Thread by @louisgraysocial

In today’s episode of wearing your Black skin in public I was racially profiled and refused service at @Hobbycraft - trying to buy paint for an arts and craft project with my 4 year old. I was refused service as I may be about to undertake an “incidence of graffiti”.

My 4 year old has been left confused and questioned why didn’t Daddy get served because he’s Black, why did that happen? Would that happen to me because I’m like you daddy?

I’ve also never experienced being surrounded by 3 @Hobbycraft staff, one wearing a body cam to record the transaction. One member of staff even waived his hands in the air to get more staff. I did not raise my voice once, I just wore my blackness.

I was buying spray paint, to ironically spray my 4yo’s bike helmet a new colour to be like his idol. You need to be 16 to buy spray paint in the UK, 16! Cool I accept that, but that’s in place to stop ‘incidences of graffiti’, imo very different to gambling and alcohol.

How do you prove racial micro aggressions when you KNOW they are happening? I’m looking forward to putting in a FOI request for the body cam footage and sharing this incident. I was refused service because I am Black and wearing a Nike tracksuit, and Yeezys.

100% if I was white and wearing jeans and a shirt, I would have been served without question. I was profiled, I’ll share more details with @Hobbycraft when I email them later today.

Funny how, a white man came and purchased the paint, and did not get ID’d. He simply said “he’s not with me, I promise I’m over 16 and the paint is for me”. A white promise is held with higher regard than a Black promise? Is the black pound not worth anything at @Hobbycraft ??

@Hobbycraft @Hobbycraft

@Hobbycraft So when I had to get my white person to buy the products, that’s okay according to @Hobbycraft website. why did colleagues in the store still try to be difficult because I was with them? My white person did actually ask did he not get asked his age because he was white. No reply.

For those asking we are spray painting a bike helmet for his bike adventures. He wanted one like Fabio Wimber. You can follow my 4yo here: instagram.com/pg3.adventures

@Hobbycraft Thank you for all the messages of support and solidarity.

On reflection, I should not have got someone to buy the items for me, and I should have went with my instincts to boycott the company but my 4yo really wanted to make his helmet and I’m annoyed at myself for purchasing.

@Hobbycraft It was the first time I have experienced racial profiling in front of my child. It’s something I always thought I could protect him from, however today, it was stolen from me. I was judged in front of him, I had to stay strong and keep my head up in the face of adversity.