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| MiamiHerald.com |
Paula Deen and a crumbling empire, worn away by the pitfalls of racism.
Ms. Deen is the victim of her family life, upbringing and social development at a very young age.
My professional background includes diversity and inclusivity workshop facilitation, training, and management development coaching and employee relations/race relations in the workplace. I know intolerance of others by some white people as well as I know my way to my home from work. Years of Human Resources Management in Fortune 250 Corporation also contributed to an even deeper understanding of the nooks and crannies of situation interactions which end similar to the fate of Ms. Paul Deen.
Unfortunately, Deen (and her brother) became so comfortable in their social development as true southerners and people accustomed to life in Jim Crowe, they never bothered, like some many, to work on personal development to exorcise themselves of the demons of racism, These two people are not bigots, they are hardened racist who literally benefited from the existence of blacks who purchased her products as surely as slave masters who benefited from the toils of save labor.
If we had opportunity to view Deen in the following Cycle, it would be easy to see there is a point where intervention tends to lessen avowed and overwhelming racism.
Deen never stepped outside of the paradigmed cycle. Deen stated on the Today show, “I am who I am and I am not going to change.” She cannot change.
What’s right is right!
Matt Lauer, Today Show, interviewed Deen early this morning. The segment is 13 plus minutes long. I contemplated creating a sub-clip, but deferred to your judgment in deciding how much of the segment you choose to watch. It should be noted, I did not see lots of tears in the segment In fact, I do not even recall seeing “crocodile tears.”
As these tragedies develop, it can be an emotional experience to watch as people succumb to their family environment and social development with reckoning coming many years later. Reckoning never comes for most with people. They go to their graves with internalized racism. There is really no major issues with internalized racism when it is outside the purview of impact on others. What do I mean by impact on others? A manager with authority to hire and fire, a politician who has responsibility to his/her constituents, a celebrity that feeds his/her racism to fans, raising a family, or simply being a good neighbor are ready examples of impact on others.
Deen’s past caught-up with her. She is fighting a multiple million dollar legal battle that has uncloaked her racism. Ironically, the discrimination /harassment legal action involves a former employee who is white. If there was no legal action Deen would continue the life of a cloaked and powerful racist. Now, she is suffering an expected reaction from corporations who subscribed to her celebrity and her sponsors.
Excerpt
“We will not place new orders beyond those already committed,” said Dave Tovar, a Wal-Mart spokesman. “We will work with suppliers to address existing inventories and agreements.”
Tovar said the retailer is still working through the details with suppliers.
The severed ties with Wal-Mart are the latest blow to Deen’s business. Meanwhile, Paula Deen’s name is being stripped from four buffet restaurants owned by Caesars. Caesars said Wednesday that its decision to rebrand its restaurants in Joliet, Ill.; Tunica, Miss.; Cherokee, N.C.; and Elizabether, Ind., was a mutual one with Deen.
Last week, the Food Network said that it would not renew the celebrity cook’s contract. And on Monday, Smithfield Foods said it was dropping her as a spokeswoman. Smithfield sold Paula Deen-branded hams in addition to featuring her as a spokeswoman.
It is sad to see a human being suffer the outcomes of their early formative years. However, reckoning is generally always sad. You and I did not contribute in any way to the crumbling of life for Deen and her brother; I personally have no sympathy for the wealthy celebrity.
The Pardu's Scroll 