Apple Store employees allegedly profile black students as potential thieves
A group of black high school students were asked to leave an Apple Store in Australia after security became concerned that they "might steal something," prompting the store manager to issue an apology.
The incident took place Tuesday at the Apple Store in Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre. In a video posted by one of the students, an employee can be heard telling the group that store security guards "are just a bit worried about your presence in our store."
"They're just worried you might steal something," the employee adds. The students briefly argue back, but eventually leave the store.
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"Once the incident happened I was in shock, I was in disbelief," one of the students told Australian broadcaster SBS. "I didn't believe the employee said that, I thought I was day dreaming."
After the incident came to light, the store manager apologized to the students, who accepted and said that it would not tarnish their view of Apple.
"It was just one employee and we shouldn't blame the all company just for one employee's mistake," one added.
The incident took place Tuesday at the Apple Store in Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre. In a video posted by one of the students, an employee can be heard telling the group that store security guards "are just a bit worried about your presence in our store."
"They're just worried you might steal something," the employee adds. The students briefly argue back, but eventually leave the store.
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Khalid Breezy, Petros Smalls, Deebo Ater Abdulahi Haji Ali Mohamed, Andy Gambino Nelson Mahad MohamudSimply Racism, made them apologise tho
Posted by Francis Ose on Tuesday, November 10, 2015
"Once the incident happened I was in shock, I was in disbelief," one of the students told Australian broadcaster SBS. "I didn't believe the employee said that, I thought I was day dreaming."
After the incident came to light, the store manager apologized to the students, who accepted and said that it would not tarnish their view of Apple.
"It was just one employee and we shouldn't blame the all company just for one employee's mistake," one added.
Comments
Kids have to make it 'racist' though, gets more attention that way.
One event at one Apple Store location. Seriously, does it really warrant it's own "headline post" in AppleInsider ?
One event at one Apple Store location. Seriously, does it really warrant it's own "headline post" in AppleInsider ?
It does if you want to start a shit-storm
[VIDEO]https://www.facebook.com/eseose.oseghale/videos/759395487523343/[/VIDEO]
If accurate, I commend the gentleman who realized that it may have been the action of one person and not a philosophy of the company as a whole.
From my understanding, Apple employees go through a ton of training to work at the store and I'd have to believe that Apple does not have racial profiling as a chapter in their handbook. Perhaps a past Apple employee could chime in on that one.
Because obviously there couldn't possibly be racism in the world, and obviously it's hardly ever targeted at black people. Especially if white people like you don't ever see it.
[quote]Khalid Breezy, Petros Smalls, Deebo Ater Abdulahi Haji Ali Mohamed, Andy Gambino Nelson Mahad MohamudSimply Racism, made them apologise thoPosted by Francis Ose on Tuesday, November 10, 2015[/quote]
I don't think store managers like seeing high school kids in their store period. Especially if they had backpacks, etc.
Kids have to make it 'racist' though, gets more attention that way.
Because obviously there couldn't possibly be racism in the world, and obviously it's hardly ever targeted at black people. Especially if white people like you don't ever see it.
But - it is not necessarily reasonable to assume that racism was behind this incident either. It's quite possible that they have asked white or black kids to leave previously, but that this attracted attention because it was videoed. Racism generally manifests as a pattern of behavior, and one incident, with no overt racist aspects, does not imply a pattern.
That is sad and whoever initiated this (security guard and/or sales person) should be fired.
If only to set a lasting example. This is very damaging to Apple's image.
You're right, we should fire people without knowing the facts of the story. Due process is so overrated. Overreaction now!
Questioning the motives of the AI editorial staff will get you banned so I’ll just point out that headline appears to clearly imply that Apple Store “employees" as a class are profiling blacks. We don’t get to know that it is a single store and a single employee in Australia until we start reading.
"It was just one employee and we shouldn't blame the all company just for one employee's mistake," one added.
Interesting that the headline used the plural “employees” when one of the alleged victims said it was a single employee.
I don't think store managers like seeing high school kids in their store period. Especially if they had backpacks, etc.
Kids have to make it 'racist' though, gets more attention that way.
That is pure bullsh*t.
The fact is that there would not have been a problem if the kids had been white.
Get a clue...
Oh good, an eyewitness! You can clearly tell us exactly what happened since you act like you know all the facts, which means you must have been there!
Yes.
I don't think store managers like seeing high school kids in their store period. Especially if they had backpacks, etc.
Kids have to make it 'racist' though, gets more attention that way.
That is pure bullsh*t.
The fact is that there would not have been a problem if the kids had been white.
Get a clue...
So you would say that white kids never get asked to leave stores if the employees think that they are behaving suspiciously?
Any store owner has the right to ask someone to leave.
Just so happens it was a black kid.
The headline is misleading (what a shock). The kid was profiled as a potential thief. Not profiled as a black kid. It could be the backpack or the way he held items, who knows.
Profiled as a thief based on what? Australia as it is is one of the most racist countries on Earth, and long after apartheid was ended? in South Africa, Australia continued theirs. Profiled as a thief == black. Duh?
You're right, we should fire people without knowing the facts of the story. Due process is so overrated. Overreaction now!
Due process? Why? I suspect Australian law is similar to the US Law. An At Will employee can be fired for any reason, even a bad one. No due process is required, ever.