STATESIDE Stateside
Sharon Harris takes aim at the perception of privilege – and the reality
I disagree. Of course racism still exists, but virtually every modern industry, including gaming, now promotes racial and ethnic diversity. Global Gaming Women supports women of all races and nationalities. I see “privilege” as more of a money and connections issue over race or ethnicity. Two national cases have exposed the raw roots of what
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many consider economic “green privilege.” Last month, U.S. federal agents arrested 50 people nationwide, charging them with corruption, conspiracy and bribery between 2011 and 2018. In Operation Varsity Blues, the feds claimed that one college admissions counselor masterminded a lucrative scheme by directing these Hollywood celebrities, business moguls and others to collectively pay more than $25 million to get their kids admitted into eight prestigious universities. This guy allegedly funneled the money into fake charities, falsified athletic credentials and paid strangers to take college admissions tests. Several coaches and admissions officers have been fired. Gamal Aziz, one such parent of Egyptian heritage, was a senior executive at Wynn and MGM Resorts International from 1998-2016. He probably earned plenty during those years. If proven guilty in court, his arrogance – not his background – will determine his legal fate. Second is Jussie Smollett, a black, gay Chicago actor
charged with staging an anti-gay, racist attack on himself to further his television career. The alleged attack occurred in late January at 2am in sub-zero temperatures. According to Smollett, two men approached him, beat him, threw bleach on him, tied a rope around his neck and called themselves Trump supporters. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) found it sketchy
from the surveillance video. They learned Smollett knew and paid the two brothers who were also black. Urban Chicago is
8 APRIL 2019
re you privileged? America is embroiled in controversy over “privilege” and unequal social justice. The default position of many politicians, pundits and activists is to blame “white privilege” for many societal problems.
hardly Trump country and few would lay in wait in freezing weather. A grand jury ultimately indicted Smollett on 16 felony
counts of disorderly conduct. As he headed to court, county prosecutor Kim Foxx suddenly dropped all charges and sealed the records. Foxx considered Smollett’s forfeiting his $10,000 bond and doing two days of community service as sufficient, despite using police resources and costing taxpayers $150,000-plus. Foxx never notified the authorities, who then publicly
blasted her for corrupting justice. The fallout continues as the 2,700-member National District Attorney’s Association (NDAA) has denounced her professional conduct and the FBI continues to investigate Smollett. He may have broken federal law by sending himself fake threatening letters via the US mail. It may pay to have friends in high places, but emails and
texts don’t lie. Within days of Smollett’s claims, Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s ex-chief of staff, asked Foxx to contact Smollett’s family to calm their concerns over the investigation and his public portrayal. Foxx tried to convince the CPD superintendent to include the FBI. When a Smollett family representative requested a phone conversation, Foxx texted she was “trying to figure out the logistics.” Foxx remained in contact for several days. She asserted that she recused herself, but she never officially filed paperwork. This is outrageous. Looking at the gaming industry,
historically, millions of hardworking people have followed strong regulations, oversight and still succeeded. Think of early gaming pioneers like Bill Harrah, whose
prominent southern California attorney father gave him every financial advantage during the Depression. He bought his dad’s small business, Reno Game, after college and at 26, moved to Reno. Harrah’s first bingo parlor failed within 30 days, but he
persevered and founded Harrah’s casinos in 1937. He worked hard, reinvested into the growing Harrah’s empire and the rest is history. Or, consider the Boyd family. Patriarch Sam and his son
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