I am an African American woman who has lived in South Africa since 1995. On Nov. 24, I went to the Adams Discount Centre in Fourways, Johannesburg. I wanted to purchase a waffle iron. I was shown two display options and indicated which one I wanted to buy. Unfortunately, the store did not have any of these waffle irons in stock and the salesperson advised me to take the display item. I told him that I would think about it and then I walked around the shop looking at other items. After a few minutes of thinking and browsing, I decided that I did not want to take the display waffle iron and that there was nothing else that I needed to purchase. So, I proceeded to the door to leave. At this point, a security guard prevented me from leaving and accused me of shoplifting! He grabbed my pocketbook and, when I resisted, he grabbed me roughly by the wrists. I was held in the shop for about 40 minutes as we waited for the police. Unfortunately, the police did not come. I do not. I did not shoplift and my actions in the shop were no different from any other shopper. I was targeted, disrespected, publicly humiliated, man-handled and falsely accused because I am Black.
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