Retail Racism

Michelle Dunlap, Ph.D., is an educator, diversity consultant, and speaker. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She is Emeritus Professor of Human Development, Connecticut College, having taught there for 28 years, 1994-2022. She is author or co-editor of 50 journal articles, books, chapters, and essays on the topics of cultural competency; racial identity development; provider engagement with children and families; service learning and community engagement; and adolescent and early adulthood development. She has been invited to travel throughout the United States and to Europe to present her work. She has won local, state, and national awards for her community-engaged work, and has consulted for corporations, universities, schools, social service and community agencies, and healthcare providers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



DEDICATION

PREFACE

(INTRODUCTION)

PART 1: MONITORING

Poem 1: Alfreda Recalls Marshall Fields, by Tara Betts



(INTRODUCTION)

MISPERCEIVED: “Oh Reverend, I’m So Sorry” (Alton’s story)



MISTRUSTED: “So I’m a Suspect, and It Makes Me Feel Terrible” (Balbira’s story)



MORTIFIED: “My Sense of Gravity Knows Where Your Center of Gravity Is” (Chad’s story)



MANAGED: “Fried Chicken!” (Dana’s story)



MISTOOK: “I Was Hoping to Live Long Enough to See Major Changes on Earth” (Eleanor’s story)



Monitoring: Things that Part 1’s Monitoring Can Teach Consumers and Marketers

Monitoring: Reflection Questions & Related Readings

PART 2: INEQUITIES



Poem 2: Internal Dialogue, by Micah E. Lubensky



Poem 3: “Two Friends”, by Lisa Mallory

(INTRODUCTION)

INDICTED: “It’s Not For Sale” (Graham’s story)



INTIMIDATED: “It’s Really Painful for a Kid” (Janisha’s story)

INSULTED: “Every Kind Of Cracker That Nabisco Makes” (Tamir’s story)

INVALIDATED: “I Am The Minority, The ‘Foreigner’” (Hart’s story)

Inequities: Things that Part 2’s Inequities Can Teach Consumers and Marketers



Inequities: Reflection Questions & Related Readings

PART 3: TRAUMAS



Poem 4: #IfIWasGunnedDown, by Malik S. Champlain

Poem 5: Brown Girl Shopping, byArakcelis Gomez



(INTRODUCTION)



TARGETED: “The Book of Robbers, Scammers, and Fraudulents” (Finley’s story)



TRAUMATIZED: “Wouldn’t You Want to Hear My Story if You’re Ready to Shoot Me?” (Kenrec’s story)



TERRIFIED: “This Is What You Put Me Through as a Mother-- as a Black Mother and Her Son-- in This Community.” (Latasha’s story)



TRIGGERED: “My DNA Remembers, Even if My Conscious Mind Doesn't”, by Michelle R. Dunlap

TORMENTED: “I Lifted My Sweater Just Enough for Them To See I Had Stolen Nothing” (Priscilla’s story)



Trauma: Things that Part 3’s Traumas Can Teach Consumers and Marketers



Traumas: Reflection Questions & Related Readings



PART 4: PHILOSOPHIES



Poem 6: The Invisible Pause, by Denise M. Keyes



Poem 7: Whitney in the Purple Dress, by Michelle Dunlap

(INTRODUCTION)



PLAGUED: “It’s a Wonder Black People Live to Fifty” (Rekia’s story)



PRECONCEIVED: “[I’m] the Bull’s-Eye!” (Stephon’s story)



PRIVILEGED: “Just Because I’m White Doesn’t Mean It Does Not Matter” (Heather’s story)



PERTURBED: “I Am No Fan of Insurance Companies, Pure and Simple” (Vernon’s story)

PROVOKED: “I Try To Go To Stores That Cause The Least Stress” (Yvette’s story)

Philosophies: Things that Part 4’s Philosophies Can Teach Consumers and Marketers

Philosophies: Reflection Questions & Related Readings

CONCLUSION

Poem 8: Shopping While Black, by Frances Shani Parker

Poem 9: In Her Image, by Kenneth E. Watts

NOTES

REFERENCE LIST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR