Modern day systemic racism, does it exist?

[essentialsaltes]

Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist, sexist and homophobic comments, complaint alleges​

For the better part of a year, a Los Angeles police officer working in the department’s recruitment office secretly recorded dozens of conversations in which fellow cops hurled racist and derogatory comments against Black police applicants, female colleagues, and lesbian and gay co-workers, according to a complaint filed with the LAPD.

After one female officer suggested “black people enjoy grape soda,” another Latino officer chimed in, “black people enjoy watermelon in between basketball,” according to the complaint.

The complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, details portions of roughly 90 recordings made in the department’s Recruiting Division Personal History Section and portrays officers and supervisors voicing open discrimination against potential recruits and colleagues based on race, sex and sexual orientation. These same officers were tasked with deciding who could join the LAPD.

[Well, at least there's no DEI!]

In the complaint, LAPD Sgt. Denny Jong, who is Asian, stands accused of leading the prejudicial banter. In one conversation with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock, he said: “I know why he died, he ate too much Tacos,” according to the complaint.

[Watermelon? Tacos? These may be the city's finest, but their routines are a little stale.]

Lt. Louis Lavender, who oversaw the section, “witnessed and heard these conversations going on ... [He] has done nothing,” the complaint alleges. In November, Lavender, who is Black, walked into the office [to office banter]

Lavender replied, “Man, we’re going to end up in the L.A. Times the way you all talk in here. You all can bring down the whole department.”

[See, now there's some cleverness and dramatic irony. Leadership!]

 

[Valletta]

Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist, sexist and homophobic comments, complaint alleges​

[Well, at least there's no DEI!]

Diversity

LAPD is hiring and welcomes men and women from all backgrounds.

www.joinlapd.com

 

[RDKirk]

Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist, sexist and homophobic comments, complaint alleges​

For the better part of a year, a Los Angeles police officer working in the department’s recruitment office secretly recorded dozens of conversations in which fellow cops hurled racist and derogatory comments against Black police applicants, female colleagues, and lesbian and gay co-workers, according to a complaint filed with the LAPD.

After one female officer suggested “black people enjoy grape soda,” another Latino officer chimed in, “black people enjoy watermelon in between basketball,” according to the complaint.

The complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, details portions of roughly 90 recordings made in the department’s Recruiting Division Personal History Section and portrays officers and supervisors voicing open discrimination against potential recruits and colleagues based on race, sex and sexual orientation. These same officers were tasked with deciding who could join the LAPD.

[Well, at least there's no DEI!]

In the complaint, LAPD Sgt. Denny Jong, who is Asian, stands accused of leading the prejudicial banter. In one conversation with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock, he said: “I know why he died, he ate too much Tacos,” according to the complaint.

[Watermelon? Tacos? These may be the city's finest, but their routines are a little stale.]

Lt. Louis Lavender, who oversaw the section, “witnessed and heard these conversations going on ... [He] has done nothing,” the complaint alleges. In November, Lavender, who is Black, walked into the office [to office banter]

Lavender replied, “Man, we’re going to end up in the L.A. Times the way you all talk in here. You all can bring down the whole department.”

[See, now there's some cleverness and dramatic irony. Leadership!]

I would point out that creating a hostile workplace was illegal before DEI.

When the Civil Rights Act was passed, we knew the American population was still predominantly racist. After all, whites had been bombing African-American Sunday Schools and busses with impunity only the year before...it wasn't as though all those racists had dropped dead or been converted with the stroke of a pen. It was pretty clear to us back then that it would take at least a saeculum before most whites were not racist. That saeculum (which is the Boomer generation) has not passed away yet. I don't know why anyone is shocked or even surprised there are still racists among us.

 

[DaisyDay]

I would point out that creating a hostile workplace was illegal before DEI.

When the Civil Rights Act was passed, we knew the American population was still predominantly racist. After all, whites had been bombing African-American Sunday Schools and busses with impunity only the year before...it wasn't as though all those racists had dropped dead or been converted with the stroke of a pen. It was pretty clear to us back then that it would take at least a saeculum before most whites were not racist. That saeculum (which is the Boomer generation) has not passed away yet. I don't know why anyone is shocked or even surprised there are still racists among us.

Are you putting all residual racism on boomers? Nick Fuentes, Stephen Miller, James Fields are not that old.

 

[RDKirk]

Are you putting all residual racism on boomers? Nick Fuentes, Stephen Miller, James Fields are not that old.

I said "at least."

The Boomer generation is the last generation that was born and raised in a segregated nation...it was inculcated into our bones. Succeeding generations contain "contact" racists and "reactionary" racists, effects that will fade after the Boomer generation is gone.

 

[DaisyDay]

I would point out that creating a hostile workplace was illegal before DEI.

Now Trump and his minions are trying to make DEI illegal. Antiwoke is comatose.

 

[RDKirk]

Now Trump and his minions are trying to make DEI illegal. Antiwoke is comatose.

If they dig no deeper than DEI, I'm good with that. As I've said before DEI ideology is Critical Theory ideology, not the provisions of EEOC.

For instance, under DEI the military was actually instructing white enlisted men that they were the oppressors of black or female senior officers, even though those same black or female officers had awesome powers of organizational command over those white enlisted men. It's certainly possible to remove that level of silliness from the military without removing the basic principles of equal opportunity that the military had established decades earlier.

The problem is that DEI proponents have cleverly conflated DEI with earlier EEOC, bamboozling both Republicans and the rank-and-file Democrats into thinking that they are the same thing.

 

[BNR32FAN]

The meal itself does nothing, but there is a fake narrative around thanksgiving that does do harm and minimalize what natives have gone through.

Except everyone knows what the American Indians went thru because it’s taught in every public school in America. So it’s not as if Thanksgiving is being used to cover up anything since it’s literally taught in every public school.

 

[RileyG]

Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist, sexist and homophobic comments, complaint alleges​

For the better part of a year, a Los Angeles police officer working in the department’s recruitment office secretly recorded dozens of conversations in which fellow cops hurled racist and derogatory comments against Black police applicants, female colleagues, and lesbian and gay co-workers, according to a complaint filed with the LAPD.

After one female officer suggested “black people enjoy grape soda,” another Latino officer chimed in, “black people enjoy watermelon in between basketball,” according to the complaint.

The complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, details portions of roughly 90 recordings made in the department’s Recruiting Division Personal History Section and portrays officers and supervisors voicing open discrimination against potential recruits and colleagues based on race, sex and sexual orientation. These same officers were tasked with deciding who could join the LAPD.

[Well, at least there's no DEI!]

In the complaint, LAPD Sgt. Denny Jong, who is Asian, stands accused of leading the prejudicial banter. In one conversation with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock, he said: “I know why he died, he ate too much Tacos,” according to the complaint.

[Watermelon? Tacos? These may be the city's finest, but their routines are a little stale.]

Lt. Louis Lavender, who oversaw the section, “witnessed and heard these conversations going on ... [He] has done nothing,” the complaint alleges. In November, Lavender, who is Black, walked into the office [to office banter]

Lavender replied, “Man, we’re going to end up in the L.A. Times the way you all talk in here. You all can bring down the whole department.”

[See, now there's some cleverness and dramatic irony. Leadership!]

Some people have no filter. It’s ridiculous.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist, sexist and homophobic comments, complaint alleges​

For the better part of a year, a Los Angeles police officer working in the department’s recruitment office secretly recorded dozens of conversations in which fellow cops hurled racist and derogatory comments against Black police applicants, female colleagues, and lesbian and gay co-workers, according to a complaint filed with the LAPD.

After one female officer suggested “black people enjoy grape soda,” another Latino officer chimed in, “black people enjoy watermelon in between basketball,” according to the complaint.

The complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, details portions of roughly 90 recordings made in the department’s Recruiting Division Personal History Section and portrays officers and supervisors voicing open discrimination against potential recruits and colleagues based on race, sex and sexual orientation. These same officers were tasked with deciding who could join the LAPD.

[Well, at least there's no DEI!]

In the complaint, LAPD Sgt. Denny Jong, who is Asian, stands accused of leading the prejudicial banter. In one conversation with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock, he said: “I know why he died, he ate too much Tacos,” according to the complaint.

[Watermelon? Tacos? These may be the city's finest, but their routines are a little stale.]

Lt. Louis Lavender, who oversaw the section, “witnessed and heard these conversations going on ... [He] has done nothing,” the complaint alleges. In November, Lavender, who is Black, walked into the office [to office banter]

Lavender replied, “Man, we’re going to end up in the L.A. Times the way you all talk in here. You all can bring down the whole department.”

[See, now there's some cleverness and dramatic irony. Leadership!]

So you’re saying that these police officers made racial jokes in private conversations? Oh what has this world come to?!! I worked in concrete demolition for 29 years and I worked with blacks, Hispanics, Asians, middle easterners, and we’d rip on each other cracking racial jokes all the time on a daily basis BECAUSE WE WERE FRIENDS. That’s not systematic racism that just typical American culture.

 

[essentialsaltes]

So you’re saying that these police officers made racial jokes in private conversations?

No, I'm saying the officers recruiting new applicants were making prejudiced racial comments about the applicants they were evaluating.

The city’s personnel department is running a parallel probe into what impact the case might have had on the Police Department’s recruitment efforts.

 

[RDKirk]

So you’re saying that these police officers made racial jokes in private conversations? Oh what has this world come to?!! I worked in concrete demolition for 29 years and I worked with blacks, Hispanics, Asians, middle easterners, and we’d rip on each other cracking racial jokes all the time on a daily basis BECAUSE WE WERE FRIENDS. That’s not systematic racism that just typical American culture.

But these people were not friends. These were people considering applicants...people with organizational power making racial jokes about the people they had power over.

If my equal-ranked buddy and I shared such jokes between us, that's one thing. But when it's directed at people I have organizational power over, it's a problem.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

But these people were not friends. These were people considering applicants...people with organizational power making racial jokes about the people they had power over.

If my equal-ranked buddy and I shared such jokes between us, that's one thing. But when it's directed at people I have organizational power over, it's a problem.

If there was organizational and systematic racism, it was with affirmative action. This was just work bros bantering. Ever watch Gabriel Inglesials, or any comedian for that matter? Because if you did, you would know that if you or any leftist in a show started mouthing off this type of offense, you would be laughed as the security drug you out. I am saying this as a black man, I love my fried chicken, watermelon, and grape KoolAid, and I don't feel offended when a white person tells me so. I thought it was funny.

 

[RileyG]

So you’re saying that these police officers made racial jokes in private conversations? Oh what has this world come to?!! I worked in concrete demolition for 29 years and I worked with blacks, Hispanics, Asians, middle easterners, and we’d rip on each other cracking racial jokes all the time on a daily basis BECAUSE WE WERE FRIENDS. That’s not systematic racism that just typical American culture.

Sure. I’m half Czech and my mother’s side the family used an ethnic slur that was often used against Eastern Europeans. They saw it more of a nickname rather than an insult.

 

[RDKirk]

If there was organizational and systematic racism, it was with affirmative action. This was just work bros bantering. Ever watch Gabriel Inglesials, or any comedian for that matter? Because if you did, you would know that if you or any leftist in a show started mouthing off this type of offense, you would be laughed as the security drug you out. I am saying this as a black man, I love my fried chicken, watermelon, and grape KoolAid, and I don't feel offended when a white person tells me so. I thought it was funny.

I recall being on a Navy ranking board, having only men on the board that year, as we deliberated which sailors should get the limited "must promote" recommendations from the commanding officer.

I'm trying to imagine how it would go if we guys were making sexist jokes about the women we were evaluating...how that could possibly indicate that we as a group who had significant impact on their careers were taking their evaluation as seriously as the men.

 

[MrMoe]

Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist, sexist and homophobic comments, complaint alleges​

For the better part of a year, a Los Angeles police officer working in the department’s recruitment office secretly recorded dozens of conversations in which fellow cops hurled racist and derogatory comments against Black police applicants, female colleagues, and lesbian and gay co-workers, according to a complaint filed with the LAPD.

After one female officer suggested “black people enjoy grape soda,” another Latino officer chimed in, “black people enjoy watermelon in between basketball,” according to the complaint.

The complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, details portions of roughly 90 recordings made in the department’s Recruiting Division Personal History Section and portrays officers and supervisors voicing open discrimination against potential recruits and colleagues based on race, sex and sexual orientation. These same officers were tasked with deciding who could join the LAPD.

[Well, at least there's no DEI!]

In the complaint, LAPD Sgt. Denny Jong, who is Asian, stands accused of leading the prejudicial banter. In one conversation with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock, he said: “I know why he died, he ate too much Tacos,” according to the complaint.

[Watermelon? Tacos? These may be the city's finest, but their routines are a little stale.]

Lt. Louis Lavender, who oversaw the section, “witnessed and heard these conversations going on ... [He] has done nothing,” the complaint alleges. In November, Lavender, who is Black, walked into the office [to office banter]

Lavender replied, “Man, we’re going to end up in the L.A. Times the way you all talk in here. You all can bring down the whole department.”

[See, now there's some cleverness and dramatic irony. Leadership!]

How is this systematic racism?

 

[Pommer]

How is this systematic racism?

It probably isn’t, seeings as how the chief removed several officers of various ranks from the hiring-unit.
But it happened. Regularly.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I recall being on a Navy ranking board, having only men on the board that year, as we deliberated which sailors should get the limited "must promote" recommendations from the commanding officer.

I'm trying to imagine how it would go if we guys were making sexist jokes about the women we were evaluating...how that could possibly indicate that we as a group who had significant impact on their careers were taking their evaluation as seriously as the men.

You raised a good point. So the issue isn't systemic racism, but unprofessionalism that created a perception.

 

[Bradskii]

How is this systematic racism?

Well, it's like you have a system - like the police for example. And there's lots of examples of them being, you know...racist. It's kinda like the very definition of systemic racism!

If these guys are making racist comments, not to each other as some sort of in-joke, but about third parties, then 'Hey, some of my best friends are Asian/Black/women' etc doesn't excuse it. It's a problem.

Edit: Having read that some of them have been taken out of 'the system' to the extent that they're not involved in hiring, well - that's a step in the right direction. But these men are still out on the street pulling people over for perceived unlawful activity yet they have been taken out of one process because they are deemed racist.

 

[MrMoe]

Well, it's like you have a system - like the police for example. And there's lots of examples of them being, you know...racist. It's kinda like the very definition of systemic racism!

That's not the definition of systematic racism. According to NAACP President Derrick Johnson, the definition of systematic racism is, "systems and structures that have procedures or processes that disadvantages African Americans."

I don't know of any police department that has making racist, sexist and homophobic comments as a procedure or process. On the other hand there was a process in place for this police office who made these recordings to file a complaint which lead to these police officers being removed. This looks more like systematic anti-racism to me.

Edit: Having read that some of them have been taken out of 'the system' to the extent that they're not involved in hiring, well - that's a step in the right direction. But these men are still out on the street pulling people over for perceived unlawful activity yet they have been taken out of one process because they are deemed racist.

Where did you hear these men are still out on the street? The police chief said everyone named in the complaint has been removed from police duty.