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Originally Posted by ZephyrusX  Oh, ok! That makes sense. 
Supertom posted some interesting videos a few months back on how people respond to different races during a crime. Working in retail, I've also noticed that people have a propensity to suspect Aboriginal people of shoplifting even when there is no good reason to do so. That is not to say that there aren't structural reasons for why some Aboriginal people will resort to shop lifting, but there are other structural reasons for other demographic groups to steal, like little old white people living on a pension. Trust me, no one ever suspects the little old couple of stealing pain killers until they flat out catch them in the act!  |
This sounds right about suspecting aboriginal people, although, I have to say that I spent my teen years loathing going into a newsagency or any store as I could feel the shop owner watching my every move the whole time I was in there. It didn't seem to be an issue of race, so much as
age! Young people are perceived as untrustworthy and thieves where I grew up anyway...and I lived in a good part of town.
I admit though, that as non racist as I like to think I am, despite knowing that we all inherit some form of racism from our ancestors, unconsciously, I have had experiences of seeing an african boy wearing a hoodie, and immediately becoming alarmed and on guard, expecting that he is up to no good. Fortunately, I caught myself thinking these thoughts and observing my demeanor so I was able to trace where it came from...but most people never even question it.
he could very well have been up to no good...I don't know, but my initial superficial response to him was to suspect him...which is sad.