Jay Z will stick with Barneys despite claims of racial profiling

Black shoppers are allegedly being detained due to racial discrimination.

LOS ANGELES:

Rapper Jay Z made a statement on Friday that he will go ahead with his clothing collaboration with upscale retail chain Barneys New York Inc, but will also join a council fighting racial profiling. The statement was made following reports that authorities will investigate Barneys and other major retailers accused of discrimination against black shoppers.

Jay Z, 43, one of the most powerful rapper/entrepreneurs in the global entertainment industry, collaborated with Barneys on the BNY SCC clothing line. Initially, 25% of the proceeds from the clothing line were to go to Jay Z’s Shawn Carter foundation, but now it has been determined that 100% of the profits will be donated.

Jay Z came under fire for his partnership with the retail chain when two black shoppers alleged they were detained by New York police and accused of fraud, after buying luxury items in Barneys.

Jay Z released a statement on his Life + Times website saying his team was being kept updated on the investigations of the two detained shoppers, and that he would sit on a council “specially convened to deal with the issue of racial profiling.”

“I am in a unique position to use my voice to affect change to this disturbing issue. The easy position would have been to walk away and leave policy making to others hoping that someone addresses the problem. I will not leave the outcome to others,” he said.

“I will take this into my own hands with full power to recommend, review and revise policies and guidelines moving forward. I am choosing to take this head on,” the rapper added.

Barneys is being investigated alongside Macy’s Inc in what has become known as “shop-and-frisk,” as multiple reports have emerged of black shoppers allegedly being detained due to racial profiling. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2013.

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