I just read Ms Holly Benton’s editorial on Wal-Mart’s apparent “discrimination” against minorities because they can’t find beauty products there and Ms. Tonya Duval’s partial victory in getting the local store to stock some items. What part of this whole story doesn’t make sense? Two other Ames businesses carry makeup, hair care and other items for African-Americans, but Ms. Duval is upset because she can’t buy them at Wal-mart, where it would be more convenient.

I don’t get it — big, bad Wal-mart doesn’t carry a lot of items I am looking for either. So I buy those items elsewhere. In regard to Ms. Benton’s argument as to “why can’t they just stock the items simply because we want and need them?”: Maybe a business or marketing student could explain about products competing for limited shelf space. Wal-mart has been successful by stocking items that sell quickly and in large volume. I agree that it’s not as “friendly” as their advertising appears, but let’s not be naive.

Charles Block

Asst. Scientist

Agronomy Building