A few years back I got robbed in Philly. So, it's not a city that I look to fondly and I dread hearing it mentioned every time my wife talks about her time at UPENN. Perhaps it is a latent form of post-traumatic stress disorder?
Anyway, now this brouhaha that is brewing over a Philadelphia radio station DJ spitting invectives – racist and misogynistic garbage – at a poor woman in “East India” who was only following a script and doing her job at a call center. If you must listen to this diatribe click here. If you want to skip the download, here is a transcript of that ugly exchange.
Anna, MoorishGirl, Turbanhead and SideAngleSide have all covered this well enough so, please click on those links to find out more.
Parroting their sentiments for raising hell, I say PLEASE use the following information as ammo and dive into action:
Below is the contact information to Power 99 (the radio station)
Station Address:
Power99 WUSL-FM
440 Domino Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19128General/Business Line: 215.483.8900
Studio Hotlines:
Philly Area & Local: 215.263.6699
Worldwide: 800.669.99FM
Star & Buc: 1-860-247-1041Programming:
Director of Urban Programming/Program Director: Thea Mitchem
Music Director: Coka Lani
Morning Show Producer: Sonjie DeCaires
News & Public Affairs Director: Loraine Ballard Morrill
Try this number too – 215-482-7936
As Side.Angle.Side says:
paper letters and faxes go much farther than emails which are easier to ignore, so if you haven't already, please write a physical letter. advertising revenue is more important to radio stations than listeners, so i would recommend making mention of a boycott against the station and their advertisers. you may also want to mention in your letter that you will be filing a complaint with the fcc, which you can do by writing to the following address:
federal communications commission
enforcement bureau
investigations & hearing division
445 12th street, sw
washington dc, 20554
fax 866.418.0232chairman michael k. powell
commissioner kathleen q. abernathy
commissioner michael j. copps
commissioner kevin j. martin
commissioner jonathan s. adelstein
The loss of material goods is one thing. Loss of one's dignity quite another. There is really no two ways about it. Having suffered through several episodes of racial epithets here in the US, I find no humor in one of my own being treated this way. Some on this site say that this is a “crank” call. Fine. Don't come moaning to me when you get your ass whupped over being called a “dirty rat-eater.” It's neither funny nor cool then is it?
Time to step up and set the record straight. These DJ's were wrong, even in jest, to berate the woman. She didn't deserve to be treated that way. She bore no ill-will towards these DJs and quite likely didn't even know that she was unwittingly a participant in their prank, if it was that. A simple question to you folks – would you want your mother, your sister, your wife or your girlfriend to pick up the phone one day and have @$$&%*! like DJ Star and Buc talk to her like that? I think not.
Wise up – Voice up!
Rajiv says
In a fast changing world — there could be a day when the Call Center is in PA, and the customer is in India. So it could be the DJ’s mother, sister, or wife that will pick up the phone — not that I wish them to be berated by anyone.
Rajiv says
In a fast changing world — there could be a day when the Call Center is in PA, and the customer is in India. So it could be the DJ’s mother, sister, or wife that will pick up the phone — not that I wish them to be berated by anyone.
Seshu says
Rajiv
My sentiments exactly. Things like this can turn pretty quickly. These DJs don’t seem to have a clue about the world about them. Their view is myopic, and harsh as it may sound, “American.”
Seshu says
Rajiv
My sentiments exactly. Things like this can turn pretty quickly. These DJs don’t seem to have a clue about the world about them. Their view is myopic, and harsh as it may sound, “American.”
Abhijit says
all said and done fine and god willing one day tides turn and Rajiv’s words do come true. But till then, do we just sit here and see such hate-shows hoping for our day to come, twiddling our thumbs? I am not a big shot, but i know we do have our fellow countrymen In high up places, who can make a difference if they want, who can make things move, maybe its time, we grab the respect we deserve. If they cant give it.. we know how to take it.
Abhijit says
all said and done fine and god willing one day tides turn and Rajiv’s words do come true. But till then, do we just sit here and see such hate-shows hoping for our day to come, twiddling our thumbs? I am not a big shot, but i know we do have our fellow countrymen In high up places, who can make a difference if they want, who can make things move, maybe its time, we grab the respect we deserve. If they cant give it.. we know how to take it.