This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Compromising service for people of color happens every day
I made it to the hotel after a decently lengthy drive. Woot Woot!
Several cars followed me as I drove into the hotel lobby valet section. There were so many cars that the line to receive a valet went off into the street – blocking traffic.
I thought to myself: Wow. I picked a packed hotel.
Somehow, though, I was the last car to be serviced, and I had to walk up to a valet person to get my car parked.
After walking up to the valet to seek assistance with my car, he immediately apologized and said he didn’t see me.
But I wondered how he could not have seen me…
I was the only black person and black customer in the vicinity – realistically, for several miles. I was also moving around, taking stuff outside of my car.
No one around looked like me, and I stuck out in appearance relative to everyone else since I was the only brown person.
It would be hard to miss me – especially after several valets looked directly at me pull up in the driveway.
Did I believe him when he said he didn’t see me? No.
Every single person in the valet line before and after me was white. Even if the valet guys truly didn’t see me, somehow, I still felt ignored based on my skin color.
Why did the valet not see me?
Two White Men Were Served First – Though I Arrived Before Them
This scenario reminded me of another recent situation I had in Rome, Italy, when two white men were served first at a restaurant – even though I sat down before them.
And after the white men were served, the server still took their time making their way over to me.
Why?
Does my being a black woman make me less valuable than a white male?
According to society…yes. But when you see this truth play out in real life, it’s a visceral experience.
Though I wish these situations didn’t happen, when they do, I’m thankful for them because they help me empathize with other black people and people of color who are ignored or experience watered-down customer service on more aggressive levels.
Should I Have Said Something?
Maybe. I wasn’t in a rush, so I was simply in hardcore observation mode (hence the creation of this piece).
Since I’m patient and use many experiences as the foundation of my writing content, I simply intake (potentially) racially charged experiences.
However, I wonder if my not saying something will potentially perpetuate the behavior with other customers of color.
Sometimes, it doesn’t seem worth calling people out for low-stakes situations, but what if these small situations potentially lead to more significant stake situations?
What would you do?
Blacks receive poor service due to racial discrimination
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