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Accuseed Of Racist Comments, Andrew Young Resigns From Wal-Mart Group

Written by Evan Schuman
August 17th, 2006

Please forgive this non-tech item, but the irony of this one is too delicious to ignore. Wal-Mart wanted to improve its image among various urban areas that have been resisting its stores so it hired civil rights legend–and former Atlanta mayor and former U.S. representatives to the United Nations–to smooth the way as chairman of Working Families for Wal-Mart.

Seems that Mr. Young took his eyes off the finer points of diplomacy recently and told The Los Angeles Sentinel. that Wal-Mart “should” displace mom-and-pop stores in urban neighborhoods. “You see those are the people who have been overcharging us,” he said of the owners of the small stores, “and they sold out and moved to Florida. I think they’ve ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it’s Arabs.”

Young quickly resigned and apologized. Maybe Wal-Mart should see if Mel Gibson has some free time? Read an excellent look at this situation in today’s New York Times.

Posted in IT Strategy/Industry
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