Customers Are Outraged After This Racial Slur Was Seen at a Michaels Craft Store
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Craft store Michaels found itself in hot water today after New York Daily News writer Shaun King reposted a horrifying customer experience. An Indiana customer and her 12-year-old daughter stumbled upon a display of decorative letters that had been arranged to spell out a racial slur.
Dear @MichaelsStores, This is not ok. What's your response? pic.twitter.com/wMLhlyszeU
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) January 24, 2016
Michaels Stores (@MichaelsStores) was quick to respond to King.
While some were thankful for the prompt response from Michaels Stores, others planned to boycott the store for the mishap and called for more definitive action.
@MichaelsStores @ShaunKing I will never spend a penny in their store until that associate is FIRED! #notolerance
— DJ (@ms_leney) January 24, 2016
Unfortunately, retail discrimination like this is not a new concept. While it's uncommon to see derogatory language literally spelled out at stores, racial discrimination while shopping is, sadly, not unusual. Recently, luxury store Barneys settled a discrimination lawsuit after a black man sued the retailer for being handcuffed and detained after purchasing a $349 designer belt. Even Oprah Winfrey revealed she was racially profiled, when a Swiss clerk did not believe she could afford a $38,000 handbag. Stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Zara and Alexander McQueen have all endured lawsuits as a result of discrimination.
Related: NBA Player John Henson Is Claiming Racial Discrimination Against a Jewelry Shop
While some businesses clean up their act, enact sensitivity training for employees, or make public apologies like Michaels; others are less noble. The attorneys involved in a recent employment discrimination case against Alexander McQueen told Women's Wear Daily that, "since 2013 the Alexander McQueen and Kering (the owners of Alexander McQueen) organizations have been on notice of racial discrimination claims but apparently have done very little if anything to fix the problem. The mistreatment of our clients shows that they have failed in this endeavor."
In cases of retail discrimination, apologies are appreciated, action is expected.