meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Honestly with Bari Weiss

Oberlin Accused the Gibsons of Racism. Now It Owes Them $36 Million.

Honestly with Bari Weiss

The Free Press

News, Society & Culture

4.67.8K Ratings

🗓️ 1 September 2022

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On November 9, 2016, the day after Trump was elected president, three students from Oberlin College were caught shoplifting wine from Gibson’s Bakery, a local staple that had been around for 137 years. Allyn Gibson, who was running the register that night, and who is white, called the cops on the three students, who were black. They fled, he chased them outside of the store, a brawl ensued and the three students were arrested. The next day, students, along with Oberlin administrators, began protesting outside the bakery, accusing them of racism. There were signs, and a Student Senate resolution, and articles in the paper, and then, the college canceled its orders with the bakery. Months after the three students pleaded guilty, with their business wounded and their reputation destroyed, the Gibsons decided to sue the college for libel. All said and done, the Gibsons were awarded $36 million. So far, the school hasn’t paid a penny, continuing to appeal the decision and deny any wrongdoing. This Tuesday, the supreme court of Ohio declined Oberlin’s last appeal, which means that they can either pay, file an appeal for reconsideration, or appeal, again, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, an exclusive sit down with Lorna Gibson, the matriarch of the bakery, about what happens when a powerful college decides to go to battle with your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

At Barclays, we're here for every goal.

0:06.4

We're here for the Premier League,

0:09.0

and the Barclays Women's Super League.

0:12.0

We're here for the football chance for giving more girls a chance.

0:18.0

We're here for the grassroots and all the muddy boots. From schools to stadiums we're here for it all.

0:27.6

Barclays here for every goal.

0:30.6

I'm Barry Weiss and this is honestly.

0:34.0

For a little over a year now, we've been coming to you every week

0:38.0

with frank conversations about the things that matter the most

0:42.0

with the people you most want to hear from.

0:44.8

A year ago I had never done a podcast.

0:47.3

I mean, certainly I hadn't hosted one.

0:49.0

I'd barely been a guest on one.

0:51.0

And now I'm pretty sure I host the only podcast in the country that's had on both

0:55.0

Bill Barr and Kim Kardashian. So why am I here at the top of the show getting a little

1:00.6

bit reflective with you? Well there's major life-changing news

1:05.2

about to happen in my family. My wife is having a baby any day now, really any

1:10.1

second. Now, don't worry, I'm not not going anywhere but I am going to share the

1:15.0

mic over the coming weeks with some amazing guest hosts. These are journalists

1:19.5

and friends that I deeply admire and I know you will too. We're kicking it off today with a special

1:25.5

episode. It's an investigation about what happened when a small family business stood up

1:32.4

to a powerful liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Free Press, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Free Press and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.