I left this establishment feeling embarrassed and humiliated. Here's why.
I walked in today, and was asked to check my backpack. There is a man standing to the side of the register far from the door. He has a bunch of stuff in his hands and is wearing a backpack.
I'm annoyed because A. The rules should be the same for everyone, and B. I'd like to quickly grab a copy of Saga, buy it, and hurry home so that I can be online in time for a meeting (I'm an engineer who works remotely). Having to check my bag is an inconvenience; one that another customer did not have.
I grab my copy of Saga and get in line behind the man who is wearing a backpack.
I ask "Why did I have to check my bag, but he didn't?"
The guy at the register looks annoyed, raises his voice, and gives the following reasons, in a tone appropriate for addressing a child, not a paying customer in her mid 30's:
1. He comes in there all the time.
2. He's buying something.
3. He's not wondering around the store.
4. He's a subscriber.
He proceeds to say, very loudly that this isn't discrimination.
That I'm not being discriminated against.
He says this several times.
The people in front of me at the register look at me awkwardly, the other person at the register looks at me awkwardly. Great. Now I'm the discrimination chick.
Heck, if anyone else was in the store (I'm too embarrassed to even speak at this point, so there's no way I'm going to look at other humans if it can be avoided), they would not have heard what I said. But could hear him loud and clear. It seems like I'm making a scene or "playing the race card", when all I did was ask a valid question.
I can't explain to you how embarrassing it is as a person of color to ask a simple question, and have "this isn't discrimination" be part of the answer. I was never thinking about discrimination, I was thinking of getting to my meeting on time.
I mutter something about going in there all the time too, and he repeats the things he said before, continuing to harp on the fact that "this isn't discrimination".
Here's the thing.
1. I go in there all the time too.
2. Why would you assume that I wasn't buying something? I'm literally standing in line to buy something.
3. I had no intentions of wondering the store, as I has a meeting to attend.
4. Why are you assuring me that I'm not being discriminated against?
Why is that your assumption that I think I am? I at no point in time said anything about being discriminated against. To be told that I'm not being discriminated against, to be talked down to in front of several other people... It's embarrassing, humiliating, disrespectful, and uncalled for.
The next time I come in to grab my copy of Saga, B. Planet, The Wicked + The Divine, Monstress, or any of the other titles I like, I expect an apology.
I'm giving the store 2 stars because the women at the register apologized for him. read more