Troubled by Rush Limbaugh's "Barack the Magic Negro" song, I wrote to Barnes & Noble pointing out that they are prioritizing profit over a patriotic commitment to American progress:
Of course one can dismiss my sentiment, but consider the value of an American media landscape that informs people, rather than uses your advertising money to attack your customers.In conversations with friends, work colleagues, and fellow graduate students, I will be sure to mention your funding of Rush Limbaugh. Please don't support Limbaugh's racism. It's not good for America and it's bad for your business.
I thank several other kossacks for drawing attention to Rush's advertisers.
Here's Barnes & Noble's reply:
Dear Mr. Carpenter,
Thank you for your recent e-mail about Barnes & Noble advertisements appearing on Rush Limbaugh’s radio program. These advertisements are available to participants in our Affiliate program. We do have an affiliate relationship with Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications, which syndicates radio programs and is a current participant in our Affiliate program.
While I respect your concerns, we do not make political judgments about the books we carry nor the affiliates who join our program. Both liberal and conservative shows have Barnes & Noble ads.
Let me emphasize that Barnes & Noble does not necessarily endorse the radio programs we are on, as we do not endorse the books or the authors found in our stores and online. As booksellers, our fundamental mission is to make available to our customers every single book in print regardless of editorial content. As we carry both conservative and liberal authors, we are on programs that reach both audiences.
I hope that you understand our position on this matter. Thank you for taking the time to write to us.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Peterson
Customer Relations Advocate
Barnes & Noble.com
Here's my reply.
Greetings Suzanne,
I appreciate your reply, although I am troubled by your statement that Barnes & Noble does not make political judgments. You do understand that you do make ethical judgments and while everything is political, which is tricky for business, calling an American a "magic negro" maybe be fine politically, but it is not ethical.
I would hope that a national chain such as Barnes & Noble would make the distinction between policy and making fun of someone's ethnic heritage (Obama is actually of mixed race).
While you don't endorse the programs you advertise on, you do give them money, which often means much more. In other words, Barnes & Noble subsidized, in part, Barack the Magic Negro. I understand a policy of not distinguishing between political viewpoints in order to reach as many consumers as possible, but I'm part of a generation that believes, perhaps naively, that there are more important values in America than making a buck off the backs of minorities. It is pretty clear that major corporate advertisers realized that some old racists (Imus) are old news. Why spend your money on ruining your name with a new generation of Americans who are interested in bigger things that asinine Limbaugh songs?
Unless Barnes & Noble stops paying Rush Limbaugh to make "magic negro" songs, as a graduate student and blogger I'll do my best to make sure that your customers know what their purchase subsidizes. And that, I believe, is not just political, but ethical.
There are plenty of other options for you and your customers.
Consider writing Suzanne and let her know what you think.
Speterson@book.com