Just in case we need reminders that too many people share the bias linking all black people with criminality, New York newspapers over the last two weeks were filled with stories of Black and Latino shoppers who were questioned and detained for suspicion of shoplifting solely because they had the audacity to purchase expensive items of clothing at exclusive clothing stores or to attempt to shop or return items at department stores. Prompted by these complaints, the New York State Attorney General has initiated investigations into practices by Barneys and Macys. It is sad that there continues to be a need for such an investigation in 2013. It is particularly sobering that the need continues despite the fact that the Attorney Generals office had previously investigated and entered into a settlement agreement with Macys after charges that the store investigated and detained, often in handcuffs, people of color shopping in the store. In that 2005 agreement, Macys paid $600,000 to the state and agreed to change its security training and monitoring practices. Recent complaints, though, raise the question of whether those steps were enough.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 20:40:45 +0000
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