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.

  • Dasus@lemmy.world
    0·
    3 months ago

    If he’d been called away he’d have said something.

    I’ve had registers close before me all the time and the cashiers don’t start profoundly explaining why. And I’m pretty sure they weren’t being racist towards me.

    Have you ever worked at a grocery store?

    • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
      0·
      3 months ago

      Yes, as a teenager. There’s a big difference between closing a lane to further customers and walking away from someone who’s already in line, and I do not believe you’re too stupid or ignorant to know the difference.

      • Dasus@lemmy.world
        0·
        3 months ago

        Okay, so worked at a grocery store, but not a supermarket, I take it.

        In a supermarket, the first register for instance is always closed while there are people in line, because the worker wouldn’t get a break otherwise, as it’s the first register and people tend towards it of there’s not much line.

        There’s literally nothing suggesting racism in what happened.