Shopping While Black: Retail Racism in the United States
In this talk, Shaun Gabiddon will examine racial profiling that occurs in retail establishments. Currently referred to as “shopping while Black,” this discriminatory practice has a long history in the United States. Tracing its origins to the slave-era “Black-thief” stereotype, the research examines the nature, extent and current forms of the practice in modern day America. This examination includes a review of the theoretical foundations best used to understand the practice as well as a review of Gabiddon's two decades of research on the topic. Potential approaches to reduce the prevalence of the practice will also be discussed.The talk is sponsored by the
Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
Africana Studies Program, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the
School of Design and Community Development.