VIDEO: Watch Target employee admit to racially profiling Black man
The employee allegedly profiled a Black man purchasing headphones.
James Edward Wright III of West Des Moines, IA says he was racially profiled at a Minnesota Target and he has video of the Target employee "confessing" to the deed.
James Edward Wright III of West Des Moines, IA says he was racially profiled at a Minnesota Target.
And he has video of the Target employee “confessing” to the deed.
Wright, who is Black, says he was set to purchase Beats by Dre headphones and a pair of boots when he asked an employee if he could hold the headphones. The employee allegedly told him that it was against store policy to allow him to hold the headphones before the purchase was complete.
Reportedly, the employee went on to say that another customer had run off with the headphones and he thought Wright would do the same.
Wright asked the store manager if that was in fact store policy and received a unclear answer about frequently changing store policy. He then went outside and called Target’s corporate headquarters to get a definitive answer and was told that customers are allowed to handle merchandise before purchase.
When Wright went back inside the store armed with the corporate green light, he was told he could hold the headphones. Wright, who works in construction, confronted the employee who initially did not allow him to touch the device and he videoed the exchange with his phone. The video has racked up more than 160,000 views.
Arms folded, the employee initially denies racially profiling Wright but then admits to the deed if it meant that Wright would leave the store. The employee’s manager asks Wright to turn off his camera and notes that she has apologized. The manager and employee eventually walk away from Wright as he makes his way to an exit.
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According to the Des Moines Register, Wright has hired an attorney and is considering legal action against Target.
Target is the latest corporate giant to have racial profiling accusations caught on camera. An Old Navy in Iowa and an Apple Bee’s in Missouri have also been embroiled in racial profiling scandals in recent months.
