Friday morning, Ebony’s Jamilah Lemieux shared a story of having been mistaken for an Amtrak employee, even though she wasn’t in a uniform and happened to be on her phone.
Quick story: I was on an Amtrak train yesterday, taking an important phone call in the cafe car.
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
I was seated in business class and there wasn’t a quiet car, so I had to use the phone there so as not to be Chris Christie…
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
…an older White fella approaches me and smiles. I smile too. He then gestures to ask if I work in the cafè car. pic.twitter.com/Y1XKF5pfVT
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
I’m on the phone. And wearing a pink sweater. Not a blue shirt and certainly not, you know, an Amtrak UNIFORM. pic.twitter.com/FKGIRRiwOm
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
He sees my face change and apologizes quickly. A few min later, he mouths, “Did I offend you?” And I nod affirmatively.
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
Thankfully, this guy was semi-woke and said he understood what he did was wrong.
I told him, “You know, that’s particularly sensitive because…” And he was like, “I know exactly what I did. And I’m so sorry.”
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
He seemed genuinely embarrassed and sorry. Promised to be more mindful in the future. I appreciated his lack of defensiveness.
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 4, 2016
But that isn’t always the case. The story inspired other people to share their moments when people assumed that they were around to offer a service when in actuality they were customers just like them.
The 1st time this happened I thought it was a coincidence. After the 4-5th time, I blacked out. #IDONTWORKHERE https://t.co/3hLElzWaFv
— Jeff (@JeffJSays) March 4, 2016
you’re either an employee or you’re stealing, there’s not much in between #idontworkhere
— amo (@krennylavitz) March 4, 2016
Or being mistaken for the coatroom
oh man I have an #idontworkhere story from a friend of mine. It’s the USA, we’re out shopping together (I’m a WW, she’s British West Indian)
— Elodie Glass ♥ (@ElodieGlass) March 4, 2016
my friend kind of had her arms out with our coats on them and an old WW goes past and PUTS HER DISCARDED CLOTHES on my FRIEND #idontworkhere
— Elodie Glass ♥ (@ElodieGlass) March 4, 2016
And you didn’t even apply for the job
Once, at a Safeway, I told someone, “#idontworkhere.” She said, “Oh, you’re off-shift.” And I had to explain that I never even applied.
— bradley fields (@bradleyfields) March 4, 2016
Next time you should…nvm, that’s illegal
Anytime I’m outside smoking a cigarette in front of a bar, white folks always assume I’m the bouncer and show ID #idontworkhere
— Death Cab For Booty (@MC_Brooks) March 4, 2016
How even?!
Was in Walmart one day when a lady asked if I worked there. I was in biz casual from my actual job AND on the phone. #idontworkhere
— 세리타 (@heyitscerita) March 4, 2016
Looks like we need to avoid Walmart.
My hubs gets asked for help in Walmart. Usually wearing dress pants &shirt on the way home from work. Where he’s a lawyer. #idontworkhere
— Courtney Hall Lee (@CourtRhapsody) March 4, 2016
You must have been ready to go.
I’ve gotten asked for help in the kids sec at Macys wearing a coat. #idontworkhere
— Courtney Hall Lee (@CourtRhapsody) March 4, 2016
Judge by the color of the shirt, not the color of the skin.
I’m standing in Best Buy wearing a LIME GREEN shirt (don’t ask) and woman asks me questions about washing machines. #idontworkhere
— Andrew Kam (@AndrewKam) March 4, 2016
Is it bring your baby to work day?
I’m looking at TV’s in Best Buy HOLDING A BABY and woman asks me, “Do you work here?” I’m holding a baby! What do you think? #idontworkhere
— Andrew Kam (@AndrewKam) March 4, 2016
How Sway?!
@JamilahLemieux a ww at JCP asked me to get something for her I said “I don’t work here” instinctively & she still tried to get me to help
— sweaty from court (@JTaniyah) March 4, 2016
The headphones must be connected to the employees in the back.
@JamilahLemieux
Got asked if I worked at Foot Locker while I was shopping several times by White People. Had on a grey Hoodie & headphones— SPHINX ULTRA (@BLAQ6) March 4, 2016
Yikes.
@JamilahLemieux CEO of [major media company] saw me in a conf room *for a meeting with him* & asked if I was the AV tech. Model minority!
— Anil Dash (@anildash) March 4, 2016
Yep, definitely not going to Walmart.
@JamilahLemieux @ReignOfApril my 13yo hates going to Walmart after school bc they ask if she works there.
— #BlackComicsMonth (@MizCaramelVixen) March 4, 2016
I hope you did indeed drag her into recognition
@JamilahLemieux I was in *DRAG* once and stopped off at Ralph’s to pick up some sodas and got pestered by an old white lady to help.
— Christopher Kelly (@seraph76) March 4, 2016
Definitely would have put these in the nearest trash bin.
@anildash @JamilahLemieux my husband & I were at black tie benefit. An attendee handed my tux clad hub his keys assuming he was valet.
— Shayna (@SCJoson) March 4, 2016
Oh don’t do it…
When I first moved to Boston, my parents were with me in Home Depot. (1/2) https://t.co/x2LLFc735W
— Shauna Stuart (@ShaunaReporter) March 4, 2016
Homygawd.
(2/2) And a man walked RIGHT past the help desk with orange aprons to ask my father where power tools were. https://t.co/x2LLFc735W
— Shauna Stuart (@ShaunaReporter) March 4, 2016
