The recent case of a black youth who was detained outside Barneys for purchasing an expensive belt troubles me.
If you are not familiar with the case, a store clerk reported to the police that a youth who purchased a $350 belt was suspicious because the store clerk questioned the authenticity of his debit card. This youth had saved up money to buy the belt of his dreams, yet his dream quickly became a nightmare after he was approached by police authorities and detained.
There was also another case of a black women questioned for her purchase at Barneys.
Barneys posted this statement on the company’s Facebook page in regards to the incident: “Barneys New York typically does not comment on pending litigation. In this instance, we feel compelled to note that after carefully reviewing the incident of last April, it is clear that no employee of Barneys New York was involved in the pursuit of any action with the individual for any form of discrimination and we stand by our long history in support of all human rights.”
In my perspective, there is a deeper issue at large here. It is as though there is an expectation for black failure.
The store clerk assumed that this youth could not afford this belt because he looked suspicious, which is a cop out mechanism to deny this person’s racism. In this case, the store clerk’s deeply rooted prejudice created an assumption that he was poor.
Does this mean that the notion of a successful black youth is a farfetched idea? Does his success somehow threaten the store clerk’s expectation of his ill perceived failure?
I argue that black success is a threat to the privileged.
Look at another case: When Oprah Winfrey was shopping abroad a store clerk also assumed that she could not afford the merchandise. American sociologists coined the term “shopping while black” to explain the struggles of black people when they enter a store. When I worked in retail the summer after my freshman year, I was even told by the managers to take notice of suspicious “thug” looking individuals. In Oprah’s case however, shopping while black proves that this terms extends internationally. One of the wealthiest women in the world was assumed to be poor because of the color of her skin.
Statistically, blacks in the United States are disproportionately affected by poverty. However, it is almost as if it is inconceivable to believe that black people can overcome these obstacles. The store clerk’s questioning the authenticity of this youth and Oprah may prove societies attitude to stymie the black community.
When our Commander-in-Chief ran for president, Republicans made it a point to find a reason to disqualify his presidency; this was rooted on his background as a biracial man. They might have been thinking, how is it possible that a biracial or presumably a black man can rise above and run this country? Perhaps they wanted to hinder his progress, just as in the other cases, because by doing so, it may put us back into “our place” as an oppressed community.
Here’s the thing: People tend to poke fun at me when I say “check your privilege.” There will always be the naysayer in the group that will come up with any excuse to deny the racial undertones in these cases. By refusing to acknowledge the truth of the racism behind these cases, they — privileged individuals — will then have to recognize that they probably will never be arrested because of the color of their skin.
So I will say this one more time: “check your privilege.”
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
