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The Apprentice
By JLP | December 15, 2005
I’m only writing about this since I wrote about it earlier today.
I have to say that I’m disappointed in Randal. For those of you who didn’t see it, Trump hired Randal. Randal was celebrating when Trump called him back to the table and asked him what he thought of Rebecca. Randal of course said he liked and respected her. Trump asked him if he should hire Rebecca and Randal said that it was the “Apprentice” not the “Apprenti” (ah, I don’t think that’s the right word Randal), basically saying that he didn’t want Trump to hire Rebecca.
Trump was about to hire two apprentices until Randal said what he said. Why would he do that?
Did anybody else see that?
Topics: Miscellaneous | 15 Comments »
December 15th, 2005 at 10:36 pm
I thought he should’ve had more class than that… his job was already secure. Oh well, dog eat dog.
December 15th, 2005 at 11:30 pm
Randall did the right thing. Beacause The Apprentice is a television show, he could have assumed that Mr. Trump would have given the crown to Rebecca, especially since the show always has one winner.
Besides, if NBC (who really chooses the Apprentice) really was going to hire both finalists, they would have done it.
Also, I believe that it would have been easier for Randall to make the politically correct choice of saying he would hire Rebecca, but how many people would go on a job interview and ask for their main competitor to get hired as well?
December 15th, 2005 at 11:35 pm
Anthony,
Randal had the job in the bag. He didn’t have anything to lose by saying that he would hire Rebecca. I think Trump was a little shocked by Randal’s behavior.
If I went on a job interview and was competing with someone I respected, as Randal supposedly respected REbecca, then I would have told Trump to hire Rebecca.
December 16th, 2005 at 7:35 am
I read your article about Randal choosing not to share his title on The Apprentice Finale. That finale was one of the best demonstrations of White privilege I have ever seen. Here we have Randal, who by every objective standard far outpaced Rebecca, yet it was a tough call? Give me a break. He out did her in education, experience, win/loss records, on the critical last task he actually raised money, yet this was a hard call for Trump? Give me a break! Why couldn’t Trump have given Randal the apprentice title without and asterisk. Nothing prevented Trump from announcing on the Today Show following the competition. Did he make Bill share with Kwame? Did he make Tana share with Kendra? Not to knock Rebecca,, but the only area where Rebecca outdid Randal was in the category of “Cute white girl who looks like Melania Trump.” She was good, but Randal was better. Just goes to show you that our grandparents were right. Its not enough to be twice as good. Black folks still cant get ahead.
Randal understood his significance as the first Black Apprentice. Hell Martha managed not to have a single black person on her SHOW. I promise you that the uproar if Randal had been forced to share would have been far worse that the complaints from those who view the world oblivious to the haze of White privilege.
Imagine if Joe Lewis was forced to share the heavyweight title after black folks had sat around radios rooting for him to win? That’s basically what Trump asked Randal to do last night. Your article and Trump proved that y’all just don’t get it.
December 16th, 2005 at 7:44 am
Eryka,
Give me a break. NOBODY is saying Randal didn’t deserve to be the Apprentice. NOBODY!
During the entire season my wife and I thought that it was either going to be Randal or Rebecca.
Trump left the decision up to Randal and Randal dropped the ball.
December 16th, 2005 at 10:00 am
Eryka–I COMPLETELY agree. The real truth of the matter is that Trump should never have put him on the spot inthe first place: essentialy, Randal was “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” The only way to have avoided such a debacle was to say, “Mr. trump–the decision is yours. You’re the boss.” That, however, would have still left Randal in the position for his limelight to be taken and an asterick to be placed by his name, because Trump most likely would have hired Rebecca.
The fact of the matter is that there is a real case of cultural difference here that many white people will probably never recognize. You see, the ULTIMATE thing that white privilege provides is that white people rarely (if ever) have to be made aware of their race, where as people of color–black people especially–are made aware of their racial background EVERYDAY. As such, black people have had to struggle too hard and too long for what they have: sharing is SIMPLY not a privilege we have had the luxury of thinking about. I’m sure that if Rebecca had been hired, and was posed the same question, she would have said “YES! Hire Randal too.” But be aware that as a white person, she has not had to bear the same “dog eat dog” mentality that black people are forced to uphold simply to survive.
Moreover, Randal is EVERYONE’S favorite guy: the man has shown class, has shown understanding and kindness. And now, in one failed swoop, Randal is Public Enemy #1? It sickens me that more people don’t understand why the gloves HAD to come off at that precise moment. Does no one remeber that Randal suffered a death in the middle of the season? He flew back from the funeral and performed on the task that very same day without thinking about it! And unlike Rebecca, he did not use this incident as a “crutch” (pun INTENDED) like Rebecca used her injury. If thats not class, I don’t know what is.
Its true, Eryka: they just don’t get it. But we do.
December 16th, 2005 at 10:04 am
BNP,
I don’t understand what COLOR has anything to do with this? This has NOTHING TO DO WITH COLOR.
December 16th, 2005 at 10:05 am
Everyone has a card they can play – race card, gender card, age card, blah blah blah. How many of the Apprentice candidates this season were Asian? How many of the Apprentice candidates in any season were Asian? I believe the answer is 1. By your logic, if black people have to work twice as hard or be twice as good, Asians have to win the lotto to even be considered.
C’mon now, dude could’ve shown some class but instead did the business decision and denied his competitor. Did I say it was wrong? No, but it lacked class and that has nothing to do with his skin tone and everything to do with his attitude.
December 16th, 2005 at 10:23 am
JLP,
I agree. Randal thought of himself only and as a result, the Trump organization is weaker for
not hiring Rebecca. Once you were picked as the Apprentice, your goal should be to improve the
organization and Randal failed in that, in public, no less. That’s pretty short-sighted of him.
December 16th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
JLP– you just proved my point.
December 16th, 2005 at 1:12 pm
I just happened to watch this on my TiVo this morning and I was kind of shocked at what happened. I thought that Randall was going to win, I called that to my wife the very first episode, and I was not hugely impressed with Rebecca. I liked her, but she was clearly not as strong as Randall was. So, maybe Randall truly believed that she should not have been hired, but just didn’t want to say it. So, he instead said that there should only be one winner. I do sort of agree with him on that though.
I do think that if he really did think that she would have been good for the organization that he should have suggested that he would like to have her work for him on his project.
December 16th, 2005 at 9:26 pm
I think that it is ridiculous to assume race had a role in anything. I think the white race takes just as much heat anymore as the black race! We are accused of being racist and having an advantage in everything, when it is simply not the case! If a white person wins over a black person it is a race issue! If a black person wins it isnt! I think we all need to quit playing these cards and whining over our disadvantages and step up and make a difference! The more we attempt to play these cards the more we set back our own races, genders, etc… STOP COMPLAINING MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
Randal had impeccable qualifications for virtually anything he attempted! He is an outstanding person he did not win this competition because of his race! Rebecca was discriminated because of her age, but that did not hold her back! She was obviously an adequate competitor or she would not have made it to that position! I do not deny education, I think it is a much needed staple of our society but is not enough alone to satisfy the demands of this particular job! It is the point of not just allowing apprentices with a doctorate, but also those who have no more than a diploma!
Randal made a bad call! I dont understand why he would lose his limelight by sharing the win. They are both well respected and equally competent. It was wrong for him to deny her and she certainly would not have denied him! And had she denied him it would have been a race issue and she would have been labeled a racist! It lacked total decorum! There is no dog eat dog in this situation, he had nothing to lose! But that is not true he lost the respect of many by making that decision!
December 17th, 2005 at 12:11 am
[...] Upon Further Review thinks Randal did the right thing: I don’t see any reason why sharing a fake job is any better than having it by yourself. Especially when it is pretty clear that Randal was the better choice, I don’t think anyone would have seen it as a tie. I do think it was a little unfair to put Randal in that position. [...]
December 18th, 2005 at 8:22 am
Every Thursday night I am sitting in front of the TV watching the
Apprentice. I was so impressed with both Rebecca & Randal for not
stabbing their teams in the back when brought to the boardroom.
I thought Randal was an outstanding leader through out the show and
probably would be picked as the Apprentice. Rebecca did a
fantastic job as the PM for her final project. I did however lose
respect for Randal when he chose not to have Trump hire Rebecca.
I am very tired of hearing “it’s not personal..it’s business”.
A good leader looks out for the entire corporation and Rebecca
was told by Trump she was “outstanding”. They both chose different
projects they would like to have if they were picked. Both would
have been great assets to the Trump Corporation. Sorry Randal you
blew it. How will those Trump employees feel about their new boss
knowing “it is all about Randal”?
December 22nd, 2005 at 6:02 pm
Everyone here has a valid point of view on this topic. Race, age, education, history all play a role on what happened that night on the apprentice. But we are all focusing on the wrong issue. My father has always taught me that when something doesnt sound or look right to always find the source. And though I do feel that all of your opinions are valid, the important thing to consider is “Why did Mr. Trump ask Randal to make that decision” I put Mr. Trump at the source and say this: In my opinion that decision should have been made by Mr. Trump and Mr. Trump alone and by shifting that onto Randal was not only a lack of leadership and character on Mr. Trump’s behalf but also shows that Mr. Trump did not want to held resposible for the controversy his decision could ultimately have. I belive Mr. Trump made this choice on purpose and from any standpoint it was wise of him to do so. Focus on the source of the problem not the stemming issues. What was behind Mr. Trump’s motives for asking Randal to make such an important decision for his company! Thank you everyone for considering my point, also have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.