I watched the season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice and wasn't pleased with the result. Poison front man and Reality Star Bret Michael won last night's contest. I have a problem or two with that. Michaels basically won the sympathy vote. He wasn't the better project manager, he wasn't better organized, he didn't win many project challenges, and frankly, Robinson-Peete was better.
What happened to Robinson-Peete last night is basically what's wrong with Corporate America and its treatment of people of color and women.
During the course of the show, Robinson-Peete set a corporate fundraising record on Celebrity Apprentice of $347,000 and some change. Her final challenge was professionally done, packaging was good, but when Trump got feedback from the people at Snapple they said: "She was experienced and it was apparent that she had done this type of work before. They would LOVE to have her on the board of directors."
When it came to Bret Michaels's presentation, his product packaging was too dark, he made his drink Snapple a "diet" one (limiting its marketing), and front cover promotional graphics were all over the place, but the inside was much better. The crowd liked his commercial. The same executives pointed out these flaws but replied, " Bret Michaels is Snapple." The Old Boys Network was alive and well. The fix was in.
Trump's first Celebrity Apprentice winner Bill Rainiec implored him to look at the best results and put the "sympsathy votes" away. He reminded Trump that you can't ignore the fact that Robinson-Peete, a mother of four kids, was solid and consistent all the way through and that she set A Celebrity Apprentice record when it came to fundraising. "How can you ignore that?" he asked. Joan Rivers wanted Michaels to win because he overcame so many obstables to be here tonight...including near death.
The problem that I have with Trump is when he had a black man a few years ago won the title, he was treluctant to give it to him because the guy had a Ph.D, 2 MBA's and Trump declared that he had NEVER seen education like his before. And during the final selection porocess asked him if he would co-share The Apprentice title with the other contestant. He said no. I'm so glad he said that...he won.
Women and people of color have to work twice as hard to prove their worth in Corporate America and give up so much...especially time with family and children. As far as Michael's win last night, it shows me that the glass ceiling still exists in Corporate America. The two classes of individuals do the same work or more and earn less. Corporate America still rewards mediocrity by taking care of its own.
Basically by awarding the title to Michaels, he pretty much said that Robinson-Peete's record-setting efforts and valuable work meant nothing. It was a slap-in-the face to her. When she told Mr. Trump that she almost left the show because she discovered her mother had breast cancer, I felt soo bad. Her mom told her to stay and raise money for autism. People should win awards on merit not because you feel sorry for them.
Trump, you're fired!
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Monday, May 24th 2010 at 9:25AM
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