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Group calls on Verizon to end business deal with 'technigga'
Staff Reporter | Posted July 7, 2008 10:46 AM
A year after he posted a controversial video blog called "technigga," Loren Feldman and a major national telecommunications company that works with him, are coming under fire for what some are calling "racist" depictions of black people.
Civil rights activists and media watchdog groups are reportedly calling on Verizon Wireless and company CEO Lowell C. McAdam to end a contract and distribution deal with Feldman and his company, 1938 Media, for promoting stereotypes about African Americans.
Feldman, who is white, is the creator of a video blog called "technigga," in which he wonders why there are no black tech bloggers and then imagines what they would look like and say if they existed. He then puts on a do-rag, sunglasses and jewelry bling to portray himself as Le'Ron Feldma'n, a fictitious black tech blogger.
In the video, Feldman is then shown drinking Bacardi directly from a bottle, sloppily kissing a woman, and promoting a fictitious web site called ho-trackr.com,
That prompted activists Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope and Paul Porter of Industry Ears to take action.
"Feldman has a history of using the internet to promote racism and demeaning and negative racial stereotypes against African Americans on his internet site. He is responsible for and appears in what he calls 'TechNigga,'" the activists said in a statement sent to news organizations.
They plan to hold a press conference today in Los Angeles to protest Verizon's business deal with Feldman. "The Verizon distribution deal with Feldman sends a horrible message that Verizon seeks to partner with racists like Feldman and that Verizon and CEO McAdam find nothing offensive with 'TechNigga,'" said Ali.
The group reportedly plans an upcoming national day of protest against Verizon stores if their calls for a meeting with Verizon officials and their demands are not met.
Feldman issued an "apology" last year that did little to stop the criticism. "I sincerely, sincerely want to apologize to all the black tech bloggers. It could have been any ethnic group. It could have been gay guys, could have been Jews, could have been micks, guineas, chinks, any of them."
Describing himself as a "f***ing idiot comedian," Feldman lashes out at techies who don't understand social media.
Articles written by a Staff Reporter are unsigned reports from a member of the staff.
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2008-07-07 11:04:00
2008-07-07 11:46:26
2008-07-07 11:54:28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpUSElgJcyI
Chris Rock performs many comedic routines like this, on a wide variety of topics. You will find other videos of Chris Rock at the link.
Ok for Chris Rock, not ok for Loren Feldman?
Reeks of hypocrisy to me.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
2008-07-07 11:55:16
2008-07-07 11:58:05
2008-07-07 12:10:19
2008-07-07 12:11:46
2008-07-07 12:38:13
2008-07-07 12:53:18
2008-07-07 13:00:35
What will you do about the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people, predominately black, who enjoy Chris Rock and are fans of Chris Rock? They are racists as well, yes? You see those black Americans laughing and applauding, having a good time. Certainly they are hateful racists. How dare they laugh and have fun!
My, what a situation to spot your mother, your father, your sister, your kids, your friends, enjoying and laughing during a Chris Rock performance.
I understand. Any person who does not behave as you demand, is a bad person and should be ostracized from society, circa Germany 1935-1945.
Chris Rock, Loren Feldman, no difference between them except skin color and, well, Chris Rock is a significantly better comedian. Feldman is not all that funny; poor performance but a good try. Maybe this is I becoming old and cling to stand-up comedy rather than enjoy this new age You Tube stuff. I suppose I am old fashion and still enjoy quality impromptu comedy.
What a sorry state of affairs we are not allowed to poke fun at our own human nature, not allowed to speak a bit of humorous truth about ourselves.
I think America needs a bigger broom to sweep these unmentionable people under a rug so none will ever know those people mocked by Rock and Feldman, actually do exist.
Deny reality, this is quite a novel notion but a rather humorless notion.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
2008-07-07 14:27:15
2008-07-07 14:30:55
2008-07-07 15:46:30
2008-07-07 16:03:53
2008-07-07 16:16:28
2008-07-07 16:23:11
2008-07-07 17:42:54
This Project Islamic HOPE is protesting everything and anybody from Paris Hilton to Mexican postage stamps to O.J. Simpson not being treated with respect.
Protesting about O.J. Simpson not being treated with respect! Ha! Ha! Now that is comedy!
Project Islamic HOPE is directly linked to lunatic Farrakhan and his hate mongering Nation of Islam, you know, the cult whose leader was enlightened by a dead man on a space ship.
I am noting this Project Islamic HOPE removed a front page photograph of Obama posing with members. Well, gosh, what a surprise.
A quick glance at Industry Ears indicates this is another organization populated by nutjobs.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
2008-07-07 19:07:38
2008-07-07 20:50:34
2008-07-08 08:43:25
With no regrets to all who keep saying Black folks get over it including other Blacks
There is such a thing that is called "context" and the bottom line is this. Loren Feldman isn't using this as a joke. He means it as he is saying it as a hateful prank. PERIOD! If this is such a joke then why he isn't a mainstream comedian?
Now if I will not have my own call me a NIGGER,NIGGA,NUKKA, or anything else unnecessary. I will not allow him neither, nor Chris Rock
And all of you who don't appreciate what he is saying RAISE YOUR VOICE SKY HIGH...You know why??? Feldman is Jewish and if any of us dare make a you tube defaming Jewish culture. We will literally CEASE TO EXIST. So just keep it real
UPDATE: Verizon Wireless canceled the entire campaign. To all that called and complained CONGRATULATIONS! And keep up the good work!
OH YEAH PISSY PURL KISS MY BLACK ASS
2008-07-08 17:02:51
2008-07-08 18:56:34
2008-07-08 19:11:12
2008-07-08 23:27:29
Those readers who are sincerely interested in truth, research "Ronald Todd Eskew" and learn. This is the true name of the leader of the Project Islamic HOPE outfit. Eskew has a felony crime rap sheet longer than my tall tales.
You will be interested to learn who he married.
Upon researching the real person behind this extremist organization, research Lil Kim, Snoop Dog, Paris Hilton, X-Men 2, Mexican postage stamps, Howard Stearns, Ashanti, Jamiel Shaw and, of course, O.J. Simpson, research all and actions taken by Eskew in the name of Allah, may peace be on him.
Black America! I have a great business venture idea for you; Hip Hop Burqas! This is what Eskew will have us girls wearing, in no time.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
2008-07-09 14:28:38
2008-07-09 16:02:47
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