A black passenger shares of being moved several rows back on Delta Air Lines flight so that her two white seatmates could enjoy more legroom. The optics were bad in the hyperracialized world in which we live, but can we acknowledge the black passenger’s pain without condemning Delta Air Lines…at least until we have more info?
Black Woman Cries Foul Against Delta Air Lines, Arguing Complaining White Women Were Privileged Over Her
Here’s a rundown of what occurred on a recent Delta flight from Atlanta to San Francisco, according to Camille Henderson:
- Henderson, 25, was seated in 15A and two white women, in their 50s, were seated in 15B and 15C
- There were two open seats in first class and the white women claimed they had upgraded over the phone and should be re-seated in the premium cabin seats
- But flight attendants did not see the upgrade in their system and the passengers were unable to produce refreshed boarding passes, so the women were forced to remain economy class
- The white women bitterly complained to multiple flight attendants about their seating
- This complaining continued, with the woman continuing to gripe about the lack of legroom even after the flight departed
- Later in the flight, a flight attendant asked Henderson if she would mind moving back to row 34
- She agreed to move, gathered her belongings, and made her way back to an aisle seat in row 34
- Flight attendants offered her a complimentary cocktail for her inconvenience
- Henderson complained to Delta Customer Service after her flight, but her complaint was dismissed because she was moved “from a main cabin seat to another main cabin seat”
Henderson claims she agreed to move because “I don’t want to be the angry black woman that doesn’t listen to the rules, even though the rules were that I paid for a seat and I went to my seat and I didn’t ask to move.”
That’s not quite right – as I’ve found in my own travels, seat assignments are never guaranteed. There is no such thing as “my” seat, though in this case the seat change was only requested, not required. That said, Henderson was wise to move rather than risk the ire of the flight attendants (and that’s a sad reflection on flight attendants in general).
Henderson told The Daily Beast that Delta’s conduct toward her constituted a microaggresion:
“We cannot have conversations about white people’s conveniences at the expense of black people being inconvenienced. [People focus on] the big events: the George Floyds, all of the people that are unjustly killed by police, redlinings, food deserts, all these things that happen on a larger scale. But we’re not necessarily talking about the microaggressions—actions that happen every single day to black people.”
A microaggresion is “a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.”
I find myself of two minds here…which, of course, will lead to charges of my wokeism from some and racism from others. I invite you to help me think this through.
One extreme will dismiss Henderson’s claim wholly or even brand her a racist for “seeing everything” through a racial lens, thus fomenting needless division. The other extreme will argue this incident is a clear demonstration of microaggresion, white privilege, and even racism.
But can’t we acknowledge Henderson’s pain without immediately condemning Delta or branding the flight attendants who moved Henderson as racists?
Henderson claims the act of moving her back several rolls constituted a microagression but couldn’t it also be that the flight attendants just wanted to shut up the two women from their complaining and it had nothing to do with Henderson? Henderson herself said the women would not let the issue go and kept complaining. While capitulation may not have been the best response, I can hardly blame the flight attendants for trying to silence the complainers.
It appears there were not two seats together in the back, which answers the question why the women were not moved. Some have suggested Henderson should have been upgraded to first class so the women could spread out in their economy class row, but can you imagine the uproar that would have caused? (though admittedly, I would have loved to watch that unfold…).
Flight attendants saw the quickest path to restoring peace onboard was to move Henderson to a different seat, which happened to be behind her. Indeed, it created bad optics (moving a black woman to the back of the bus while essentially rewarding the white women for being jerks), but unintentional racism? While I understand the idea of casual racism, I don’t think we can go that far without more details…
At the same time, I empathize with Henderson’s plight:
“When I moved to the back, the whole plane is looking at me. It’s not like we were boarding. It’s not like they moved me before the plane took off…I have to carry all of my stuff with me to the back. As I’m moving to the back of the plane, everybody is kind of looking. It’s just kind of embarrassing. I just felt like I was put under the spotlight, and I really should not have. There was no need for me to move.”
I would have felt the same way…and I’m a white man, not a black woman. Embarrassment is not limited to one race or gender. She should not have been asked to move.
CONCLUSION
I don’t stake a middle road position on this issue for the sake of being moderate. I’m open for greater understanding of why this was an egregious incident (or why it was not). But even without hearing Delta’s side of the story, Henderson has failed to convince me that she was targeted on the basis of her race. That does not take away the embarrassment of being forced to move to the back of the plane during the flight or the bad optics of the rewarding the louts at the expense of someone who was just quietly minding her own business.
(image: Bill Abbott // H/T: View From The Wing)
The flight attendants should have been tougher on the two complainers. If it was bad enough that they needed to reseat a passenger they should have been notified that if they didn’t pipe down then the flight would be diverted at their expense to let them off.
Henderson should have been offered a seat away from the complainers but in no way should she have been made to feel any obligation to move if she didn’t want to.
If someone says the word “microaggressions,” they lose all credibility in my eyes.
As black man, my first question was why did Henderson agree to be moved? The issue wasn’t her. The fact that she agreed to move is on her, not the flight attendants. Her argument that she didn’t want to be seen as an angry black woman is ridiculous because it’s clear that the white women were the angry ones . Also, that Henderson accepted a “complimentary “ drink for her troubles is foolhardy. She should’ve asked for a voucher, miles or something more valuable to ease the pain of “being looked at”. A freaking drink? Really?
Andre- give me a break. She moved for peace and quiet, to help the flight attendants and anyone else that had to listen to 50 year olds crying about their seat. It didn’t even warrant a free drink, rather she made an easy move for the betterment of herself and others. And the attendants said thanks her is a drink on us, we appreciate you. You want more, that’s why I hate people with your mindset. Cheap bastards that want to take advantage of any little thing you can.
She moved because she felt threatened by the flight attendants. Why would they ask her to move and not the troublemakers? Yes, I call them troublemakers because only such people complain like crazy all during a flight. Normal people accept their seats, chat with others, or put their headphones on and mind their own business. Some fall asleep. Who’s going to keep yapping on into the flight about how bad the seats are? Spoiled, privileged people who are used to getting their way. They need to be stopped.
Why did you need to say you’re “Black” man? You’re not relating to this 25 year old young woman as a Black man who has lived among and cared about Black woman. Such a Black man would know this young woman felt threatened by authority, and definitely did not want to cause any trouble while flying. This kind of stuff happens frequently and it starts in elementary school. “Would you mind moving your desk so Susie can sit with Karen.” Quit victim-blaming this girl. She never should have been asked to move. You say it’s not the flight attendants’ fault, but it was. They should have moved one of the complaining women. Periodt! You probably are one of these BM who is jealous of BW and who prefers someone other than. Sheesh.
She had a right to decline and that’s exactly what she should have done. That would have forced the flight attendants to accommodate them in another way and we wouldn’t be talking about this.
I understand why she’s upset, but ultimately she made the decision to move when she had no obligation to and it was 100% her choice to do it.
I’ve been in a position where a flight attendant asked me to move for a reason I didn’t feel was justified and you just firmly say no and thats the end of it.
This is why we should have only all black or all white flights.
And they provide black or white paint at the boarding gate so everyone looks the same before they board. No one will think they were picked on because of their race.
No problem
Debit, you are one of the DUMBEST , IGNORANT MF ON THIS PLANET. You need to educate yourself on real life and stop trying to be the QUEEN of the ball. Paint your face B.
For Black folks it’s always about color and it’s not our fault, we didn’t make it so. The moment we set foot on American soil we have been deemed less. So as far as not wanting to be the angry Black woman even though the white ladies were angry too, dismisses American history past and present. I’m not saying she was moved because she is Black (the drink was nice), what I’m saying is she felt powerless to say no. Maybe you haven’t seen the two boys fighting in the Jersey mall, they came for the Black boy and not for the white kid. Racism plays out everyday, if you’re on the otherwise you just don’t see it or understand.
“For Black folks it’s always about color and it’s not our fault, we didn’t make it so. The moment we set foot on American soil we have been deemed less. So as far as not wanting to be the angry Black woman even though the white ladies were angry too, dismisses American history past and present.”
-You’re absolutely correct, for black folks it has always been about the colour of theirr skin. Yes, they did make it so, how did the real African tribes make it to the “New World”? They were brought over on slave trade boats. How did they get on those boats? They were marched along by the tribe from which they had been defeated, thereby being deemed as lesser by the conquering African tribe. These events are part of the past and history of slavery.
So as far as not wanting to be the angry Black woman even though the white ladies were angry too, dismisses American history past and present. I’m not saying she was moved because she is Black (the drink was nice), what I’m saying is she felt powerless to say no.
-I agree, from an outside perspective she presents us with the impression of feeling powerless. So the question becomes; how does one assert oneself in a manner that is contrary, civilised, respectful, yet maintaining the dignity of self and skin colour/community so as not to fall in line with stereotypes? That is up to the individual. A follow up question would be to verify the Flight Attendants skin colour?
Maybe you haven’t seen the two boys fighting in the Jersey mall, they came for the Black boy and not for the white kid. Racism plays out everyday, if you’re on the otherwise you just don’t see it or understand.
-No, I haven’t viewed the aforementioned situation you’re referencing; it has no bearing on this situation. Based upon the conceived notion about “not understanding”; I understand to a much greater degree.
There is only one race and that is human.
Have you read the comments? Now tell me bigotry doesn’t course through the veins of people. How hard is it to respond d without being a bigot? It seems very hard.
If you want to say Africans sold other Africans ok, facts are facts. They didn’t sell them to be beat, raped and murdered because they’re Black, that’s for sure. The tribes were at war with each other so they sold POWs. And they didn’t view them as lesser, just different
David, I’ve lived in the DC metro area all my life. I am white. Depending on where I go in the area, I deal with racism every day from b l ack people. That’s right. I grew up in P.G. County, MD (look it up) but now I avoid P.G. County, Charles County, MD, Washington, DC. They look thru you like you don’t exist or walk in the middle of the aisle and push you aside with their shoulders, daring you to say something or they yell at you while you’re sitting at a traffic light saying how they hate white people, etc. I don’t know white people that do that, do you? I’ve never judged a person by their skin color but I’ve learned from them. I totally avoid those areas. B lack people are more racist then ever and they seem to think they are justified feeling this way. I can’t wait to get out of this area and live around people that don’t judge me based on my skin color.
As for a black person feeling powerless?? Who are you kidding? If she felt powerless, that’s her fault and personality, has nothing to do with being b lack. Give me a break. Look at where she is from and where she was going. She was meek. She should have said no but she said yes. Her fault.
It’s true, imagine a white passenger being asked to move, it happens each day and they argue it’s because of their race.
David, I’ve lived in the DC metro area all my life. I am white. Depending on where I go in the area, I deal with racism every day from black people. That’s right. I grew up in P.G. County, MD (look it up) but now I avoid P.G. County, Charles County, MD, Washington, DC. They look thru you like you don’t exist or walk in the middle of the aisle and push you aside with their shoulders, daring you to say something or they yell at you while you’re sitting at a traffic light saying how they hate white people, etc. I don’t know white people that do that, do you? I’ve never judged a person by their skin color but I’ve learned from them. I totally avoid those areas. Black people are more racist then ever and they seem to think they are justified feeling this way. I can’t wait to get out of this area and live around people that don’t judge me based on my skin color.
Loved your response. These people are either pretending to be ignorant of race issues, which is bad, or they really are ignorant and believe this young lady did not feel powerless or shouldn’t have felt so. That’s worse if they really are that ignorant. I think most are liars. They know doggone well the flight attendants should not have asked the non-complainer to move, but instead moved the two troublemakers.
Haha! Yes, the black girl is such a victim( the race card is such a dumb, mindless claim). The flight attendants are such racists!
Would’ve been great if she was moved to the premium cabin, but not great enough to deal with the drama it would’ve caused.
Ohhhhh, let’s play the color card. I am blue and was forced to move my seat as well. Where should I complain?
If this happens to a white person, which it happens to all the time, its a no issue. Happens to a black person and its front page news. Need to stop moaning all the time
She got a complimentary cocktail.
This is a nothing story. I’d be glad to move away from 2 bickering women, no matter what their color was.
The cocktail was a bonus to her. She’s a little over the top in complaining…
She should have just shut up and drank her cocktail.
If the 2 bickering women were black, would she have complained anyway?
I think not.
It would have been “the perfect squelch” had the attendants asked her to move to a premium cabin seat–especially since the “complainers” had coveted those same seats. She gets an upgrade for being nice–the complainers get the extra room they want. Everyone is happy–not even a need for the extra drink. But that’s in hindsight.
Welcome to the world of the “perpetually outraged.”
I’m a corporate pilot–and “airline rage” has been a prime mover in the rapid growth of the business aviation/charter business.
Snowflakes gonna play the race card.
What is it Dave Chappelle says?
“This racism is killing me.”
Welp…this is why I avoid interacting with certain people. Its not that I might not like them its that there is seldom a good outcome.. most blacks absolutely HATE white people and will ALWAYS claim to be a victim of racism if they don’t get their way. It just isn’t worth the chance. I stay away from them. Its not personal but it’s the way they want it.
@Debit is wrong. If you had two planes side by side, one for white people and one for black people. Someone would cry racism because they had to fly out of gate 2 instead of gate 1. It’s like Eddie Murphys old bit on black people in Texas. Warning, crude language, not for children. https://youtu.be/vMpHqC5RyR8
This is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Nobody won. I think the black woman should have been moved to 1st class.
The 2 disruptive ladies didn’t deserve anything after making a scene. They should have been responsible for showing documentation of the upgrade long BEFORE getting on the plane, checking with the gate agents, etc. (surely the boarding ticket showed their seats!)
Maybe the black ladies intentions of moving were well placed, but after she moved and had all the eyes on her the embarrassment set in and caused her to think about how it all looked to others. That SHE was the problem! Guessing, of course, since none of us know how that felt except her.
I like your response.
She made herself a victim. She didn’t have to. Although I’m not sure I’d want to be near a couple of entitled Karens either way. If the Karens were as annoying as reported, I would have enjoyed my seat in Row 34 more.
There will always be suspicion and animosity between races because that’s nature. It’s in our dna to be suspicious of other races like it’s in the dna of animals to be suspicious of other animals. When someone of a different race does something, there will always be suspicion that it was done because of race. We can allow those who rather be separate to be separate or we can force together different groups and live in torture every single day of our lives. I choose the former. I don’t like the thought of Black Police officers telling White people what to do and I understand White Police officers telling Blacks what to do will create the same feeling in the opposite race.
Different races only live together in the same areas because of slavery and colonialism. That colonialism and slavery includes the Arab conquest of North Africa and the ottoman Turks and even mongols so it’s not just limited to slavery in the Americas. We can continue to live in disharmony by continuing on the slavery and colonial circumstances or we can say every race should have its own space to be free. Anyone who opposes space for every race to be free supports slavery.
I’m sure I’ll get my hand slapped by Jan the LALF police for this, but what a load of BS. The only reason people are suspicious of other races is because it is taught to them. Taught by those in power so they don’t realize they are getting their pocket picked. If low class whites are taught to hate blacks, they’ll have someone to blame for why they can’t better themselves instead of who is really holding them back, those that are at the top, and ensuring they’ll never join forces to knock them off their perch
What a vile rationalization of segregation. There is no such thing as race, and has never been. It was invented to justify slavery in the Americas. What is more, pretty much everyone has always known it’s a lie and just an excuse for discriminating (or worse) against other people.
The idea that Sicilian is the same race as a Finn, but a different race from a Moroccan is absurd and demonstrably at odds with the genome of peoples from those regions. The idea that an Indian is the same race as a Japanese is just as absurd. These categories are refuted by everything we know about genetics. Never to be outdone in ignorance, Americans even use the word “caucasian” incorrectly because they don’t understand what it means. (The term actually includes middle-eastern people and people from the Indian subcontinent)
People can have different skin color. There really isn’t a reason we should even give that a second thought.
The fact that we are even using the word “race” is already a disgrace. Yes, we shouldn’t see everything through the prism of race (that is a problem too). Sadly, one need only read your comment to see how alive racism is. I fear it will take many more years until we actually don’t talk about made-up “racial” categories anymore.
I’m waiting for the other facts to come out which probably will be that she was non-revving on a buddy pass. I recall a USAirways incident where two guys pulled the race card because the gate agent asked them to change into different clothes in order to sit in First; race had nothing to do with it, they were flying on buddy passes and their sponsor failed to read the the rules.
The issue here isn’t race; its the sense of entitlement people feel over others. Clearly the two women felt they were more important than the other 100 or so people on the plane and were not going to give up their griping until they were accomodated somehow. F/A’s wanted to avoid further conflict that could have developed and asked Ms. Henderson to move. Ms. Henderson willingly changed seats and probably willingly drank that cocktail; nobody forced or threatened her. So what really is the issue? Other than the fact that she identifies herself as Black in the context of the story, this sounds like a normal day of flying in America.
Whole incident could have been stopped by asking the women for the credit cards to pay for their upgrades into first class they claim they had; most airlines have forms for such an event. Had it been a double charge, it would have been immediately corrected but undoubtedly it was just a ploy. And yes, if having 2 seats for more room was solving the problem, then the person solving the problem by moving should have been offered the seat in the first class rather than sacrificing her window seat for an aisle and the inconvenience of the move.
What does Delta say? Personally I think the “race card” is getting old and boring. Same as the “me too card”. And I am a non-white woman. It’s the excuse for everything. For me the main issue is glight attendant not being smatt enough to see how this would play out. Black, white, green, red – if you want to imhonvenience a pssenger move them up, never down. I have been in this situation before and have declined to move. I choise my seat in advance for a reason.
If you are sitting next to two whining whingers and you are offered a seat move, why wouldn’t you take it? The winner is the mover.
The better solution would have been to move Henderson to the front so the clueless ladies, with tenuous claim to the front seats , could enjoy and A and a C by themselves. We all have been asked to move many times to accomodate seating preferences for others..both by the flight attendants and fellow passengers. If the move makes sense, accommodate them, if it does not, just say no.
Most of us say ” of course” when asked to move to accommodate others. I have moved too. What on earth does this have to do with color? I’d of been happy to get away from 2 cranky ladies anyway. That’s just life on airplanes, get over it!
When you buy an airline ticket, you are NOT even guaranteed a seat on the plane, let alone any specific one. smdh
It’s so terrible to stand up and walk a few row’s back. The shame of being looked at.