Today I went to my favorite store, Almacenes Unidos to buy a vegetable spiral cutter and some other things.
I grab a basket and started looking for the item.
You would think it would be in the section with other kitchen items, but after a few mins of going up and down rows I asked a store worker where can I find the item. He told me on the second floor, uhhh?? Yes they have two floors of kitchen items. Once on the second floor I find the item is out of stock and the only other one is $RD2500 pesos. Well I will be cutting with the julienne cutting for 100 pesos.
I go back down to the first floor to buy some produce. I notice a security worker is following behind me. At first I think nothing of it because, Hey I'm in the DR a land of brown people, that type of thing only happens in US stores. But when I make a turn down a row he keeps flowing me, then down another row.
After a few mins of this I become perturbed and I stop to let the security guy pass me then I follow him. I only do it for a few feet because I think this is silly and I have to finish my shopping. I do give him the side eye. JAJAJ
On my way back home I think, WOW I was just profiled in DR. What was it about me that made the security guy feel I was a thief? I'm a middle age black american. What profile do I fit?
Then I started to laugh because I came to the conclusion the security guard thought I was Dominican and I was wearing shorts and a Baseball jersey, the profile of ladrones.
One of the reason I felt this was while in the store there was a promotion for some juice and I passed the lady giving out samples but I told her no gracias. Later I was approached by another lady asking me to try the item. She was speaking fast so I told her sorry I don't speak spanish. She gave me the Scobby-Doo look and asked, "You're not Dominican"? I just smiled and told her I get it all the time.
Still I found it funny but sad that in that part of town (Bella Vista), brown skin Dominicans wearing shorts will be profiled in stores. I guess if you a have a darker complexion you better wear long pants. Only ladrones and uncouth people dress this way. JAJA
I grab a basket and started looking for the item.
You would think it would be in the section with other kitchen items, but after a few mins of going up and down rows I asked a store worker where can I find the item. He told me on the second floor, uhhh?? Yes they have two floors of kitchen items. Once on the second floor I find the item is out of stock and the only other one is $RD2500 pesos. Well I will be cutting with the julienne cutting for 100 pesos.
I go back down to the first floor to buy some produce. I notice a security worker is following behind me. At first I think nothing of it because, Hey I'm in the DR a land of brown people, that type of thing only happens in US stores. But when I make a turn down a row he keeps flowing me, then down another row.
After a few mins of this I become perturbed and I stop to let the security guy pass me then I follow him. I only do it for a few feet because I think this is silly and I have to finish my shopping. I do give him the side eye. JAJAJ
On my way back home I think, WOW I was just profiled in DR. What was it about me that made the security guy feel I was a thief? I'm a middle age black american. What profile do I fit?
Then I started to laugh because I came to the conclusion the security guard thought I was Dominican and I was wearing shorts and a Baseball jersey, the profile of ladrones.
One of the reason I felt this was while in the store there was a promotion for some juice and I passed the lady giving out samples but I told her no gracias. Later I was approached by another lady asking me to try the item. She was speaking fast so I told her sorry I don't speak spanish. She gave me the Scobby-Doo look and asked, "You're not Dominican"? I just smiled and told her I get it all the time.
Still I found it funny but sad that in that part of town (Bella Vista), brown skin Dominicans wearing shorts will be profiled in stores. I guess if you a have a darker complexion you better wear long pants. Only ladrones and uncouth people dress this way. JAJA