I was discriminated against by the following companies:
(1.) Schlesinger Associates,
(2.) Coleman Research Group, Inc.
(3.) KTAR newsradio at 620 A.M.
Statement of facts;
(a.) (Mr. Erik Hellum) GM for KTAR radio station is owned by Bonneville International located in Utah is buying a local Hip-Hop radio station (KKFR) at 93.2 FM located in Phoenix, Az., KTAR will remove the programming of this hip hop station and replace it with a conservative news and sports channel.
(b.) KTAR radio station hires The Coleman Research Group, the New York based research company to conduct focus group researh for the KTAR radio station.
(c.) The Coleman Research Group (owned by Kevin Coleman) in turn hires Schlesinger Associates in Phoenix to do the actual work (conduct focus group projects) for KTAR radio staion.
(d.) The aim of Schlesinger Associates Focus Group Project is to collect data (opinions) from the many KTAR listeners as to what programming should be aired on KKFR that will replace the local hip-hop station.
(e.) Mr. Erik Hellum of KTAR radio has claimed his station serves a "great racial diversity" of listeners in the Arizona community.
(f.) The demographics of the listeners of KKFR radio station at 93.2 FM is hip-hop, meaning that the listeners are young whites, Latino's and African Americans.
(g.) Schlesinger's focus group project pays $80.00 for a two hour session.
Statement of the case:
On July 23, an employee from Schlesinger Associates (Amber Anderson) phoned me requesting my permission for an interview for a Focus Group Project. The subject matter to be discussed was regarding "what radio/talk stations do I listen to?" I could not immediately remember so I asked my wife and she assisted meduring the interview and KTAR was mentioned. Ms. Anderson continued questioning me concerning my age, employment, salary and basic lifestyle. I asked Ms. Anderson how is this interview going, she stated the interview is going well, and then she stated, "I have just one more question to ask regarding your race?" I informed Ms Anderson that I was an African American. Ms Anderson replied that, "I did not qualify for the focus group due to the quota for african americans had already been met." Ms Anderson remembered that my wife assisted me during the interview and asked the race of my wife? I stated that my wife is Caucasian. Ms. Anderson then sked to speak with my wife and soon qualified her for the focus group that I did not qualify for. The focus group that I am referring to was held on Wednesday, August 3 at 6:00P.M.
On August 3, my wife attended this focus group and was surprised when she arrived at Schlesingers to find there were no african americans present.
When the 6:00P.M. Focus group had ended, my wife walked out, she was told there was another group of people waiting for the same focus group and she was not to discuss the contents of her focus group with the others waiting. When my wife walked out past the others waiting for the 8:00P.M. Focus group, she noticed once again that there were no african americans waiting to attend.in her group session there were 16 people which were divided into two groups of eight. There were also 16 people waiting for the 8:00P.M. Focus group session.
After my wife attended her focus group, she informed me that KTAR, a prominent radio talk show here in phoenix, had sponsored this focus groupand the questions and opinions were predicated upon KTAR purchasing a new fm radio station.
Since the above discriminatory acts of the above companies and individuals were perpetrated upon me, I have spoken to Ms. Trina Boudreau, the Facility Director for the Arizona Branch of Schlesinger Associates. Ms. Boudreau has stated that; "We did not discriminate against you however, we did not want the opinions of african americans because we are purchasing a hip-hop station that african americans are acustomed to listening to." Furthermore, she stated that: "When we do not want certain groups of people to share their opinions with us, we simply inform them that the quota has been filled."
I have also communicated with Mr. Erik Hellum of KTAR radio station, he stated in a letter dated: September 15, that; "I take full resposibility, " for hiring Coleman Research Group, Inc., the New York-based research company that hired Schlesinger Associates to conduct focus group research for the Station. As promised, I did indeed, look into the situation, and I concluded that KTAR does not want Schlesinger Associates or anyone else limiting our focus group participants based on race - even though the law permitsa radio station to target a specific audience, including one based on race."
I have also attempted to contact Mr. Kevin Coleman at his New York based company (Coleman Research Group, Inc.) I recieved a letter from Mr. Kevin Coleman stating that; I have the wrong company, no one's at home, please go away."
Legal Theory:
The above companies and individuals have violated my civil and constitutional rights (First and Fourteeth Amendments to the Constitution.) I was denied and equal opportunity to participate in and express my opinion based on Race, whereas I was otherwise qualified to do.
The above companies and individuals discriminated agsinst me based on race, instead of using the demographic make-up of its listeners to deny me access to Schlesingers Associates Focus Group Project.
Conclusion:
KTAR hired Schlesinger Associates to target a specific group of people (Caucasians) and to exclude all african americans due to the color of our skin, regardless of the contents of our character. Not all african americans listen to hip-hop, just as all african americans are not democrats. African americans are a diverse group of people both economically and politically, yet I was treated differently by KTAR and Schlesinger Associatesat their Focus Group Project because of the color of my skin.
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