Last updated 5 days ago? How did that happen?

[rivka]

Right now we're in Elmira, New York, surrounded by a great abundance of Walds and Thatchers. A few years ago, my parents sold the house I grew up in, which was an enormous Victorian of stately dimensions which never, ever felt crowded even with kids and foster kids and in-laws and niblings. It was a wise decision for people with only one child at home, but it does make the holidays a bit cramped. At least Misha and I were the first ones here, which means that we got to claim the guest bedroom with the door that shuts. Even if everyone else in the family does tramp through to check their e-mail every five minutes.

My sister Juanita came home upset from work last night. She's been working at Sears for over a year, and last night (the Saturday before Christmas!) they had her working the Junior department all by herself. Someone came in who she knows slightly - she's seen her around, but doesn't even know her last name. She let this girl into a dressing room and went back to her counter... and a little while later security called her into the back room. The girl had shoplifted some clothes, and they thought Juanita had helped her. They showed her the security video and lectured her on how "bad" it looked that she had spoken to this girl. "You're one of our best employees, so just tell us who she was." They insisted that she could identify the shoplifter, that she was helping her steal, that she was going to be in a lot of trouble if she didn't tell what she knew.

Juanita's black. The girl who shoplifted was black. And so, apparently, they must have been conspiring. And the security guards felt free to try to intimidate her, and her supervisor sat right there and watched it happen. Now she wants to quit - can you blame her? - but they'll take that as an admission of guilt.

She had to go right back in this morning. We're waiting for her to come home and tell us how it went. Misha encouraged her to stand firm and not put up with any more intimidation - and to threaten to call a lawyer if they don't back off. But that's a lot of poise to expect from a young 19 year old who is utterly freaked out and humiliated.

I am so disgusted. Merry Christmas, Juanita, and thank you for your year of excellent service to our store.

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Oh, jeez, does that ever suck. Can hardly blame her for wanting to quit. Has she thought about mentioning to them just how racist it looks for them to assume she's involved? That should shut them up.

-J

grrrrr

[saoba.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that bites. Would Juanita like the Raven Haired Temptress to come up there and help kick someone's butt up over their ears? Give her my best
wishes and tell the rest of your lovely family hello from Mikhail and me.

Saoba

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I've heard people say—recently—that racism is a thing of the past, and that now it's only "perceived."

I think the chance this would have happened to Juanita were she white is tiny.

I wish there were something I could do to help. Let me know if something arises, okay?

Yipe

[ororo.livejournal.com]

*hugs* and happy holiday wishes to y'all.

What happened to Juanita reminds me of something that happened to one of my college roommates. E. was working at a clothing store and there had been some shoplifting incidents. No cameras, they brought in a polygraph and tested everyone. E. was offended, took the test, passed it, then quit.

I hope Juanita can stay strong in the face of intimidation.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Aww, that _sucks_! What century is this again? Grrr... More power to Juanita... let her know that people all round the world are supporting her.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this will help, but let Juanita know this:

Most store dicks, er, I mean, detectives, and why was that particular piece of slang close to the front of my mind, are helpless unless/until someone admits to wrongdoing. They're trained to push for confessions.

They have nothing.

It might help to have your parents mention that they're more than willing to bring legal action against the store if their daughter is "harassed further".

(as in: "you've already been harassing her; that will stop, or else".)

If the security folks push, someone may have to push back, hard. The kind of asshole who decides guilt in the absence of evidence *HATES* to be wrong, and will make up evidence, if necessary.

Good thoughts being sent, darling, and I hope Juanita is doing okay.

John, who can't help but feel like kicking the ass of certain store security guards.