The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

My First Experience: 

Moments of prejudice and bias are unforgettable to most everyone involved whether as the receiver or initiator. Based on my recollection, the first noted negative encounter I experienced related to the color of my skin was directed to an elder family member. My day was filled with the excitement of tagging along on a trip to the furniture store for a new living room set. The current one had been in place since before I was born and I was then ten years old and counting. I recall walking around the enormous store room reviewing all the merchandise in stock. After a while, my family member signaled a sales clerk to come over while making a comment out loud about waiting a long period of time for a simple acknowledgement of just being in the store while other white customers were being greeted and helped. Surprisingly to me, there was no apologize or smile, instead the implicit message through interpersonal oppression given off by the sales clerk displayed her focus on providing quality service to the white customers only.

As memory would have it, I recall another sales clerk (who was of African American descent) assisted us in completing the transaction and also receiving a hefty commission on the sale which was paid in cash. The attitude and assumption that as African American people, we did not possess the means to buy expensive furniture and therefore would be wasting the time of the previous sales clerk, caused her preconceived notions and biases to disrespect and devalue what my grandmother had to offer the store monetarily. Due to that experience, I am always mindful of the quality of service being provided to me. In addition, I also, regardless of religion, class, race, etc, provide all people with the best service I have to offer to prevent repeating the discomfort and humiliation felt by us that November day. 

The Caucasian sale clerk should treat all customers (even potential ones) with the same level of respect and eliminate her personal views and opinions in the work place (if not totally).