Was there this past weekend and found myself in quite an un-welcoming "white space"; I am a nearly seventy-year-old African-American man who has patronized this shop for decades. I was the only African-American in the shop at the time (which is the norm when I visit-- perhaps because non-whites are not truly welcomed there)! A very rude diminutive, almost waif-like, Latina clerk told me where to stand at checkout! Then she (very young and disrespectful) proceeded to "act-out" in her little routine silly, child-ish way what pose I choose assume while in line.
Well, I never have been so insulted in this store. Either she was attempting to PUT THIS BLACK MAN IN HIS PLACE or she has trying to impress her white store clerk peers. (I do not think I have ever seen an African-American male or female working there!)
I am writing the manager directly ; hopefully, this poor example of a human being will be spoken to by the management at this store!
One would hope!
Here is the entire "Micro-aggression" letter to the store's manager. I could not describe what Oprah Winfrey would deem a "racial moment" in my quick earlier posting ...
Dear Sir or Madame:
How are you doing?
I write today to inform you of a harrowing, humiliating experience I had this past weekend in your shop. One of your sales associates was gravely discourteous, and she appeared very self-satisfied with her disrespectful behavior and manner.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 9 at approximately 5:30-5:45pm. I had just seen for the third time "Kinky Boots," the off-Broadway production.
I am a nearly seventy-year-old African American man who has patronized your store and its recently closed sister store at One Schubert Alley for decades now.
The encounter with one of your associates was a racialized expression of micro-aggression visited upon me, the sole black person in your store: usually an all "white space," which I have little problem navigating as a black man.
But this weekend, this "white space" became an un-welcoming one judging by the behavior of one of your associates.
A very rude diminutive, waif-like young Latinx female told me disrespectfully where to stand at checkout. I had browsed the merchandise, asked questions about "Beetlejuice" merchandise for my great-niece in particular. Having made my choices for purchase, I stood to the slightly left of the cashier facing him, which is where I usually stand to purchase my items when I visit. This is where I see the lines usually forming when I am in the store: forming to the left of the cashier alongside the wall where hats are displayed.
This individual found it necessary to tell me where to stand SO RUDELY in line. I was next, just one person in front of me. She should not have found it necessary to "police" my presence at all. Rather, she should have been more polite and grateful that I was even shopping at the store at at all. Remember, the sister store at One Schubert Alley recently closed, she should have considered!
She made her request is such a superior way: Then she proceeded to "act-out" in her little silly, school-girl-like way what pose I choose assume in line.
It was simply demoralizing and disgusting!
In retrospect, I do now believe that was her intent: to put this "black man in his place"! She also appeared to be so pleased at herself, impressing her white colleagues by dressing down a black man.
There were no other black people in the store, perhaps because black people are not really welcomed in the store. (Over the decades, I have not seen ONE black male or female allowed to work in the store.)
Hopefully, this poor example of a human being will be talked to. She is in no retail where her job is to assist customers in a courteous, respectful way. Her behavior was simply un-called for. She should have been more civil and less despicable.
Please exercise more judgment in the future when hiring young people to work in your shop! And please, please try to cultivate a more diversity-attempting work staff and culture at your store.
Thank you kindly.
Sincerely yours, read more