Black Meteorologist Fired For Responding To Racist Commenter
Posted by Michelle Moquin on December 22nd, 2012
Good morning!
Black meteorologist fired for responding to racist commenter who said she ‘need to wear a wig or grow some more hair‘
- Louisiana station said she violated an unwritten social media policy
A black meteorologist was fired from an ABC affiliate in Louisiana after she responded to a racist comment left by a viewer about her short hair.
Rhonda Lee was fired from her job at KTBS in Shreveport because she wrote a lengthy, considerate response to a viewer who took issue with the way that she chose to cut her hair, saying that she ‘needs to wear a wig or grow some more hair.’
The viewer wrote ‘the black lady that does the news is a very nice lady… im not sure if she is a cancer patient. but still its not something myself that i think looks good on tv.’
The commenter identified himself as Emmitt Vascocu, who is a retired white man who lives in the area, and went on to justify his criticism saying that other hairstyles that don’t appeal to people are rarely shown on television.
‘What about letting someone a male have waist long hair do the news.what about that,’ he wrote.
Ms Lee responded on October 1, the same day that he made his remark, writing ‘–I am the “black lady” to which you are referring. I’m sorry you don’t like my ethnic hair.’
‘And no I don’t have cancer. I’m a non-smoking, 5’3, 121 lbs, 25 mile a week running, 37.5 year old woman, and I’m in perfectly healthy physical condition,’ she continued.
Healthy: The commenter said that perhaps Ms Lee has short hair because she has cancer, but she responded saying that was not the case and she was very healthy, even running marathons in aid of cancer charities
Ethnic choice: Ms Lee defended her hairstyle saying that she purposefully chooses to keep it short and feels she is a role model for young African American girls
‘I am very proud of my African-American ancestry which includes my hair. For your edification: traditionally our hair doesn’t grow downward. It grows upward.
‘Many Black women use strong straightening agents in order to achieve a more European grade of hair and that is their choice. However in my case I don’t find it necessary. I’m very proud of who I am and the standard of beauty I display.
She went on to say that she thought that her choice displayed the variety of beauty that the mix of cultures in America allows, and that she feels she is a role model to young ethnic girls by refusing to conform.
She concluded her measured response by signing off with a polite ‘Thank you for your comment and have a great weekend and thank for watching.’
Commenter: Emmitt Vascocu gave his name when he suggested Ms Lee should wear a wig because her natural hair is not what people expect on televisionThe Clutch reports that Mr Vascocu went on to say that he was not racist but ‘this world has…certain standerd (sic). if youve come from a world of being poor are you going to dress in rags?’
The online interaction between Ms Lee and Mr Vascocu occured on October 1, and she was fired shortly after the incident.
Her news director and general manager at KTBS said that she violated an unwritten company policy on social media. Ms Lee feels that the decision was motivated by racism, however.
Appearing on CNN’s Starting Point on Wednesday morning, Ms Lee told Soledad O’Brien ‘whereas other people are given platforms, I was given a pink slip’.
A petition has been started in her honor, calling for the station to give Ms Lee her job back, and so far it has 534 signatures.
Mr Vascocu has also taken some form of a stand, as he posted a veiled message on his Facebook page a few weeks after the incident.
Rife with spelling mistakes, he posted: ‘To all in ciber land.
I have Dementia an also brain damage to my temprealobe. so in saying this if i say something that hurts someone bare in mind that i have this problem.For this is not a good thing ive lost alot of good memoreys.it effects my spelling it effects my mood and many othier things.’
******
Readers: The commenter, Vascocu made a racist comment. I see absolutely nothing wrong with how Lee responded. In fact I thought she responded quite graciously, when she could’ve easily been otherwise.
And I don’t think she should’ve been fired by KTBS - If one has the risk of being fired from an “unwritten social media policy”, then don’t you think the policy should be in writing, if it is that important that one could get fired from not honoring this “unwritten policy”? I agree with Lee – she could’ve been given a platform instead of a pink slip – bad move from KTBS. Now who’s the racist one?
With respect to Mr. Vascocu, his recent comments after the fact tells me he’s trying to “cover his ass”.
I just had to add one more thing that’s been bugging me as I am perusing the net reading…Lee was fired for replying courteously, while Matt Lauer was allowed to be rude and obnoxious to Anne Hathaway after she inadvertently showed her vagina when exiting a limo. And I don’t hear Lauer getting fired.
Thoughts? Blog me.
Have A Great Weekend Everyone!
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December 22nd, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Seriously. Someone has a haircut you don’t particularly care for and you feel the need to write to the news station about it? Do you stop every person on the street who has an outdated, unflattering, or otherwise less-than-ideal (in your eyes) hair style and tell them to change it?
Who the fuck does this? How do they have so much free time to worry about this shit?
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Remember the overweight female anchor from a while back? Some douchenozzle was bitching that she was too fat and that was a bad example for “the children”.
If you have an on-camera job and you’re not Barbie, you’re fair game for a certain segment of society.
I call that segment: Ignorant Dicks With Too Much Free Time.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Controlling unruly negroes is a priority in many places.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:50 pm
When privilege and idleness unite in a busy-body, new dimensions of asshatery unfold.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:53 pm
What blows my mind is that her awesome and clear response totally went over the dude’s head. Like, even more so than we can expect from your average priv-oblivous idiot.
“Yeah, but we have standards”. DUDE. The lady just laid out that your “standards” skew towards ease for white people, and require outrageous effort on the part of black women to achieve—whilst systematically reminding them that their natural hair is not “good enough”.
She explains all of this very clearly without hostility, adding that she styles her hair the way she does to abolish those standards, and he responds with his original criticism, only saying it dumber.
Christ. I just . . . I just give up. All the best to you, Ms. Le
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:54 pm
So, let me understand this: a white fat lady defends herself on TV against a fatophobic hater and everyone loves her, but a black lady defends herself on facebook and GETS FIRED?!?!
Oh yeah, totally sounds about right. *rage*
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:56 pm
I took a broadcasting class as part of my journalism major in college at one of the top 10 schools in the country, and I, a very white girl with very straight hair, was told I had the “right look” to be on TV.
A black woman in my class, who was significantly more talented at the whole speaking on camera thing without saying like every other word, but who had natural hair, was told she needed to work in radio because she had the “wrong look.”
Broadcast journalism is a pretty hellish place for women who don’t conform to traditional (ie white) beauty norms.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:57 pm
This story pisses me off to no end. What the hell America? I would love to see a more diverse group of people working in TV, it would be a reflection of the diversity in America.
Sadly we are all being held back by groups of idiots that thing race is something to judge a person on! I hope the woman in your class gave that teacher the what for about “wrong looks.”
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:59 pm
The above story is a perfect example of the covert racism that affects America. How you ask? She was fired because she was seen as an aggressive over the top, out of control empolyee oh…and black.
I don’t know when she decided to go natural but with the way the station reaction, my best guess is AFTER she was hired.
Thus (some) of the people at the station probably felt uneasy with her not conforming to the European standard of beauty, but she was probably a good empolyee so no reason to fire her…
OMG she responded to a racist post on FB!! Let’s make up a fake rule, from a meeting she was not at and fire her…not warn her (those Africans are dumb and stupid and don’t learn from warnings). So yay!! The office is normal again because the threat is gone!
The sad part is so many people are going to claim that this is not racism when it is, because she was fired unjustly and without warning = they have been looking for a reason to get rid of the black person on camera.
Racism is not that complicated. Minorities (and allies) see it all of the time…those “color-blind” individuals think that this was just something that happened to a black person….Yes…because she was black.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Anyone who thinks it was cool for Lee to be fired isn’t seeing the bigger issue. This guy is basically saying that if Lee is going to be a black woman on camera, she has to conform to European standards of beauty so he doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable when he sees a different kind of hair (i.e. reminded about Black women’s natural hair which is kinky, dirty, unprofessional, ugly, etc.).
By using the poor and rags reference, he’s also pointing out the well known fact that once a Black person has been exposed to White/European standards, they must obviously try to meet them, because why be Black when it’s so out of favor?
I mean, why would you ever remind people that you’re Black? Goodness!
Moving on from that point, when Lee decided to defend herself in such a tactful and intelligent way, the TV station fired her because they were worried it would make them look like they accept that kind of behavior from their employees.
You know, behavior that indicates a zero tolerance for racist bullshit from viewers.
Instead of standing behind her and supporting the right of all women to wear their hair however they damn well please, they are bowing to homogeneous norms.
By firing Lee, this TV station is basically saying, “Oh, we are so sorry for putting a Black woman with natural hair on TV and expecting people to be ok with that.
And even more so for letting her stand up for herself. Our bad!”
Gah-ross.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I’m proud of the sista. She educated that ignoramus in a very comprehensive manner(and everything she said is true!!!!).
As a natural sister myself, you really are going against the grain by wearing your hair natural. Granted, I’m pretty versatile when it comes to my hair.
I’ve worn everything from locs to twists… braids to an afro ( and best believe….I looked GOOD with every style I wore) . Conversely sometimes I press my hair.
It depends on the look I want. My thing is not to chemically alter my hair so that it cannot revert to it’s natural state. I wish most sistas would find out what their own texture is like. Many of us are ruining some great hair with harsh chemicals.
Still, I don’t knock sistas who perm their hair. I wouldn’t question the authenticity of Oprah, Michelle Obama, or Jill Scott due to their hairstyles. I only question those who hate themselves and hair… and only view their beauty based on Euro-centric standards.
Personally, I love and embrace my hair texture. You couldn’t pay me to go around avoiding water, humidity, and sweating (i.e. working out) from fear of sweating out a perm.
That’s why if I want to rock it “straight” I can….but if I want to swim (which I do weekly) I can do that as well. Presently, I’m doing the curly girl method. It looks fab and it works well for our hair.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Sorry, people, I can’t get those massacred kids out of my mind. One of my hunting buddies came over ranting about Obama trying to politicize the killing by fucking with the 2nd Amendment.
He was ranting on with the talking points he heard on TV(he’s too dumb to talk that way on his own) i.e. “we don’t have a gun problem, we have a people problem.”
I wanted to say to the idiot, Of course we have a people problem. That’s why we need to regulate firearms.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Oh, and I read this in “Justice.”
==========================
The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary has galvanized the American public to start taking the 48,000 deaths from gun violence per year seriously.
Fifty four percent of Americans, according to a new ABC/Washington Post poll, favor tighter gun control — a five year high. A Huffington/YouGov poll came to similar conclusions.
Yet the National Rifle Association (NRA) will likely stand in the way, given its long history of blocking even the most minimal restrictions on gun owners. Here are six times when the NRA has been on the wrong side of what should be uncontroversial gun rules:
1. Wanted people on the terrorist watch list to be legally able to acquire guns. Inasmuch as it makes sense to have a secret “terrorism watch list,” one would think a primary reason would be to prevent people who might commit terrorism from accessing the weapons that one uses to do so.
Yet people on the watch list are still allowed to by guns: in 2010 alone, at least 247 people suspected of involvement with terrorism bought guns legally. While 71 percent of NRA membesr support closing the so-called “terror gap,” the NRA claims efforts to close the loophole are plots by “politicians who hate the Second Amendment.”
2. Opposed required background checks on every gun sale. Forty percent of all gun sales legally take place without background checks on the purchaser, because federal law doesn’t require them for so-called “private” gun sales at places like gun shows. Eighty percent of gun crimes involve guns purchased in this fashion.
NRA members recognize how dangerous this law is; 69 percent of them support a “proposal requiring all gun sellers at gun shows to conduct criminal background checks of the people buying guns.”
Yet the NRA opposes any effort to close this loophole, calling it “a stepping stone for gun control advocates seeking to ban all private sales, even among family and friends.”
3. Lobbied to allow warlords to get arms on the international market. The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty is a small step towards the regulation of the massive international weapons trade, aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of murderous insurgents and terrorists. It contains zero restrictions on domestic gun markets.
Yet the NRA has vigorously opposed the ATT, calling it an “attack on our Second Amendment freedoms” by “global gun grabbers.”
4. Wanted to prevent the public from accessing information about where guns come from. Though there’s a federal database that traces sales of guns used in crimes, you’ll never know what’s in there.
That’s because NRA has helped muscle through the so-called “Tiahrt Amendments” (named after sponsor, former Rep. Todd Tiahrt [R-KS]) to the federal gun code, which prevent the public, journalists, academic researchers, some police officers, and people suing the gun industry from accessing crucially valuable data.
The Tiahrt Amendments were passed over the objection of federal and local law enforcement.
5. Pushed to keep guns in bars. Guns and drunk people don’t mix well. Yet when the Tennessee legislature was considering banning guns in establishments that make most of their money from booze, an NRA lobbyist was given a rare opportunity to address the state GOP caucus opposing the bill. It died.
6) Supported forcing all business owners to allow guns on their property. Many business owners are understandably nervous about permitting people to bring loaded guns to work.
Yet the NRA has pushed legislation in a number of states that would force businesses to allow employees to bring guns to work provided they leave them in their cars.
==============================
I am a Republican. But what does it take to be a republican politician?
What does it take to be a true Republican? Does it take the taking of a pledge to someone who is not part of the government and never compromising on anything?
Does it mean that you have more loyalty to Party over Country? Maybe what your side have been calling “Rinos” are, in reality, the true Republicans.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:01 am
Check out the chatter on yesterday’s blog. Michelle can you remind the “challenged” that they can continue a conversation on latest blog site.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:04 am
John Says:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:58 pm
——————————-
Your comments make no sense! Why would Victoria Soto be person of the year? This tragedy just took place a week ago, so how did you determine that she should be person of the year?
This is the sort of dribble we get from the bigots that will say anything to disparage the black man.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:05 am
John, Obama deserves it for having to govern for people just like you. And who cares if you never look at the Nobel Peace Prize in the same way. Your comment is what’s not worth the blog is was written on!
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:06 am
Chris, the food for thought is that the “person of the year” title doesn’t always mean the person was a positive influence, just that they were important.
Try arguing that Obama wasn’t influential this year.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:07 am
REPUBLICANS .
THE OTHER WHITE MEAT .
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:07 am
Congratulations Mr. President. I wish your dear grand mother and mother could have witnessed all these honors bestowed upon you.
Ho’ omaika’i ‘ana Ho’ omaika’i ‘ana from the islands.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:10 am
Wow, there is a whole dialogue going on on “Flap Your Lips Friday.”
Let me set the record straight about Obama winning Time’s selection for trying to set this country on a sensible path.
MEANWHILE , THE TEA PARTY ARE RAFFLING OFF AN ASSAULT RIFLE —
LESS THAN 1 WEEK AFTER 20 FIRST GRADERS WERE MURDERED WITH
AN ASSAULT RIFLE .
TIME’S MAN OF THE YEAR ~~~ VS, ~~~~ ASSAULT RIFLE RAFFLE .
FEAR THE MINDS THAT CAN’T SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN PRIORITIES .
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:10 am
Correction: they think they are the ONLY important white meat.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:11 am
Suki, Think you could try dancing with lowercase letters for a change?
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:12 am
Thanks Warren, I really tried to read and understand the gibberish, but it made my head hurt and still made no sense!