This is very interesting, and of course, sad at the same time. I'm a Korean-American, but because I was adopted by white parents, I have no knowledge of Korean culture so I can kind of see this situation from an outsider's perspective, even though physically I appear Asian.

I've always felt saddened that minorities can't be more understanding of each other, given their commonalities in their minority standing. Although Afrian-Americans may resent Asians as being a so-called "model minority," I can assure that you that this stereotype in no way makes life as a minority any easier in terms of race relations.

Growing up in the south, I've endured my fair share of racism/prejudice, and my sister was even physically assaulted by other non-Asian minorities. I have no doubt that Koreans have prejudices against blacks, and vice versa. Fortunately, now living in the DC area, I've never experienced any problems with DC's African-Americans.

This is a bunch of nonsense. The Korean owned cleaner in my neighborhood in the Southern Maryland suburbs was EXACTLY the same towards me--a white woman--when they ruined my silk blouse. When I pressued the issue (no pun intended) I was basically yelled at and told to take my business elsewhere.

I don't believe people are treated differently because of color--it is simply the urban demographics that allows it to be cast in that manner.

This is a bunch of nonsense. The Korean owned cleaner in my neighborhood in the Southern Maryland suburbs was EXACTLY the same towards me--a white woman--when they ruined my silk blouse. When I pressed the issue (no pun intended) I was basically yelled at and told to take my business elsewhere.

I don't believe people are treated differently because of color--it is simply the urban demographics that allows it to be cast in that manner.

I just read what I posted and must clarify: I don't believe dissatisfied customers are treated differently by Korean dry cleaners solely because of color...I'm not saying that prejudice does not exist.

Based on my experience at the Korean American owned carry out near my office my African American colleagues are not treated with the same amount of respect and do not receive the same amount of service that a bubba American like me gets.

Back several years ago was looking for a driver for my girlfriend for her bday. Thought I would stop my the local golf shop. Didnt know it was owned by a Korean American and didnt care I like to support local merchants. The store owner waited on all his Korean American clients all three of them. He never even acknowledged my presence. I left. Returned a couple of days later with a Korean American colleague. Same deal. Filed a complaint with the county. Took my business to Washington Golf Center. Where I bought the driver, some balls and some clothing for my girlfriend. Local merchant lost a $2k sale. My complaint was upheld as was my suit. Proceeds went herding dog rescue. He is now out of business. Awww too bad.

Why do people assume these behaviors of Korean merchants are evidence of their behavior towards African-Americans? I know a Korean-run store in very-white Falls Church used to routinely sell expired and even spoiled food, and even called the police when a customer brought back expired food and asked for a refund. It's hard for this not to sound racist, but my experience has been that many Koreans take a very lax attitude towards safety regulations, whether it's lead paint removal standards, child car seats, contractors insuring their laborers, etc. Maybe these tensions stem from different cultures and expectations brushing up against each other.

I think the African American community is very sensitive to how they think they are perceived by non-whites and so they demand a special kind of respect, from whites and non-African American minorites that somehow feels satisfactory. If a person decides not to give it in heaps, suddenly they are seen as racist against African Americans. What about the lack of respect given to store owners and workers by African and white Americans? They all seem to forget that you get kindness and respect when you give it.

Gee, Marc, might have been nice if a reporter checked into the background just a little. The LA black community had a significant grievance with the Korean community in 1992. From http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0429/p01s07-ussc.html:

``L.A.'s black community was primed to explode by an earlier incident. Several months prior to the King-beating verdict, Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old black girl, was shot and killed by a Korean grocer in an altercation over a bottle of orange juice.

The grocer had been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death, but received a sentence of probation. For many poorer African Americans, the verdict was an outrage, and became a symbol of what they considered decades of economic colonialism by Korean store owners who operated in black neighborhoods.``

Kill a girl, get probation. What's more ludicrous, that sentence, or a $54 million verdict over a pair of pants? I'll bet Marc has wasted more column inches over THE POSSIBILITY of the latter. And way to deal with Willie Wilson in a fair, balanced manner. What are you doing, trying out for Fox News [they wouldn`t take you]?

The animosity over Mr. Pearson's race is because Mr. Pearson is black, not because he has taken on a pair of Korean immigrants. Becuase Mr. Pearson is black, the Korean cleaners get promoted to ``honest, hard working`` since, by default, blacks are lazy and scheming. All that is left is a WaPo Magazine cover.

Personally, this black man has zero animosity against any Asian. I admire that they buy 100 percent into the American dream, I like that they support each other in opening businesses, and I have never been personally mistreated by any one of them, including cleaners. I support Ms. Rhee`s nominantion and wish her well; if she could excel teaching Baltimore kids, she can do well anywhere. I also recognize that other black people are particularly prejudiced against Koreans and other Asians, but it is disingenuous -- and typical -- of Marc to imply that that prejudice is without foundation. So ironic that people who lambaste blacks for being lazy regularly read the postings of one of the laziest -- both in terms of intellect and effort -- reporters the city has ever seen.

Growing up in the heart of the Dixie over 30 years ago as an Asian-American was, to put it mildly, tough. As a minority among minorities, Asian kids got jabs from just about every other racial groups. What I could not understand at the time was that we were 5 times more likely to be picked on by African-American children than the Caucasian kids, even though Caucasians outnumbered African-Americans by 5 to 1. Asians, who made up less than 5% of the student body, probably served as a convenient outlet for anyone to unload their frustrations on, including some of the black children who might have been victimized by racial slurs themselves from numerically superior white kids.

Of course, there are many contributing factors to this Black-Asian tension we see across the US today. Both sides feel they are disrespected by the other. Too often, both sides feel the other acts in a disrespectable manner. There is an element of envy in some instances if one ethnic group appears more successful than the other. (Often overlooked is the fact that those who advanced farther than the rest worked their tails off to get there, working 16 hours a day/7 days a week, while overcoming language and cultural barriers).

But I can't help but to wonder, if the Asians had numerical advantage over the blacks as whites do over them, would this tension be as strong?

Vaherder, I didn't know sheep played golf.

You know, it's generally not a good idea to take the behavior of one person or a couple of people and extrapolate it to a generalization on the entire ethnic group.

Think about it reversed toward your ethnic group, guys.

Marc, I think you're ignoring the obvious journalist trifecta. Another DC-area Korean made the national news two months ago, his face played non-stop on NBC and every other news outlet for a few days. You might want to go back and sift through the remarks left by readers on Post message boards to learn more about what a tolerant and colorblind city you live in.

I'll save you the long dramatics. This topic or tension as you put it, is bigger than Washington, D.C. It's happening all over America. If you haven't experienced it, you wouldn't understand. Also, there was an Episode in season 2 of the hit TV show Lost where, Michael (black), made a racial statement about Jin (Korean), saying "they don't like us". This is nothing new. It happens and it happens a lot.

Im tired of this story now. Finding people who are mean and people who are thinskinned is pretty easy. Pointing out that people in opposing categories share a racial backgorund is not a significant social observation. Some Koreans are racist. Not news. Like most Americans, many are in love with the tautology that success and status are driven by traits inherent to race. They think (some) black people are poor because black people are shiftless. And some black americans are in love with, rather than trying to reverse, the narrative of their collective total social dispossession. They seek to affirm it in every minute of their lives. (i.e., if the creamer is spoiled, their oppression thus continues unabated.) Not news. But not all Koreans are racist and not all black people see the world in racial slight-vision. Not by a long shot. This is not a conflict between races, however perennial that form of storyline. Its bad journalism to reify every legal conflict into racial terms because of race of the parties, and its still bad journalism (actually, tabloidism) to write about it as a racial story because there is a phenomenon of talking about in racial terms.

It sounds like some poeple are big babies; Americans are bit too obsessive about customer service.

We do most of our shopping in a Korean grocery store. It takes a little getting used to, and almost all the non-Koreans who shop there are immigrants. Many Eastern Europeans, Asians, Africans, Hispanics, all of whom seem to grasp that cheap prices mean bad service, and that there are going to be some risks in that. (Toast and Strawberries lady--are you an infant? Of course you go over your stuff with a fine- toothed comb before paying. Sheesh.)

There are high class versions of every type of service for the sissies of the world. Use them and shut up already.

My husband and I had the opportunity to travel through Asia a few years ago. In Japan, we noticed people weren't much for personal space, but at the same time they were at all times courteous to us and one another. In Thailand, people were extremely warm and friendly, and would often go far out of their way to help strangers.

Korea was like being hit in the face with ice water after Thailand and Japan. The currency exchange person at the airport tried to cheat us. We lost count of how many times the locals tried to cut in front of us in line (and bear in mind, we've been to Italy, where line jumping is a hobby). Even in Tokyo we weren't physically shoved around like we were in Seoul.

Our next door neighbors of thirty years standing are first generation Korean. Their English is still limited, but they are wonderful neighbors. When we told them about our trip, they winced and said, essentially, that to really enjoy Korea you either have to be Korean or travel with Koreans.

Why can't the judge simply find that an offer of $12,000 to settle the matter of missing trousers met the standard of satisfaction guaranteed? And since Mr. Pearson turned down that offer, too bad, he takes nothing.

Koreans are a pretty, uh, brusque lot. I'm Chinese, and they'll come right up to my face and ask "Are you Korean?" I guess it's a culture thing.

I think the Korean American community gets a lot of flack for perceived mistreatment of the black community. But there is very little coverage of mistreatment of Korean Americans by the black community. I think there is blame to go around on both sides.

And I have to say, I don't get the best service from Korean owned beer/wine stores and dry cleaners. But to be honest, I don't get the best service anywhere, unless I shop at Nordstrom's (and I can't afford to shop there much). The service industry as a whole has really gone downhill. And it's not just poor service to black people (though they may get worse treatment). How hard is it to be nice, smile, be patient, and empathize when a customer has a complaint?

Korean store owners have always treated me like a criminal when I walk in their stores. I'm a 33yr old Afro-American man. Very successful and am clean cut, but for some reason, I get followed around by them. And they won't put my change in my hand. And no eye contact. Hmm... they are racist. Plain and simple. I only shop in their stores because of convenience only; their products are often old and stale, and generally suck. But if I need a bottled water because of the heat, I have to wade through the racism to get it. humpfh...Koreans.

Hey Maryland so your father went pre op and your mom is also your sister. The family that plays together stays together punk! Have anything else to say? And golf isnt cerebral enough for my sheep. Why hit a little white ball around when you can torment humans and dogs on the trial field.

And your handicap is? Besides living in Maryland and having an IQ in double digits!

Well, duh! Of course the lawsuit is about a racist judge seeking redress from a lifetime of perceived injustice.

While I agree that significant racial tension between blacks and asians colors many small businesses in the city, I would point out that the dynamic at work bears a strong inclusionary factor as well. In the Bloomingdale neighborhood, for example, I witnessed a shockingly venomous racist diatribe directed at the asian workers at a carry-out (behind bullet-proof glass) by a group of black patrons who felt they were being ignored. After that display, I would be hard-pressed to serve them either (or refrain from calling the police). Yet much of the actual violence in the neighborhood (armed robbery and assault) has been directed at black shopkeepers (Ethiopian immigrants) next door, operating a slightly upscale market that many local blacks do not feel is "for them."

What I feel is missing from the debate over racial tensions is the underlying feeling of exclusion that many urban blacks experience. I believe it is that exclusion that fuels the anger leading to these acts of retaliation (if one assumes that retaliation is even the right explanation). The roots of the exclusion are most certainly in relative poverty - a condition that will only ever be remedied through significant changes in both culture and social policy. That is to say, I am not optimistic.

i want to sue someone. i want $2 billion dollars. How do I get started?

If this episode exposes anything, I think it exposes the fact that black America is perhaps more racist than any other ethnic group in America. African Americans are quick to infuse race into every discussion, quick to play the race card in any conflict, and are often openly hostile to whites, Koreans and latinos, based purely on race. As evidenced in Marc's column, the Rev. Wille Wilson, respected leader in the black community, would probably be wearing a robe and a hood if he had been born white (let me guess, did that Korean shop owner whistle at a black woman?). Racism and discrimination against blacks is obviously a real (if rapidly declining) problem in this country, but African American leaders (and the culture in general) have managed to perversely perpetuate the very racial tension used as an excuse for many of the problems black America faces. Most of America has wised up and is getting past ugly racism--ironic that the one group who has been damaged most by racial tension is also the group that is making it hardest to leave it in the past.

I cannot help but think that the pants case has much more to do with Pearson's personality than his pigmentation. Please remember that the Chungs had refused to accept his business after a prior bad experience and only relented after he pleaded with them to let him continue to bring them his cleaning. They knew this guy, knew him as an individual, not some anonymous African American. And he knew them, had had a dispute with them, knew how they would react to a customer service situation, yet he still asked to be accepted as a customer. Sure, there is value in examining the larger sociological implications of the meeting of cultures, but in this case much more can explained by simply stating the obvious- Judge Pearson, while intelligent and passionate, is obsessive and lacks all sense of proportion. Just slightly nuttier than your average jar of crunchy Jif.

Black people, White People, Asians, Jews, blah blah blah...

Face it, everyone has issues. Just look around our city. There is something to dislike about every group, and everyone likes to blame the "other" without recognizing their own failings.

Human Beings, to quote the late Mr. Vonnegut,"are about 1,000 times dumber and meaner that they think they are."

Koreans can be nice and a pain like most people but they have different culture. I know they treat filipinos in their country like dirt. I was stranded once in korea and they separted all the filipinos at the airport from other passengers and myself and confisicated their passports until the could find another flight for them to leave on.

This discussion actually alludes to an issue that's been bothering me for decades. I've been to a lot of so-called "diversity training" over the years, and it's always couched in wan generalities that do very little to help the discussion of racial and ethnic differences. What we really need is some sort of "cultural codebook" that tells us that Koreans prefer not to touch strangers and will therefore put change on the counter rather than in the customer's hand, and that African Americans think it's disrespectful not to look someone in the eye, and that some Latinos think it's disrespectful to look directly in the eye someone in authority, and so on. No wonder we misunderstand each other!

Given that so many Korean immigrants started businesses soon after their arrival in this country, I wonder what their level of knowledge about basic American business values was. Had they ever heard of "the customer is always right" or does such a concept not exist in their homeland (as it hardly exists here anymore)? Certainly arguing with customers rather than trying to reach a compromise, as a number of posters have reported, suggests a different approach to running a business than most native-born Americans expect. Where does licensing come into the picture? Should anyone requesting a retail business license be required to take a test on standard business practices? What's the role of the business association representing Korean-American retailers?

Ask nearly any store owner in SE or NE, regardless of race, if they have been robbed or vandalized. They will answer "yes". By whom? An African-American. Stereotype??? Could be, but for those of you who have never had a gun pointed at you by an African-american kid...it makes it hard to just be nice and trust everyone. Believe me, I have tried and tried.
Instead of being mad at Koreans, how about being mad at those African-Americans who everyday perpetuate the stereotype?!?! The crackhead driver, the anne arundel school incident, every news story from PG county. It is time to stop blaming the media, society, other minorities, pres. bush and just try to live to a higher standard. It is obvious that if racism still lingers after all these years, you are going to have to start looking at yourselves and your own attitudes to change the perception.

Koreans businessowners are just horrible to all their customers. They should get out of our country and do business elsewhere. There are other ethnic groups that could do a far better job at customer service. And other ethnic groups that would be more of a pleasure to work with. Others ethnic groups that would at least act like they WANT to work and do business with you. They just piss me off.

This collection of comments reminds me of Spike Lee's brilliant work in Do The Right Thing, and reprised in 24 Hours - the montage of people of different ethnicities and different neighborhoods spouting their anger - and sometime just bile-about every other group...

The bottom line (as I'd like to think Spike meant it) is that everybody has a beef against everybody if you let yourself think that way -- and bad things happen when too many of us do.

Some people seemed surprised by the actions
and reactions. This is nothing new.
Look at our collective histories.
The human race is at once brilliant and
pathetic. Because none of us can muster the fortitude to be the best we can be at all times this is the result.

It is interesting to me that people will

(1) acknowledge there are differences between ethnic groups that are causing conflicts and then

(2) insist that the historical heritage of ethnic groups must not only be allowed to continue but also must be taught to our children in school, thus maintaining the very problems we are experiencing.

Anybody else see the irony?

Korean businessowners are not nice people. I bet their families don't even like them.

(Well, their families like them for the boatloads of mony they bring in, but not beacuse they treat people fairly and have a concept of human compassion)

You know, if you really dislike a shop-owner that much, you can always choose not to shop from them. I mean, if nobody shopped at a place, it would basically go out of business right? So you can infer that because a place that you don't like stays in business, it is because people continue to shop there.

So if you dislike a shop because you feel the shop-owner is rude or racist but continue to shop there, then it is clear that you feel convenience is more important than your principles. You deserve no compensation for this. If you stop shopping there, but it continues to operate because others continue to give it business, then perhaps you should consider that the problem exists between you and the shop-owner, not between your race and the owner's race.

Racism is ok if you're African American. Didn't anyone explain? Just take a look at the Post coverage of Fenty's cabinet. Because we're in a "black majority city" the cabinet "lacks color" if any other color but brown is included. Louis Farrakhan is laughing his ass off.

Small business owners working in poor, high crime areas tend to be suspicious and very, very vigilant against being ripped off. They operate on razor thin margins, and can't afford to take any more losses than absolutely necessary. They don't provide the same level of customer service that you'd find in a business serving more affluent customers. They "play the odds" by paying particular attention to people who strike them as suspicious, or simply fit the same demographic, economic and behavioral profile as those who've ripped them off before or who have a reputation for ripping off other small businesses in the area.

None of this is new, or unique to Korean businesses in urban areas. It's been going on as long as people have tried to eke out a living with low-margin businesses in lower-income areas. The truth is, if you or I tried to run the same store for a few years, we'd end up doing business in pretty much the same way.

Cultural differences simply increase the opportunities for misunderstanding.

We all need to grow up, though. There are some businesses I don't shop at, simply because there are some people I don't like doing business with. They may be rude, or incompetent, or simply not honest.

That's not grounds for an absurd lawsuit, or an excuse for some sort of battle between races. Shop, or don't shop. If enough people don't shop, they'll change or go belly up. But for goodness sakes, don't make the ordinary annoyances of life out to be more than they are. That ultimately leads to the kind of insane tit-for-tat feuding that tears countries up all over the world.

Given that so many Korean immigrants started businesses soon after their arrival in this country, I wonder what their level of knowledge about basic American business values was. Had they ever heard of "the customer is always right" or does such a concept not exist in their homeland (as it hardly exists here anymore)? Certainly arguing with customers rather than trying to reach a compromise, as a number of posters have reported, suggests a different approach to running a business than most native-born Americans expect. Where does licensing come into the picture? Should anyone requesting a retail business license be required to take a test on standard business practices? What's the role of the business association representing Korean-American retailers?

I grew up with Korean immigrants whose parents were diplomats, professors and scientists- great people and absolutely had no problem fitting in to US culture and society except for that Kimchi smell. ;-) I worked in an office building that had a wonderful deli until the owners sold it to Korean immigrants. Within 30 days it was a disaster. They turned off the air conditioning at night and all the chocolate melted and they refused to refund my money or throw out the damaged candy. In a week everyone boycotted the candy, so it never got replaced. The older couple who ran the deli ordered amazing rye breads and rolls from a bakery in Baltimore, the Korean couple bought their bread at Costco and tried to foist white bread off on every sandwich- a reuben needs rye bread, period. They started charging extra for a pickle spear. They turned the refrigerator down so the sodas weren't cold. They sold Costco muffins for $1 each and I TOLD THEM that people can go to Costco and buy the muffins themselves, they needed to find a different supplier of muffins or bake their own. My office went from going to that deli for lunch every day and ordering trays from them to NEVER going at all and ordering from other places. I talked to them many times about what they needed to improve, but they always told me that "everything same, everything same" as the old owners. Their business, clearly NOTHING like the original place collapsed. Their loss, but our office's loss too. Because so many Koreans are so different from each other, I do not use this to paint an entire culture, but then again, my wife and others tell the same story. If I went to a Korean church, I'd make sure someone did a seminar on business ownership and customer service. And also, I knew wonderful Korean dry cleaners who were great people, but got too expensive to use ($6 to clean pants).

I just stopped by a Korean-owned breakfast/lunch place near Pennsylvania and 20th that I frequent largely because they are so friendly, good-natured, and efficient. I'm white, but there was an African-American guy in front of me---a laborer wearing one of those black lifting trusses---and they smiled, called him sir, and treated him with the same respect they do all their customers, who are a remarkably multi-ethnic group.

I've seen African-Americans give them a hard time about little things like how many strips of bacon they put on their sandwich, or be unnecessarily rude to them about a misunderstood or mistaken order, and they respond with a degree of patience and accommodation that I couldn't reasonably expect of anyone.

I've gotten lousy service and great service from people of many racial and ethnic groups. But if you ask me for the best example of good, friendly service I can think of, the Korean sandwich place wins hands-down. I assume their African-American, African, Latin American, Asian, white, Arabic, and whatever customers wouldn't keep going there if they didn't feel respected too, and my observation is that everyone is treated well.

Anyone ever seen that statue of the lady who's holding a scale in one hand and a book in the other, and she's blindfolded? I think I may have read somewhere that she's supposed to, oh I don't know, represent justice or something.

Please--even by his own accounts, this is not a racial issue. He is supposedly suing "on behalf of consumers everywhere." (I personally do not remember ever asking him to do or say anything on my behalf, but I bet I'm not going to see any portion of his $54m either.)

Any chance this guy is just suit-happy? The only racial comments were made by spectators not involved in this case (a witness' mockery of an Asian accent notwithstanding).

Why does everything have to be about race? I've heard more racial BS with regard to this case than I did about Cho Seung-Hui, and that guy KILLED people (not that racial comments would be appropriate there either...mental instability knows no color). All these people did was lose his pants for a few days, try to give them back, give him a second chance when he begged to be allowed back in their store, offer him three separate, generous settlements...wait, why does this guy have a case?

I really hope the judge presiding over this case is more color-blind than its spectators.

As you can see, our little Melting Pot isn't very flavorful. There are some flavors that are simply not palatable when mixed.

So what's the problem, DCer? Not all Koreans are the same - some work hard, pay attention to the needs of the people around them, and make it - others don't.

Not all Anglos are the same - some work hard, pay attention to the people around them, and get ahead - others don't. Same for Latinos - some do a great job, and build great lives - others don't. Same for blacks - some work hard, pay attention to how they treat other people, and are very successful - others don't.

Some people are lousy at business (heck, some are lousy at life in general). That's got nothing to do with being Korean (though trying to make it in a strange country, far from home, doesn't make life any easier). It's also no excuse for the nut Pearson to make a non-horse equine out of himself.

Did anyone mention "Do the Right Thing"? If you're not familiar with that film, and are interested in these issues, it's a must-see. Spike Lee creates situations and dialogue that a white director could never have gotten away with without being called racist. Like the character who basically tells his buddies who can't stop complaining about the Korean grocer to either shop somewhere else or shut up.

"Very successful and am clean cut, but for some reason, I get followed around by them."

Oh, this happens to everyone. Koreans aren't the only ones who do it, either. It happens in small businesses the most, because the proprietors have more of a vested interest in keeping shrinkage (costs from theft, vandalism, inventory loss, etc.) low. The only place it doesn't really happen is Safeway, Target, and any department store--good luck finding ANYONE to help/follow you around in there.

If I owned a liquor store, I'd follow everyone around too, but I have to admit to one stereotype: I'd probably pay more attention to college-age kids than anyone else.

I think in general, community in U.S. and across the world, where there are African decents, other non-African decents, are warey about because of the high profile crimes, brutality, uncivilized acts by these group affecting them. It is not about discriminating about skin color only. It is about how the society has learned over the years, this group just do thing are danger or harmful to them in extraordinary way. Therefore, wherever you see African presents, people are cautious. Because, they are either innocent or they are the worse criminal of some kind. You name it. One out of five Black men have a history of criminal record. Many serious crimes such as rapes, assaults, rubbery, drive by shooting, social unrest arise from the Black community. Even African decent have the small person in the total population. Represent the majority in prision time, correctional facilities, juvenille hall, mental facility.

It is hard for the non-African society to live in this kind of live style. Image if NY, Boston, Miami, and other big cities withouth Black, you can image how peaceful and less danger place to live? Well, Hispanics or Asian gangs, but they hardly committe crimes against outside races. But, most Black crime against races other than themselves. That's creating a hate!

Feedback

I think I recall from one of the stories on this case that the Korean dry cleaners had already paid him for another lost clothing complaint years ago and didn't want his business any more (did they dispute the claim but pay him anyway to make him happy?), but that he convinced them to keep serving him (he must have been satisfied).

And now they're paying the price. Surely if they had refused to clean his clothes after the previous incident he would have sued them over that too. For crying out loud, they offered him $12,000 and he wouldn't take it! How much more satisfaction can you provide?

But I digress. Pearson's actions can't be understood as anything but an obsessive, vindictive attempt to harrass them and ruin their business. Nowhere in his lawsuit, from what I've read at least, does he ever suggest that this is a civil rights or racism case. In fact, he himself portrays it as a consumer crusade on behalf of all consumers. Well, not on behalf of me. I'm embarrassed for my city and my country that this story has been used to make the U.S. an international laughingstock. The fact that he presses on, with no embarrassment, shame, or apparent self-awareness at all, is a pretty good indication of what kind of individual he is.

I gotta agree with the others, just because you have the means to run a small business does not mean you SHOULD.

I can recount several business just like DCer mentioned. They were great places, promptly ruined by the new cost cutting owners.

Having said that I also realize how tough they have it running the types of businesses they run in the locations they run them in.

But as a person with a decade of retail management experience, they are pretty bad at customer service, as a group.

Not that black people are much better, and I say that as criticism of my own people.

So what's the problem, DCer? Not all Koreans are the same...

Some people are lousy at business (heck, some are lousy at life in general). That's got nothing to do with being Korean (though trying to make it in a strange country, far from home, doesn't make life any easier).
...
---------

Did I not mention that a Korean institution such as a church run seminars on good customer service? That is the solution to the problem. I think you missed my point, my office building had one single deli, not room for two, and the couple who bought it did so with no training in how to run it correctly and total disregard for normal, educated conversations about what we wanted in that deli. They lost big time and we also lost a great deli, THAT IS THE PROBLEM! The fact that so many people have repeated the same story to me makes me think that there is a lack of peer training in the Korean business community that is hurting the public's impression of Korean businesses. It's up to them to take positive action. I gave them serious business advice and they refused it. I hope any local immigrant community business group reviews these comments for the validity they hold- that food is a matter of taste and if you can't understand a different culture yet do not take over a beloved restaurant because you will lose money.

I am a 56 y.o. WASP male who lives in North Arlington. The drycleaner/tailor I use in my neighborhood is owned by Korean-Americans. I have never seen the owners treat their customers of any "flavor"- white, black, Korean, Indian, Hispanic, etc male/female, young/old poorly nor have I seen the customers treat the owners poorly.

Guess it depends on individual circumstances so you can't stereotype or I'm lucky in my surroundings.

Racial tension does exist. There are ton of factors behind this, but I would like to mention couple that just sprung to my mind first. I think the tension obviously has a lot to do with cultural differences, but also psychological effect from physical difference.

Many Asians, Koreans included, put emphasis on formalities when meeting people; bowing, avoiding direct eye contact, minimal physical contact, gentle tone of voice, etc. Whereas African Americans greet each other more heartily, with generous hugs and cheerful welcomes. This might seem like a stereotypical description, but this is something I constantly observe in social settings. This total contrast in behavior, I think, put them at odds right off the bat.

Also, many Asians are smaller in physical stature than African Americans, and Caucasians, a factor which I think puts them on the defensive psychologically.

So when you look at a store setting, run by Asian person, concerned with social formalities and already intimidated to some extent by physical difference, dealing with larger customers who are used to totally different social mannerisms, we are bound to have totally unintentional misunderstanding and conflicts.

Having said that, I think the best course of action is not to point fingers at each other with blame, but make genuine effort to understand each other. Get to know each other's culture. Tolerate idiosyncrasies we perceive in each other. I think everyone, regardless of race, should try harder in this regard.

Also, as far as I can tell, Pearson's case is not about race. If Pearson had history of picking on Korean or Asian merchants, then that might be the case. But this is a totally isolated incident. This case has to do with a merchant, who may have mistreated their customer, and a customer, who is making completely outrageous demand on account of his outrage.

Pearson should have accepted $12,000 settlement offer. His ridiculous pursuit of this lawsuit is not only causing frivolous lawsuit debate, but also starting this sensitive debate about racial tension, and possibly inflaming it.

Personally, I think Pearson is an idiot. Idiocy has nothing to do with race.

Korens and Blacks
Racial tension in DC
Noone wants Pant suits.

The Toast and Strawberries woman amuses me, particularly because my girlfriend had an episode with her, where she (my gf) was trying to do some volunteer work at T and S and was treated very unprofessionally and rudely. Miss T and S has a very big ego. She exudes unlikeability...

Blacks supporting Pearson is reflective of the black idiots in DC. These same morrons elected a crack addict to be mayor several times over. Worry about your kids shooting up neigborhoods and less about dry cleaning.

People make bad business decisions every day - and their businesses fail as a result. That's how the market works.

Sure, more opportunities for business education would be good - regardless of race, creed, culture or national origin. Of course, the truth is most people won't take advantage of them. (The other truth is that people are often inundated by unsolicited business advice, some of which is good, and some of which is terrible. In this case, you were likely just one more.)

You're discussing this as if ethnic "communities" are the players involved, with duties and obligations to each other. That's not the case. Specific, individual people are the business owners and customers in these situations. Sure, it would be great if a church or community center offered some classes. But there's no monolithic Korean community to be the "them" that "it's up to . . . to take positive action."

And you have no right to demand that the deli you love never be sold, change, or stay in business. Owners want to retire, new owners think they can build a better (or more profitable) mousetrap, and stuff happens.

I think the question should be Why aren't black entrepenuers taking advantage of this situation to provide the type of stores with the level of respect and service that they desire? Complaining about Koreans is not changing the situation.

As an African American woman--you are sensitive to what may be racism. But I believe these cases mostly are about bad customer service. And there is ways to demand better customer service in terms of what speaks to the bottem line. It is not good customer service to speak in XYZ manner. One customer satisfied spurs many--one customer dissatisfied turns away even more.

But I travel--and have been to many places where bad customer service can come from all hues.

People from a different county in general have a different expectation of customer service based on the culture of the original country. And it has nothing to do with what you look or what they look like.

I once purchased an ice cream cone from a shopping mall in a tourist town. I had walked a bit away when I realize the cone was dripping down my arm. In my state I asked the nearest shop keeper for a napkin. In a heavily accented voice she said--no--why did you not ask the store you bought it from and proceeded to chatise me for my poor foresight. I saw she had no customers. And to her it was a very reasonable assertation. A few months later I return to the same town and she had gone out of business by then.

Where she was from people go in buy what they want and leave. The concept of competing for customers may be a new one. In other places window shopping is rude --so walking around a store may be met with suspicion.

The tourism bureau recognized this issue and tried a series of customer service trainings for their mostly immigrant merchants. Tourist dollars are important and so are the immigrant business owners who provided a much needed function.

In order for both to be successful they needed to step in. I could have provide a hundred funny stories. The standard service expectation we have as American are not what is expected all over the world, from how long you should wait, refunds and how many free packets of ketchup.

As an African American woman--you are sensitive to what may be racism. But I believe these cases mostly are about bad customer service. And there is ways to demand better customer service in terms of what speaks to the bottem line. It is not good customer service to speak in XYZ manner. One customer satisfied spurs many--one customer dissatisfied turns away even more.

But I travel--and have been to many places where bad customer service can come from all hues.

People from a different county in general have a different expectation of customer service based on the culture of the original country. And it has nothing to do with what you look or what they look like.

I once purchased an ice cream cone from a shopping mall in a tourist town. I had walked a bit away when I realize the cone was dripping down my arm. In my state I asked the nearest shop keeper for a napkin. In a heavily accented voice she said--no--why did you not ask the store you bought it from and proceeded to chatise me for my poor foresight. I saw she had no customers. And to her it was a very reasonable assertation. A few months later I return to the same town and she had gone out of business by then.

Where she was from people go in buy what they want and leave. The concept of competing for customers may be a new one. In other places window shopping is rude --so walking around a store may be met with suspicion.

The tourism bureau recognized this issue and tried a series of customer service trainings for their mostly immigrant merchants. Tourist dollars are important and so are the immigrant business owners who provided a much needed function.

In order for both to be successful they needed to step in. I could have provide a hundred funny stories. The standard service expectation we have as American are not what is expected all over the world, from how long you should wait, refunds and how many free packets of ketchup.

"Pearson should have accepted $12,000 settlement offer."

Pearson should go away and shut up. He's made a nationally recognized idiot of himself. If we want to talk "should have," he should have asked for the cleaners to find the pants or replace them - period.

I am amazed at all the "one time I . . ." stories that are somehow being peddled as universal truths about Koreans.

Since it's apparently acceptable, here's mine: One time I was walking down the street when a about 5 year old black kid pointed at me and said to his dad, "Look, a chink". His dad just laughed. So now I think all black people 5 years old and older think that I'm a "chink".

Sound ridiculous? Of course it is, and that's why I don't actually believe that. But I wanted to illustrate the absolute ignorance behind comments such as the one from May that said: "Korean businessowners are not nice people. I bet their families don't even like them. (Well, their families like them for the boatloads of mony they bring in, but not beacuse they treat people fairly and have a concept of human compassion)"

How about a black store owner that yelled at my friend as he walked by, "Get out of our neighborhood cracker!" while he was headed to the Anacostia metro? So now do I think all black business owners are bad people with loveless lives? No.

So come on May, how ignorant are you? Seriously. And I'm calling out the other's with similarly ignorant posts, like Ethos and Fred.

We have a large Central American contingent near my house, and a Latin market (Korean-owned) that serves as their grocery/convenience store. Yes, the prices are higher, and yes, sometimes the merchandise is past its pull date. We shop there when we need ingredients not readily available at our Safeway or Giant (ripe plantains, for example). The owners aren't what I would call overly friendly -- maybe better characterized as crusty, but I am there to buy food, not socialize. No complaints from the customers, although I do wonder why so many non-Korean ethnic enclaves have Korean businesses that they support, rather than their own. Seems to me that America is the land of opportunity, and the Koreans are answering the knocking.

And you have no right to demand that the deli you love never be sold, change, or stay in business.
----

yes I do! It's called "Commercial Zoning." It happens every day. That's how it works in the USA. Why is this a confusion to some entrepreneurs, I will never know.

Secondly, the Korean bBusiness community has attended every day of the trial. They introduced the idea of an immigrant or ethnic business association TO ME via their PR, I did not create that in my mind- they are the people promoting themselves as a voice for their community. So now when I acknowledge them you want to paint it like they don't exist? What can that even mean?

Name of the group attending the trial is the Korean Dry Cleaners Association and they have a website at:
http://www.kdla.org/
Much respect to them for reviewing this trial as an issue of their concern.

Ha - good one Maryland! Vaherder likes to make up "true stories" that conveniently support his ignorant viewpoint of the day.

That's funny vaherder - for someone that claims to work so hard herding sheep and training collies, you sure are on the computer an awful lot in the middle of the day. Now, suddenly, you also have an office and co-workers, and are a terrific golfer. If it something smells like sheep manure...

Good topic Marc, with lots of posts. I especially enjoy the "your momma" type of comments here. Some seem well thought out, some not so much, but all are enjoyable to a degree.

If only you had added something about gun control we would be trying to crash the WAPO server with the responses.

All races are the same. These anecdotes about all these jerks are the proof. There are Korean jerks and there are African American jerks. There are jerks in every race. Living in this country, everyone should have received some kind of mistreatment by some jerk from some race. Should the entire race be judged by these jerks? Of course not. Now can we just get on with it?

I can't believe people actually think this is an race issue. If you were mistreated by one of those jerks from whichever race, then that's between you and that jerk. That jerk also deserves strong condemnation for lack of courtesy and humility.

But barring actual physical harm or intentional abuse, no mistreatment by a small store owner is worth $54 million dollars. There are people suffering and dying all over the world due to lack of resources; Africa, North Korea, Iraq, you name it. Do you know what $54 million could do for these people? One man, who got mistreated by a dry cleaner over pair of pants, does not deserve $54 million. That's the issue here, not the race.

DCer, you need to learn a bit more about zoning laws. They can be used to prohibit certain types of uses for a location, such as using a residential lot for a coal-fired power plant, or putting a strip club next to a school. They can also be used to prohibit certain architectural changes - such as placing a 30-foot neon sign on the front of a historic building.

But they do not and cannot require that a specific business be maintained at a specific location forever, without change in products, services, management or ownership.

Your statement is flat out wrong. Depending on the zoning laws, you can object to your deli being converted into a bar or a brothel, but you have no legal right to stop the owner from selling it, or simply closing his doors.

Unless, of course, you've entered into a contract with him requiring him to remain in business at that location for a specified minimum period of time? Thought not.

Members of the Korean business community are, of course, very interested in the trial and the way it may reflect on Koreans doing business in the area. They are not, however, a collective entity (like, for example, a corporation or a local government) that has any rights or obligations as a separate entity in this case. That's a bit like saying the black community has a collective responsibility for the insanity that Mr. Pearson is perpetrating.

Bottom line - when it comes to things like a neighborhood deli going belly up, it's not all about you. In fact, it's not about you at all.

Washington Golf Center is owned by a Korean-American.

correction: Washington Golf Centers are owned by Korean-Americans. I believe there are several owners.

This issue is not about racism.

This is about customer service--and the fact that Koreans have no concept of what customer service is.

As a 50-something African-American man, I have long felt that Korean merchants in predominantly black neighborhoods see us only as base commerce - taking our money while not wanting to have anything else to do with us. These merchnats often have no stake or ties in the communites where their businesses are located and tend to be clannish. About a decade ago, I went into a convenience store owned by a Korean proprietor to purchase a lottery ticket. I gave the merchant a $20 dollar bill and only got back change for a $10. When I, without rancor, pointed out that I hadn't rceived my proper change the merchant started yelling and screaming and told be I was "banned" from his store. When I tried to further press my case, he came from behind the counter and grabbed me trying to forcibly usher me from his store while still screaming and thretaening to have me arrested. Fortunately, a passing police officer saw the scene and stopped. I was asked what happened and said I was only trying to get my correct change. The shop owner called me a "liar and a thief," slammed and locked his store and refused to talk with the officer. These merchants need to be more sensitive to the clientelle whose money they so willingly take.

Hey there, Korean in Beltsville, you said "How about a black store owner that yelled at my friend as he walked by, "Get out of our neighborhood cracker!" while he was headed to the Anacostia metro? So now do I think all black business owners are bad people with loveless lives? No."

The reason he yelled that at your friend is because he knows when the white people start moving in, he will soon to be forced to leave. You can not deny that gentrification is real. He was just showing his emotion to what will be happening to him shortly. White folks can live anywhere they want, Blacks can't.

Current list of stupid stereotypes:
1. Koreans are rude, racist, and don't get customer service (the concept of customer service, by the way, is a load of crap. the customer is not always right).
2. Young black men are violent criminals.
3. Jews are money-grubbing.
4. Old people don't tip.
5. Italians/Russians are all mobsters.
6. The Irish national pastimes are drunkenness and wife-beating.

And don't even get me started on those West Virginians and Mormons.

Hey Will, I agreee with your list of "stupid stereotypes".

Except for number 1 that one is true.

I really hope this is some sort of secret test to see how many people here are willing to use a few personal examples to justify their racism.

Bottom line - when it comes to things like a neighborhood deli going belly up, it's not all about you. In fact, it's not about you at all.
---
If it's not about the customer then why is it a retail business? No, I stand by my comments that you took a little too literally, hardy har har.

How many times have I bid on a proposal knowing that I had to subcontract out work I didn't want to do because the customer demanded it? half the time? That is business and to do otherwise is some weird hobby someone is trying to make money at and not a real business.

In the district the ANCs get involved in tighter zoning than just big box stores and liquor licenses. So what you wrote does not match reality, but I'm hardly that pedantic.

WHAT?! When were those laws permitting people of any race to live where they want repealed? I must have been sleeping on that one.

People can live where they want.
Let's not confuse race with soci-economics.
If you can afford a home in a neighborhood where you want to live, by all means, make an offer. Realtors, lenders, et al know that it is illegal for them to discriminate.

People may discriminate, but idiocy does not.
(To be honest with you, I thought Pearson was silly before I even knew the color of his skin.)

It's amazing to see how people view Black-Korean tensions and the supposed racism and ignorance of Koreans.

First, to generalize all Koreans as a lump sum and refer to them all is racist and ignorant is quite racist and ignorant in and of itself.

Second, the outcry that Koreans are ignorant is amazing considering that more then 2/3 of Americans are unable to locate Great Britain on a map (this fact is according to Michael Moore). I'm willing to bet that none of the posters here (unless they are Korean) know who the name of the current sitting President of the Republic of Korea.

Third, Korean businesses as a whole are not all rude and racist. There is a US federal Circuit Court of Appeals case where a man tried to testify as an expert that all Korean businessmen are corrupt. Needless to say, the Court found that testimony to be completely bogus.

I am a Korean-American, one that grew up both in California and South Carolina. I have been made fun of for my skin color by both Whites and Blacks. We see it everywhere. Rosie O'Donnell on her show made fun of Asians as a people that only say "ching chong chong." I have had Whites and Blacks say that to me even though I am fluent in Korean, English, and Russian. The sad part of it is that those who do taunt me probably would not be able to live even a month in a different society where English is not spoken.

Custom Cleaners = Korean owners = Mistreats customers = All Korean businesses mistreat customers?

Roy Pearson = African American = Lacks common sense = All African Americans lack common sense?

Missing pair of pants + poor customer service = $54 million compensation?

for those too young to remember, the 60s movie The Pawnbroker is an excellent look at the tensions/dynamic of an "outsider" running a business in the inner city.

Vaherder, by the way, Washington Golf Center is also Korean-owned as is Golfdom.

Will, I'd add a number 7 to your post.

7. Young people don't tip.

I don't look so much at the races of the people involved. My experience with merchants of all stripes is that they are greedy, disrespectful, and arrogant, and if I could actually LIVE without having to patronize any of them, I would. My last big offenders were Triple A and the Riden-Bringhurst management company. I'd like to sic the judge on them.

Hell is other people.

Yes, there are rude Korean merchants but there are also many, many kind Korean merchants.
Years ago, a Korean owned convenience store was robbed in South Central Los Angeles. The mother was shot and later died. As a result of the support from the neighborhood, her funeral was moved to South Central where over 1400 people from the neighborhood came to pay their last respects to the woman whom they ALL called Mama.
Let's try to be openminded. There are all sorts of people. Period.

I'm willing to bet that none of the posters here (unless they are Korean) know who the name of the current sitting President of the Republic of Korea.
----

Is this a joke??? Everyone knows Kim Jong Il!

(that's a joke, btw)

I wonder why there aren't many black-owned & operated dry-cleaning businesses.

Why should anyone be surprised that racism is alive and well in 2007, when the law of the land for the last 40 years has been "your race determines how the law impacts you"?
Martin Luther King's ideology endorsed and promoted a color-blind society; his sociological descendents abandoned his ideology many decades ago.

Why should anyone be surprised that racism is alive and well in 2007, when the law of the land for the last 40 years has been "your race determines how the law impacts you"?
Martin Luther King's ideology endorsed and promoted a color-blind society; his sociological descendents abandoned his ideology many decades ago.

Surprisingly, I agree with both sides on most observations. One thing most will probably not agree with me on is this: every single ethnic group, has less respect for african-americans than they do any other group. No group in this country is treated worse than african-americans (except historically native americans). I've experienced it. The only solution is for my people, african-americans, to do for self. Since that isn't going to happen, we have to deal with the white supremacist racism that is inculcated in every other group in this country. Do for self, we will get respect then. Anything less, we'll be treated to good ole american racism.

Surprisingly, I agree with both sides on most observations. One thing most will probably not agree with me on is this: every single ethnic group, has less respect for african-americans than they do any other group. No group in this country is treated worse than african-americans (except historically native americans). I've experienced it. The only solution is for my people, african-americans, to do for self. Since that isn't going to happen, we have to deal with the white supremacist racism that is inculcated in every other group in this country. Do for self, we will get respect then. Anything less, we'll be treated to good ole american racism.

We are a sad lot.
No wonder the Creator has left us to ourselves.

Hi there Rural view. You said"

"I wonder why there aren't many black-owned & operated dry-cleaning businesses."

It is because the Koreans have saturated the dry-cleaning business. They've taken it over and locked other races out. Just like all the pharmacists are Jamaicans! (Ever seen a Korean Pharmacist?)

Besides, would you even go to a Black-owned drycleaner in the first place? Please.

C'mon dcbill, ELEVEN posts of the same thing? Jeesh, learn to use the c.o.m.p.u.t.e.r

To use a delicate country expression, Pearson is a "one-eyed pants snake". I hear these snakes are found on every continent and in a full range of colors.

Is dcbill and vaherder the same person?

DCer, get a life.

"If it's not about the customer then why is it a retail business?"

It's a retail business to make money for the owner. To do that successfully, it has to provide a product or service that people are willing to pay for. But the "the customer is always right" is just a convenient hyperbole that's used to underscore the importance of good customer service for businesses that want to attract and retain customers - it's not universally true, and it's certainly not a legal or moral principle that customers can use to claim as a "right" any fool thing they want.

When an owner wants to retire, or take up another venture, the decision about whether to sell has nothing to do with the customer. When a business is failing, the decision about whether to close or restructure is definitely not about the needs of the customer - it's all about what's possible, what makes the most financial sense for the owner, and what is necessary to satisfy the claims of any creditors.

When a small business goes belly up, our sympathy should be with the owners who lose their livelyhood, the landlord that loses rent, and the suppliers and other creditors who likely will not be fully paid - not with someone who's simply forced to find another deli.

"In the district the ANCs get involved in tighter zoning than just big box stores and liquor licenses. So what you wrote does not match reality, but I'm hardly that pedantic."

No, you're not pedantic - you're simply wrong.

A) I said that "you have no right to demand that the deli you love never be sold, change, or stay in business."

B) You responded by saying "yes I do! It's called 'Commercial Zoning.' It happens every day."

DC has tough zoning laws - but they do not:

1) Prohibit a business owner from selling his or her property;

2) Prohibit a business owner from changing the recipe for a sandwich, the supplier for a muffin, the way they train sales staff, or the quality of the help they hire; or

3) Prohibit a business owner from going out of business.

The original deli owners were completely within their legal rights to sell. The new owners were completely within their legal rights to change the suppliers for the food they offered (no matter how ill-advised it might have been). The new owners are completely within their legal rights to close their doors. Zoning laws have nothing to do with any of that.

To sum up, you had no right to demand that the deli:
- never be sold;
- never change; or
- stay in business.

All of your pontificating about zoning laws, and how unfortunate you are to have lost your favorite deli, doesn't change that.

When someone asks you to spend money at their establishment, it's about you. When they're deciding whether or not to sell or close, it's got nothing to do with you - and you have no legal or moral standing gripe about it.

"Why should anyone be surprised that racism is alive and well in 2007, when the law of the land for the last 40 years has been "your race determines how the law impacts you"?"

Gotta call you on this one. Other than affirmative action and other civil rights legislation, please cite a single example of a state or local law that specifies a right, duty, obligation or penalty that is explicitly tied to race.

access: the right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership)
Socio-economic class: a broad group in society having common economic, cultural, or political status.
Mr. Jones' assertion is:
"Blacks in these urban settings, for the most part, rely solely on Korean establishments in their neighborhoods. This is due to access and ultimately, their socio-economic status.

I'm unaware of any law or organization that is refusing anyone the right to open and own a business in the district, especially a dry cleaners. So access is not a reason for reliance.
Political status? There are more registered African-American voters in the district than any other social class, so its not that they lack political clout in the district.
Economics? Certainly there are large numbers of African-Americans living below the poverty line in the district, but aren't there also many who are affluent and quite capable of investing in a dry cleaning business?
So if any portion of Mr. Jones' theory is correct its that the reason for the reliance is cultural. Cultural denotes that the problem lies within and not in blaming someone else for your plight. It also denotes that its something that you can recognize and overcome.
If it is the Korean's fault that they have cultural short comings on how to treat patrons, then who's fault is the cultural short comings of the people reliant on their services?

Hey, Demos. You must be white. The laws are written supposedly for everybody, but HOW those laws are enforced directly impact people of the Afro-American race. For example, the law says you can't drive drunk, period. Now the cops that enforce that law can (and do) target people of a certain race. And even when the person they pull over is white, their sentence is just a slap on the wrist (a la, Paris Hilton). I can actually go on forever about how laws affect race. I mean there was a law that a black person and a white person couln't get married! nuf said.

The Asian merchants I have encounted are all the same. They become very aggressive, make outrageous justifications, and are not customer service orientated to say the least after ruining your items. I am a black women born and raised in DC. Recently, I took my down comforter to a cleaners in NE. The sign read EXPERTS in cleaning down comforters. I contemplated several weeks prior to taking my comforter there. I asked a women receiving my comforter several times, will my comforter look the same, the fabric the same and other questions. She told me not to worry they clean comforters all the time. I said okay. When I retrieved my down comforter, it was flatter than a pancake. I mentioned to the man that my comforter was not like this went I bought it in. He had all these justifications, as they all do when approached about their wrongdoing. I asked that he put it back in the dryer to perhaps fluff the feathers. I contacted an attorney prior to going to retrieve my comforter the following day. I was advised to walk out with my comforter if it was not up to par. Do not pay and do not talk too much. Just take your comforter and leave. I did exactly what I was advised to do. The merchant followed my out the door. He acted if he wanted to grab my arm. I told him nicely not too touch me and if he would like I would sue him for destroying my comforter. Which would he like? I got in my car and drove off. I guess he thought it over and decided that the cost of destroying my comforter would be much less than if I had pursued legal action. These folk should be required to attend training sessions to adequately communicate with customers, customer service etiquette, and whatever else it may take to receive a smooth transaction.

Racism is not only between people of two races. Racism exists between people in the same race. The most frequent example is within the black race. Dark-skin women often doesn't like light-skin woman and vice-versa. If you can't even get along with people in your own race, how do you think other will judge you?

Well as a Black person living in a Black community that has Korean merchants, I have never had a problem with them. If we all treat each other the way we want to be treated the world would be a better place. Is that going to happen, I don't think so! But I have witness young Blacks straight out disrespecting these particular workers at the neighborhood carry-out. And If I were the Merchant, they wouldn't be allowed in my store. And these are young kids. Bad service is bad service, I'll give you that! But why would you purposely antagonize the people who are fixing food for your consumption? That, I don't get! I've found that if you are pleasent to people, they in turn are pleasent to you! And you can always take your business elsewhere! So instead of standing there making an ass of yourself, just take your business elsewhere!

What is racism? If you and the people closest to you have repeatedly been victims of violent crime perpetrated by black males (in relatively "safe" neighborhoods, and even in broad daylight), are you a racist because you start crossing the street when you see a black male dressed like a thug coming toward you on the sidewalk--or are you just using common sense?

It's all well and good to spout rainbows and flowers about how we should all love one another, but once members of the same demographic repeatedly send your friends to the hospital, its kind of hard to not develop a certain amount of prejudice--especially when the offending demographic happens to glorify guns and street violence (ala gangster rap).

I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but even us "can't we all get along" folks tend to get a little hard-hearted once they've been commanded to lay face down on a sidewalk with a gun held to the back of their head by some teenage thug living out a Death Row Records fantasy. Black America has got a whole lot of inhouse cleaning to do before they can reasonably expect not to be treated with suspicion (motivated by self-preservation) by their wary neighbors (including shop keepers). I'm not saying its right or its fair, but it's the way it is, and the black community needs to step up and shoulder some of the responsibility for fixing the problems. A good start? Don't shout down people like Bill Cosby when they try to engage in frank dialogue about what is wrong in black America.

Vaherder, isn't it time to shear your girlfriend? She's getting a little woolley.

Hey Me,

then you need to be more precise. The "the law of the land for the last 40 years" has not, in fact, distinguished between people based on race (other than, as I mentioned, in the case of affirmative action and other civil rights laws).

Now, you may have a gripe about the way laws have been enforced at various times and in particular places, but that's a different matter. Our laws have been thoroughly restructured since the time of Jim Crow.

"I mean there was a law that a black person and a white person couln't get married! nuf said."

That law was repealed long ago. "Nuf said."

As an aside, you should consider picking a better example than Paris Hilton - if anything, the judge seems to be singling her out to make an cautionary example of her.

HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY

As a KOREAN MAN married to a BLACK WOMAN I can tell you this -- YOU DO NOT WANT TO PISS THESE PEOPLE OFF!!!

Man, my wife is like a rabid pitbull when she gets angry. I pity any drycleaner who messes up one of her good dresses.

I'm frightened of her. She's scary.

HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY

What the HELL does any of this case have to do with race? NOTHING! People in this area inject race into every single issue, no matter how irrelevant it is. And -- surprise -- it's always a matter of "somebody isn't respectful enough" of the stupid, lazy, ignorant, superstitious black people.

--- Faye Kane, homeless smartmouth --- see more of my smartmouth opinions at blog.myspace.com/fayekane

Until this week, I never realized Pants Guy was African-American. My fundamental opinion of him/the case hasn't changed: this is someone w/ basic mental health issues. This doesn't appear to be the only episode supporting this thesis, either. I'm sure they'd never talk in public (for fear of being sued), but wouldn't you like to get the inside scoop from the ex-wife or the former boss? It's kinda sad really--this is a smart guy who needs serious help.

No, you're not pedantic - you're simply wrong.
-----
I'm not sure you're reading my posts correctly, I was slyly making the comment that you've gone way overboard and can't distinguish the forest for the trees in my comments. You are being pedantic beyond belief.

Hey Demos,

I'm just saying... whether or not the race-based laws are still on the books or not is irrelevant. The laws are PURPOSELY written to ALLOW racism towards a certain race. This country was built on racism and the current laws still allow it to flourish although the words "Black", "white", "Asian", etc are not used. I know you get what I'm saying, you're just being contrary.

The Korean corner grocery owners in my area are very friendly. I've never seen them disrespect anyone. But I have seen local youths steal from them. It was my observation that those local youth were nearly always black.

Absolute nonsense. There is no simmering tension between blaks and Koreans. It's funny when I see white men write about tensions amongts other ethnic groups. I'm a 40 year old black male and think the black men pressing charges against the dry cleaner is ridiculous. He ought the be put in kail for wasting everybody's time and money...only after getting a proper A$$whipping. So THIS is the landmark case that will finally bubble over "Tensions" between the two groups? Pa--leeassee. Get real folks!

"I'm not sure you're reading my posts correctly, I was slyly making the comment that you've gone way overboard and can't distinguish the forest for the trees in my comments. You are being pedantic beyond belief."

Perhaps.

And perhaps you're misreading mine. You cited an example of a totally incompetant set of Korean business owners. Big whoop - incompetence comes in all races, creeds, colors, nationalities and accents. Businesses go under all the time, for all sorts of stupid reasons - being Korean has nothing to do with it.

We're fine so far - I suspect we really don't disagree all that much on that issue.

But then you tried to defend your "right to demand that the deli you love never be sold, change, or stay in business."

That's ludicrous. If you'd wanted to say "well, yeah, but I hate to see it go," or "it was unnecessary," or "it could have been prevented," or "of course, not, but we all lose when something like that happens" then I'd say "yes, of course."

But it's completely silly to bloviate about zoning laws because you don't like the new owners of a store, or are inconvenienced by its closure.

"Come in, We're Open!"
Hangs from the cleaners front door.
Advice to live by.

Chun, do you really think your post have any redibility? Oh, wait, vaherder's back.

PS Kail..ooops I meant Jail. As for Rhee, people are and should be upset, not by her ethnicity but her lack of experience as a Superintendent. Plus i think people are upset by the 11th hour dead of night appointment by the "Great Orator" Mayor Mumbles..oops I meant Adrian Fenty

I have learned something from this discussion. Not about racial attitudes, no. I already knew how fast stereotypes rise to the surface.

But I had no idea how much golf equipment cost! Vaherder? A missed sale of 2k for a driver, some balls, and some clothing? Holy cow, or sheep, or whatever. Glad I am not a sportswoman.

The reason he yelled that at your friend is because he knows when the white people start moving in, he will soon to be forced to leave. You can not deny that gentrification is real. He was just showing his emotion to what will be happening to him shortly. White folks can live anywhere they want, Blacks can't.
_____

This is the biggest bunch of Bull I've read, and I've read a lot of Bull on this Blog! There is never a reason for any business owner to tell a potential customer base to get out of the neighborhood then follow it up with a racial slur!!

There would be no Getrification of Blacks would take care of their own neighborhoods! It's not White, Asian, Hispanic or any other ethnic group that comes into you community and trashes it! Go to any complex in SE and you will see trash strewn all over the place and trash cans are readily available! So stop blaming everybody else for Gentrification, it's some black folks in those very communities fault! Then those very folks go into other neighborhoods and do the same things, with the trash and the hanging all over the place and no respect for other peoples property! I deal with this mentality all the time as the President of my HOA!! How people are just trifling!! STOP BEING TRIFLING!! And it starts with throwing trash in TRASH CANS!!

Hey Me,

I get what you're saying - I simply disagree. We've spent the last fifty years fighting institutional racism, and have thoroughly rewritten our laws in the process. Do we still have racists in our society? Sure. But the laws we have on the books are not "PURPOSELY written to ALLOW racism towards a certain race" - in fact, we've added a number of laws that have been carefully written to prohibit racism.

The closest thing to a counter example I can think of is the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. That was driven, if you remember, by widespread concern about the crime driven by the widespread availability of crack a couple of decades ago. To the extent there's a political momentum today, it's to lessen the disparity.

This is about pants.
And an outrageous lawsuit.
No Justice, No Pleats!

race aside...this case has set back the DC voting rights movement nationally, and for that I will not forgive Mr. Pearson. If you talk to people outside the District area, you get a sad head shake and "there go those idiots in DC again" comment. Even my mother, rabid liberal that she is in Oregon, who I have coerced into putting a taxation without representation sticker on her Subaru (of course) said basically the same thing, "what is wrong with the District that this sort of thing happens? what is the government doing?"

sad.

The reason he yelled that at your friend is because he knows when the white people start moving in, he will soon to be forced to leave. You can not deny that gentrification is real. He was just showing his emotion to what will be happening to him shortly. White folks can live anywhere they want, Blacks can't.

Posted by: May | June 20, 2007 12:52 PM

Hey May...
You might as well stop wasting your time writing because no one is going to pay attention to your ignorant ass. Go back to Africa and stop supporting businesses owned by Asians if you don't like it here. No one is asking you to stay.

Really, really JUST curious:

"This country was built on racism and the current laws still allow it to flourish although the words "Black", "white", "Asian", etc are not used. I know you get what I'm saying, you're just being contrary.

Posted by: Me | June 20, 2007 03:27 PM"

Is there a reason you capitalized everything but "white"?

When I lived in Baltimore, liquor stores had bullet proof glass. The one store near Hopkins had a guy with a shoulder holster with gun, to bring out cases to customers. If ghetto people had some manners, then maybe the business owners would return the same way. At a liquor store on Georgia Avenue, people were yelling at the owners complaining that they were charged cheaper last time and yelling throughout the whole store they were getting ripped off. They were buying two deuce dueces of beer which cost, what a whole 2.50 together? Why were they yelling? Just because they can. So FU to all you racists who think businesses should kiss your ass when people harass them on a daily basis.

Go back to Africa and stop supporting businesses owned by Asians if you don't like it here. No one is asking you to stay.

Posted by: DT | June 20, 2007 03:58 PM

_____

Now see, this is exactly the kind of stuff that keeps blacks on the racial edge!! Why is it the first thing some ass wants to say to us is to Go Back to Africa!! Why, our ancestors built this country and for FREE I might add!! So why should we go anywhere!! And no, we don't insert race into every thing but if we did, could you blame us with stupid comments like that!!

Hey DT,

Cool it with the racist attacks, sweetheart. I'm allowed to say what I said, right? I'm allowed to say anything I want, right? (1st Ammendment stuff)

I'm just saying that I don't like the Korean business-owners. (I like their women though, yum)

Hey DT,

I actually agree with you on a lot of points but why do we have to resort to saying Go back to Africa in the course of this dialogue? Was that even called for?

So it's okay for you to bash Koreans but it's not okay for me to tell you to go back where you are from? You're being racist, and when the tables are turned you don't seem to like it. So shut your hole.

Angryman,
I was making a point. It's easy to talk trash about other cultures but when it's flipped over back to them, people seem to have a problem with it. I didn't mean it, but my point was made...

I think there is a certain level of tension between Korean immigrants and African-Americans, as there is between most immigrant groups and African-Americans and, in some instances, between the various immigrant groups. This is because all of these groups are in competition, economically, for the same relatively small (when compared with what native whites have) piece of the pie. The tension is most pronounced between African-Americans and the immigrant groups because the former, perhaps understandably, feel most economically threatened by the latter. For example, up until the past 10-15 years, low-skilled jobs in the hospitality and construction industries were typically filled with lower and lower-middle class African-Americans. Now, those positions are mostly filled with immigrant labor (an interesting topic for another day: who really suffers economically because of illegal immigration).

Another example is, as mentioned, Los Angeles. The violence discussed above wasn't the cause of the tension. Instead, what was happening was Korean immigrants were opening businesses in all-black neighborhoods (not moving in, though, which is an important distinction when you are looking at "outsiders"), but not employing any neighborhood workers. These neighborhoods, such as Watts and Compton, are physically segregated from other parts of the Los Angeles area because of a lack of public transportation: if you don't have a car, it will be virtually impossible to get a job outside of your neighborhood. So, basically the Korean business owners were viewed as people who were coming in to buy up previously black-owned businesses without providing any benefit to the community they entered. There were also always allegations of price-gouging, etc., but I'm not sure if there was any empirical evidence of it.<