When you think of systematic, institutionalized racism, this is what you should be picturing.
Recently, a TikTok user called out Walmart for locking up makeup for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Makeup for white people is totally free to browse, but if your skin isn’t white? Walmart locks it up. And they’re not the only ones, either.
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A TikTok user pointed this latest one out.
TikTokker @alynicoletta hit up her local Walmart for some new makeup. She headed to the beauty section, where she noticed something very, very odd that she felt belonged on TikTok.
All of the darker shades had security tags on them.
The darker shades had security tags on the top of each concealer. Let me just say, there’s no reason for this that isn’t directly tied to racism. That’s just a fact.
Guess what makeup isn’t locked up?
That’s right: the lighter shades. See what I mean? This isn’t even subtle, and Walmart is not the first retailer to do it. But, if we work hard enough, they will be the last.
Turns out, Walmart is notorious for this.
In case you were thinking that Walmart in Kentucky is a one-off, may I present this tweet. It’s always been like this. If you head to your local Walmart, what are the odds you’ll find this same thing there?
The most surprising thing in the thread was how many people tried to justify Walmart’s decision.
A lot of people tried to say that it was an inventory issue, which I’ll disprove in a moment. Luckily, people pushed back, explaining how unintentional, unconscious bias works.
Here’s the thing: it’s not BIPOC who shoplift the most.
Rutgers professor Jerome Williams spoke to NPR on this very issue. He studied the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Database, and found that 70% of all shoplifting is done by white people.
You can check out his full interview here , which includes some more data on racial profiling.
So, there’s really no reason for any of this, is there?
If BIPOC only make up 30% of shoplifters, why are their products locked up? Why aren’t white people’s products locked up? Why lock things up at all, for that matter?
Celebrities weighed in on the issue.
Drag queen Yvie Oddly, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10, is one of many Black queens who constantly speak out on anti-Blackness in America.
Other users pointed how impractical the practice is.
It’s a huge pain for both the employee and the customer to have to open a case, or remove a security tag. It wastes everyone’s time to have to do that.
It’s not just makeup, either.
Black hair care products are locked up a lot more than you’d think. Twitter user Jesús A. Rodríguez (@jesusrodriguezb) posted pictures of Black hair products hidden behind security glass. These things are ingrained in our society.
It’s hair dye, too.
This is so nonsensical. Why lock up the hair dye meant for a black man? And while we’re at it, why are all the models white, except for him? Hello?
These things happen outside of America, as well.
ASDA in the UK had something similar for haircare and beauty products meant for BIPOC. ASDA is owned by Walmart, which at least explains some of it.
Walmart pledged to end the practice of locking up Black haircare products in 2020.
They also said they’d dedicate at least 15% of their shelf space to Black haircare products. However, we have yet to see any of that come to fruition.
Oh, and the original TikTok user who posted the video? She was bullied off of TikTok.
The reason there’s no screenshots or comments from the TikTok itself? It was deleted, along with the entire account. I can’t imagine yelling at a young girl just trying to do the right thing with the privilege she has.
So, why does this happen?
“The products that are locked and chained up are the ones that are specifically targeted at natural black hair; implication being that the store owners expect black people to steal hair products,” according to one Twitter user.
BIPOC have been saying this for years.
We’re talking about it because of the viral TikTok, but we would be remiss if we didn’t say that BIPOC have been talking about this issue for a very, very long time.
Unlock the beauty products, everyone.
h/t Bored Panda
