Anonymous,
Los Angeles, CA
This is a reaction to the recent news stories of the African-American film actor who was unlawfully detained by NYPD and Macy’s after purchasing a pair of sunglasses from a Sunglass Hut at Macy’s. He was asked to show his ID and told he couldn’t afford the item, though he has already purchased it. This is the on the heels of two separate incidents involving Barney’s and two African-Americans who purchased big ticket items. And in August 2013, Oprah was not allowed to handle a $38.500 purse she was considering purchasing in Switzerland because it was “too expensive.” Shopping while Black is a subject not brought up enough. It is a proven fact and not just anecdotal evidence that many Black people are racially profiled and followed around stores by security and loss prevention professionals. Meanwhile, it is also proven that the majority of shoplifting crimes are committed by Whites. Often those who take advantage of the retail workers paying close attention to Blacks perusing the store. I wrote this card because “green” should be the only color that matters in places of business but oftentimes Black people are not thought of as having the capital and wealth to purchase the stores, much less any of the products it contains.
