In 2024, it’s disheartening that we still find ourselves talking about racism—a topic that should have been left in the past. But reality proves otherwise, especially when it strikes in the most unexpected and everyday places like coffee shops, restaurants, or grocery stores. You walk in, perhaps in a great mood, ready to enjoy your day, until an interaction leaves you feeling singled out, not because of who you are as a person, but because of how you look.
Recently, I had one of these experiences. After waiting patiently in line, I approached the counter with a smile, ready to place my order. It was a routine moment, just another stop in my day, but things quickly took a turn. The person behind the counter—the one tasked with making the customer experience welcoming and enjoyable—sized me up before I even had the chance to speak. Immediately, I could sense a shift in their demeanor.
Judged by Appearance: More Than Skin Deep
What was it? My skin color? The tattoos on my body? Perhaps both? Something about my appearance triggered an unwelcome response. I knew it wasn’t just my imagination; we’ve all heard the saying that you can “feel” when someone is being genuine or indifferent, and this was one of those moments. The customer before me had been treated with warmth, receiving clear attention and respect. But the second it was my turn, the mood changed drastically.
Suddenly, the person wasn’t making eye contact. They didn’t listen carefully to my order, getting almost everything wrong. I found myself repeating my requests multiple times. By the end of it, when I said my usual “thank you,” I received nothing but a dismissive “yeah.” Not even a glance in my direction. The interaction felt cold and distant. Now, for some, this might just be brushed off as poor service, but for me, it was something deeper. It was racial.
Recognizing Racial Profiling in Customer Service
The painful truth is, you often know when you’re being racially profiled. Whether it’s a gut feeling, the subtle—or sometimes blatant—ways people react to your presence, or the clear contrast in how others are treated compared to you. Racial profiling doesn’t always come in the form of harsh words or outright discrimination. It can be more insidious, manifesting in tone, body language, or lack of attention. And unfortunately, many of us know this feeling all too well.
In this case, the frustration wasn’t just about a wrong order. It was about the complete disregard for my humanity. I didn’t receive the basic courtesy of eye contact. I wasn’t listened to, and I was left feeling dismissed. This person didn’t care to know if I was a nice person or not. They made assumptions based purely on my appearance—assumptions that undoubtedly stemmed from racial biases.
The Bigger Issue: Why Racism Persists in Everyday Interactions
Racism, in any form, is dehumanizing. And what makes it so pervasive is its ability to seep into the most mundane aspects of life. From a simple coffee order to interactions in the workplace, racial bias is an ongoing problem. What makes this even more disheartening is that in situations like these, those of us who experience it often feel powerless. It’s not always easy to confront a situation, especially when it’s subtle and when you’re in the midst of your day.
But let’s address the larger issue at hand: why does racism persist in 2024? The truth is, many people today still hold onto outdated, unfounded prejudices. Whether it’s ignorance, fear, or simply a failure to engage with the world beyond their bubble, racism endures because some refuse to confront their biases. People think they can judge someone based on skin color, tattoos, or appearance without ever taking the time to understand who that person is.
It’s sad that even now, some individuals can’t see past their own insecurities. They don’t realize the importance of empathy or the value in treating every human being with respect, regardless of outward appearance. Instead, they perpetuate these harmful cycles, reinforcing the division that still plagues our society.
The Consequences of Racial Profiling: It’s More Than Just Bad Service
Some might wonder why these interactions matter. After all, it’s just one bad experience in a coffee shop, right? But it’s not just about the moment. These everyday encounters compound over time, creating a sense of alienation, frustration, and, ultimately, resentment. When people are constantly judged, dismissed, or treated differently based on their race or appearance, it affects their sense of belonging in society. It’s a subtle, constant reminder that no matter how far we’ve come, there are still people who refuse to accept that equality should be the norm.
These moments also highlight the emotional toll racism takes. It’s not just the act of being profiled that stings—it’s the knowledge that despite your best efforts to be kind, respectful, and courteous, someone has already made up their mind about you. They’ve already decided that you’re not worth the same attention or care as the next person. And that, in itself, is an incredibly isolating feeling.
Moving Forward: Confronting and Challenging Racial Bias
It’s easy to get angry, to let these experiences fester into bitterness. Trust me, I understand that feeling well. But if we want to see change, we have to start somewhere. Racism won’t end until people acknowledge its existence and commit to challenging their own biases. This includes everyone—from the person behind the counter to the CEOs of major corporations.
As we look at the data, it’s clear that racial bias is still a major factor in hate crimes. According to the FBI’s 2023 data, 52.5% of all hate crimes in the U.S. were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry. This persistent problem highlights how deeply rooted racism still is in everyday society. Despite the progress we claim to have made, the numbers don’t lie.
This chart shows that 52.5% of all hate crimes in the U.S. in 2023 were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias.
If you work in customer service, or if you interact with people regularly in your job, take a moment to reflect on how you treat others. Are you giving each person the same level of respect and attention, or are you making judgments based on appearance? Confronting these questions isn’t easy, but it’s essential if we want to move forward as a society.
For those of us who have experienced this kind of treatment, it’s important to continue speaking up. Share your stories, hold businesses accountable, and demand better. Silence only allows these harmful behaviors to continue unchecked. And while change won’t happen overnight, each step we take toward exposing these issues brings us closer to a more just and equal world.
In conclusion, I hate racism. It’s ugly, it’s unnecessary, and it has no place in today’s world. Yet here we are, still dealing with the same issues that have plagued humanity for centuries. The only way forward is through education, empathy, and, above all, action. Because no one should ever be made to feel less than simply because of the way they look. Learning to unite as one people will, eventually in time, bring about the change we all need.
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What a terrific conversation to host on your post!🙏
Thank you very much, Chuckster! I completely agree—it’s unfortunate that these kinds of conversations are necessary in today’s world. Hopefully, by continuing to bring these issues to light, we can inspire change. I hope you have a great night! 😎
I’m sorry to hear that you were put through this negative experience, and it’s a sad fact that we still live in a world where people sum up others based on appearance. Historically it makes sense, in terms of needing to know if the stranger was friend or foe, in a modern society it’s an unfortunate fact that that still holds good in modern-day society. In your situation though, you weren’t threatening this person in any way, rather their attitude was threatening you. It put me in mind of the scene in ‘Philadelphia’, where Joe is working in a library and gets ‘that look’ from a passing white guy. This person was there to serve you though, and you were entitled to the same respect as other customers, rather than their bad attitude. It’s an unfortunate fact that so many people still hold such attitudes, towards race, colour, race, gender, disability and so forth. I’ve personally experienced attitudes on account of my gender and my age, and I once had to fight the corner of a disabled student with whom I was working. I’m afraid the issue isn’t going away anytime soon, but the enlightened amongst us can only continue to show respect to all and hope to spread the right attitudes through our own positivity. I hope your week improves. 😊
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your own perspective. You’re absolutely right—it’s unfortunate that in today’s world, people still judge others based on appearance. Your comparison to ‘Philadelphia’ really resonates, as that scene perfectly captures how a single look can speak volumes. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve faced prejudice due to your gender and age, and that you had to advocate for a disabled student. It’s disheartening that these attitudes persist across so many aspects of life. Like you said, all we can do is continue to lead by example, treating everyone with respect and kindness in the hope that it will spread. I really appreciate your insight, and I hope the week improves for you as well. 😎
Thank you! I look forward to talking again. Stay safe. 😎
Thank you, the same here. I hope you stay safe as well. 😎
Oddly enough, I never saw color most of my life until the last ten years or so (when it’s become so promoted/talked about).
I remember being the first to befriend the black children who moved into our all white town. I only use the term now because I have no other way to get this point across. And yes, I knew what racism was because our town ran that first black family out and my dad seemed happy about it at the time. I remember telling him he was racist. But I watched Room 222 on TV back then and was very sad when anyone was put down for their skin color. Plus, my mom’s side of the family was Native American and my cousins were darker than me, so my mom and I were sensitive to that.
I have many friends of different backgrounds even now. I hold bo judgment in my heart against anyone who has a different skin tone than me. None. But I do treat people differently based upon how they treat me, and yes, I would like to simply treat them how I want them to treat me.
When I met my husband, he had written a song about “we all bleed the same color,” and I took that on as a saying I agreed with. If I could peel off my skin, I would but I can’t. All I can do is treat people fairly. I know jerks can come in any color and most have been my color (white), that I have encountered in my life. I feel all crimes are hate crimes too.
Oh, I do think reverse racism exists. I went to a black church years ago with a friend and the old black ladies gave me this look like, I don’t know what, but I felt it. It wasn’t good. My friend told me they didn’t mean anything by giving me a sour look, but yeah, I didn’t feel welcome at all. I was sad about that for years and didn’t feel it too Christian of them. I still love their choir music more than any other. It’s one reason why The Ladykillers is one of our favorite movies.
Hi. Your experience in the church reminded me of the scene in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, where Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church. A woman challenges her, asking why she’s ‘bringing white children to black church’. ‘It’s the same God, ain’t it?’ is Cal’s response: and that’s the point, ain’t it? Have a good week. 😊
Exactly, Laura. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective too!
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Sheila! It’s really interesting how your perspective has evolved over time, and I appreciate your honesty. It sounds like you’ve consistently sought to treat people with fairness, regardless of skin color, which is truly admirable. I think many can relate to that journey of understanding race and racism on a deeper level as we encounter different life experiences. Your point about judging others by their actions, not their appearance, is something I completely agree with. Unfortunately, I too believe that racism exists in all races. The person I was talking about in the article was a young lady, and to me, that’s especially sad. It’s unfortunate that you had those negative experiences, but it’s clear they didn’t shake your core beliefs in kindness and equality. Thanks again for sharing such a personal story. 😎
Right, John. My core belief is still about fairness. I know a bullet doesn’t know color and it’s as possible for me to be shot by a white person as a black (probably more so)! I have fantastic, hard working black and Asian friends. Most have never experienced hatred based on their race, thankfully!
Oh, and I wanted to say, after reading my first comment again that I never saw color until it was pointed out to me. So, racism is definitely ‘learned.’
I completely agree that fairness is key, and it’s important to recognize that we all have the potential to face hardships, regardless of race or background. It’s great to hear that your friends haven’t experienced racial hatred—something that should be the norm for everyone. Racism, like you said, is indeed learned, and unlearning it requires that we remain open to understanding and treating each other as individuals, rather than through the lens of preconceived notions. I appreciate your input! Thank you very much, Sheila! 😎