Employees find noose hanging at work

CNN ^ | 01-05-07 | Allan Chernoff

[mfnorman]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- James Jackson, a 26-year-old black employee of 180 Connect, was preparing for another day of installing cable, telephone and Internet service to residential customers of Cablevision in Nassau County, New York on December 7.

When he walked to the fenced-off area to pick up equipment for the day's jobs he looked up and was shocked to see a vicious, racist symbol in his workplace. A noose was hanging in the fenced-off equipment area, visible to the dozens of installers, the majority of whom are black, but accessible only to his boss and an equipment manager, both of whom are white.

Jackson, a former messenger who had worked at 180 Connect for a year and a half, immediately confronted the equipment manager, Dave Willie.

"I asked Dave," Jackson told CNN, " 'What is that hanging up there?' and he said, 'That is a noose' and I said, 'I know it's a noose, but why is it up there?' And he walked away."

[mfnorman]

racism in a blue state?! where the clintons live?!

[IncPen]

I wonder if it was meant for an Iraqi?!

[Hoodat]

Racism up North? Go figure.

[JennysCool]

More on-the-job goofing around that somebody's trying to turn into a multimillion dollar payday.

[saganite]

They should check the whereabouts of sheets Byrd.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Why is a noose automatically considered racist?

[stylin19a]

The company is aware that a noose could have racial connotations and could be a very negative symbol to African-American people.

yikes...too many cuddas

[CTSeditor]

CNN. Allegations.

[minor49er]

a noose could have racial connotations and could be a very negative symbol to African-American people.

What, it's a postive symbol to everyone else?

[Jaysun]

Why is a noose automatically considered racist?

That was my question. Still, I wonder who put it up there and what they meant by it (if anything).

[SteveMcKing]

"Why is a noose automatically considered racist?"

Because it's a person, place, thing, or idea.

Actions and descriptive modifiers are racist too, when used by Caucasians.

[metmom]

I used to make nooses out of the cord used to raise and lower the blinds regularly at work, years ago. The cords were too long when the blinds were up. Now it's an issue. Sheesh.

[mfnorman]

i thought the same thing. if there's any iraqi's at this company they might want to consider a lawsuit of their own

[Ready4Freddy]

'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool...'

That incident is why I used the word here. ;>)

...and was blasted by the parent of a black child.

[Rastus]

I believe it was a DC councilman.

[AndyTheBear]

Why is a noose automatically considered racist?

Depends on the context. A few decades back some KKK types seized some black prisoners from jail and hung them. However in this case it seems overtly sensitive to presume such an allusion unless the guy who put it up shows other signs of racism.

The only large bigoted groups left in the U.S. are predominately liberals. Like those at CNN trying to keep racism alive with story lines like this one.