Please Boycott Bay Furniture

[American liberal]

They are a Chicago area furniture store located primarily in the far western suburbs.

They aired a MLK sale announcement this morning that was really unconscionable. The announcer talked with great enthusiasm about the one-day Martin Luther King Day sale. At the very end the announcer said, "Now that's REALLY something to take the day off about" (referring to the furniture sale). I interpreted it as saying that MLK Day is not worth being a national holiday. There's no room for that sort of not-so-subtle racism in this day and age. Please call them and log your complaint: URL http://www.bayfurniture.com/
Phone: 1-877-NOW AT BAY or 1-877-669-2822

Thank you for your consideration.

[Retired AF Dem]

1. I thought most holidays have turned into

reasons to go shopping. (which I think is BS) I see no reason to boycott them. Holidays in America like our names don't mean shit.

[American liberal]

2. you obviously missed the point

A "real reason" to take the day off implies that honoring Martin Luther King Jr. is not a good enough reason to take a holiday.

I'll bet none of the TV ads announcing Presidents Day sales will use such language. It's racist. I'm not objecting to a company co-opting MLK to have a sale, it's how they chose to advertise the sale that I object to.

[Tweed]

3. That certainly seems like a sad display

but I'm not sure if it was all out racism. I've seen dumb commercials like that for any holiday. I'll probably give them a call and alert them to the fact that they poor decision when they allowed that line to get through, but I'm not sure about a boycott. Especially being a college student, I'm not in the market to buy furniture anyway, especially from a place that can afford advertising.

Welcome to the DU Illinois forum! I don't believe I've seen you post here before. Be sure to check in the Illinois roll call thread. Thanks for brining this to all of our attention and be sure to come here often to share similar thoughts.

[American liberal]

4. Thanks for the welcome...

Are you black or any other minority? If not, then you have to take my word that the ad's statement was racist. I really tire of people who try to dilute what to a person of color is entirely inappropriate. If it comes across as racist language to me, that should be enough. I shouldn't have to qualify myself so that the figurative you can understand. We do not have the same experience in this society.

Respectfully,
AL

[windycitychick]

5. I heard that commercial

and that part of the commercial really stuck out with the way they said it. As soon as I heard it,I knew there would be complaints. I instantly got the impression that they thought MLK day wasn't worth a holiday. No, I'm not a minority either.

[American liberal]

6. Thank you

It was suggested in another forum that I complain to the company first before starting a boycott. I doubt they will care. Bay Furniture is based in the most lily-white suburbs of Chicago. I wouldn't shop there anyways. It's all about principle--kind of like the weather reporter who was fired for saying Martin Luther Coon Day. I am concerned that the religious right and racists feel they have a mandate that gives them carte blanche to roll back the civil rights clock. I will do what I can to ensure that doesn't happen. And if it means something as small as calling public attention to a racist TV commercial, that's what I will do.

Thank you for acknowledging the tone of that commercial. Bay Furniture is well behind the times. Most other companies have learned more than a decade ago the tremendous buying power blacks and other racial minorities have in this country. Despite its locations, if Bay Furniture wants to continue to grow and thrive in the Chicagoland area, they better cut the racist crap.

[windycitychick]

7. I have to also disagree

with the term "lily-white". I don't think it would be proper to call the African American side of town "charcoal black". What's fair is fair.
Peace.

[dogman]

9. I agree that "lily-white" is inappropriate but on further review I find

further evidence of their ad being suspect. They have a location in Aurora that they identify on their website as Fox Valley, Illinois. Aurora has had problems with businesses and builders who use Naperville or other names to avoid the fact they are in Aurora. Aurora is a diverse community that has a history of gang problems. All of the "proper folk" seem to sneer at the name Aurora. I personally feel that it is likely that they are racist or at the very least convey a racist attitude.

[American liberal]

10. I'm sorry if I offended you.

Depending on how old you are, you may not be aware that the term "lily-white" is an idiom connoting exclusivity, not the shade of a person's skin.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=lily-white

Nevertheless, I will be careful about using that turn of phrase in the future.

Peace,
AL

[dogman]

11. By definition your term is quite appropriate.

Exclusivity is the norm, as I noted in their avoidance of giving their actual location. Sorry to have thought you might have meant anything different.

[grace0418]

8. Boycotting them won't be a problem

Their stuff is crap anyway. But I will lodge a complaint.