th, 2006 at 4:19 am

Talk about judging white America! I really think that this was probably just a blown up misunderstanding. I don’t react to being treated differently when I’m in different places. Myself, being a tall white woman, could have the same thing happen. However, if I were black would I have to freak out and label it racism. It seems that you’re actually going much further than this incident. Of all the blogs and different things I’ve read I feel like I should be ashamed to be white. You’re doing the same thing! Why do you automatically asume that anonymous is white. S.F. is very diverse, they could be of any ethnic origin. (I disagree with them either way)

19. Sokari

November 26th, 2006 at 9:44 am

The incident and comment speak for themselves as for your own comment well you just buried yourself lady!

20. Keola

November 26th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

You should react to being treated differently when you are in different places, especially when you are paying the same kind of money everyone else is paying. You can’t be so ignorant not to know when someone is judging you because you are of a different race. When you, a “tall white woman” have that happen to you, come back with a solid argument.

If you are a white person that, ignorant as it sounds, feels you are better than a non-white person, just by virtue of being white, you have every right to be ashamed of yourself. If you are not that kind of person, then you have nothing to be ashamed of.

21. Dave

January 19th, 2007 at 10:59 pm

Let’s be realistic. Of course it was a misunderstanding. The employee probably was not out to maliciously harass the Professor. I choose not to believe that, though I’m sure in some parts of the country, deliberate and calculated racism does exist.

Nevertheless, the incident was a form of racism, or ethnic profiling, or whatever term they use to water-down what has become a less obvious, but far more pervasive force in this (Bay Area) community.

The ‘racism’ debate needs to evolve, just as we liberal, educated, Bay Areans have evolved. We know what to say in public and how to say it. We know how to act as to make the world think ‘equality’ is as internalized as we pretend it to be. I am considerate, aware, compassionate, and yet in many ways, perhaps the most important, I am a racist.

I make associations between socio-economic status/crime/poverty and race. It is unavoidable because it is what we see. But whereas “tall & white” feels we are “making too much of this incident,” I feel we are not making enough of this incident. We should ask ourselves why certain educational, judicial, government policies/institutions favor certain groups over others. We should ask ouselves WHY we see a more black homeless, crime, etc.

Finally, in response to “tall & white” who “does not react to being treated differently in different places,” well, you should. As a man, I don’t think twice about walking out for a stroll at 12 or 2 AM. Do you? Privilege is often taken for granted by definition. We don’t often even know we have it, and therefore cannot empathize with those that do not. No, you shouldn’t be ashamed that you are white, but you should be aware.