To think it's because I'm black?

[notamumsymum]

Walked to co op this morning as OH has taken my car today. So me DD and DS went to pick up some fruit & veg for today.
I don't normally shop at co op I normally go to Asda or Tesco sometimes M&S.

Anyhow one of the staff in there followed me around the whole time then proceeded to wait for me at the door. I was so frustrated at this point I said I'm not stealing anything! She said well we have to be sure. Then I thought let me go back in and see if she is still waiting by the door and shock she was gone.

Aibu and just paranoid? Or am I allowed to be this angry!

Theres no way of knowing if it's race related. But that aside, you are right to complain if it made you uncomfortable. No one should be made to feel like a criminal when they've done nothing wrong.
I'm white and I've had this in M&S when I was pregnant, I walked out in the end and they lost a big sale, and more recently in Morrisons with my husband.

This sounds awful I don't know if it is a racist thing or not though. But very bad customer service either way, people should feel like they are being followed.

I stopped shopping in the co-op because I got followed everytime I went in. I wonder if it is a co-op thing.

STOP USING THE RACIST CARD

The ignorance is high in this one.

People will stop using the racist ‘card’ when other people stop being racist.

@Janey0808 you really have no clue do you!

Yes. I think it was, but dh got pulled over for the highly suspicious act of driving his new car into the city last week.. It used to happen a lot when he was younger. Tiresome. Try to remember it’s not everyone.

I'm sorry OP.

It may have had a racial element to it, but by far the worst thing to come of it are some of the comments above.

@Janey0808 I hate when people bring race into it.

Jesus Christ, this again?

I'd definitely complain! My boss (Caribbean) took her elderly father shopping and he has poor eyesight, so they took an awful long time around the shop. All through this, the security guard kept following them and eyeing them up suspiciously. She emailed the store and explained what had happened and they said they couldn't comment as she should have said something at the time! Ignore the white privilege people on here (and I say that as white person), I would hedge my bets it was racism.

I don’t know, maybe.

But I’m a white woman and have been followed around shops before

So bored beyond belief of racism coming in to everything and people getting defensive.
So have you EVER been pulled over for driving to work @Janey0808 ?

FFS there's a lot of wilful ignorance on this thread. People cannot actually be saying they don't believe that people from ethnic minorities are more targeted than white people?!

Janey, your comments are particularly vile.

I'd love to think that you were just selected at random to be followed & watched. Sadly, I suspect it had more to do with your skin colour than random chance.
I wish this didn't still happen in this country. I'm sorry this happened to you today.

People will stop using the racist ‘card’ when other people stop being racist.

Well put, Earlywalker!

at posters who think it's beyond the realm of possibility that a security guard could show racial bias. for OP, I'm white and have never been followed in a shop that I know of, it is everyday struggles like this that I wouldn't even think of a black person having to contend with and that I suppose is the definition of white privilege.

That sounds really iffy to me OP and I would be inclined to complain.

Complain. Ask them what their policy is for their security guards. I am sure they are not meant to make customers feel uncomfortable.

I am white. I do an early morning walk and then go on to do my shopping, in track bottoms and sweaty face with no make up. Invariably I am aware of being watched, particularly at self checkouts. If I go in dressed in normal attire there isn't the same scrutiny.

I think they do have profiles (either corporate or personal ones based on prejudice) and your colour probably did make you a target.

God you poor thing Op. how awful and humiliating. I would complain to head office

Oh @Janey0808 you really are a fud!

You are not wrong OP. I am white and so am in the very privileged postition of never having had your experience but have seen this sort of thing over and over again when out with friends of colour. I first watched it happen in about 1977 and it makes me so angry that it is still happening now.

It might be a co-op thing. I'm white and I've been followed around in co-op a few times.

I tend to break the tension by asking where something is. Usually ask for something like the quinoa or smoked salmon in my poshest voice! although my DH thinks it would be funnier if I asked for extra large condoms or haemorrhoid cream!

I'm white BTW and never been followed around a shop. Except when I had a black partner, who got followed round shops, stopped by the police for no reason etc.

Wow Janet080 bored of racism!?

Only someone with sheer ignorance and to not have experienced racism would say this!

Considering the OP is black and with the history of racism, how is it unreasonable to come to that conclusion?

I have tweeted them so let's see what they have to say. Would love for them to have a look at the cctv.