Shopping While Black

Happy Easter guys!

This does not have much to do with the paper but I wanted to know what you think about this video:

This HAS happened to me. When I was about 16 or 17, I was taking my little cousin shopping and then to the county fair. We went into Papaya, and everyone greeted us, as usual. I brought a big bag with me, but it was flat as hell and nobody thought anything of it, except this suspicious Asian lady. This lady greeted me with the fakest smile I had ever seen. I did have shorts in my bag, but I brought them from home because I was wearing a summer dress. She kept asking me if I needed any help. I repeatedly said I did not and that we were just shopping because, Kayla, my little cousin, needed new clothes for the school year.

Kayla picked out 8 things she wanted to try on, but we were only allowed six. The dressing room lady told us that she would hold our other two items if we decided to put anything back, so I thanked her and waited for Kayla to show me each outfit.

Of course there was this top that Kayla needed me to help her zip up, so I went in there and zipped her up. Not even a second later, I heard banging at the door. "Just a second!" I said. But someone kept pounding the door. "Hold on!" I screamed, but she was still banging. I opened the door mad as shit. "What?!"

"Only one person in the dressing room at a time," the Asian lady said.

"This is my little cousin. She needs help zipping up her top and she does not want everyone to see her in her bra. Now leave us alone," I was so angry. Even the dressing room attendant told the lady that we were not doing anything suspicious. Kayla told me she did not even want to shop there anymore, I agreed so I passed all the clothes to the lady and walked out the dressing room. She told us she understood.

When Kayla and I were leaving the store I noticed the Asian lady was following behind us, pretending to fix the clothes. To make sure, I started to zig zag out of the store, and sure enough, she followed close behind.

I kid you not, when Kayla and I were just about to hit the exit, the woman grabbed an item of clothing and waved it around the sensors so that it would go off. Kayla and I kept walking out but she ran behind us yelling that she had to check our bag. I opened my back for her with so much attitude that my shorts fell out, and when she inspected them she threw them back at me and told me to have a nice day.

I contacted the store about it, and they said they would check the tapes. I am 20 years old now and still waiting for a response!

Has this happened to you? Do you think it depends on where you live? Let me know!