Going Shopping
Beyonce jingle blared loudly. I fished in my purse and found the slim black phone and flipped it open.
''Hey girl,''
''Where are you at?'' my best friend Shawna asked.
''Where else would I be but at Mercer's enjoying this sale?'' I laughed
I thumbed absently through a bin of scarves and then strolled over to the jewellery section. A beautiful pair of golden hoop earrings beckoned. They practically begged to be held to my ear to test how perfect they'd be. I pressed the phone between my shoulder and ear. I needed to hang up.
''Shawna I'm gonna let you go ok.''
''Alright girl. Later then for drinks at Mitchell's
''Sure. See you then.''
I was still holding the earrings in one hand and dropping my phone in my purse when a saleswoman approached me.
''Can I help you with anything?'' she asked, looking nervously at me.
At the time I didn't get it and I waved her off.
''No I'm fine. I'll let you know if I need anything.''
''Okay,'' she smiled a little sheepishly.
The petite brunette moved to a short distance away and began folding sweaters. After a minute it dawned on me that those sweaters were being folded very... slowly... The earrings I'd fancied soon landed on the bin of scarves. Now I was really angry. My temper reached a high-point when I noticed a security guard lingering over by a display of watches.
''That's it!''
The brunette looked up to see me right in front of her.
''Listen,'' I said '' if you don't want African Americans shopping in your store then just say so! Don't stalk them and profile them through the store!''
I could've slapped her pert little face, but instead I just looked her straight in the eye.
''Miss that's not what's happening here. I was just - ''
''Get me your manager now!'' I nearly yelled cutting her off.
As she turned around and walked off to get her manager I was hoping she'd trip.
Published by Adina Pernell
I believe that I was born to write. Writing is a part of me like breathing. A day doesn't go by when I don't think of some idea that needs to be penned to paper. I've been writing since the tender age of 13,... View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentI know when I visit a store I feel I'm being watched when picking items up to look at. This is what retail employees are to do. I even feel guilty when I leave a store with an item that might be too big to put in a shopping bag, so I always hold the receipt in my hand. I think it would be awful to be stopped and asked to see my receipt in front of other customers. With the economy the way it is now, retail employees must be on their toes because every item that is stolen adds up. The cost of the loss is then passed onto the the consumer that is honest by means of raising prices. We all lose in the end when someone steals. I would hope this is why the employee was seeming to be over attentive with watching you!
Well the reason why we have Black History Month is because of a African American historian named Dr Carter G. Woodson. He was born in 1875 as the son of former slaves. Being a great advocate for education in the Black community he decided in 1926 to recognized a week honoring the contributions African Americans have made in history. This week was later lengthened to extend to the entire month of February. This was extremely important as many contributions African Americans have made to history have not been recognized. However, the history books I've read are filled with European history. Indeed most of the curriculum I've been taught is from a Euro centric point of view. That even many American historians of every background can attest to. Anyone could start a White History Month if they chose to, but it would probably be seen as redundant.
Actually this is a short story for Black History Month. They tell you to write about what you know. This is an experience I've had many times. So while this is a fictional account it is based on the racial profiling that I experience so often that most times I don't even comment on it unless it's blatant. I wrote this short story to call attention to problems that still exist for African Americans. Many times in today's world racial profiling can be subtle, but when you've lived in your skin for over 30 years you can definitely tell when you are a victim of it.