I’m a white guy from a fairly non-diverse city. I was at a grocery store today where a cashier opened up their line to serve me and, I thought, the person behind me. As they were serving me, though, they put up their lane closed sign right in front of the black man behind me. The buy was just trying to purchase some tuna, bread, and peanut butter.
The cashier basically decided to serve me, a middle class white man, but refused to serve the black man behind me. I was so shocked that I didn’t say anything. It is possible that I misunderstood the situation but it seemed so blatant.
What should I have done in this situation? Should I have spoken up? Would that have just been more embarrassing for the man who was being discriminated against?
Honestly, I’m still just in shock to see someone treated so poorly when they were simply trying to buy food for themselves. I recognize that means that I’m sheltered but I also feel like I should be able to use my unearned privilege to help others who are being discriminated against.
In situations like this it’s not even clear if it is racism. There are a million other reasons why the cashier could have done that. Don’t just automatically jump to racism as a first conclusion any time a person of color is slighted.
If it were overt, and you are the type of person who would speak up for yourself, and the victim looks like they even want interference from a third party, then absolutely speak up. But don’t go jumping into other people’s business when there’s a chance your interference is going to be another thing they have to deal with that they didn’t want to deal with. If they live in racist areas, then racism is something that members of whatever race is discriminated against deals with on a regular basis. They’re going to pick and choose their own battles.
You can show support without starting a conflict about racism.
Offering to let the man go in front shows support if it is racism, and doesn’t accuse anyone or start a conflict if it isn’t. Same asking the cashier “oh, why you helping only me?”