A Mexican-American woman said she åçwitnessed racism firsthand when she went into a Home Depot with her visibly Hispanic father.
“It seemed his racism was coming out of his pores,” said @susy107livin when describing the employee who acted condescending toward her father when the two were just trying to get a part for a washer and dryer.
Since posting, her video’s gotten over 12,000 views, leading many to ask questions about the Austin-based Home Depot’s policies and tolerance of unruly employees.
A quick to an Austin Home Depot turns into a condescending experience
It started when @susy107livin asked her dad to help her get a part for her washer and dryer. They decided to stop by Home Depot to look for it, but couldn’t find the part they needed at first. They decided to go up to an older employee, who looked to be in his seventies.
When they approached the man, @susy107livin immediately noticed a tone shift. She says the employee talked down to her father’s experience, raised his voice at the man, and insisted he knew what part they needed. He treated both of them poorly based on @susy107livin’s account, berating her father in the store and insisting they buy a different part than the one they came in for.
@susy107livin wondered how she could diffuse the situation and help her dad, but it felt like a powerless effort.
“It was really hard at that moment because this man was very overbearing and he started raising his voice at my dad, and I looked at my dad,” she said. “All that I can conclude is that [my dad] was kind of used to that [based on the way he responded].”
The man placed his arm around her father’s shoulder, another thing that @susy107livin felt was unusual. She ended up having to calm the employee down, accepting his suggestion and heading home despite the uncomfortable encounter.
But that part ended up being the wrong one. @susy107livin had to return to the store to replace it, another hassle on top of the already strange behavior from the employee.
A situation that felt minimizing
@susy107livin felt like the encounter had racist overtones, especially considering the fact that she and her father are visibly non-white.
“Not only is [my dad] Mexican, but my dad worked for decades in the sun,” she said. “So all his indigenous color is on full display. And my dad speaks English with a thick accent.”
@susy107livin thought about the situation for over six weeks afterward, feeling stunned by the situation, well after getting her washer and dryer set up.
“[When] you’re an ethnic, ethnic minority in society… You’re not starting off on the same level that non-marginalized people are starting from. You had to learn the language, you had to fight for legal [residency], for example. And I guess I hadn’t thought of myself as marginalized, maybe ever,” @susy107livin said. “[But] that moment at the Home Depot made me feel that way.”
@susy107livin It doesn’t matter what a person of color knows or has accomplished, we all look the same to a racist. #racismo #homedepot ♬ original sound – susy107livin
Would Home Depot care about her concerns?
While many people urged @susy107livin to make a complaint, others simply stated that Home Depot wouldn’t do anything to help her with the situation. Despite that, many urged @susy107livin to make a complaint anyway.
“Unfortunately, Home Depot doesn’t care. However, you should have made a big deal about the situation right there at the time this happened,” said one viewer.
“Put a complaint in, don’t let that man get away with that,” added another commenter. “I’m telling you, don’t let him get away with that. Put a complaint in. If he did it to you and your dad, he will do it to other people.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to @susy107livin for comment. A representative from Home Depot responded to our inquiry, stating, “We take allegations like this very seriously and will investigate this issue. We believe in respecting all people, and we don’t tolerate discrimination.”
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