Your browser is not supported. please upgrade to the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge.

This Is What Racism Sounds Like in the Banking Industry

Emily Flitter

12/12/2019

Jimmy Kennedy earned $13 million during his nine-year career as a player in the National Football League. He was the kind of person most banks would be happy to have as a client.

But when Mr. Kennedy tried to become a “private client” at JPMorgan Chase, an elite designation that would earn him travel discounts, exclusive event invitations and better deals on loans, he kept getting the runaround.

At first, he didn’t understand why. Then, last fall, he showed up at his local JPMorgan branch in Arizona, and an employee offered an explanation.

“You’re bigger than the average person, period. And you’re also an African-American,” the employee, Charles Belton, who is black, told Mr. Kennedy. “We’re in Arizona. I don’t have to tell you about what the demographics are in Arizona. They don’t see people like you a lot.” Mr. Kennedy recorded the conversation and shared it with The New York Times.

    Racial Equity/Diversity

Load older comments...

Loading comments...

Add comment

24

March 2022

There's A Life Coach For Everything These Days

17

July 2022

I Stripped Down For Nude Body Painting At Age 75 — And So Did My Husband. Here's How It...

21

October 2022

I’m Bleaching My Hair Blonde And Yes, I Might Be Having A Gay Crisis

04

October 2022

Ex-employee wins harassment claim over Pontius Pilate comment

22

July 2022

Queer Latinx Trailblazers

You've Been Timed Out

Please login to continue