Blatantly Racist? Black Community Rejects Trader Joe’s Store Because it Would Attract Too Many Whites
From Liberty News
By Eric Odom
There is something terribly wrong in a nation where one race can openly reject a company because, in their minds, it might attract members of another race. Can you imagine what would happen if a predominantly white community kicked a business out because more black Americans were buying its products than white Americans?
In that scenario the DOJ would come in and ensure charges were filed, people were publicly punished and would make a national story of racism out of it. But what if it were a black community and the business might (theoretically) bring in white shoppers?
Apparently that scenario is no big deal. At least, not in Portland.
PORTLAND, Ore., February 7, 2014– According to local media outlet, The Oregonian (Highlighted by the Associated Press), African American activists and politicians forced the Trader Joe’s grocery chain to drop their plans for a new store in a predominately black community because the store would “increase the desirability of the neighborhood,” for “non-oppressed populations.”
“We run neighborhood stores, and our approach is simple,” said the grocery chain. “If a neighborhood does not want a Trader Joe’s, we understand, and we won’t open the store in question.”
If that’s not bad enough, and it is, wait until you read what comes next.
The Portland Development Commission offered a substantial discount to the grocery chain for a two acre parcel of land that appraised for $2.9 million. The land, which sat undeveloped for years, was offered to the chain for $500,000 in an attempt to bring high paying jobs and prosperity to the neighborhood. The construction project, which was to include a two large anchor buildings and 10 retail shops, was promised to an African American owned construction company.
The Portland African American Leadership Forum, along with the Mayor Charlie Hales, sent letters to Portland Development Commission citing that they were “contributing to the destructive impact of gentrification and displacement of the African American community.” They also said that they would remain opposed to all development of the land that doesn’t solely benefit African Americans.
This is blatant racism and discrimination. And it appears Oregon society is perfectly fine with it.
