Suniray B.

I have never experienced racial profiling in my entire life until today. I am a very distinguished member of society, a public servant, a Woman of God and I carry myself accordingly. Today while shopping in this store I was followed by the Assistant Manager Sean and his one Associate. The Assistant Manager followed me from aisle to aisle asking if I needed help more than a couple times within a 10-15 min time span, disregarding my reply of "No Thank you". When I stopped in an aisle to try on a shoe, I would find him at the corner of that said aisle starring at me and then walking away once detected stalking. Upon eye contact he began circling around me again passing my aisle on both ends. When I confronted him, asking him if there was a problem I was told that this is the way that Famous Footwear provides Costumer Service. I have been to several of these stores and never experienced anything like this before.

I told him that I felt harassed and uncomfortable with him following me and standing in the aisles starring at me. He then told me that if I had a problem with it that I could leave. Afterwards, he walked away and sent his female associate to stand in the aisle and watch me. She pretended to be straightening out the boxes, making sure they were all perfectly symmetrical. I then asked the woman if he had sent her and she replied saying that she was just doing her job. She then walked to the end of the aisle and looked at him with shrugged shoulders and big eyes, a look of confusion, as if she had know idea what he wanted her to do.

I was the only black woman in the store and the only one being followed, regardless of the fact that there were almost 10 other costumers there. When I asked for the corporate number to report the harassment I was given the wrong number. The Assistant Manager was very brute with me and threatened to kick me out of the store if I had a problem with being followed. I was profiled from the moment I walked into the store as a black woman with a bag who might steal something and treated as such. This grand display of racism is unacceptable. I can't feel free to walk around this store and shop without being followed and watched? Are no colored people allowed in Famous Footwear of Anchorage? It saddens my heart to know that this mans heart is filled with hate and prejudice, but it is also a wake up call and a reminder that we must stand up against the double standard of morals and for the repeal of those depriving human beings of their privileges and rights. I felt extremely violated today as human being, as a member of this community, and as a woman.