Michael Colyar released about the incident:
I am a loyal United Airlines Customer correction, I was a loyal United Airlines customer. I have flown with united for over 17 years (a recorded fact). My wife was a United Airlines flight attendant for 25years. According to United Airlines records I am something they call “Executive Premier”. I find now that if you’re black that’s just an inside joke. After the treatment they metered out of me yesterday they can kiss the darkest recesses of a part of my anatomy that I am to dignified to state.
Yesterday, Aug 29, 2011 at approximately 12:30pm Est., I was unceremoniously thrown off flight #UA382 in a hostile and racist manner, not only did it cost me time and potential income (as I was headed to the NAACP Theater Awards in Los Angeles) but it caused me great embarrassment and put a tarnish on my other wise unblemished reputation because not only were there other people of color watching me be treated as a felon but also fans of mine who were all lead to believe that I had done something worthy of a public and humiliating outing. The fact being I did nothing wrong. I broke no rules, United’s, FAA, or humanities. Because I had the gumption to exhibit a backbone, I was summarily punished and taught a “Lesson”
Here’s what happened: I was comfortably sitting in seat #12f on flight #382. I had gotten on early as a “perk” of being a “Premier Executive”. I had put one bag under my seat and my computer bag and hat in the overhead compartment, a Stated Right that all passengers have. I was comfortable. My flight began in Columbus, Oh, where I had just completed five performances in three days and I was transferring planes at Dulles Int. A brother was tired and looking forward to a comfortable flight. I had set up my water and headphones, wrapped up in my blankie and all was well.
Toward the end of the boarding process a woman entered the plane, last minute with a suitcase that, by right should have been checked luggage. She arrived huffing and puffing slightly winded and was greeted by one of the flight attendants’ with a hug of recognition and together they sought to find a space for this large suitcase. This so called “flight attendant”, after checking many overhead spaces finding them all full (no surprise considering her lateness of arrival) reached the overhead bin for our row. She exclaimed “Oh, well put it here we’ll just move this hat and bag, whose is it?” I responded that it was mine. She said you’ll have to stow it under your seat. My other bag was already under the seat so I asked why do I have to remove my bag being that I’m allowed one space in the overhead. She said this space is for larger bags I need to remove mine.
I was confused. I was being told to eliminate my leg room so this flight attendants friend could get her last minute oversized bag in. I told her that it was my understanding we get one overhead space for our bag and I couldn’t understand why I had to fly 4 ½ hours without leg room so her friend could be comfortable. After all isn’t it first come first served, Am I “premier exec” or not.
They whispered something to themselves gave me a look, then preceded down the aisle with their search for space. After not finding any they put her bag up in first class. Now, this so called “flight attendant” stood at the front of the plane at the entrance, whispering something to the other flight attendants and constantly giving me ugly looks which was not difficult considering her actual looks.
I now became concerned for my comfort and safety on this flight. With her behavior I would be scared to eat or drink anything she would serve me. So I rang the call button to ask to speak to the head flight attendant. This same so called flight attendant returned and when I requested the head flight attendant she went back to the others and they had another pow-wow while giving me these nasty looks. Instead of bringing over the head flight attendant the brought over the lady who works the counter. When I said I wanted to speak to the head flight attendant, she said “you can speak to her or nobody.” So I said I need to lodge a complaint and they both walked away.
They proceeded to have one more pow-wow this time they brought in the Captain, once again they all looked at me, did their whisper and she said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “I want him off the plane”.
Five minutes later, security appears. A Ben Milan, ground security coordinator in a demanding tone said, as he leaned over the two people next to me, “could you grab your bag and step off the plane and talk to me. “ I responded “will I miss my flight if I get off” He responded “I’m gonna ask you one more time to get your bags and step off the plane or I will call the DC police to assist you.
The two people next to me got up and moved fast, sensing danger. In an effort to not further escalate an already volatile situation, I grab my bags and exited. Mr. Milan stated that the captain wants you off the plane. I said “what have I done” He repeated, I need you off the plane then we can talk. Once we started to walk up the jet way they closed the door and took off.
Without this guy asking me my side, without him actually talking to the captain, the flight attendants or me I was forced to leave the plane.
The flight attendant and her friend got just what they wanted, the nigger off the plane. I’m sure they feel a great triumph in putting an uppity nigger in his place. After all, after 9-11 went down the need for courtesy and fairness flew out the window. Airlines used to be great places to go. Flying used to be fun, even elegant. But since 9-11 the airlines use the terrorist terror to humiliate and bully passengers at every turn. You can’t ask two questions or speak up for what is right because they know that with no justification at all they can throw you off the plane and even have you arrested. This security coordinator used that fear laden Gestapo tactic to deal with a situation that could’ve been handled reasonably with a simple conversation.
He maintains that this is their procedure and I maintain that if it is, it is terribly flawed and needs a drastic overhaul. At the least I should be suing united airlines for theft of services, public humiliation and defamation of character.
How is my situation any different then that of Rose Parks. I wouldn’t surrender my space so the white lady could be comfortable, so they throw me off the plane…no questions asked.
United Airlines have forgotten that they are a service I paid for and I paid the same amount or more than the white lady of privilege that they spent so much time accommodating and kissing her behind. I believe that if I was a white guy in a suit I would have at least been asked my side, by the head of attendant, the captain or the security, but being a person of color, what Actually happened didn’t matter. The so called “flight attendant” wouldn’t give her name but she’s easy to describe, white, about 5’9, straight black stringy hair and a harsh face.
If “Don’t ask questions, just throw the nigger off the plane” is the post 9-11 policy than black folks should seek out other airlines…
Michael Colyar - ' ); document.write( addy43944 ); document.write( '' ); //--> This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it"> Comicking123@aol.com
49 comments:
Michael, you are a gifted and funny commedian. I am so saddenned that this unfortunate situation happened to you, but remember you are not the first. So many, including white people, have also had similar experiences. Hopefully you or nobody else will have to experience such as this anymore.
I am not surprized the more things change the more they remained the same now that you have brought attention to it I wonder how the airlines is going to respond being that you are a freqent flyer and that all air lines are fighting for customers
Exactly, if they don't want our business their are other airlines that do. And will go out of their way to provide excellent service. I would have left with you after witnessing that!!
That would have been a powerful and loud statement had other people of color had left the aircraft with you, however, we have become to complacent about the treatment that we recieve from others as a whole. You, said it when you said, that you showed some back bone, and unfortunatly thats when it went downhill. If we showed backbone on a regular basis, then your response would have received different results. I feel offended that this happened to you, because you did not deserve it. Keep questioning wrong, Mike, I wish we all did.
on a lighter note: you are the BEST comedian ever and my favorite, if someone should bother you again, just give me their name and number....
Thanks for the info... based on your experience until I hear they have made stepsto correct their actions I will be requesting myself and my business associates boycott this airline indefinitely!!!!!!
Oh no, Jacked01. The redundant "race card" game. Oh wait, there's more. Lessen the black person's actual experience with racism as being something we manifest in our heads. Yes, that's what us black folks love to do all day long. BLAME THE WHITE MAN. THE WHITE MAN IS HOLDING US DOWN. Where's our race card? Seriously, tell me what does this race card look like because I need to pay off my student loans and that damn card will come in handy. Okay, you're a typical white asshole who seeks out a black blog and attempts to sarcastically dismiss this man's letter as nonsense. Many black people deal with this shit from airlines day after day. Sometimes, it results in us being remove from the flight while other times we remain on the flight taking less than respectable treatment from the crew, in a space filled with white people who are miracously given a nice dose of respect. I have watch time and time again of black people being put under a microscope if we even say something a crew member doesn't like and suddenly security comes out. I have watched drunken, rude, and abrasive white people being removed from a flight, but most of the time are treated with far more respect than a black person who simply asked a question or made a comment. And yet again, people like you looooooove to come on these blogs and lambast us black folks who are stuck supposedly stuck on race because god forbid we don't know what racism really is. After all The Civil Rights Movement was back in the 1960s and things are better now for us? Sighs, I know the bullshit you people spew inside and out. Blacks deal with subtle and blatant forms of racism all the fucking times. And 99% of the time we don't say anything and get this, we actually "let it go" because there's too much going on in our lives to stay obsess with the racist moment. But sometimes, we get tired of the bullshit and especially when the situation is wrong. You know, just like how white people bitch and moan when they don't get their way and demand a form of justice and equality. Hell, I see this shit EVERYDAY. Sighs. I swear, you people are so typical with the same bullshit you like to sprout out to black people to demean and patronize our experince and intelligence.
Sorry about how you were treated. With this airline these don't appear to be isolated incidents. I had a related problem with this airlines about 5 years ago and then again 3 months later. I changed to another airline after 2 co-workers told me of similar incidents. Leaving them is the only real answer. I'm also a frequent flyer and a person of color. Glad to say that I've had no other related problems.
"knock on wood"
Jacked01 - Once you have walked a city block in a person of color's shoes, I would suggest you not make any more comments.
When you are a physician in a white coat and you go to the cafeteria and a white person asks about the salad, yes I will throw out the race card.
When you are dressed in a business style and get on the elevator and push the floor that happens to have a cafeteria and a person already on the elevator asks what is being served for lunch, yes I will throw out the race card.
When your company that is on public record as being a diverse work place, shows a Benefits Package Film and shows only white people, then hell yes I will play the race card.
The day I am not followed around a store, the day that I am not almost knocked down by a white male to allow a white woman go first, then I will not play the race card.
But of course your reply will be "you people are too sensitive" and again I say, walk a city block in my shoes
yeah this sounds like poor service from a bitch not blatant racism. I have seen similar situations many times involving non blacks, but it should be first come first serve.
Micheal you tell a compelling and all to familiar story and I really understand your embarrassment however, in fairness, there is always too side to every story. So, until we hear the story from the "So Called Flight Attendant" I must temper my anger.
WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WE'LL POST THIS ISSUE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND OTHER NEWWORKING SITES AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE NOT TO FLY WITH THEM. MOST TIMES YOU HAVE TO HIT PEOPLE IN THE POCKET FOR THEM TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER!!!! POSTING THIS STORY NOW!!!
Did he just compare himself to Rosa Parks?! What gall you have. While you accuse the other passenger of asserting her privilege as a white woman, you seem to be more scorned over the fact that they didn't recognize your privilege as a so-called premier executive passenger or whatever. Ridiculous. I just wasted 10 minutes of my life reading this foolishness. Like others said, sounds like the flight attendant was just being a bitch, not that she was on some white supremacist ish. Get over it, and rest well in your posh privileged Hollywood digs tonight. There are Black and Brown folk out here with no jobs struggling to put food on the table and your bitching about some less than stellar service. The F$%k outta here!
United is not the only racist airlines, recently a young man was arrested because he pants sagged on Northwest airline (I think not sure) yet they have no dress code, two weeks prior an old white man got on their plane in women's underwear and even when passengers complained, the flight attendants did not say one word!! So, even though some crackers refuse to admit it they issue the race cards 24/7!!
i say SUE THEM! hitting them in the pocket will hurt regardless of the amount and we need to stage a boycott. some other airline should step up and offer to honor tickets already purchased and make that money thatamerican would have made.
@jacked01 how would you what it is like to be black. never speak on something you know nothing about.
I speak as a frequent African-American traveler and a traveler with status on many airlines.
Your first mistake was to make a "big deal" out of the situation. You should have left well enough alone. I do not see any racism based on the Flight Attendant's actions. I do see issue with the Flight Attendant showing favoritism to a friend or a colleague, which is a no-no in the airline industry. I have witnessed passengers, both black, white and/or other confronted with the same issue.
The point what most folks are missing most of these incidents are based on the individual flight attendant. Some are very touchy, and others just let most of the crap roll off their back, since they do deal with all types of folks on the daily.
Trust me, has nothing to do with you being African-American. The Flight Attendant was abusing her power and she was being a B**ch. I have seen African-American Flight Attendants do the same or even worse.
Not surprised at all. Where is the petition?
Ok, so lets do what needs to be done. LET'S BOYCOTT UNITED AIRLINE.
YO, I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU AND I'M GONNA LET YOU FINISH, BUT KEVIN SMITH HAD ONE OF THE BEST DISMISSALS FROM AN AIRPLANE OF ALL TIME. OF ALL TIME!
I am saddened by your experience, but happy you shared it. I will NEVER fly United again!!!!
Michael, thank you for having the bravery to stand as a man. Race has nothing to do with it anymore. It is a class thing they are using since white folks are getting kicked out too. Not the kind of class as far as money is concerned but a new type of racism. Had you been Bill Cosby or Eddie Murphy you would not have been kicked off the plane. You did well by mentioning the fact that you paid for that service which is now saying that they own you once you enter their property. Weird huh? It's like you go and buy a car, sign the papers get ready to pull of the parking lot and one of the dealer's friend shows up and wants you car and they call the police to ask you to surrender it after you've made the down payment, correction, you actually paid for the whole ticket, so you should have been given proper service as prescribed in their ticket agreement! You as a comedian have the obligation to "Run Tell That!" to everybody that will listen. Maybe Big O will catch wind and do something about this!!!
I am happy I don't fly united airline--will not consider thanks!!
Since we're paying customers, we need to demand our rights to be treated with respect like all paying customers...We will have to make an example of one of these airlines that they will not treat us like meat, squeeze you into tight quarters and expect you to buy your own foods on these flight, with the expectation if you speak up you will be tossed from your flight at great inconvenience and embarrassment to you..The same thing with airport security, who expect you to strip in order to go through security to get on your flight, or risk cancer going through their x-ray machines with all your stuff on display for the public/screeners to see...I say stop flying if you can and take public trasportation like Amtrak to get to where you need to go..This was all racially motivated, if this was a black person showing up with an oversized bag that should be checked, they would be made to pay for it and it would have been taken at the door to go in the checked luggage section of the plane..
It's unfortunate but this story further confirms that ppl with ugly, snarly and disgusting looking faces have a personality/mentality that's synonymous with how they look! Money was paid, he felt he was being treated unfairly, he made an attempt to gain closure or complain via the head flight attendant and was subsequently booted off the plane?? This case was clearly race based!
Race based? Are you kidding? You felt entitled and wanted to be the victim...plane and simple.
Uppity is right but I found it's my own black people ready to shoot me down. The bigger the title the bigger the attitude. I was made to look like an ax murderer and dismissed with no basis. I'll deal with white people cause I can reason with but for black school administrators to try to discredit me and I can only assume many like me who just speak up for himself. So get United but if we spend more time on developing black on black relationships we would never have to worry cause. The United of the world wouldn't dare piss of the dollars we represent as a group. Next time record and post your incident on you tube and see the red carpet being rolled out as they try to do damage control!!! and see how fast
I am outraged by the airline's conduct and am wondering if you've heard from them. They need to apologize and agree to train their staff members on better ways to resolve issues. They also owe you a big refund, etc.
Earlier today, Southwest Airlines booted a famous musician off their plane for having baggy pants. He tweeted about the incident and they quickly tweeted an apology and offer to refund his fare, give him a future flight, etc. They admitted they were wrong. Clearly they have a better understanding of PR and customer relations than United.
I hope you get some justice.
Michael, while it's unfortunate that you were thrown off the plane, but to compare your incident to Rosa Parks is a stretch. Sorry. first of all, you're a man.
Chivalry is expected despite the fact that you have executive passenger privilege.
You were asked to remove a computer bag for a larger piece of luggage that couldn't be placed underneath a seat. I think with a little cooperation, the flight attendant may have arranged a better location for your computer bag and hat. She may have granted you a better seat which had happened to me a few times.
I'm not a flight attendant and I'm not white. I'm a woman who expects men to treat women a little better than this. I'm sorry you were booted off the plane, but try a little chivalry. Regardless of the color of someone's skin, good manners and a humble spirit will take you further in life than you'll ever get on your own merit.
BTW….this is what I'm teaching my son.
My typing is bad in the above comment, but I hope my message was respectfully conveyed.
This case is another blatant example that says ppl of color are systemically dealt with differently. Until we have the right leadership that's totally focused on the interests of our ppl and not distracted by inhumane barbaric ignorance and stupidity we'll continue to be victimized by a race based/hate based environmental disease. We've been attacked by those that control this system for the least little thing for to long and there will never be an end to it, until we break away from our state of dependency that we've been indoctrinated to tolerate.
This is just one example of why I only fly when time OS truly of the essence ....it has become so much of a hassle to fly.
This is horrible. As a black woman, I do agree, that the post 9/11 era has given airlines the power to treat customers like absolute crap, I wouldn't be so quick to jump to racism either. It could be. But the truth is, we may very well never know this particular flight attendant's motives. I witnessed a very similar scenario not too long ago in business class where a white man refused to move his bag to accommodate a latino man's luggage. This white guy was removed from the plane by an air marshal.
Michael, you said "After not finding any they put her bag up in first class", so at this point the flight attendant had found a place, other than your overhead bin, for her friend's luggage. You decided to escalate the issue by asking to talk to the head flight attendant.
Angela's comment about chivalry applies as does knowing how and when to fight bigots and unjust situations. You, being a UAL executive premier customer, had the upper hand, all you had to do was maintain your cool, and anticipate post-flight filing a complaint or writing a letter to UAL pointing out what you found wrong with the flight attendant or situation.
Fighting an issue on board an aircraft puts you at high risk for just what happened to you. If the situation escalates too far then you become the victim. Save the fight for after your flight when you're off the aircraft.
Nowadays If You Black And Got Money, it Don't Matter. There's No Such Thing As The Haves And The Have Nots If Your BLACK!!! Wake UP Black People.
Almost the same thing happened to me. I had a couple of small things in the overhead and a Japanese lady got on the plane after me. I was asked if I could put my stuff under my seat so her stuff would fit in the overhead as her stuff was too big to fit under the seat. Can you believe it I was asked to move my stuff for a Japanese lady. This was obviously because I was a white American. Well the difference is that I moved my stuff because Im not an asshole. Michael Coylar should be paying United Airlines for the publicity that he is getting from this. I never heard of this guy until this happened.
It must be great to have a crutch on which to dismiss anyone who's an ass to you.
"They're being an ass to me -- they must hate black people!" How about they're just an ass?
Yes, there is real racism, but quickly dismissing EVERY bad interaction you have, as racism, belittles real racism.
And we aren't all the White Devil -- more white people voted for Obama, than voted for Bill Clinton.
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