Posted on 03/08/2021 3:48:50 AM PST by real saxophonist
‘I won’t go back’: New Walmart checkout policy called racially biased
by: Aimee Lewis
Updated: Mar 7, 2021
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (KDVR) — A new checkout policy at the Walmart in Centennial is under scrutiny for its security measures around beauty products for people of color.
The allegations of racial bias come almost a year after Walmart changed is practice on locking up beauty products for people of color at its stores.
“I honestly will probably not go back there again because of how I felt,” said Rachel from Aurora, who visited the Walmart store around 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Rachel was purchasing shampoo in the beauty products for people of color aisle when allegedly stopped by a clerk who told her she needed to pay for the bottle at a special register near the back of the store before she could continue shopping in other parts of the Walmart store.
“I asked the sales associate, if I am purchasing Caucasian products do I need to do the same thing? She said no you can walk around the store with those products,” Rachel told the Problem Solvers. “I told her I had more shopping to do, she said it didn’t matter I still needed to pay for it back there.”
There’s also clearly more surveillance around that particular aisle. There are three cameras over the beauty products for people of color aisle and only one over the other shampoos and conditioners.
“Honestly, I was shocked, because this is 2021, racism and discrimination are still happening,” said Rachel. “It’s either one or the other. You monitor all haircare products, or you don’t. It’s not okay to point out one group.”
A Walmart spokesperson responded to the alleged incident saying:
“We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at Walmart. We serve millions of customers weekly, crossing all demographics, and are focused on meeting their needs while providing the best shopping experience at each store.Like other retailers, we have policies in place that allow security for some items, such as cosmetics and other personal care products. In the case of this store, the entire section of products is under additional monitoring. However, we do not want those policies to create an unfriendly shopping environment for any individual customer. The goal is to keep the products our customers want in stock while providing a convenient and friendly shopping experience. We have followed up with the store to ensure those policies will be followed properly in the future, and to provide a welcoming environment for our customers.”
Rachel hopes to hear a personal apology from Walmart after calling its corporate stores but hasn’t yet heard back.
“The more we speak out about it and just let other people know what’s happening, maybe they will change the division and discrimination we have in the country right now,” said Rachel.
“I am hoping to hear an apology, I’m hoping to hear they will change this policy immediately, that’s what I’m hoping to hear.”
I don’t know about you, but I, as a white male, cannot make it through the week without my Afro-Sheen.
So Racist computers are the problem.
White people did invent them.
I would be so insulted, I would move back to Africa.
“Facts and statistics are racist, don’tcha know?”
Yeah, especially when it comes for the beauty products for people of color located in the beauty products for people of color aisle.
Separate but equal? Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark 1896 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. As a result, restrictive Jim Crow legislation and separate public accommodations based on race became commonplace. It was reversed in 1954. So we haven’t had a separate but equal status for over 65 years. Therefore, why is there a people of color aisle at all? And if one is needed, why isn’t there a Caucasian aisle next to it determined that way. Isn’t the action of using racial actions to sell products just as racial as anything else no matter which way it leans?
wy69
There is a rest home a couple miles away from the Food Lion. It was actually a COVID dumpster last march.
Well, no.... doesn’t mean we can’t, though!
yeah, it’s added into the products you purchase. someone has to subsidize it.
Try to buy an iphone without paying for it at “a register in back”..... black or white.
You are correct. The tags, cameras, special clerks, etc cost money.
They only go to that expense to save the greater expense of theft.
It’s all done by computer.
Tools, some parts, and some toys have the same issue.
My local Walmart here in eastern Washington has been doing this for about the last 3 years.
We have about a 70+ % local Hispanic population and so most of their employees were Hispanic. During the early 2000’s that store was the #1 employee theft store in the nation. They would hold down the price check button and scan items and load up shopping carts full of everything. It nearly wiped them out.
If you walk in to the store you think you are in Tijuana. and the place is filthy.
I am sorry.
In Woke Amerika, Logic is no longer allowed, let alone empirical reasoning!
Maybe she should consider that products were available for her to purchase, thanks to this policy.
Our Walmart is an equal-opportunity locker-up of all beauty products for all skin tones. It’s a pain in the keister, so I go to the drug store instead.
I’m seeing that more and more in my area for small items that are easy to enclose; many people from neighboring Newark shop here because you can’t operate stores there.
“I asked the sales associate, if I am purchasing Caucasian products do I need to do the same thing? She said no you can walk around the store with those products,” Rachel told the Problem Solvers. “I told her I had more shopping to do, she said it didn’t matter I still needed to pay for it back there.”
There’s also clearly more surveillance around that particular aisle. There are three cameras over the beauty products for people of color aisle and only one over the other shampoos and conditioners.
“Honestly, I was shocked, because this is 2021, racism and discrimination are still happening,” said Rachel. “It’s either one or the other. You monitor all haircare products, or you don’t. It’s not okay to point out one group.”
Because it nothing in that account said she was being discriminated against by race. The discrimination was based upon products purchased, and presumably applies to anyone purchasing that product regardless of their race.
If the data say blacks steal substantially more hair products than non bkacks, it is not a stereotype, it is a trend.
If the data say these hair products are stolen substantially more than others, it is not a stereotype, it is a trend.
The 4th and 5th Amendments have nothing to do with whether or not the store can stop you. Any rights there are based on state or local law.
are lipsticks and makeup different for black people?
>>If the data say these hair products are stolen substantially more than others, it is not a stereotype, it is a trend.<<
I stand properly corrected. When using my tablet I skip words sometimes. Sadly they can be the important ones like “PRODUCTS.”
:)
So a city or state law can override the Fourth and Fifth Amendment?
So a city or state law can override the Fourth and Fifth Amendment?
Be applicable in cases where those Amendments aren’t? Absolutely.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.