|
Angela Alioto's Interview
|
||
|
In a brilliant, informative, and insightful interview with Civil Attorney, Angela Alioto, by Gibbs reporter Susan Robinson, Ms. Alioto spoke openly and forcefully about the nature of racism and discrimination as they still exist in our society. The picture of discrimination and abuse Ms. Alioto details in her interview is especially troubling because the San Francisco Bay Area is touted as the most educated, enlightened, and tolerant area in this nation. If such gross forms of ignorance, racism, and intolerance can occur in this area, I shudder to think of what could happen elsewhere. It is as if all the fine institutions of learning we have in this area have somehow not measured up to the task society should demand. But as an educator, I may have given too much credence to the power of education and truth to heal the disease of racism and hatred. For I have often marveled at the stoutness of racism and bigotry that I see in many college classes and how, too often, the educational process seemingly has little effect on some who cling to antiquated notions of unearned privilege and power. Gordon Allport, in his historical study of racism, stated that racism may be transmitted in a number of ways: taught, caught, and passed on through peer-pressure. Ms. Alioto stated that many of the managers at the high tech corporations have no racial sensitivity. That fact is scary in an area as diverse as California and the Bay area. These managers are the students who went through our finest schools and yet their ignorance has prevailed and is manifested in the type of insensitivity she outlines in this provocative interview. Those who have exercised privilege so long have not seemingly realized that the California population has changed. This blindness may be in part because corrupted privilege has a way of corrupting one's view and thinking. Vincent Ruggiero, in his newly released eight edition of Beyond Feelings, says that the way we think is in some part fashioned by our parental upbringing as well as our learning. The Angela Alioto interview is hard hitting--she is honest and feisty as she should be, and she identifies with the pain of her clients as she pursues civil justice for them. Not only has she successfully won in this Civil Rights case, but the jury awarded a landmark verdict of $124 million for 21 clients because of the egregious actions of Wonder Bread. Of course, Wonder Bread is appealing the verdict, and they hope to reduce or reverse the decision of the jury. Attorney Alioto knows that this company does not intend to pay any money for their violation of the civil and working rights of these employees. Therefore, she is calling for a boycott of Wonder Bread, which is the largest bread producer in the Nation--its parent, IBC with headquarters in Kansas, is a $3 billion a year corporation. If you want to know more about this boycott or how to get involved, read Ms. Robinson's interview with Ms. Alioto for her contact numbers and web linkage. In discussing her law suit and legal work that is emerging in Silicon Valley, we are able to see that the Digital Divide, like other American divides, has a reason, and that reason is the same ubiquitous sickness of racism that this nation seemingly can never overcome. On behalf of Gibbs,
I thank Ms. Angela Alioto for a most instructive and provocative interview.
We applaud her and her clients.
|
