A viral video of an altercation at a Target in Brooklyn is sparking a debate on Twitter over the importance of saying "excuse me."
On Monday, a video was posted on Twitter of an argument between a Black woman and a Jewish woman that turned physical.
BROOKLYN: Woman assaults another woman in Target because she didn't say excuse me and reached over her child to get something. pic.twitter.com/ZeFNqUSn8j
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) September 16, 2019
According to the video, the Black woman was angry because the Jewish woman did not say "excuse me" when she reached over her child for a bottle of shampoo. The Jewish woman began filming the argument and insulting the Black woman on camera, saying she was a bad example for her daughter.
Eventually, the Black woman hit the Jewish woman multiple times as they argued. The Jewish woman made several offensive comments about the Black woman's parenting skills and shouted at her as she walked away with her child.
The video stirred up tensions on both sides, with Jewish outlets heavily criticizing the Black woman for repeatedly hitting the Jewish woman and trying to knock her phone down. Black Twitter quickly defended the Black women, sharing their own experiences of public disrespect.
Many Black women in the comments said they've experienced situations where white women purposefully did not show them or their children any courtesy or basic respect.
Some justified the violence by explaining how common, and maddening, it is for Black women who repeatedly have their space violated by white women.
Dozens of tweets said this kind of behavior was typical and generally represented a public lack of respect for Black women and Black children.
They will act like you are literally not standing there, and people are tired of it. Black people have so many stories about this from them damn near running you off the sidewalk to reaching over you in stores. I may not have reacted as she did, but I understand.
— Candi ???????????? (@Candi_619) September 16, 2019
— ĢRÄÇīE (@sapos_mipopaiya) September 17, 2019
just by the way the woman says, "so because I didn't say excuse me to reach for something I needed something" said enough for me and tells the entire story. entitled ass yt woman pushes child to get shampoo. Brooklyn mother comes to her daughters defense. rightfully so.
— ra(ye) charles (@gnarlier) September 16, 2019
Im mad she said “so because I didn’t say excuse me” YES girl. That’s the whole point. And then you’re going to try and say “I wonder what you do to your child at home” im flipping tables!!
— kristy ???? (@kristylicious_) September 16, 2019
Exactly!! They don’t raise their own kids right half the time but got commentary after they cause drama. Like wtf?!
— Millionheir (검은 별) (@backtomichel) September 16, 2019
Now Becky know damn well if it was the other way around and somebody would have reached over Toby she would have lost her marbles
— ????IG:Dej_Boutique???? (@Queen_Desia) September 17, 2019
Some people pointed out how she was quick to use the police as a defense.
Lawd the way they weaponize the police so they don’t have to fight their own battles
— Just Palmer (@PalmerSaidWhat) September 16, 2019
y’all would rather involve the cops, embarrass yourselves and work toward a brooklyn beatdown IN TARGET than apologize for being rude. amazing. https://t.co/m9OvCbP7tv
— love love (@swatchmorgie) September 17, 2019
“look at her she’s terrified!”
the daughter: pic.twitter.com/LhKIWiCqCi— shae (@spooky_shae) September 17, 2019
Others pointed out how she simply should have just shown the little girl some respect and said, "excuse me."
She should have said excuse me. It's not a hard thing to do
— Nick Redtop (@NRedtop) September 16, 2019
She leaned over the child and admitted it. If this were a man I think people would be more disturbed by it. You don’t invade someone’s personal space like that, much less a defenseless child who will probably not speak up for herself as you push up against her.
— Bárbara (@barbyravenclaw) September 16, 2019
Some people defended the Black woman's action and her right to protect her daughter.
This isn't turning out how this lady thought it would (person recording). I don't condone the violence, but as a BW this happens frequently, she's in mama bear mode and pissed because it happened to her child.
— Venus Rosé Perfumed Barbie ⚕ (@Kemiade) September 16, 2019
This is what’s called a micro aggression. They pretend they don’t mean any thing to offend. It happens every time we are in public. If they play the cameras in the store back they will see she intentionally stalked her and st this up. This recording is proof.
— The Raging Empath (@RagingEmpath) September 17, 2019
Black woman defends her child from entitled white woman who thought it was okay to push her child w/o saying excuse me. https://t.co/4VUG3hUWke
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) September 17, 2019
According to two Jewish news outlets, the NYPD helped the Black woman file a harassment suit against the Jewish woman after reviewing camera footage from the store.
