Discrimination still found in small-town America

Saturday started out just like any other trip to the local Walmart for me. I needed to get some necessities, such as soap and food, and wasn’t expecting anything of interest to happen.

After I checked out at the cash register I made my way to the exit, but before I could leave the store, I saw something that made me stop in my tracks. I had an experience that made me realize Vermillion isn’t separated from the problems the rest of the world faces.

An older, white female employee stopped a group of Latino men in front of me and asked to see their receipts for the items they were carrying in their bags. I thought this was odd since I hadn’t seen her stop anyone else, so I thought I should also get out my receipt for when she stopped me.

As she looked closely in each of the mens’ bags I became uneasy. I couldn’t find my receipt.

As the men left, the woman came up to me and told me “not to worry about it” because I “looked trustworthy.” I asked her why I looked trustworthy but the men ahead of me did not.

She responded that she was sure they were but wanted to “teach those Hispanics some honesty.”

This statement infuriated me. When I accused her of racial profiling she denied it and said she could take a look at my receipt if I wanted her to.

I headed back to the cash register, where after a few minutes of searching, I found my receipt. I returned to the woman and had her inspect it and then left the store.

Racial profiling is not new to me. I come from a small, mostly white town in Iowa, and let’s just say I have heard my fair share of racial slurs. I’ve heard terrible stereotypes about all races, religions and ethnicities. By turning on the news it’s not hard to see these stereotypes aren’t just confined to small-town America.

Race, religion and sexual orientation are still issues in the U.S. African Americans have to try not to look suspicious when walking home at night. Hispanics have to deal with constant scrutinization and in some states have to carry papers with them proving they’re “legal.”

Muslims and people from the Middle East have to deal with people who mistreat them just because a group of extremists decided to ram planes into buildings 13 years ago. Gays and lesbians have to march in the streets and lobby to get a piece of paper confirming something they’ve already known for years just because the separation of state and religion doesn’t seem to be comprehended by some state policymakers.

This is the country in which we live — a country where a white woman at a Walmart refers to a group of human beings as “those Hispanics.” A country where the phrase “all men are created equal” is only valid if you’re a straight, white, Christian male.

Perhaps as a straight, white, Christian male I’m not qualified to talk on matters of racial, religious or sexual discrimination, since I’ve never been discriminated against; however, I’ve observed it and now I’m saying enough is enough.

The bottom line is it doesn’t matter what a person looks like, what god they pray to at night or who they love. In the end all that matters is how a person treats others.