Part of the distress is not being sure how I'd react. My gut inclination at the very beginning, before I knew they were actors, was to take notes and ask to speak to the manager, but not to intervene in the discussion.
My second inclination, again, not to intervene but to stop the shopper on her way out and say something like, "What just happened to you was wrong. I was so stunned that I didn't know what to say. If you want to complain to the manager or file an EEOC complaint or something like that, I'd be willing to make a statement or be a witness, and here's my business card."
I'm not sure why I have such a strong "don't get involved" response. I suspect I should work on that.
People don't tend to intervene, I think, when they don't know what is going on. It is too easy to make incorrect assumptions.
But it's pretty shameful that the "shopping like black" phenom happens, still. There is no statistical basis for profiling, period -- not even counting employee shoplifting issues, the overall demographic profile of the shoplifter tends to match the overall demographic profile of the store. So it boils down to racial attitudes and nothing more.
In ABC News's forum, I saw one comment that said some wannabe shoplifters took advantage of this stupidity -- as a mixed group fully in on the scheme, they'd let security hot-tail the blacks, and have the whites shoplift the store blind. I find this sort of strangely fitting in a karmic way.
Story of my lifeladonna_renaOctober 28 2009, 16:37:25 UTC
I think most people don't get involved cause we are raised to not start trouble.
Yeah been there done that, been followed so much I've wanted to take a "white" friend with me to steal stuff while I distract the security by just being black. I'm still on guard when I shop.
One problem I have with this... Why is her dressing "down" including her having a more naturalish hair style. I would see dressing down as having more casual clothing (jeans and t-shirt), instead of having a less than bone-straight hair.
Although that being said I've been reprimanded on a job once for having less than bone-straight hair... by a black manager of all things. I was working at Kroger at the time to give you perspective.
Re: Story of my lifereannonOctober 28 2009, 20:27:14 UTC
I imagine it was to play into the stereotype that the fake shopgirl and security guard represented; that a natural hairstyle would be seen as more "down" than straightened hair.
Thank you for sharing this; I am sharing it with my work audience which consists almost entirely of independent upscale retailers. It's something *THEY* need to see very much.
And I am infuriated that this has happened to you; if I could remove that type of behavior from humanity, I would.
It's not even confined to people who are shopping. I used to work for an inventory company - one small clothing store in a mall was sent an inventory crew of 5 blacks supervised by a Latino. The store manager called our headquarters and complained about 'all the dark skins I have to watch'. So headquarters sent over my crew - myself, another white woman, and a black woman. And she treated us rotten, too. And practically strip-searched everyone on the way out (told the other white woman 'I know you stole something for your ****** friend'), and then laid into the Latino supervisor about sending all the shoplifters to her store. So I got in between and asked her if we were keeping her from her KKK meeting. And how she was ever able to leave her house knowing there *might* be a dark-skinned person out there, etc. I am very proud to say that I have been banned from that store for life :) Oh, and I didn't get in trouble with my employer, either.
Ten years ago, I went into a Victoria's Secret to look at bras, because a friend had told me there would be nice ones in my size. One of the clerks told me, "I'm sorry, but I don't think we have anything in your size. You'll have better luck at the Lane Bryant."
I walked out immediately. I decided that day that even if I bacame some skinny wench who could wear their things, I would NEVER buy anything from them.
I had a similar experience in Vicky's. The thing is, the clerk was not wrong when she told me that. The stores typically only carry up to a 38C or 40C, and anything larger has to be ordered online (and then only up to a 40DD). They don't carry bras in my size, in store OR online.
I don't shop there, anymore, either, even though they have some stupid-comfy undies. But for different reasons.
Vicky's loses a lot.red_tanyaOctober 29 2009, 00:46:45 UTC
they don't have bras on the other side of the ribcage size spectrum, either (my band size is 28). They can't even order them. *shrug*
so, obviously, they don't get my business, either. A store that just moved to town (Austin) is going to get a shot at it instead. If that doesn't work out, I'll keep importing them from other countries.
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Part of the distress is not being sure how I'd react. My gut inclination at the very beginning, before I knew they were actors, was to take notes and ask to speak to the manager, but not to intervene in the discussion.
My second inclination, again, not to intervene but to stop the shopper on her way out and say something like, "What just happened to you was wrong. I was so stunned that I didn't know what to say. If you want to complain to the manager or file an EEOC complaint or something like that, I'd be willing to make a statement or be a witness, and here's my business card."
I'm not sure why I have such a strong "don't get involved" response. I suspect I should work on that.
Reply
But it's pretty shameful that the "shopping like black" phenom happens, still. There is no statistical basis for profiling, period -- not even counting employee shoplifting issues, the overall demographic profile of the shoplifter tends to match the overall demographic profile of the store. So it boils down to racial attitudes and nothing more.
In ABC News's forum, I saw one comment that said some wannabe shoplifters took advantage of this stupidity -- as a mixed group fully in on the scheme, they'd let security hot-tail the blacks, and have the whites shoplift the store blind. I find this sort of strangely fitting in a karmic way.
Reply
Yeah been there done that, been followed so much I've wanted to take a "white" friend with me to steal stuff while I distract the security by just being black. I'm still on guard when I shop.
One problem I have with this... Why is her dressing "down" including her having a more naturalish hair style. I would see dressing down as having more casual clothing (jeans and t-shirt), instead of having a less than bone-straight hair.
Although that being said I've been reprimanded on a job once for having less than bone-straight hair... by a black manager of all things. I was working at Kroger at the time to give you perspective.
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And I am infuriated that this has happened to you; if I could remove that type of behavior from humanity, I would.
Reply
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Ten years ago, I went into a Victoria's Secret to look at bras, because a friend had told me there would be nice ones in my size. One of the clerks told me, "I'm sorry, but I don't think we have anything in your size. You'll have better luck at the Lane Bryant."
I walked out immediately. I decided that day that even if I bacame some skinny wench who could wear their things, I would NEVER buy anything from them.
Reply
I don't shop there, anymore, either, even though they have some stupid-comfy undies. But for different reasons.
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so, obviously, they don't get my business, either. A store that just moved to town (Austin) is going to get a shot at it instead. If that doesn't work out, I'll keep importing them from other countries.
Reply
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