I have no idea what this is about. Apparently, you are not allowed to wear sunglasses in the mall in Auburn, Alabama. So rather than take them off, Claudia and her dude get escorted out of the mall. Claudia immediately plays the race card. I’ve reached out to try and find out the whole story but I am trying to prep for RHONY so… along with the RuPaul Drag Race recap. This is going to have to be pushed until tomorrow. I haven’t eaten all day with all the dramas today.
What the fuck is going on today?
UPDATE: Check out this version of it on camera with white people walking in and out with sunglasses on, and yet they called the police on Claudia. Seriously?
I’m not a litigious person, but Claudia has a definite race discrimination case here. The mall is already backtracking. This shit is ridiculous.
I was following this while it was going down & it appears others were walking in & out of the mall wearing sunglass with no problem but when Claudia (& the few people she was with) walked in – security told her — sunglasses off or leave. 1 of the guys took out his iPad & started filming & caught several others walking in & out with sunglasses → no problems (but ironically they were all White folk)! Security ended up calling the cops & from what I saw even the cop thought it was ridiculous but he went along with security. Claudia & her crew were heated but ended up laughing about it saying it wasn’t going to ruin their day.
ETA: There’s a much longer video floating around that the “iPad guy” made & posted that tells more of what happened. If I can locate it, I’ll email it directly.
thanks addie
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 8:47 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
>
Okay, that’s some bullshit. What the fuck is wrong with wearing sunglasses? Is some racism going on? There’s a really good chance. Especially if other customers were wearing shades, but happened to be white. I’ve never heard of a place like a mall forbidding sunglasses. Sounds weird. I remember being forbidden from wearing sunglasses in junior high school, but never as an adult.
Yesterday Auburn Mall (where this happened) issued a statement:
“Hull Property Group has a code of conduct in place at the Auburn Mall to ensure all patrons have a safe & enjoyable shopping experience. The code of conduct states that “apparel or accessories that may conceal or disguise the identity of the person is strictly prohibited.” We regret that our Auburn Mall management & security team misinterpreted this policy to include sunglasses as that was not our intent. We are taking appropriate action to ensure we do not have another incident of this nature again. We aim to treat all patrons with respect & will continue to work to improve the shopping experience at the Auburn Mall.”
So what about Islamic women wearing a veil. Really Auburn Alabama? This is some fucked up shit.
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 9:00 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
>
Veil = no visit!
They’re still not acknowledging that they fucked up. Nor do I expect them to. The last thing fuckers like these are gonna do is admit that their security staff does racial profiling. Poor Claudia. Not fair.
Oh boy, I can’t wait to see how they deal with hoodies or burkas!
My bank has a notice on their window: Please remove all headgear, sunglasses and hoodies before entering. I’m guessing it’s the image altering thing. They also have a sign that says “We’ll gladly serve you if you are not on your cell phone”. lol
Lucky Claudia was not wearing a hoodie
That sucks.
Today was a weird day. Full moon??
No. The full moon was a little while ago. The moon is in Pisces, if that means anything.
It means the whole damn world has gone stark raving mad !
Oh well, cant blame a full moon but it sure feels like that kind of news day.
The mall probably meant that you cant wear ski masks and and the security guards didnt understand the policy. Newsflash: you can still identify someone with sunglasses.
Sue em! That will fix them. Cha ching. When you hit em where it hurts $$$$, then and only then, do they apply the laws and rules fairly.
Crazy! Speaking of RHONY, wondering if your recapping today’s Dr oz with Bethany.? I missed the show but she was supposed to be talking about body image and divorce.
I think that’s stupid as hell. But our local bank does have a sign on the door asking people to remove sunglasses, hats and hoodies upon entry. I think there’s a difference in a bank and mall though.
Ive never heard of that. Seems excessive but I guess it makes sense in a bank just in case of a robbery.
That’s how it is with the banks where I live too, there are signs before you even enter the bank, but not malls.
Wtf.
Sadly, this does not surprise me. As a sheltered biracial black woman from the SF Bay Area (or North Cali LOL), I found the customer service I received in a Tuscaloosa, AL mall to be… lacking. Living in such a diverse place, sometimes you forget that racism exists. Well, my black ass was constantly reminded that day! LOL.
If you ever want a laugh (or not) take a trip up to Bar Harbor Maine. Not only will you be followed around just about every store you visit (afraid you’re going to steal something), but you’ll stop traffic. No lie, my husband, myself + another couple went there on vacation & that’s exactly what happened. The other couple couldn’t believe it & is still talking about nearly 10yrs later. #CultureShock! ☺
Same thing happened to me in Southern Spain a few years ago. We stared at, pointed at. It was weird to me because I kept thinking Africa is right across the straight of Gibraltar. They have to see black people more often than not.
Racism exists in the Bay Area …
Sadly. Yes.
0:08 say’s “JUSTICE” behind cop. Never heard of that store. Wack
Its also being said by people who claim to work at the mall that there were problems with her group at a kiosk and thats why the cops and security were actually called. Id be like that lady that walked by saying hey thats a housewife!!
I’m not sure I believe that one. If I remember correctly, watching the full video I got the impression they weren’t allowed in the mall to even get to the kiosk. Plus security never mentions “problems” only sunglasses!
I have noticed a lot of other races tend to accuse minorities of “using the race card”, but we tend to know when we are being profiled and when there is cause for the behavior.
This past Sunday, my son and I tried to go to dinner and I think I had an invisibility veil because 3 other families got seated while we were waiting for a table. After the first family, I did not say anything since they were a party and I gave PF Chang’s the benefit of the doubt that they would not use a large for two people. But the second family was exactly 2 people, just like us so we went back up to the hostess and reminded her we were waiting for a table for 2. She apologized, then called another couple for a table while we were still standing there. We left, no apologies needed after that. I hate living in Florida, though I guess it could happen in New York, it just never did when I lived there.
Gosh I hope that’s not the PF Changs at Sawgrass! That’s horrible!
No, the one at Millenia Mall.
Several years while visiting family in Seattle my husband & I went out alone to the Space Needle for dinner. We got there between 5 & 6 so the place was pretty empty but instead of seating us with the other guests – with a view; we were seated completely alone at an inner section where the restrooms are located. We asked 2 different waiters if we could please change seats to have a view & were given some lame ass excuse. It finally took getting the manager to move us & then we heard the 2 waiters grumbling “you know they don’t tip”!
ETA: Then there’s good ole Florida where a 3-4yrs ago I was told by a woman “You’re in the deep South honey, get used to it”! ⊙.☉ Surprisingly my husband prefers the blatant racism. He rather be called a N…. to his face so he knows what he’s dealing with. 🙁
Addie,
I’m with your husband. If you’re going to be a racist, be loud and proud so I know what I am dealing. Don’t sugarcoat it so I am second-guessing myself and making excuses for you. That just pisses me off.
Living in Florida for years my family was and still is upper middle class. Every nice restaurant, retailer , we get the stank eye from the older staff in retail stores, but get the reluctant waiter or waitress in restaurants
Umm, maybe the people had RESERVATIONS!!!! We just experienced a restaurant, national one, that takes phone in line holding, where you just call and get placed on wait list…. If we had known this Aussie place does that, we would have done that just like the 7 parties that got there after we did, but got seated first. Geez Louise, it isn’t always about race or color…,!!!!
I would have that too, if I had not called to make a reservation and been told that they do not take reservations. Customers are seated on a first-come first-served basis. Sign says so right in the entryway.
@Dee – Are you talking about The Outback?
Anyway, it was very embarrassing because my 10-year old saved his allowance to take me there for Mother’s Day and I hated this because he was there.
Yveline- How horrible! Sorry to hear that. Heartbreaking really, your son saving his allowance to take you out for Mothers day and getting dissed like that! I was just talking to my gardener today and he was telling me about some clients he has that dislike Hispanics. I said,”well, a lot of people are jerks. They think they are better than others. In just the town over I get treated like dirt because I don’t have a ten million dollar mansion.” People are just jerks, it’s human nature.
It just seems to me if this was a rule that this mall enforced to everyone there would be a sign near the entrance about the clothing and accessories it allowed. Just like the no shirt no shoes no service ones you see everywhere. It kinda appears like the mall is trying to save face from a discrimination suit since this is a celebrity and getting notice by now claiming that this is a policy of theirs for people’s protection. It looks as though the white lady who probably lived in the town had never been stopped before or told she was unable to wear sunglasses in the mall. Otherwise she wouldn’t have strolled right past all the commotion with her glasses on. I really think our officers have much better things to do than be called out for things like this. Cladia was not being combatative or rude so I don’t see why officers were there.
Just put the damn sunglasses on top of your head. Yeah its wrong but follow instructions file a law suit later. That is why fellows are getting shot you know they shot to kill not shoot to wound. So just say ok and keep it moving.
Wow, really? So the answer to injustices is to simply “?go along to get along”. Just work the cotton fields, just remove the sunglasses, just sit there in the waiting area until all the Caucasians that walk into the restaurant are seated, just accept all the disrespect so you won’t be shot. I am in an alternate universe, here.
Thank you Iveline. I am not doing anything wrong, but I am don’t have the same personal liberties as others? Unbelievable!
What if you were in the office and men were making sexual innuendos and blonde jokes. Would you put up and shut up then sue?
It seems to me, racism and sexism are alive and well in the United States. When Kim Richards kicked a policeman, she got an overnight in the drunk tank and a misdemeanor citation. What would have happened if she were black or hispanic?
Hone life is about choices. Choose wisely.
The wise choice is to stand up for what you believe in as long as you do it in a respectful and responsible mannor. Taking it to the media was the smartest thing to do. Letting public opinion help dictate right from wrong will help in Cladia’s case. Espi your exactly right if it had happened to Juanita that worked at the Waffle House no one would have cared less. So maybe this will get a little attention to a problem and thanks to Cladia for taking time to post about it as well as TT since I know you were really bogged down with tea from the day.
Appalling. Claudia, party of five, please get on your paperwork. America needs to see some action on that Alabama mall.
Good thing it happened to Claudia who has a platform.
I am going to get off this soapbox after this comment. Just revisited the restaurant where I almost had dinner on Sunday because I just slinked away with my tails between my legs on Sunday and after reading the comments on here today, I was upset. Spoke to the manager, apparently, they had to post a sign stating: “NO RESERVATIONS. SERVICE IS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS.” as a result of a previous racial discrimination settlement.
He was advised of the issue Monday morning, apologized profusely, the hostess was let go and I was given a $100 gift card to the restaurant. That is a satisfactory result for me. I don’t have to sue someone, acknowledgment of the problem is enough for me. Don’t make me think it is all in my head or I am pulling the race card.
I hate what happened to you on Mother’s Day (especially with your 10yr old son there) but I’m so happy you called a GOT results. That’s GREAT news! Way to go Yveline!
“and”
Thanks, Addie. Hope it gets better out there.
Awesome! What a great ending to that story!!!!
Thanks. I had to go back today, because each excuse someone on here made just made me angrier. That is the real problem with racism, it is insidious and the resentment just builds up when we are subjected to it.
I’m so glad you went back. I hope your post will inspire more people to speak up like you did. Congrats on your sweet vindication.
This is a pretty stupid rule.
I used to have an account at a credit union in Orlando, FL that had a sign on the door which said to remove your sunglasses before entering.
weird, I wear sunglasses in all kinds of stores & no one has ever told me to take them off or else. I wonder what the problem with sunglasses is? The only think I can think of is they think you are high or maybe you are going to steal?