Mediaboss Marketing

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - In a case that gave a legal airing to the debate over use of the N-word among blacks, a federal jury has rejected a black manager's argument that it was a term of love and endearment when he aimed it at black employee.

Jurors awarded $30,000 in punitive damages Tuesday after finding last week that the manager's four-minute rant was hostile and discriminatory, and awarding $250,000 in compensatory damages.

The case against Rob Carmona and the employment agency he founded, STRIVE East Harlem, hinged on the what some see as a complex double standard surrounding the word: It's a degrading slur when uttered by whites but can be used at times with impunity among blacks.

But 38-year-old Brandi Johnson told jurors that being black didn't make it any less hurtful when Carmona repeatedly targeted her with the slur during a March 2012 tirade about inappropriate workplace attire and unprofessional behavior.

Johnson, who taped the remarks after her complaints about his verbal abuse were disregarded, said she fled to the restroom and cried for 45 minutes.

"I was offended. I was hurt. I felt degraded. I felt disrespected. I was embarrassed," Johnson testified.

The jury ordered Carmona to pay $25,000 in punitive damages and STRIVE to pay $5,000.

Outside court after her victory, Johnson said she was "very happy" and rejected Carmona's claims from the witness stand Tuesday that the verdict made him realize he needs to "take stock" of how he communicates with people he is trying to help.

"I come from a different time," Carmona said hesitantly, wiping his eyes repeatedly with a cloth.

Visit link:
NY case puts N-word use among blacks on trial - NBC40.net

Corey Feldman's publicist proves, again, that there is indeed no rest for the weary, sending out this 600-word press release entitled "Corey Feldman Responds to Bullying," at 9:00 p.m. on Labor Day.

As it turns out, Corey is displeased about some less than favorable coverage he's been receiving in various news outlets of late (who, us?). To set the record straight, he's denouncing cyber bullying, likening himself to Pablo Picasso, and sharing the "exclusive" photo above from his recent birthday bash. The press release, reposted in its full magnificence, is below.

Corey Feldman Responds to Cyber Bullying with a Positive Outlook Announcing New Book, Lead Role in Theatrical Movie, Coreys Angels Projects and New Album

(Hollywood, CA) September 3 Corey Feldman has a lot to celebrate with more than 30 years in the film business, but lately hes busier than ever with the announcement of a new book, a lead role in a theatrical movie, the upcoming release of his new album and numerous projects with his very own Coreys Angels brand.

Last month, he released his new single Ascension Millennium on YouTube, which has received mixed reviews and controversy from the public and media. A personal birthday party he also hosted was met with strong criticism online; criticism Feldman strongly feels is cyber bullying.

Unfortunately, we have grown into a society whose belief system holds to bring down rather than to build up. Bullying is present in schools, homes, professional environments and online (cyber bullying), and here is a case no different from just that. I can take criticism, but what people are saying online as of late is far beyond that, said Feldman. It takes a lot of balls to put yourself out there in the hot seat, so I encourage everyone to not be afraid of what others will say or think. Move forward and ignore the haters, he added.

Since the video from Feldmans first single was released on MTV and has been uploaded, it has received more than half a million views in the US alone, not including Canada and overseas.

In August this past year, Feldman hosted his second Corey's Angels Birthday Bash, a successful party despite some of the negative reviews it received.

You cant believe everything you read or hear. Its the age old adage reality vs. setup, said Feldman. The Coreys Angels Birthday Bash was an enormous success, and were really excited about our follow up event. Stay tuned, he added.

The Coreys Angels web site, clothing line and private membership club are also set to launch in October. Coreys Angels will be hosting their next "Halo Wing" party on Friday, October 11th.

Read the original post:
Corey Feldman Wants to End Cyber Bullying (When It's Directed at Him)

In a case that gave a legal airing to the debate over use of the N-word among blacks, a federal jury has rejected a black manager's argument that it was a term of love and endearment when he aimed it at black employee.

Jurors awarded $30,000 in punitive damages Tuesday after finding last week that the manager's four-minute rant was hostile and discriminatory, and awarding $250,000 in compensatory damages.

The case against Rob Carmona and the employment agency he founded, STRIVE East Harlem, hinged on the what some see as a complex double standard surrounding the word: It's a degrading slur when uttered by whites but can be used at times with impunity among blacks.

But 38-year-old Brandi Johnson told jurors that being black didn't make it any less hurtful when Carmona repeatedly targeted her with the slur during a March 2012 tirade about inappropriate workplace attire and unprofessional behavior.

Johnson, who taped the remarks after her complaints about his verbal abuse were disregarded, said she fled to the restroom and cried for 45 minutes.

"I was offended. I was hurt. I felt degraded. I felt disrespected. I was embarrassed," Johnson testified.

The jury ordered Carmona to pay $25,000 in punitive damages and STRIVE to pay $5,000.

Outside court after her victory, Johnson said she was "very happy" and rejected Carmona's claims from the witness stand Tuesday that the verdict made him realize he needs to "take stock" of how he communicates with people he is trying to help.

"I come from a different time," Carmona said hesitantly, wiping his eyes repeatedly with a cloth.

"So now, now you're sorry?" Johnson said outside court, saying she doubted his sincerity and noting Carmona had refused to apologize to her in court last week. She said he should have been sorry on March 14, 2012, "the day when he told me the N-word eight times."

View post:
$30K in damages in N-word use among blacks case

Sep 3, 2013 11:45am

A federal jury in New York found that use of the N-word in the workplace is never acceptable, even when used between black coworkers and when the historically fraught word is intended to denote friendship or endearment.

Jurors last week awarded Brandi Johnson $250,000 in compensatory damages after they determined the employment agency worker, who is black, was the subject of harassment after her boss, Rob Carmona, subjected her to a lengthy tirade filled with racial slurs. Carmona is also black.

The court convenes again today to determine whether Johnson should be awarded additional punitive damages.

The case hinged on use of the N-word, a slur with a lengthy history. It is widely considered degrading when used by white people, but is often used without consequence by African Americans.

Johnson argued that Carmonas four-minute n***er tirade in March 2012 was inappropriate and hurtful.

I was offended. I was hurt. I felt degraded. I felt disrespected. I was embarrassed, Johnson testified according to the Associated Press. She said she went into a bathroom and cried for 45 minutes after the incident.

Carmona is the founder of STRIVE, an employment agency that finds jobs primarily for black people with troubled pasts. He said the word has multiple contexts and can denote a meaning of love between black people.

Carmona said he used the words to indicate a close relationship with a friend, putting his arm around the friends shoulder and saying: This is my n***er for 30 years.

View original post here:
Jury Finds N-Word Never Appropriate, Even Between Blacks

NEW YORK A federal jury has rejected the argument that use of the N-word among blacks can be a culturally acceptable term of love and endearment, deciding its use in a workplace rant was hostile and discriminatory.

Jurors last week awarded $250,000 in compensatory damages to a black employment agency worker who was the target of an N-word-laced rant by her black boss, and they return to a Manhattan federal court Tuesday to decide on punitive damages.

The case against Rob Carmona and the employment agency he founded, STRIVE East Harlem, gave legal airing to what some see as a complex double standard surrounding the word: It's a degrading slur when uttered by whites but can be used at times with impunity among blacks.

But 38-year-old Brandi Johnson told jurors that her boss being black didn't make it any less hurtful to be the target of what her attorney called Carmona's "four-minute (expletive) tirade" about inappropriate workplace attire and unprofessional behavior.

Johnson, who taped the March 2012 remarks after her complaints about his verbal abuse were disregarded, said she fled to the restroom and cried for 45 minutes.

"I was offended. I was hurt. I felt degraded. I felt disrespected. I was embarrassed," Johnson testified.

In closing arguments, Johnson's attorney, Marjorie M. Sharpe, said Carmona's use of the word was intended to offend "and any evidence that defendants put forth to the contrary is simply ridiculous."

"When you use the word (expletive) to an African-American, no matter how many alternative definitions that you may try to substitute with the word (expletive), that is no different than calling a Hispanic by the worst possible word you can call a Hispanic, calling a homosexual male the worst possible word that you can call a homosexual male," Sharpe told jurors.

But defense lawyers said the 61-year-old Carmona, a black man of Puerto Rican descent, had a much different experience with the word. Raised by a single mother in a New York City public housing project, he became addicted to heroin in his teens and broke it with the help of drug counselors who employed tough love and tough language.

Carmona went on to earn a master's degree from Columbia University before co-founding STRIVE in the 1980s. Now, most of STRIVE's employees are black women, defense attorney Diane Krebs told jurors in her opening statement.

The rest is here:
Use of "N-word" among blacks on trial in N.Y. case