Over the past several days American Airlines has come under both criticism and applause for allowing crewmembers to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ pins and even beginning the process of making a standard pin for employees to choose to wear.
On Wednesday American gave instructions to all of its phone representatives on how to handle complaints related to the airline’s allowing crewmembers to wear Black Lives Matter pins on their uniforms. Here are the talking points call center employees are supposed to use:
- American Airlines believes in equity and inclusion for all.
- Some of our team members saw the Black Lives Matter pin being worn at other airlines and companies and asked if they could do the same.
- We will allow team members who wish to wear a Black Lives Matter pin to do so if they choose.
- Fundamentally, we believe Black Lives Matter is an expression of equality, not a political statement.
- It doesn’t mean other lives don’t matter, rather that in our society Black lives should matter and be valued the same as others.
- We are showing our support for our Black colleagues and customers who have experienced discrimination and injustice, not any paricular organization.
- Our Christian, Veteran and LGBTQ groups, for example, have developed their own pin that can be worn as part of the uniform.
- In the interim, until this pin is produced, we are allowing team members to wear a Black Lives Matter pin.
And then American drops the mic, “If a customer requests to cancel their ticket, notify the customer that a refund will not be provided.”
Of course equality is a political statement, though hopefully one that many people can agree with. American wants to suggest that they aren’t out on a limb here, employees are requesting it because other airlines are doing it too.
Still those are actually good and reasonable talking points I think. They aren’t endorsing any agenda other than equality so let’s not confuse this talking about what some people associated with the BLM movement want that you (and I!) might object to.
While the controversy seems to have initially been stirred by some American Airlines flight attendants who object to the message, especially those who consider it to be oppositional to police, I think the potential grounds for reasonable objection among employees could be that this special uniform exemption excludes other employee messages – contra American’s claim about all the pins that can be worn, a flight attendant cannot for instance wear a PETA pin or a Freemason pin.
However the company is choosing to make an exemption based on its own prioritization of the message. That’s absolutely political, and it’s consistent with corporate marketing, and that’s within their reasonable discretion I think.
If you write to American about this issue, here’s the message you can expect to get back,
Imagine running an airline like this when you could save yourself and the world a hassle by focusing on your core competency instead of wrapping yourself in nonsense like BLM
I was born in the USSR in the seventies and came to America 25 year ago to escape that horrendous experiment called “from socialism to communism”…Guess what: modern day USA has more politics and agenda than the USSR…..Just Unreal…..
@ Gary — The Trump Shuttle should be revived. They can cart around all of the racist, anti-maskers. Trump should have thought of this already as a way to make money shuttling his followers to his rallies.
Why is it that certain people only want to allow freedom of opinion and expression when they agree with it. Look whether you believe in a cause or not, if you say you want freedom to express your opinion then don’t muzzle others. There are many people that don’t want to see BLM or MAGA but this as seems to be the mantra today is I support you if you support only my view or opinion. Just understand that the Greatest Generation suffered, sacrificed and died for us to be united and we cannot even do that. We just continue to spit in their face. How many of the ultra of either side even care, remember what they did, or know that we have not suffered 1/100th of what those before us did to keep us together. We are to be one people, united and created equal…end of story. Sorry for my babbling but we are destroying ourselves and our country because of all this political infighting and polarization. GROW UP!
Maybe if people would educate exactly what BLM is they would have a different opinion. One of their key points getting rid of the nuclear family. We see how not having dad’s has worked out so far, all you have to do is go to their website, where you also can donate money to fund political activities as well…
Maybe AA can produce some other pins as well:
Customer Service Matters
Seat Pitch Matters
Bathroom Width Matters
Loyalty Matters
IFE Matters
@ john — LOL
What happened to American Airlines? Back in the nineties I absolutely loved them and now they just keep getting worse and worse. They may as well officially adopt their new slogan, “We’re not happy until you’re not happy!”
Burglar Lives Matter!!!
@John How true is that!!!
Wow, it is appalling the level of racist, uneducated comments on this post. I am losing more and more faith in humanity every day.
Black Lives Matter is an organization with a Marxist ideology, which organizes “protests” that are often choreographed to begin peacefully and to devolve into rioting after dark (I witnessed how they do this first hand). The ultimate goal of this organization is the replacement of our current government and economic system with a socialist (communist) system where the government dictates how you are to live your life. They were very clever to use such a slogan to cloak their true intent. Which is why they do not lift a finger for the dozens of black lives lost every day to black on black crime. Or if a black cop is murdered by a white person. That’s not what they are about.
I took the trouble to write the above because the BLACK LIVES MATTER signs you see are emblems of this organization. Many (if not most) of those who display it are of the naive belief that it’s a nice and virtuous statement – and don’t realize that it also promotes an organization/movement that is insurgent and that has little to do with “black lives”. I have a hard time believing that major corporations and sports leagues do not understand this distinction. Which is why I refuse to do business with any that promote “Black Lives Matter”, because they might as well be promoting Antifa. They should know better than to take sides – especially a side that – if successful – will result in their eventual demise. So, shame on AA for this, especially considering that there’s no way they would allow FAs to wear a TRUMP pin. Nor should they.
So let me get this straight, AA will kick off paying passengers who wear politically provocative clothing…on the grounds that they wish to avoid inflaming tensions which could foreseeably lead to verbal and/or physical conflicts in the cabin. But if AA’s own crew wishes to wear a politically provocative pin, that’s ok…so long as it is a BLM one. Got it.
How about this: Wear the standard uniform with no “pieces of flair.” Do your damn job, then do whatever you want in your off time. How hard is that? We’ve long had to deal with AA personnel’s thinly-veiled contempt for its customers. Now we have to be subjected to certain political statements by them, too? And just to rub salt in the wound, be sure to do this at a time when your survival was ensured only by a massive taxpayer-funded bailout.
BLM organizer who called looting ‘reparations’ dismisses peaceful protesting
The Chicago Black Lives Matter organizer who justified looting as “reparation” has doubled down — insisting this week that even calling someone a criminal is “based on racism.”
Ariel Atkins told WBEZ that her group “100 percent” supports the violent looters who trashed chunks of the Windy City on Monday, again repeating her claim that it is “reparations.”
“The whole idea of criminality is based on racism anyway,” she told the NPR station.
“Because criminality is punishing people for things that they have needed to do to survive or just the way that society has affected them with white supremacist BS,” she said.
At least 13 cops were injured and 100 people arrested in violent clashes that led a mostly black community in the troubled South Side to kick out a BLM march the next day.
Nuff said….
Maybe they should fully embrace the BLM philosophy and burn their own planes to the ground.
Black Lives Matter statements are in general about the ending of systemic racism in society and are separate from the BLM organization. The statements came before the organization.
While having separate names for the strong sense of urgency around the movement ending systemic racism and the organizationof that same name would be helpful, we are beyond that point, and the statement came before the organization.
I feel ending systemic racism is an urgent matter, and I strongly support the Black Lives Matter movement, I do not support the organization.
I also believe Blue Lives Matter and I don’t see them as opposing perspectives.
Here’s a link to help understand the issue
https://www.facebook.com/ESPN/videos/coach-k-delivers-a-passionate-message-on-racism/303806417691364/
Black Lives Matter statements are in general about the ending of systemic racism in society and are separate from the BLM organization. The statements came before the organization.
While having separate names for the strong sense of urgency around the movement ending systemic racism and the organizationof that same name would be helpful, we are beyond that point, and the statement came before the organization.
I feel ending systemic racism is an urgent matter, and I strongly support the Black Lives Matter movement, I do not support the organization.
I also believe Blue Lives Matter and I don’t see them as opposing perspectives.
So many divisive posts on the anniversary of 9/11. Sad.
“Systemic racism” is a lie. Why solve a problem that doesn’t exist?
We live in a new world order now. Just accept it people.
https://v.redd.it/qs61cjwyycm51
BLM, the organization, lost me when they said the looting which occurred in Chicago in August was acceptable, and even stated that it was a form of reparations. Now I realize they are, in essence, a quasi-terrorist organization that promotes crime and violence.
Gene your still an idiot!!So airline employees cannot wear symbols like christmas on their uniforms but BLM and the rioting-looting etc that they stand for is ok !! we have gone to the other side,,
Only a racist would consider Black Lives Matter a political statement, I shall send your statement along. Gary stop showing your blatant racism in your comments it’s bad enough you have so many racist readers
Sad this blog allows people to show their racial biases In the guise of a discussion about AA. . And Deep character flaws. Of course no one is in favor of violence or looting. But the reason we’re in this fix is because of the great hater and divider. From day one. You can see the deplorables climbing out from under the rocks under which they’ve hidden for years until this Miserable human being came along and galvanized his 35%. Just throws gasoline on the fire and stokes fear.
My washing machine won’t let me put coloreds and whites together. I need to buy one that isn’t so racist.
Only racists would consider Black Lives Matter a political statement. U Gary, obviously are racist. As r many of your readers. Just proof that Black Lives Matter needs to be said. I hope this offends u racists so much that u boycott these airlines so I won’t find myself sitting next to you
Joe, these comments prove that systematic racism still exists!
Utterly appalling and disgraceful the level of racism and divisiveness in these comments.
You guys deserve the country you are getting. Don’t cry when they come for you. I sure won’t.
Doesn’t Parker have enough problems without creating more.
The solution is to NOT use American Airlines, plain and simple. If they want to pander to BLM, let them, but do you see them saying anything about Blue Lives Matter or how about All Lives Matter. No, because that is not popular now, it is all about BLM and I for one have had my fill of it.
Just another in a never ending stream of gutless corporate boards, college admirations, and many more who cower at this racist, decisive and anti-American movement. What is sadder is that 95% of those wearing these and espousing their virtues and causes have no clue what these organizations and movements stand for, let alone the ramifications for them personally if they are allowed to take over. AA is just another spineless “fellow traveler” for them.
Guess what American I bought an expensive RT ticket this morning for some last minute travel. I had the option of AA DL or AS. Guess which airline did not get my business? If enough of us business travelers do this perhaps AA will get the message. I don’t fly so I have to be exposed to a particular company’s social agenda. Business should be neutral. Plain and simple. Why is this so hard for American companies to
Understand.
Sad that an appeal for support for basic civil rights is met with such misinformation and vitriol.
Good at you AA!
Gary – now look what you started! I am a retired, white, 69 year old law enforcement officer. I am also a huge supporter of BLM. We have had systemic racism in this country forever and yet we refuse to face the fact and do something about it. Not only for blacks but for American Indians and Hispanics. I am tired of bigots and racists. Most people don’t even know that it took until 1974 that all women in this country could have credit cards in their own names! That is systemic sexism! As for “pins” on uniforms or in the workplace. This is simply a slippery slope. I believe that ALL companies need to outlaw all pins, posters, hats, shirts …. other than official uniforms. Easy, and done. People are there to work. If you want to wear pins, hats, etc…….no matter the cause…..save it for your private time. This ends controversy.
For those that don’t like/approve/endorse/adopt/etc. the position that AA is taking, the solution is simple:
VOTE WITH YOUR FEET WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE
@Ajay – Good point. If you don’t like the policy of this private company, take your business elsewhere rather than complaining about it here. Talk is cheap, whiskey costs money.
@ beachfan- I found your statement to be thoughtful, and wonder how would propose to support the movement and reject the organization?
So I could wear a pin that says “My Life Matters” – and that’d be okay on my AA Uniform?
@John – Awesome. A+.
@ John;
I personally do it by particpating in dialogues, here, and in the workplace (did it with my ppers, boss and her boss (my CEO)). But it’s a good question, word choice is very important and rarely done well.
I don’t want to “defund the police” and avoid that term because of it’s divisiveness.. Most folks who suport the movement (as opposed to the organization) don’t.
But almost everyone agrees that the police should not be the front line on social issues such as the homeless, which (is what ,many mean by defund the police, i.e, transfer budget for social services that aren’t core law enforcement to other agencies to take on those issues).
I try to talk about issues and avoid slogans and get to points of commonality as soon as possible.
However, someone who denies the existence of systematic racism, like a Holocaust denier, is hard to dialogue with.
@ Jeff K;
Nice post, and you raise an interesting issue. Not sure were I come down on the pin issue. I do know the real freedom of speach is the freedom we give to people who say things opposite to what we want them to say.
And the true price of this freedom, in some sense, is the consequences resulting from the stupid things people say.
I cringe when I read some of the comments such as those stated Gene, Debra, Allen, and Peter. They simply do not appear to get it or are not informed as they insist on calling others racist who have done the research.
Some of these commenters are racist bastards. You know who I’m talking about. They couldn’t say “Black lives matter” as much as their life and mean it if their life depended on it. The phrase would stick in their throats like a chicken bone.
The sad thing is most of the people condemning Black Live Matter don’t even know what Black Lives Matter means. They only know what Trump and Republican politicians want to brainwash them into thinking it means.
Those commenters can’t admit to themselves that there are still situations in brainwashed America when Black lives are not valued as much as other lives. They come from the same mold as the racist bastards who didn’t bat an eye about slavery, the Black Codes of Reconstruction, lynchings, KKK terror, state-sponsored segregation, segregated schools and housing, discriminatory hiring practices, etc. etc.. Big deal, no skin off their noses.
Racists used to hide behind hoods at times. Now they hide behind fictitious names on a blog. If you are so proud of yourselves, please tell your coworkers, bosses, neighbors and friends exactly how you feel. Put a sign in your yard. Stamp it on your forehead in indelible ink so we can all know who you are. You can give each other high fives when you meet on the street. Or maybe you can wear a pin that says Black lives don’t matter.
Rioting Scum (don’t) Matter!
@John – Was it Donald Trump and Republicans who looted, pillaged, and burned their way across America’s cities? Did they tear down statues or beat people who tried to defend their businesses?
Would Donald Trump try to get me fired from my job for expressing an opinion contrary to his? Does Donald Trump lecture me about historical events that happened before I was even born?
Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself who is really brainwashed.
@Joe, If you think there is no racial injustice in America and that there are times when Black lives are valued less than others, you are most definitely brainwashed or willfully ignorant.
To hear it coming from someone like you makes me more convinced its a lie.
To all the people who claim our President is the cause for all this systemic racism – have you ever really thought that sentiment through to any degree? Our country elected a BLACK PRESIDENT. And even though his achievements in those 4 years were negligible, this “racist” country decided to RE-ELECT HIM?? If you really believe that’s even possible, then I imagine you think the rioting and looting is actually advancing this cause (HAH).
I get it how the cool/woke sentiment lately is to call everything and anything racist, but spare us the virtue signalling BS. You can grandstand and make an ass out of yourself on Twitter, I promise you’ll have plenty of support.
My issue with these things is as always – This isn’t free speech or freedom of expression. It’s controlled speech, that’s limited to certain corporate approved causes.
I have no problem with an AA employee wearing a BLM pin. (even though I find the movement both toxic and divisive) However, could a different employee wear a “Free Kyle Rittenhouse pin”, or really any other political message of their choosing? It’s the double standard and censorship that I find wrong.