The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper | Line Out | Bookstore Stops Playing Parliament Because White Woman Complains About "Racist" Music

1

Politics & Prose is a fantastic bookstore—and Paul, next time you're in D.C. it's a must for your itinerary. I'm guessing this was a one-off moment of fluster and panic. As long as it only happens this once, it's just a learning experience for the store. Personally, I doubt it will every happen again.

Posted by PEM on July 31, 2012 at 2:09 PM

2

Don't get me wrong, that woman at Borders sounds like a terrible person, but she should still be allowed to return a CD. There's a huge difference between returning something for a shitty reason and disrupting what everyone in the store was listening to. What was Borders supposed to do, Paul?

Posted by WorkWorkWork on July 31, 2012 at 2:10 PM

3

(Sadly, that area of D.C. also features staggering levels of entitlement and a willingness to be in your face about it. One example: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/artic… )

Posted by PEM on July 31, 2012 at 2:15 PM

4

You know why the bookstore adhered to this moron? Because she would've gone on the internet and posted to every conceivable social media that Politics & Prose were all evil racists. And the Interwebs Outrage Vigilante Brigade, of which SLOG and the Stranger are often charter members, would have gone ape shit in usual kneejerk fashion.

Posted by tkc on July 31, 2012 at 2:17 PM

5

If "I think it's racist" was the criteria for yanking music off the air, then there would be no country music left. Not such a bad idea, now that I think about it. Not worth losing the P-Funk, however.

Posted by Sir Vic on July 31, 2012 at 2:52 PM

6

What's a good go-go song/artist to get started with?

Posted by Daily in LA on July 31, 2012 at 3:11 PM

7

The late Chuck Brown looms large over everything. "Bustin' Loose" was his. After that, Rare Essence and Experience Unlimited (remember "Da Butt"?) Mambo Sauce more recently.

Actually, just go to the blog post Paul mentions above—Hopkinson's playlist is great!

Posted by PEM on July 31, 2012 at 3:26 PM

8

Obviously the work of Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk.

Posted by erg;ih on July 31, 2012 at 3:46 PM

9

Borders was right to take back that CD - it's not your place to judge why a customer doesn't like it. But this store in DC has no backbone.

Posted by Matt from Denver on July 31, 2012 at 4:14 PM

10

Actually, Borders had no reason to take back that CD. Especially if it was opened. You don't have to take back shit after that and I would have denied her.

Posted by yos-wa on July 31, 2012 at 4:18 PM

11

#7 FTW (Chuck Brown--hyyyyyhhhhuuuuh!)

I'd also add Trouble Funk to your list.

#10 As a former record store employee myself, we were stuck enforcing that policy--if opened, it can't be returned for any reason--thanks to the major labels simply refusing returns.

If she didn't like it, she could sell it back used. Might have been worth about $5 back in the day...what's a used cd worth today? (Don't answer that--rhetorical depression would ensue.)

Posted by pg13 on July 31, 2012 at 4:27 PM

12

I'm going to track down "Chocoloate City". Got to hear what was so racist about it (rolls eyes).

And that racist old White woman! So as a Christian, she doesn't want to hear Black folks singing? Wonder what kind of heaven she's going to.

Posted by Patricia Kayden on July 31, 2012 at 5:37 PM

13

@5, what country songs could be considered racist or have anything to do with race at all? I'm sure there must be some, but I've never heard any, and I listen to a fair amount of country music.

Posted by LJM on July 31, 2012 at 5:46 PM