Yvette Nicole Brown is tired of white women asking her if she works at Target
Yvette Nicole Brown is expecting more during her shopping trips to Target — and elsewhere in the world.
The Community actress shared with her social media followers that while shopping for Valentine’s Day at Target, she was asked “for the 50th time in my life” by a white woman if she worked there. Brown, who was dressed all in black — not the standard red and khaki Target employee uniform — said she replied that she “was shopping … just like” the woman who asked. She added that it does “bug” her that it continually happens — and noted that it has happened “while I’m wearing a coat and carrying a purse while pushing a cart and … looking at a shopping list.” In the thread, she added: “Happy Black History Month.”
Today, I, dressed in all black, was asked (for the 50th time in my life) if I was working at @Target. I told the 50th white woman to ask me that particular question that people who work at Target wear a red shirt & khaki pants & that I, in all black was shopping…just like her.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
I don’t want to assume anything. Maybe I look like what they assume a target worker looks like. Maybe I just look helpful in general. But it does bug because I have never mistaken anyone who is not a target employee for being a target employee.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
Brown went on to engage with commenters who replied with theories as to why it may have happened.
I wasn’t in electronics.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
I’ve never assumed someone worked somewhere…ever…and I see nice people everywhere I go, especially at target. I think, “aww she’s nice! Now, let me find someone in a red shirt for help.”
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
Yeah, it’s not my vibe, Heather. https://t.co/ETgDKhUBTN
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
Brown made it clear that she views it as a racial issue. “Interestingly, it’s always been by a white woman,” she wrote.
Interestingly, it’s always been by a white woman for me too. We must look like we work @Target to them for some reason. No matter what we’re wearing.
I wonder why?
For clarity’s sake, not all white women. Just the 50. Oh and the few who stepped to Rhia. Not all. Just them. https://t.co/UGgiW9bXbc
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
In another post, she wrote, “This has happened my whole life. … I’m black in America. That is the reason this happens.” She added, “Ask any black person. It has happened to us all…repeatedly. This is not in our heads.”
This has happened my whole life. It has nothing to do with what I do for a living, Miriam. I’m black in America. That is the reason this happens. Ask any black person. It has happened to us all…repeatedly. This is not in our heads.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
Brown went on to say it’s not that she thinks the white women are racist, but she theorized that it may be evidence of white privilege.
Meaning, I’m not saying white women think I work places I obviously don’t because they’re racist. Maybe it’s only been white women who’ve asked me that because white women just assume everybody works for them or will…
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
It has been said that white women are historically the most respected & protected women in America. If that is true, they are just expecting the treatment they are historically used to…from everybody. It’s not sinister just historical. Good for them, I guess. It is a privilege.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
She also made it clear that she meant no disrespect to people who work at Target.
For clarity’s sake, no shade or disparagement to @Target workers is implied. They rock!
I’m just saying: they also rock red shirts and khaki pants.
Always that.
It’s like, their uniform.
Y’know, so those who need help can easily find a Target employee.
This isn’t hard.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
Brown replied to and retweeted similar encounters that her fans shared.
The struggle is real.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
This has happened to me so many times at Target, while not wearing an inch of red. One time a woman followed me around the store trying to get me to help her. I don't get it.
— T'Nisha (@NishaPeesha) February 15, 2019
She also urged her followers to “believe black folks when we say something is happening.”
It didn’t read like that. I just wish folks would believe black folks when we say something is happening. We are not making up these shared experiences.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
In one of her final posts on the topic, she wrote, “#ShoppingWhileBlack is exhausting. But so is #DrivingWhileBlack #BBQingWhileBlack #SellingWaterWhileBlack #CarryingSkittlesOrAPhoneWhileBlack and so on and so on….”
If that’s the case, you are in the minority. I understand his frustration. #ShoppingWhileBlack is exhausting. But so is #DrivingWhileBlack #BBQingWhileBlack #SellingWaterWhileBlack #CarryingSkittlesOrAPhoneWhileBlack and so on and so on…
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 15, 2019
Brown, who has an extensive voice acting career in addition to her onscreen roles, will soon be seen in the upcoming Disney live-action remake of Lady and the Tramp.
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