Racism at the Craft Store

Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.

7707 S.W. 44th Street
Oklahoma City, Ok. 73179

Dear Sirs and Madam,

In late July 2005, I was shopping in your store and I was outraged by a few of your products, and the way in which you choose to display them. I should first begin that I have been a loyal shopper of Hobby Lobby for years. As an art educator I have bought many of my supplies at your stores. I have been known to fill two shopping carts worth of merchandise. I have always found Hobby Lobby prices to be fair and competitive.
Unfortunately, I was shocked and dismayed by the apparent lack of cultural understanding displayed in your store. I was so taken aback by what I saw, I went back and took pictures as evidence.
On one of the shelves in the home accessories section had a collection of Blackamoors statuettes. Enclosed you will find some information I was able to dig up on the history of Blackamoor sculpture. I believe that you will find a history of racism, cultural superiority, and bigotry. While we may debate the logic of judging the past by contemporary morals and ethics, I believe that to sell a relic of such a past, even as nostalgia, to be inappropriate.
My next point of contention is that,directly next to the Blackamoor sculptures, on the same shelf even, were similar statues of monkeys. Dressed similarly to the Blackamoors, often poised in identical acts or servitude, priced the similarly, made in the same country of origin, and made in similar size and material. I closely inspected the statues and concluded that the Blackamoor sculptures where clearly human, the other sculpture had decidedly simian characteristics.
I hope that I need not explain to you the unacceptable and infelicitous nature of these products. I believe that the message that one concludes from these products is not the intention of Hobby Lobby.
Please resolve this problem. I think it suffice to discontinue the line merchandise, and remove all current stock off store shelves.
I look forward to your reply and a resolution. I am happy to give you sufficient time, and will wait until September 1 before seeking help from the Better Business Bureau or another agency. Please contact me at the above address

Sincerely,

Chipper


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