I’m sure that by now you’ve heard of the Wal-mart prankster.

A 16-year-old boy at a New Jersey store got on the public address system and announced: "Attention, Wal-mart customers: Black people leave the store now."

Apparently, Kanye West needs to add someone else to the list of folks who don't like black people.

Some black customers were insulted by the announcement.

I say patrons should have seen it as a call to action. The announcer said to leave the store -- NOW! He didn’t say anything about paying for the merchandise first. At least that would have been my line if I'd been stopped with a basketful of HD TV’s and electronics.

In Wal-mart’s defense, a store representative reacted swiftly and apologized for the incident. The chain launched a full investigation and the teen was arrested.

Still, I’m not ready to let Wal-mart off the hook for everything.

We’re talking about the same chain that completely dominates local commerce, leaving privately owned establishments in its corporate dust.

In many rural areas, there is no other retail competition, so Wal-mart workers are forced to spend the majority of their consumption with their employer.

But I digress, so back to the offensive loudspeaker remarks. Black people in particular and the public in general found the announcement offensive. Some threatened to boycott.

All of that is fine, but did we really need a racist prankster on a loudspeaker to give us a reason to hold the global chain accountable?

Here is Professor Locs’ list of five reasons to hold Wal-mart accountable:

1. Store size. The sheer size of Wal-mart is ridiculous. You know it's bad when you get roaming charges on your cell phone by just doing your weekly shopping.

2. Employee product knowledge, or the lack thereof. Have you ever asked a Walmart "associate" to help you find something? I've gotten better directions in Paris, including the language barrier.

3. Pimping of the elderly. How many times have I walked into a Wal-mart at 2 a.m. and found Granny dozing off in housekeeping or struggling to push some huge cart of kitty litter up the aisle?

4. Wal-mart greeters who don't greet you when you walk in the store. That is your title, Wal-Mart greeter! This is all you have to do all day! You don't sweep, work the register, stock shelves or even bag items. So what is up with you not speaking?

5. The Super Wal-mart is the retail version of purgatory. This is an unnatural place. You should not be able to complete a shopping list of okra, milk, a table lamp, feminine napkins and snow tires without leaving the building.

What are your thoughts about the retail behemoth?

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Professor Locs describes himself as an African American, gay, Southern male who has had an extensive career in higher education Click here to read his blog.
 

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