True Colors - ABC Primetime Live

Summary

This primetime investigation explores racial discrimination in everyday life through a social experiment in St. Louis, Missouri. Two testers, John Coonan and Glen Brewer, with identical backgrounds, experience stark differences in treatment based on skin color. They face disparities in customer service, job opportunities, and housing, revealing the subtle yet pervasive impact of racism on the quality of life for African Americans.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The investigation was conducted by sending two testers, John Coonan and Glen Brewer, with similar backgrounds but different skin colors, into racially mixed and white neighborhoods to test for fair housing and everyday discrimination.
• 👥 Both John and Glen were from the Midwest, attended Big Ten schools, grew up in middle-class families, and even played on the same softball team, but one was white and the other was black.
• 🏢 They experienced different treatment in various settings, including shopping centers, car dealerships, and job applications, where Glen was often ignored, followed, or treated with suspicion compared to John.
• 🛍️ In a shopping center, John received immediate service while Glen was consistently ignored by salespeople, even when they were standing nearby.
• 🚗 At a car dealership, John was quoted a lower down payment and a better price for a car than Glen, indicating potential racial bias in pricing.
• 🏠 When searching for housing, Glen faced more challenges and was sometimes told that apartments were no longer available after John had been given a tour and keys to the same unit.
• 👮‍♂️ Glenn was more likely to be scrutinized by police and questioned about being in certain neighborhoods, suggesting racial profiling.
• 📈 The script highlights national studies that show black Americans pay more for cars and experience job discrimination, costing them hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
• 🤝 Despite their professional training, both testers felt the emotional and financial toll of the discrimination they faced during the investigation.
• 🏙️ The report suggests that the findings are not unique to St. Louis and could reflect broader issues of discrimination across the United States.
• 🌟 The script ends with an acknowledgment that change will only come when national leaders, business, and politics take a stand against racial discrimination.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the investigation conducted by the Leadership Council for Open Metropolitan Communities in Chicago?

The purpose was to test for fair housing by sending two testers, John Coonan and Glen Brewer, who were similar in every aspect except race, into white and racially mixed neighborhoods to observe and record how they were treated differently.

What were the daily experiences of John and Glen during their stay in St. Louis, Missouri?

John and Glen experienced a range of interactions, from being treated equally at times to clear instances of racial discrimination, such as being ignored in stores, followed in a record store, and receiving different treatment in job applications and housing inquiries.

How did the salespeople in the electronics store and shoe department treat John and Glen differently?

John received almost instant service from the salespeople, while Glen was ignored even when he entered the store just minutes after John, indicating a difference in treatment based on race.

What was the behavior of the salesman at the car dealership when John and Glen approached a new car?

The salesman ignored Glen and did not offer him any assistance, but when John arrived, the same salesman attended to him immediately, showing a clear disparity in treatment.

Why did the salesman follow Glenn around the record store?

The salesman followed Glenn around the store not to offer help but to keep an eye on him, which Glenn interpreted as a form of racial profiling based on the assumption that black people are more likely to commit crimes.

What was the cumulative effect of the everyday discrimination experienced by Glenn?

The cumulative effect of the everyday discrimination was emotionally draining and demoralizing for Glenn, making him feel like an outsider and affecting his sense of belonging and self-worth.

How did the building managers treat John and Glen differently when they were looking for apartments?

John was given a relaxed description of the area and was made to feel welcome, while Glen was treated more harshly, with one manager even lying about an apartment being available just after showing it to John.

What was the difference in the down payment and car prices quoted to John and Glen at the car dealership?

John was told he could get a car for almost nothing down, while Glen was told he would need at least $2,000 down. The quoted prices for the same car also varied significantly between the two, with John being offered a better deal.

What were the reactions of the experts, Julianne Malveaux and Clifford Alexander, to the findings of the investigation?

Both experts emphasized that the racial discrimination experienced by John and Glen is not an isolated incident and that it reflects a broader societal issue that needs to be addressed by national leaders and businesses.

What was the final test conducted with John and Glen in New York, and what did it reveal?

The final test involved John and Glen trying to catch a cab near the studio. The cab driver passed Glenn and stopped to pick up John, illustrating that even in a different city, racial discrimination can still occur in everyday situations.