5 reviews for Hot Topic are not recommended

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Erica G.

New York

1 review

1 helpful vote

Racism and discrimination

July 21, 2019

I went into Hot Topic on July 20,2019 at the mall in Destiny USA Syracuse NY. An employee came from the other side of the store really fast saying "hi, how are you doing? Need help with anything?" Your employee needs to give people some time to enter into the store to look around before they are in your face. I saw first when she/he did that to my children and my husband. It got worse when this person not sure if it was a he or she, saw me, that person came even faster to the other side of me, saying can I help you with anything today. I said I was with the people that "you were talking to before."
I was so annoyed and angry that I don't get time to be in the store without feeling harassed. On top of me and my family following us through out the store. More me than anything else. The store was a bit crowded and I know they have to watch the customers in the store. But it was only my family and I that was followed through out the store more than anything. Not the white customers that was at the store. I have three children that love anime and my middle child was looking at a headband and I took it off him. "I said no your not getting that. You don't need it." As I put it down that employee is right behind me saying let me get for you, I'll just put that away.
Now we are walking to the middle of the store and this employee assisted in following us once again. There's other people to follow but this person felt it was better to follow us. Popping up where ever we were watching everything we would do. I told my children "put the stuff down and let's go, I'm getting tired of being followed through this store." As I said all of that, that same the employee plays it off and says awe your children are so cute and funny. At this point I'm very angry and I don't acknowledge this employee, I just turn around took my sons and walk towards my husband and my daughter. I said let's go we are being followed. Now mind you there's other customers that can easily steal but instead my family and I get followed through out the store. As we are leaving the store I see the same employee following back towards the front of the store.
I had enough this month alone being discriminated against in different stores where my family and I go. This is the third store I have reported. These other stores were not hot topic but still the same thing being judged for being black and/or brown. I had enough and I'm not going to let this go anymore. I know this person is not going to get fired, just like the other stores that didn't fire the racist employees they have. But I'm not going to stay silent anymore.
This why I stay home because I'm tired of dealing with people who like to discriminate against people like my family and I all because we look different from them and think that my people are the only people that steal. When white customers are bigger thief because no one judges them or follows them throughout the store.
I'm posting anywhere I can so people can know what to expect when your shopping while brown and black in America.

Date of experience: July 21, 2019