I am sure by now you are aware of what is going on with Barney’s harassing people for shopping while black in their stores. However, just in case you have been under a rock, allow me to recap the stories very quickly for you.

The Barney’s outraged started on February 28th, 2013, when 21 year old woman from Brooklyn, Jay Z’s hometown, Kayla Phillips, was detained by police after purchasing a $2,500 Celine handbag. Never mind the value of the purchase, but how would the store clerk be suspicious of the purchase if it cleared her credit card without a hitch or trace of being stolen? Four plain clothes detectives were notified by the clerk and the young woman was approached and brought to the station to be question.

The second incident happened on April 29th, 2013, when 19 year old Trayon Christian wondered into a Barneys store to purchase a $249 Ferragamo belt, only to be treated with the same shopping while black treatment as Kayla Phillips. He was detained by police and taken to the station, but this case is under review by the Internal Affairs Bureau and hass a bending $5 million notice of claim that has been filed. This let’s the city know the young man’s representation intends to sue the NYPD and Barneys for the amount.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/jay-z-new-problem-barneys-deal-article-1.1496058

The Black Community Is Outraged

Naturally, there has been tremendous backlash from the black community regarding these cases. However, the anger is being channeled at Jay Z because he has a multi-million dollar holiday collection planned to be released with Barneys this holiday season. The collection includes a $34,000 watch, a $70 white tshirt, and everything you can imagine inbetween.

There have been reports Jay Z stands to make millions from the collaboration, but in a statement he released all of this is false. In fact, Jay Z says the deal with Barneys is a fundraiser for his Shawn Carter Foundation and scholarships for disadvantaged children to go get a college education.

Nevertheless, the black community feels the association with Barneys is a slap in the face of the very people that have supported Jay Z before he was so accepted and endeared by the greater white society. Jay Z comes from the very places many in the black community find themselves and has ascended to the top of the business world where many wish to go. However, they feel as though he is turning his back on them now.

Part of Jay Z’s Statement

I move and speak based on facts and not emotion. I haven’t made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately? The negligent, erroneous reports and attacks on my character, intentions, and the spirit of this collaboration have forced me into a statement I didn’t want to make without the full facts. Making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project, wouldn’t hurt Barneys or Shawn Carter, but all the people that stand a chance at higher education. I have been working with my team ever since the situation was brought to my attention to get to the bottom of these incidents and at the same time find a solution that doesn’t harm all those that stand to benefit from this collaboration.

Full Statement: http://lifeandtimes.com/a-statement-from-shawn-jay-z-carter

Frankly, i’m baffled by Jay Z’s decision to stand by Barneys in this situation. I get the idea that making an emotional decision is a foolish one, but wow, how disrespectful is this to the black community. They clearly want nothing to do with the black community and his continued involvement puts a stamp of approval on their actions.

But what about the children and the scholarship?

If Jay Z ditched this deal and fundraiser, he wouldn’t have any problem inking another deal and potentially a better deal with a Barneys competitor. They are not the only high end spot that has clout in the world and i’m sure another company would love to suck up the positive media attention for saving the Shawn Carter Foundation for working with an organization like Barneys who clearly doesn’t respect or appreciate the people who put Jay Z where he is now with their hard earned dollars.

I’m ashamed to say I was a Jay Z fan. He really let me down with this one. If he decides to stick with the deal, at the very least he could have come out and said Barneys should apologize, work on diversity training or something. Instead, he decided to button his lip, put his head down and continue with business as usual.

It is times like this we must remember, appreciate and respect the last generation of super stars in the black community who put the people and our struggle before their hustle. I’m talking about the Muhammad Ali’s, Jim Browns, Harry Belefontes, Bob Marleys of the world.

Hope you loved and appreciate their work because they dead in this new generation of takers.