The NAACP, the nation’s largest and most vocal African-American social justice advocacy group, has warned black travelers that American Airlines may not be a safe airline for them to travel upon.
“The NAACP for several months now has been monitoring a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers, specific to American Airlines,” the NAACP said in a statement. “In light of these confrontations, we have today taken the action of issuing national advisory alerting travelers—especially African Americans—to exercise caution, in that booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions. This travel advisory is in effect beginning today, October 24, 2017, until further notice.”
The statement listed four incidents reported by passengers but suspiciously left out responses from the airline:
- An African-American man was required to relinquish his purchased seats aboard a flight from Washington, D.C. to Raleigh-Durham, merely because he responded to disrespectful and discriminatory comments directed toward him by two unruly white passengers;
- Despite having previously booked first-class tickets for herself and a traveling companion, an African-American woman’s seating assignment was switched to the coach section at the ticket counter, while her white companion remained assigned to a first-class seat;
- On a flight bound for New York from Miami, the pilot directed that an African-American woman be removed from the flight when she complained to the gate agent about having her seating assignment changed without her consent; and
- An African-American woman and her infant child were removed from a flight from Atlanta to New York City when the woman (incidentally a Harvard Law School student) asked that her stroller be retrieved from checked baggage before she would disembark.
Not allowing the airline to respond makes the above claims questionable at best. Anyone can claim an affront, but in the United States, the accused is innocent until proven guilty – something the NAACP is apparently unaware of. Understanding the totality of the situation is important before rendering judgment lest it look hurried or prejudged.
“All travelers must be guaranteed the right to travel without fear of threat, violence or harm,” stated NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “The growing list of incidents suggesting racial bias reflects an unacceptable corporate culture and involves behavior that cannot be dismissed as normal or random. We expect an audience with the leadership of American Airlines to air these grievances and to spur corrective action. Until these and other concerns are addressed, this national travel advisory will stand,”
The NAACP will continue to be an unfair social justice organization until they decide to hear both sides.
