Plan B Forum

The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a decision by the state Human Relations Commission that the manager of a Dover cinema was racist when he used a "condescending tone" in telling a crowd of largely black patrons viewing a Tyler Perry movie to silence their cell phones and remain quiet.

The commission also ordered the Carmike 14 Theater to pay nearly $80,000 for violating the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law after it determined the October 2007 announcement -- which was not regularly made in that way in other theaters -- "insulted, humiliated and demeaned" patrons in that manager David Stewart had singled out a black audience at a "minority-themed" movie.

Court papers note that extra security also was brought in that night and guards were double-checking ticket stubs as audience members entered, which the plaintiffs said further added to the humiliation.

The Supreme Court, however, tossed out that finding and the fine late last week, ruling there was no racist language in the announcement, no specific group was singled out and the non-racial explanation for the announcement -- that it was part of a since-discontinued company policy at sold-out shows to ensure that all patrons would enjoy the movie -- was reasonable.

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The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a decision by the state Human Relations Commission that the manager of a Dover cinema was racist when he used a "condescending tone" in telling a crowd of largely black patrons viewing a Tyler Perry movie to silence their cell phones and remain quiet.

Court papers note that extra security also was brought in that night and guards were double-checking ticket stubs as audience members entered, which the plaintiffs said further added to the humiliation.

Sue U wrote:

Court papers note that extra security also was brought in that night and guards were double-checking ticket stubs as audience members entered, which the plaintiffs said further added to the humiliation.

Unless they do that for EVERY sold out show, that IS racist.

Andrew D wrote:

Sue U wrote:

Court papers note that extra security also was brought in that night and guards were double-checking ticket stubs as audience members entered, which the plaintiffs said further added to the humiliation.

Unless they do that for EVERY sold out show, that IS racist.

Not necessarily. What if the theater has had security problems before when showing Tyler Perry films which it has not had when showing other films? Is it racist to guard against the possibility of another instance in an already established pattern?

What I want to know is, had this guy never been to a movie in a black neighborhood, or never had a black crowd at his theater before? An essential part of the experience is the running commentary from the audience; everyone there knows it.

Sue U wrote:Okay, "Absent some credible and legitimate alternative justification, unless they do that for EVERY sold out show, that IS racist."

Better now?

Lord Jim wrote:Sue, this must be something that black people only do when they are in a "black crowd" because in my 40 plus years of movie going experience, I have not noticed this sort of rudeness coming from black people any more than from white people. Every now and then you get somebody (or some group of somebody's) who won't shut up, but in my experience this hasn't been a racial thing.

Frankly, it seems to me to look somewhat racist to suggest that black people are somehow congenitally rude, and/or incapable of considerate behavior in a movie theater.

Andrew D wrote:Whose burden should it be? Should the people complaining about it have to show that there was no "credible and legitimate alternative justification"? Or should the people implementing the policy have to show that there was one?

If you are using your phone in a cinema when I am watching a movie, I won't care what colour you are when I condescendingly tell you to turn it off or take it outside.

to silence their cell phones and remain quiet.