An ESPN reporter experienced racism at a Californian upscale store. The incident happened on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, based on the official Instagram post of the journalist.
Before he shared his disappointment regarding the racial profiling done by the upscale store, he clarified that he loves the city of Healdsburg, California.
Unfortunately, two employees of the Anthem Interiors-an upscale store offering home furnishes in the Bay Area-allegedly racially profiled the reporter.
ESPN Reporter Experiences Racism at California Upscale Store
Mark J. Spears, a prominent Black sports journalist for ESPN, said that he and his friends (all African-American) visited a store in Healdsburg called Anthem Interiors.
He said that he wasn't expecting to be racially profiled by some of the retailer's staff.
"When things like that happen, I get angry inside and feel pressure to buy something expensive to prove my worth and their wrong," said the journalist via his official Instagram post.
"After refraining from the urge, I tried to give the lady that worked there the benefit of the doubt by asking if she knew where the nearest bathroom was," he added.
But, instead of assisting Spears and his friends nicely, the lady staff suggested that the ESPN journalist and his buddies go to the Healdsburg Police Department across the streets.
She told them that they could use the police department's facilities, such as the toilet. Her comments confused Spears, who later asked why would he need to go to the Healdsburg Police Department just to use the bathroom.
But, that didn't stop there. The lady employee answered his question with another annoying comment, telling him that it would be okay for him to visit the police department since cops would not arrest him.
"I immediately departed and found a bathroom at a very friendly wine bar across the street called @liocowineco," said Marc Spears.
Store Owner Apologizes, But Thinks Staff Was Just Joking
Marc Spears said that despite what happened to him and his friends at the Anthem Interiors store, he still truly loves Healdsburg. He added that this one incident will not steal his job or prevent him from returning to the Californian city.
The business owner apologized to Spears and his buddies after hearing the news regarding the racial profiling at her store. Janelle Loevner, the founder of Anthem Interiors, said that she personally apologizes for the incident.
However, Janelle still believes that the remarks of her employees were intended as a joke. But, she clarified that their statements were "clearly offensive."
Marc Spears accepted Janelle's apology since he thought that the business owner was sincere about it, as reported by Fox News.
