PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Some customers at a local supermarket say a display meant to celebrate Black History Month is offensive and stereotypical.
The display at the Kroger on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City features rapper Snoop Dogg and his wine brand, 19 Crimes. After receiving several complaints, the store decided to take down the display.
A former president of the local NAACP told Channel 2′s Tom Jones that selling wine has nothing to do with celebrating Black history.
“I just felt that it was offensive,” Johnnie Jones said.
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Customers were greeted by the display as they walked into the entrance near the produce section.
“It’s very negative,” customer Michael Drummond said.
The display is a life-size cutout of Snoop Dog with his brand 19 Crimes on it. Bottles of the rapper’s wine and Black Girl Magic wine are in front of the cut-out.
“They really promoting alcohol,” Drummond said.
A blackboard next to it has, “Celebrating Black History Month” written on it, with a clenched fist that has “Dream Like Martin” and other phrases on it. The board also reads, “Say it loud, ‘I’m Black and I’m proud.’”
“Proud of drinking wine? “No. We’re proud of the Tuskegee Airmen whose shoulders I stand on,” said Jones, a former commercial and military pilot.
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Jones says the display has nothing to do with celebrating Black History. He thinks it contributes to stereotypes.
Managers at Kroger heard about the complaints and took down the display, but not everyone was happy.
“I didn’t think there was anything wrong with showing a display of Snoop,” customer Pam Lewis explained. She says the display was far from offensive.
“I mean, if you want to drink wine whether it’s Black History Month or not it shouldn’t really make any difference,” she said.
Jones says the month is not about one’s thirst for alcohol.
“We need to be thirsty for knowledge,” he said.
He wants the store to put up a display of people like Atlanta’s first Black Mayor, Maynard Jackson, or Ed Johnson, the first Black Mayor of Fayetteville. He says that would be more appropriate for Black History Month.
Kroger’s corporate offices sent a statement to Channel 2:
“Kroger is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all we do. Our intentions are never meant to be offensive.”
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