Kansas City Councilwoman Melissa Robinson alleges that she has the most “humiliating experience” after being racially profiled by a white employee while shopping at a Walmart over the holidays.
The incident allegedly happened at Walmart on U.S. Highway 40 in Kansas City. Robinson, who represents the 3rd District, said when she went to the self-checkout, a white employee asked her about an $8 throw blanket that she was in the process of purchasing for her grandmother, according to The Kansas City Star. The employee allegedly went on to tell Robinson that she would need to verify the price, which Robinson took as an implication that the employee was accusing her of altering the tag to avoid paying the full cost.
The incident evoked painful memories for Robinson, of times when Black people weren’t permitted to shop in the same stores as whites. Robinson said she decided to speak up about the potentially damaging and racist message that the store employee sent her way.
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In an interview with The Kansas City Star, Robinson questioned the employee’s motive for stopping her purchase.
“Never have I been in Walmart and went through a line and they said when it rung up, ‘Let me price check that before I let you go,’” Robinson told the paper.
On Twitter, she further added that it boiled down to “Black people being targeted and treated like thieves.”
“Very disappointed #WalmartBecky would not let me leave until she found my items to price match. You can keep it!” Robinson tweeted.
Racism: Black people being targeted and treated like thieves @Walmart self-check out #JimCrow Perhaps blatant white-only signs are making a comeback. Very disappointed #WalmartBecky would not let me leave until she found my items to price match. You can keep it!
— Melissa Robinson (@Robinson4kc) December 29, 2019
In a statement, Walmart said it was investigating the situation and does not “tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
“We take these allegations seriously and are looking into this matter,” the statement said, according to The Kansas City Star. “We value our customers and want everyone to be treated with respect while shopping in our stores.”
Robinson informed the white employee, who went to price check the item, that she felt like she was being discriminated against because of her race. “I’m not a thief, so I need you to figure out how to take this off because I’m not paying for this,” Robinson told the newspaper of her response to the white employee.
Robinson said she also spoke with a Black female manager, who apologized and referred her to a corporate hotline, which instructed her on how to file an ethics complaint.
She says that the white employee became defensive and never apologized. In fact, the clerk is said to have used the defense that since she has biracial grandchildren, she couldn’t possibly be guilty of racial profiling anyone.
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“It was a bit of a scene,” Robinson added to the newspaper.
In the end, it looks like Walmart may have lost a customer. Robinson contends she will not shop at that location again, which may be especially difficult since it’s the only location in the area.
Grio fam, do you feel like the Councilwoman was right in her ire or overly sensitive to a possibly overly helpful employee? Tell us your thoughts below.
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