Demonstrators protest discriminatory dress code

[proud2BlibKansan]

Kansas City’s Power & Light District drew a crowd Saturday — across the street.

A couple hundred people gathered to protest what they view as the entertainment district’s discriminatory policies, specifically a dress code that some see as a means to keep out minorities.

Many in the crowd wielded signs reminiscent of civil-rights demonstrations a half-century earlier, such as “No Jim Crow.”

“I thought this was over — not in 2009!” the Rev. Sam Mann yelled to the energized crowd in front of the Sprint Center. “What’s going on across the street is wrong. It is not what this city is about.”

The crowd prayed, locked arms and cried out for justice.

In a prayer, Vernon Howard Jr., senior pastor at Second Baptist Church, said: “We seek the power to respect ourselves.”

The protest came a day after a prominent black minister resigned from an advisory board that was formed to address community concerns about alleged discrimination within the Power & Light District. In announcing his departure from the board, Mark Tolbert accused the district of ongoing racism. Earlier this month, Zed Smith, national director of operations for Cordish, the district’s developer, said Power & Light does not discriminate and that complaints about the dress code are rare.

The issue has been ongoing since the district began to draw crowds in early 2008. Critics say the dress code’s ban on baggy pants, chains, work boots and white T-shirts focuses on African-Americans and Hispanics.

“It’s meant to deny access to persons of color from a public facility under the guise of a dress code,” Howard said at the protest, which was organized by black clergy leaders.

more . . .

[ThatsMyBarack]

1. K & R

Thanks for sharing! Brilliant photos! :patriot:

[Toucano]

2. How can you ban a white t-shirt?

Ridiculous!

[MercutioATC]

3. Another example of our collective stupidity.

They seem to be trying to eliminate a style of dress that they feel would reflect negatively upon their company. Nothing they mention is race-specific (white T-shirts, baggy pants, chains, etc.) but those things DO create a negative impression among certain elements of society (more importantly, customers).

...and we have to turn it into a racial issue...


Look, I'm no fan of dress codes, but this is just another example of somebody getting pissed off and fabricating "racism".

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Did you read the article?

"That same day, Kansas City’s Human Relations Department issued a report that concluded the dress code was not consistently enforced. In a test conducted by the department, white similarly dressed males were allowed entry 100 percent of the time while minorities dressed the same way as the whites were denied entry 44 percent of the time."

[MercutioATC]

7. Yes, I did.

Unless we have the specifics of each case, those figures are worthless.


Additionally, even if it WAS being consistently enforced, that speaks to enforcement issues, not the character of the rule.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. A study by the city is worthless?

I live here. I am choosing not to spend my money there.

[Raineyb]

31. Worthless= "don't bother me with the facts I'm trying to make excuses for discrimination" n/t

[LiberalFighter]

4. They should had protested appropriately.

In baggy pants, chains, work boots and white T-shirts for the protest to be effective.

Are minorities really being discriminated when the majority of minorities don't dress in baggy pants, chains, work boots and white T-shirts? And it isn't just minorities that dress in baggy pants, chains, work boots and white T-shirts?

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. The dress code is dumb enough but it is being enforced inconsistently

I have a bigger problem with the enforcement than the dress code itself.

[Kansas Wyatt]

9. The intent was to prevent an element leading to another Bannister Mall.

I've done construction projects there, and I quickly learned parking sucks, which is why I won't go there. I will agree, through my experience of working with them, that the Cordish people are idiots.

However, would you like to say what became of Bannister Mall and why?

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I don't agree with that comparison

Bannister Mall and the P&L are two completely different areas in completely different parts of town. I have also had first hand experience. A group of my friends and I got in, all in violation of the dress code. No problem. But then we are white folks.

This is also a moral issue, IMO. Discrimination is wrong. Period.

It's also pretty naive to believe a dress code is going to solve a crime problem. How about more police and economic opportunities to lessen the temptation of crime?

I am glad to see this come up because this city has a long ugly history of racism and white privilege. I am sick of it.

[Kansas Wyatt]

15. "I have also had first hand experience."

"A group of my friends and I got in, all in violation of the dress code. No problem. But then we are white folks."

"I am glad to see this come up because this city has a long ugly history of racism and white privilege. I am sick of it."

Oh, and Bannister Mall has now been leveled and removed. In the early 1980s that was the best mall around, and I remember it when I was a kid. When I moved here in 2000, Bannister Mall had become a place to avoid, because of what it turned into. If you want to draw people in, like the Power & Light District, then you don't let it become a place that people want to avoid going to. After all, if those businesses close down, because they cannot attract customers, then Kansas City and Cordish fails at the investment in the District. Sorry, it's just a simple fact.

They would probably say I was in violation of the dress code, with the way I dress, but I don't care.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I lived in Grandview for 10 years and Bannister was our mall of choice

It was brought down, IMO, by a bad design, poor management and the shittiest parking lot in the history of American shopping malls. More than once at Christmas I drove around that lot and went shopping elsewhere after not being able to find a place to park. There has also never been a mall with a more dangerous traffic plan. I saw two women in a fist fight there one day after a fender bender. And after spending 30 minutes getting in the mall and parking your car, you were greeted with closed store fronts and a glut of boutiques.

I also remember the crime coming AFTER too many people like me had given up on that mall because of the parking issues and traffic problems.

[Kansas Wyatt]

21. Well it's too bad...

There isn't much interest in gansta rap or being in the hood for people going to conventions, concerts, games, doing business, or vacationing, to be able to support the investment Kansas City and Cordish made in the Power & Light District. In fact, I'm willing to bet that the people Kansas City and Cordish are trying to attract and cater to, would be afraid of such an environment.

Maybe Kansas City could offer a District for gansta rap and the hood at the Banister Mall location, so it can take off and prosper into being a stable asset to the community.
:yoiks:

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. What makes you think gangsta rap fans want to hang out at the P&L?

The truth is that the wardrobe of gangsta rap has been adopted by many who are not fans. And lots of them are white folks.

[Kansas Wyatt]

29. I didn't make the investment, so I don't care about the rules.

Like I told you before, they probably wouldn't let me in with the way I dress, but I don't care to go there. I'm not bitching about why they won't let me in, because I can realize they are protecting their investment, so it won't go back to urban decay.

Perhaps you should go complain to the people they are trying to attract, which would involve contracts worth millions. You know, NCAA Tournaments, professional teams, concerts, conventions, etc. etc. Which would also lead to other investments into Kansas City.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. You don't care when people are discriminated against

I do. First someone else, then me. I don't want my kids growing up in a society that tolerates this.

[Kansas Wyatt]

34. I'm sure you are aware that local bars have dress codes against the same attire.

There is one in Overland Park. Actually two right next door to each other, and cover in one also applies to the other. One is a mostly rock, though it has a wide range of music and is blue collar, but it does not have a dress code. The other plays mostly rap all the time, but has a more upscale atmosphere. The one that plays rap does enforce it's dress code that keeps out a bad element, but it also will not allow me to come in, due to the way I dress. No exceptions.

One night, a white woman was bitching to the doorman of the upscale bar about why her black friends could not come in, due to the way they were dressed. I had been talking to the doorman, so I was standing there listening to this woman claim it was racism and discrimination. At that point I interrupted her, and told her that they would not let me in either, because of the way I was dressed. She looked at me, and said, 'well I can understand why.' Hmm... That really amused me, but I bit my lip and said no more. Once she said that, she proved that she was full of shit and the discrimination claim was a total crock of shit. This woman was such an idiot, that she did not even realize what she had done. So, spare me the discrimination claim, because it is pure bullshit.

Cordish and the City of Kansas City are only trying to protect their investment and prevent it from slipping back into urban decay. They made this decision before they even broke ground, because the venues and business they are seeking, requires it from them. Sorry, NCAA Tournaments, concerts, conventions, professional sports teams, people on vacation or business, etc. etc. are not interested in gansta rap or being in the hood and would avoid it.

Oh, and if you are the woman, who was complaining that night, I completely understand now.

[The Midway Rebel]

27. That is a safe bet for sure. Better yet, instead of a district for gangsta rap...

How about the Cordish Corporation and Kansas City offer to help the "hood" gain a real and accredited school district "so it can take off and prosper into being a stable asset to the community" instead of discriminating against brown people and unfairly taxing existing business' to pay for a whites-only entertainment district that benefits wealthy out-of-town-white-owned corporations and a few locally white-owned construction companies? Your idea would only strengthen the segregation and aparthied we already have in KC. What kind of Democrat would cheer for that?

[Kansas Wyatt]

28. Their whole purpose for developing the P&L District....

Was to bring in big ticket events. I am so sorry gansta rap and the hood environment do not bring in NCAA Tournaments, big name concerts, the prospect of a professional basketball or hockey team, large conventions, etc. etc. Not my fault, so get over it. However, I can certainly understand why those making those decisions would not want to be in the middle of gansta rap and a hood environment. I didn't make the deals to develop the P&L District from urban decay, so do not blame me.

And just for your information, there was a minority clause for initial construction done there, which means so much work goes to minority owned construction companies. Kansas City was going to allow outside rat contractors in for tenant finishes, but I don't know how that ever turned out. Again, none of my personal responsibility or involvement.

None of the P&L District was any of my "idea." Instead of blaming me for why Cordish and KC are protecting their investment, perhaps you should address your concerns with the parties that they are trying to attract. Pretty fucking obvious to me, but you seem more interested in attacking me for pointing it out. Oh, like I said before, I do not care about the P&L District, nor do I care if it goes back to urban decay. No cheering here, but I'm sure Cordish and Kansas City wouldn't be to happy about that kind of loss.

[The Midway Rebel]

33. Not trying blame or fault here....just asking questions.

I was not blaming or attacking you for pointing out the obvious or anything else but, I am questioning you on your apparent support for the cause of the out-of-town organization, Cordish, in furthering racism and discrimination in this city in the name of protecting corporate profits/investments over actually trying to do something positive and dare I say, progressive.

Also, when you use words and phrases like "the hood environment" and suggest that the people that live there should have a place of their own at the old Bannister Mall site to listen to their "gangsta rap" and wear their (admittedly stupid looking) uniforms, the racism and classism in your post becomes a thin veil covering the hate and fear of what you do not understand at best, or are indifferent to at worst. I must ask myself; what kind of progressive Democrat would have an attitude like that?

Does anybody really believe we will get an NBA team or the NCAA to come to town when they find out how we treat black folks in the P&L district?

We agree on this point: I don't much give about P&L damn either. I cannot stand pro sports. Britney, Miley, Garth, Bruce, even my beloved AC/DC can kiss my ass for $90.00 a ticket.

[cbdo2007]

23. A better comparison would be to Westport.

Most of the malls in the area are shut down or on the verge of collapse: Blue Ridge Mall, Bannister Mall, Indian Springs Mall, Metro North Mall, Metcalf South; so there are too many other factors at play in the case of Bannister Mall to be considered a good comparison, though it did become known somewhat as the "dangerous" mall in the area moreso than the others.

Westport is a better comparison, as it use to be a cool, relatively safe place to hang out and bar hop, and then there got to be a time where there was more and more violence down there, until the last time I went there at night on a weekend (granted this is a few years ago), they had a few of the streets closed down, police checking ID's of everyone who wanted to get in to one of the closed off streets and I think they were even charging you $1 to enter the bar/club area. Like I said, this was years ago, so I'm not sure of the current state of Westport but when the P&L District was first getting publicity for the dress code most news comentators related it to Westport so that's why I'm adding this here.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I was there last night

There was a Jesus Saves preacher on the corner of Pennsylvania and Westport Road with a bullhorn. On a Saturday night.

Westport has gone through lots of fads where the clientele changes. A big reason for the recent problems is the groups of younger than 21 yr olds who can't get in the bars but hang on the streets causing problems. That won't be a problem at the P&L since the age restriction is enforced.

[dustbunnie]

10. The ban is on beaters, not white t-shirts.

Lots of clubs all over North America have the same dress code and these places are filled with people of all kinds of ethnic and racial backrounds. The code itself is not discriminatory. It's the unfair enforcement that's the problem.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. They turn away folks in white t-shirts all the time

But only the colored folks.

[dustbunnie]

14. Well that's insane! Most places put the kibosh on sleeveless tees and beaters --

but this looks like pretty blatant discrimination. Good they're getting called out for it!

[cbdo2007]

13. Right, ironically all of the protesters would have been dressed appropriately for the P & L District

So how is the clothing ban discriminatory again? I guess none of these people got the memo on how black people are supposed to dress according to the city.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Baseball caps are forbidden

So are hoods.

[cbdo2007]

22. Ok, you're right. BUT it would be a major stretch to say that baseball hats and hoods

are worn more by black people than white people in Kansas City. Go anywhere in town and you'll see plenty more white people than black people wearing baseball hats/hoods, especially considering it was cold and misting yesterday.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. One more reason the dress code is silly

[fishwax]

16. Can you provide the link to the rest of the article

I don't think it made it into the OP, though presumably you meant to with the "more . . ."

Thanks! :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Oops. Sorry bout that.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1570487.html

[Tesha]

17. It's easy enough to test this sort of thing.

Arrange about a hundred visits by visitors of various genders and races
wearing a variety of white tee shorts and garments that are similar in
appearance to white tee shirts (white golf shirts, Laccoste shirts, and
various white-with-logo tee shirts. Keep detailed records of the various
reactions and decide what action to take based on those records.

I'll bet after all the data are collected, a nice simple letter from an
attorney explaining what the prove is all that is necessary to see
this policy get revised right quick.

(On edit: I see that reply five states that the point I expected to be made
has already been proven.)

Tesha

[Raineyb]

30. It's already been tested

From the article

That same day, Kansas City’s Human Relations Department issued a report that concluded the dress code was not consistently enforced. In a test conducted by the department, white similarly dressed males were allowed entry 100 percent of the time while minorities dressed the same way as the whites were denied entry 44 percent of the time.

Seems to me that the "dress code" is being used as an excuse when the true reason for keeping people out is color. That is discriminatory, it shouldn't stand and there's no bloody excuse for allowing it to continue.

Although, not surprisingly, there are those here who will twist themselves into knots to deny that there's discrimination going on and refer to it as "protecting their investment."

Having black people frequent your establishment does NOT reduce the value of your "investment."

[Blue_Tires]

35. i was in power and light during labor day weekend

luckily i didn't have any problems...