Most black folk can tell you about their most memorable shopping experience -and I’m not talking about that fly pair of boots they purchased or how much they paid for it – but how they were treated from the moment they set foot inside the store. We are watched with hawk-like eyes by store clerks, yet ignored as if we don’t even exist when looking for assistance. Our money isn’t the same, even if we have plenty of it.
Look at what just happened with Trayon Christion at Barneys New York. He purchased a $350 Salvatore Ferrago belt with his hard-earned money, but was arrested by undercover cops. He was told black people don’t have that kind of money and that he was part of some sort of credit card scam — even after he produced the receipt for the merchandise and his ID.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new under the sun and celebs’ superstar status doesn’t make them immune to racial discrimination. Here’s a look at celebs who’ve been racially profiled while shopping, as well as those who were stopped just for being black period.
Tyler Perry
After being pulled over for making an illegal left turn, Perry says police officers roughed him up. He says he only made that turn because he was being followed. Perry complained about his experience on his Facebook page. Thank goodness he wasn’t his gun wielding, alter ego Madea, because that situation would have gone from bad to worse real quick.
