I read your article on shoplifting (‘One guy uses us like a larder’: the British shoplifting crisis – as seen from the tills, 1 June) and the letter in response (6 June), and I want to share a perspective from the other side of the coin. I understand the challenges that retail stores face, and I don’t dispute the need for vigilance. Still, my experiences as a minority ethnic customer have highlighted a problem that isn’t getting enough attention.
In many shops, from convenience stores and supermarkets to clothing retailers, I’ve noticed that I get followed by staff members most of the time. Initially, I dismissed these occurrences as coincidences. Over time, however, the frequency, patterns and consistency of these instances left little room for doubt – I am being racially profiled.
This phenomenon is largely unrecognisable to my white friends and family, which only intensifies the sting of its implications. Their difficulty comprehending my experience points to a pervasive, tacit bias frequently unnoticed by those it doesn’t directly affect.
This is an experiential manifestation of what has been colloquially termed “shopping while black”. Although I am brown-skinned, the discrimination is rooted in the same racial bias. That stores need to tackle shoplifting is clear, but it seems their efforts often lead to racial profiling, which is incredibly disheartening.
I’ve tried discussing this with customer service teams for some well-known supermarket and clothing chains, but nothing has changed. Thankfully, I am doing well for myself and would never consider stealing.
This situation has made me turn to online shopping instead. It’s not just about the discomfort; it’s taken a toll on my mental health, leading to low self-esteem and depression. It’s distressing to realise that people often judge me by my skin colour, and not by the content of my character.
This is a plea to retail establishments to acknowledge their systemic racial bias in their security measures, if present, and work towards eradicating it. Striking a balance between protecting profits and respecting the dignity of all customers, irrespective of their racial or ethnic backgrounds, is paramount. The cost of overlooking this balance is unacceptably high, as evidenced by my experience.
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