by DayWalker on Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:12 pm
I am having a hard time figuring out why it is "racist" to point out that Barden being a black man may have assisted his group in obtaining the slots license for Pittsburgh. Grow up, people. Afterall, it had been noted many times that many individuals in government believed it was important for racial minorities to play a prominent role in the entire slots process. If you want to blame anybody for "racist" perspectives, blame your elected officials and government as a whole for apparently essentializing race in this process. I am not suggesting that Barden's group obtained the licesnse solely because he is black, but being a black entrepreneur in Pittsburgh/America circa 2006 certainly didn't hurt his chances either.
Furthermore, I suppose Majestic Star also won because it was the least controversial, may not have had the biggest traffic congestion problems, and may have been one more bite at the let's-develop-the-North-Side apple that has been dangling there since 1970.