TIME TO BOYCOTT AND WRITE A LETTER

Texas has been in the news recently for continuous acts of racial discrimination and violence in it's communities. Here is yet another example of the sad state of our humanity.

In the June 3, 1998 issue of Public News: Houston, TX. A report was written concerning racial biases at Kentucky Fried Chicken establishments in Houston, TX. It seems that a black man, John Tamuno, had been working at KFC since 1985. John started at the bottom of the company, cleaning toilets, mopping floors, de-greasing kitchen equipment - anything that management expected of this minimum wage earner. After years of proving himself, he began winning employee of the month and other corporate awards. He scored exceptionally well at manager training and in 1992 became manager of a KFC located in a ritzy more prominent community of Houston. In 1995, John was flown to Dallas to receive an outstanding manager award from KFC President and CEO, Kyle Gregg. One year later things went terribly wrong.

In 1996, John was demoted and fired in 1997. "Why?" you ask. Well, let's see if this sounds or resembles something familiar in your neighborhood. KFC executives felt that black management was only acceptable in run down or "undesirable" locations. They seemed better suited for these more "challenging" positions. It seems that since the appointment of a new director of operations in Houston(1996), Jay Maguire, over 25 managers were subsequently fired or demoted under his watch. Jay was heard, more than once commenting, "We don't want a black manager at that location."

Well, John decided to fight back. He hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit against KFC. John was fired because of this lawsuit and lost all benefits, medical insurance, stock investments, and retirement savings for the last 12 years. The irony of this is that the black community is the sole reason that KFC has such a amazing stronghold in the fast food business. (Just like Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, DKNY, etc...) When will we learn?????

Anonymous persons at the KFC corporate offices state that there is even an in-office joke that KFC prefers "white meat over dark meat!" Think about it.

So, what should we do: Boycott? Protest? Or just take the attitude that our actions won't make a difference. You make the decision. I say we make a stand:

Spread this information to any and all allies!!!!!!!

KFC Comment Line: 1-800-CALL KFC
CE0: Kyle Gregg
Dir. of Oper(Hou, TX): Jay Maguire
Houston Regional Office:
363 N Sam Houston Pkwy E: 281-447-2288
Houston, TX