Racial slur on sofa label stuns family

[Lazarus 0]

http://www.thestar.com/article/200265

 

When the new chocolate-coloured sofa set was delivered to her Brampton home, Doris Moore was stunned to see packing labels describing the shade as "Nigger-brown."

 

She and husband Douglas purchased a sofa, loveseat and chair in dark brown leather last week from Vanaik Furniture and Mattress store on Dundas St. E.

 

Moore, 30, who describes herself as an African-American born and raised in New York, said it was her 7-year-old daughter who pointed out the label just after delivery men from the Mississauga furniture store left.

 

"She's very curious and she started reading the labels," Moore explained. "She said, `Mommy, what is nig ... ger brown?' I went over and just couldn't believe my eyes."

 

She said yesterday each piece had a similar label affixed to the woven protective covering wrapped around the furniture.

 

"In this day and age, that's totally unacceptable," Moore said.

 

Douglas explained the origins of the word to daughter Olivia, telling how it was a bad name that blacks were called during the days of slavery in the United States.

 

"It was tough, because she really didn't understand," Moore said. "She'd never heard that word before and didn't really understand the concept of it."

 

Moore, who has a younger son and daughter, said she's heard the word used many times, although it has never been directed in anger at her.

 

"But it's a very, very bad word that makes you feel degraded, like you're a nobody," she said.

 

Moore said she called the furniture store the following day and three other times since, and feels discouraged that no one has returned her calls.

 

When interviewed yesterday by the Star, Romesh Kumar, Vanaik's assistant manager, passed the buck to his supplier, Cosmos Furniture in Scarborough.

 

"Why should I take the blame?" he said. "I'm a trader, I don't manufacture. I sell from 20 companies, maybe 50 companies. How can I take care of all of them?"

 

He said that he would check similar stock and make sure other labels were removed.

 

"That's terrible, that's a racial ... something?" Kumar said. "This is entirely wrong, but it's not my fault. It's my job to sell good product to people."

 

He said the best he could do is to give Moore the telephone number of his supplier, so she could take it up with him.

 

The owner of Cosmos Furniture, Paul Kumar, no relation to Romesh, said he was upset to learn packing labels on products he sold carried a racial epithet.

 

"I import my products from overseas," he said. "I've never noticed anything like that. This is something new to me."

 

He passed the blame to a Chinese company, but apologized for the labels. He said he would contact the furniture maker in Guangzhou and demand they remove all similar labels.

 

Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home.

 

"Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said.

 

 

 

[trophyshy 7098]

more of a gollywog-brown tbh. where's the etcetera smiley?

[Isegrim 10017]

I guess it was a Turkish firm that had the production moved to China...

[Guest Patrokles]

They capture the essence of the Asian furniture salesman brilliantly. 'It's my job to sell good product to people.'

[manc-mag 1]

They capture the essence of the Asian furniture salesman brilliantly. 'It's my job to sell good product to people.'

 

Do you know many, like?

[Fop 1]

I guess it was a Turkish firm that had the production moved to China...

 

Given how bad Asian/Arabic vs Black relations can be in the UK it'll be something like that I expect.

 

The world at large isn't very politically correct.

[Guest Patrokles]

They capture the essence of the Asian furniture salesman brilliantly. 'It's my job to sell good product to people.'

 

Do you know many, like?

 

I know some who sell carpets, I assume it's much of a muchness.

[manc-mag 1]

They capture the essence of the Asian furniture salesman brilliantly. 'It's my job to sell good product to people.'

 

Do you know many, like?

 

I know some who sell carpets, I assume it's much of a muchness.

 

LOL's. I'm sure that's fair comment then.

[Isegrim 10017]

Anyway. How do I get those stains of Negro chocolate bars out of my nigger-brown sofa.

[manc-mag 1]

Bernard Manning has just logged in on Isegrim's account, using Jim Davidsons laptop.

[Lazarus 0]

Gemmill has just logged in on Isegrim's account, using his laptop.

 

FYP

[manc-mag 1]

Gemmill has just logged in on Isegrim's account, using his laptop.

 

FYP

 

 

Way too PC for the G-Man that tbf.

[Toonraider 0]

Ive just had my new BLACK leather sofas delivered....is it ok that they had that printed on the labels?

[Fop 1]

Ive just had my new BLACK leather sofas delivered....is it ok that they had that printed on the labels?

 

 

Nope, burn it quickly.

[Brock Manson 0]

What next? Kike white? Gook yellow? Paki puce?

[Guest alex]

Ive just had my new BLACK leather sofas delivered....is it ok that they had that printed on the labels?

Slight difference tbh.

[Meenzer 15871]

Ive just had my new BLACK leather sofas delivered....is it ok that they had that printed on the labels?

Slight difference tbh.

Aye. Make it "Dangerous Darkie" or "Charred Coon" and then I'd be impressed.

[ewerk 31597]

http://www.thestar.com/article/200265

 

Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home.

 

"Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said

 

 

I hate this over dramatic shite, yes it wasn't nice but this whole acting as if it has scarred the silly fuck for life craic is taking the piss.

Edited April 12, 2007 by ewerk

[Toonraider 0]

http://www.thestar.com/article/200265

 

Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home.

 

"Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said

 

 

I hate this over dramatic shite, yes it wasn't nice but this whole acting as if it has scarred the silly fuck for life craic is taking the piss.

 

Agree entirely....next she'll want compensation for the hurt and pain it caused her.

[BlueStar 0]

Well it did used to be a recognised colur, I've seen 50s school rules saying that girls must wear nigger brown hats, nigger brown macs and/or petticoats etc. Probably the Chinese supplier hadn't been told to change it to African American brown.

 

Although I think it's a bit of an over reaction the sofa guy isn't exactly a public relations expert, wouldn't have taken him much to ring and say "So sorry, I didn't realise that. I'll take it up with the suppliers" rather than "Not my problem!"

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Well it did used to be a recognised colur, I've seen 50s school rules saying that girls must wear nigger brown hats, nigger brown macs and/or petticoats etc. Probably the Chinese supplier hadn't been told to change it to African American brown.

 

Although I think it's a bit of an over reaction the sofa guy isn't exactly a public relations expert, wouldn't have taken him much to ring and say "So sorry, I didn't realise that. I'll take it up with the suppliers" rather than "Not my problem!"

Agreed.

[luckyluke 2]

Well it did used to be a recognised colur, I've seen 50s school rules saying that girls must wear nigger brown hats, nigger brown macs and/or petticoats etc. Probably the Chinese supplier hadn't been told to change it to African American brown.

 

 

So what? It was racist then and it's racist now. That's like keeping a black man chained up in your cellar then defending it on the grounds that slavery used to be legal.

[Guest alex]

http://www.thestar.com/article/200265

 

Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home.

 

"Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said

 

 

I hate this over dramatic shite, yes it wasn't nice but this whole acting as if it has scarred the silly fuck for life craic is taking the piss.

 

Agree entirely....next she'll want compensation for the hurt and pain it caused her.

Tbh, she could have just been pissed off at the use of the word nigger to describe the colour of some furniture she bought. I know what you're saying but I can see how it would cause offence.

[Renton 22445]

Well it did used to be a recognised colur, I've seen 50s school rules saying that girls must wear nigger brown hats, nigger brown macs and/or petticoats etc. Probably the Chinese supplier hadn't been told to change it to African American brown.

 

 

So what? It was racist then and it's racist now. That's like keeping a black man chained up in your cellar then defending it on the grounds that slavery used to be legal.

 

It's not really like that at all, and unless I'm mistaken, Bluestar isn't defending the continued use of the phrase.

[luckyluke 2]

Well it did used to be a recognised colur, I've seen 50s school rules saying that girls must wear nigger brown hats, nigger brown macs and/or petticoats etc. Probably the Chinese supplier hadn't been told to change it to African American brown.

 

 

So what? It was racist then and it's racist now. That's like keeping a black man chained up in your cellar then defending it on the grounds that slavery used to be legal.

 

It's not really like that at all, and unless I'm mistaken, Bluestar isn't defending the continued use of the phrase.

 

I don't think he was either, it's just that I've heard the 'well it used to be a recognised colour' as justification for calling something nigger brown before and I think it's complete bollocks. As I say, it was racist then and it's racist now, the fact it was the done thing 20 years ago makes no difference whatsoever.