May 20, 2020
Amazon has been widely condemned by dozens of anti-racist campaigners over the listing on its website of racist literature under the label of “collectible”.
Amazon Slammed For Sale Of Collectible Racist Literature Containing N-Word
Various editions of Ten Little N*ggers by English writer Agatha Christie are currently available for purchase, through third parties, via the online retailer.
The use of the racist slur in the title has sparked concern from a number of Black writers and public figures.
Award-winning author Alex Wheatle told HuffPost UK: “I object to any books of racist content being sold on Amazon. The company needs to tighten up its checks and procedures so these bigoted titles are not available on their platforms.”
Lawyer and media commentator Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu also tweeted: “This RACIST/OFFENSIVE title of Agatha Christie book is labelled rare & collectable by @AmazonUK.”
She added: “Profiting on oppression of Black people & enabling racism is REPREHENSIBLE. Remove NOW and apologize promptly!”This RACIST/OFFENSIVE title of Agatha Christie book is labelled Rare & Collectible by @AmazonUK. If it were as blatantly #Antisemitic it won't be on its listsProfiting on oppression of Black people & enabling racism is REPREHENSIBLERemove NOW & apologize promptly! @AmazonHelppic.twitter.com/7326COmTyS— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) May 20, 2020Just weeks ago, Amazon banned the sale of most editions of Hitler’s Mein Kampf and other Nazi propaganda books from its store following decades of campaigning by Holocaust charities.
Evadney Campbell, founder of Shiloh PR – a marketing company aimed at amplifying Black businesses, echoed Mos-Shogbamimu’s sentiments.
“Our pain, as Black people, is not recognised – and seen as if it can be used for marketing,” she told HuffPost UK. “I think Amazon should remove this immediately and it should be condemned because in this day and age there is just no room for such words any more.”
Speaking from an entrepreneurial perspective, Campbell questioned whether organisations profit from outrage created by racism scandals.
“I was so appalled and disheartened to see the book being sold,” she told HuffPost UK.
“From a PR point of view, I think sometimes these things are deliberately placed to stoke controversy among Black people. Black people are a powerful group in terms of Black Twitter and how we will get onto something and cause it to go viral.
“Sometimes I think this is part of these companies’ marketing and PR strategy.
“It is as though this is free publicity from us and the more we share and show our anger and disgust at these things, the more publicity these companies get and sadly the more they sell – because there are people out there who want to buy these products, who don’t care, who want to see us arguing over things that we find offensive.”Tweeting directly to Amazon, one user, Lisa Elliott, said: ”@AmazonUK @amazon how can you have this disgusting book on sale in your site? How very dare you sell this open display of racism in this day and age – awful!!!!!!! #racism #racist”.
Another person wrote: “Wtf @amazon how is this available on your website/app? In this day and age you sell racist items? I don’t care if it’s a collectible, this needs to be removed and the seller banned!”Related... Ethnic Diversity In Advertising Is At All-Time High - Why Are 'Racially Offensive' Campaigns Still Missing The Mark? Another user, with the handle @BlackBoysCan1, tweeted: “Why is @Amazon & @AmazonUK still selling these books? It’s 2020 FFS. It was racist then. It’s racist now! Amazon remove these from sale and prevent sellers being able to sell products with n*gger in the title!”Why is @amazon & @AmazonUK still selling these books? It’s 2020 FFS. It was a racist then. It’s racist now!Amazon remove these from sale and prevent sellers being able to sell products with n*gger in the title!https://t.co/KkBTDFBzC6pic.twitter.com/iB2xf2UAr2— Black boys Can (@BlackBoysCan1) May 19, 2020Cairo Aibangbee, author of Searching for Rainbows, described the revelation as “exhausting”.
“Visibility of derogatory work such as this is harmful. It perpetrates the false narrative that Black people are lesser, it reinforces old tropes and harmful stereotypes. It is violent – why should I or anyone be exposed to such harmful and aggressive language?” she said to HuffPost UK.
“The fact that this is still a public listing on Amazon illustrates a total lack of regard from the company and an arrogance or dangerous indifference rooted in white privilege and institutionalised racism. Racist products should have no shelf space on Amazon’s virtual marketplace.”Like many others, Patrick Vernon – community activist and founder of the 100 Great Black Britons campaign – has also called for the retailer to remove the book from circulation and instead focus on promoting Black history resources on its platform.
He told HuffPost UK: “Amazon as a leading online global brand should have clear policies which support equality and diversity of all its customers and retailers. If the company really values its customers, especially from those around the world of African descent, it should stop selling and promoting this and other similar publications immediately.
“This publication and many others are part of this history and context which still influence everyday racism and the portrayal of Black people in the media, and the rise in online racism and AfrIphobia on Social Media platforms, which many people in public life are experiencing on a daily basis.
“The diffusion of negative racist and stereotype images was based on the perception, experiences and value judgements of colonial expatriates based in Africa – teachers, administrators, soldiers, missionaries, entrepreneurs, settlers, explorers, and anthropologists – and the legacy of slavery and plantation societies in North America, the Caribbean and South America.”
He added: “Amazon should focus on selling and promotion Black British history instead.”
In the light of the Covid-19 crisis and with school closures, Vernon has collaborated with the National Educational Union (NEU) to launch a unique home school competition for children and young people to explore Black British history and multicultural Britain.
This competition is part of the relaunch of the 100 Great Black Britons campaign to celebrate the continued legacy and achievements of Black people in Britain.The controversial novel by Christie was published in the UK in November 1939 and is among the best-selling books of all time.
It is named after a racist 1869 nursery rhyme for children which would later become a standard musical number featured in blackface minstrel shows over the years.
The US edition of Christie’s novel was later released in January 1940 with the title And Then There Were None, which is taken from the last five words of the song.
“One little n*gger boy living all alone/ He went and hanged himself and then there were none,” the line goes.
HuffPost UK has identified at least half a dozen books, all penned by white authors, containing the N-word in the title, with listings on Amazon.
An Amazon spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to the written word is important. We are mindful of the global history of censorship and do not take such decisions lightly.
“Our store maintains content guidelines, which address content that is illegal or infringing. We remove products that do not adhere to our guidelines and when a concern is raised we promptly investigate it.”
It comes weeks after a new report by the Centre for Media and Democracy (CMD) revealed that dozens of hate groups and racist media outlets are receiving income via mainstream payment processors including Amazon.
On Amazon, self-published books by white supremacist authors and the entire catalogue of white nationalist publishers – including audiobooks – are easily available.Related... “Shabbily Treated” BAME Community Deserves Public Inquiry Into Impact Of Covid-19 How Racism And Inequality Have Left Minorities Most At Risk From Covid-19 Amazon Criticised For Allowing Sale Of Parenting Guide To 'Preventing Homosexuality'
Business
Global Vehicle to Grid Market 10 Year Forecast Report 2024-2034 - Supportive Government Regulations and Financial Incentives for V2G Deployment
DUBLIN, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Vehicle to Grid (V2G) Market Report 2024-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. World revenue for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Market is forecast to surpass US$ 4.31 billion in 2024, with strong revenue growth through to 2034. Escalating Demand for Electricity, Coupled With a Global Commitment to Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels, Resulting in a Surge in the Adoption of Electric VehiclesThe vehicle-to-grid (V2G) market is witnessing unprecedented growth driven by a confluence of factors shaping the future of sustainable transportation and power management. Key drivers include the escalating demand for electricity, coupled with a global commitment to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in a surge in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This market is characterized by opportunities that lie in the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to meet energy demands, while also addressing challenges associated with the variable nature of these sources.The primary driver for the V2G market is the escalating demand for electricity worldwide. Governments and industries are increasingly recognizing the need for sustainable and low-emission solutions, driving the widespread adoption of EVs. The electrification of the transportation sector not only addresses environmental concerns but also provides a unique opportunity for EVs to serve as mobile energy storage units. This bidirectional flow of power, where EVs can both draw and supply energy to the grid, is a key driver propelling the V2G market forward.Opportunities in the V2G market are abundant, particularly in the integration of renewable energy sources. As countries strive to meet ambitious renewable energy targets, V2G technology becomes an enabler for managing the intermittent nature of solar and wind power. This creates opportunities for smart grid solutions and advanced energy storage systems. Additionally, the idle times of parked EVs present an untapped opportunity for bidirectional ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Olivia Munn Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Double Mastectomy Procedure | E! News
March 13, 2024
kUaEV1Kd3S0
Travis Kelce Shares Details From His Trip to Singapore With Taylor Swift | E! News
March 13, 2024
3YXi-Dgf4eg
Kate Middleton VIRAL Photo: Agency Addresses Photoshop Claims | E! News
March 13, 2024
S4VkO0TpkCY
Da'Vine Joy Randolph Plays 'Smash or Pass' With Iconic Moments From Her Career
March 13, 2024
vkPdJEF2BX4
Jean Smart Wears a Hotel Bathrobe to Present an Award to Hannah Einbinder l Power of Comedy SxSW
March 12, 2024
Bw7uVEYQev4
Lenny Kravitz Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 12, 2024
MlWq8BcnwhE
Dak Prescott Extortion Plot & Steph Curry for President? | TMZ Sports Full Ep - 3/12/24
March 13, 2024
jHFsrjs7OFY
A Japanese space rocket blew up after takeoff Tuesday, turning the sky into a fireball of smoke.
March 13, 2024
YkfJ3Qg8B7c
#KimKardashian and #BiancaCensori hung out at #KanyeWest's listening party Tuesday night!
March 13, 2024
EfwLLq6bx9k
‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond denies using Ozempic to lose 60 pounds
March 13, 2024
Omfjk1AlZ3A
Chrissy Teigen reveals her ‘boob lift scars’ in daring dress at Jay-Z & Beyoncé’s Oscars 2024 party
March 13, 2024
VxZ2qXAlpmU
Zoë Kravitz pokes fun at dad Lenny Kravitz's style during Hollywood Walk of Fame speech
March 13, 2024
j3-lcFu_1sQ
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
SC Freiburg - Bayer Leverkusen
17
Mar
USA: Major League Soccer
Atlanta United - Orlando City
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
West Ham United - Aston Villa
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Rayo Vallecano - Real Betis
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Championship
Leeds - Millwall
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Las Palmas - Almeria
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Villarreal - Valencia
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Sevilla - Celta Vigo
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
09
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund
09
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Arsenal - Brentford
09
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Bologna - Inter Milan
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.