Teenage worker at a Lowe’s in Washington named Kyle Sales stated that he was made to take off his shirt after a customer called it racist.
Sales received a verbal reprimand from a manager who also demanded that he take off his shirt, which read “Black Panther Wakanda Forever,” and gave him the choice of either shopping for a replacement or changing at home.
Sales recalled the woman saying, “A customer said your shirt is offensive and racist.” This comes from a film. What makes this racist?
Although he was indignant, he chose to conceal the superhero shirt with a sports jersey.
“I was furious. Given everything going on in the world right now, it just didn’t seem fair, according to Sales. There is no racism here. I shouldn’t be penalized for wearing a movie-related t-shirt.
The woman had appeared the next day to inquire about Sales’ penalty for donning the shirt, Sales later learned from a friend.
She stormed in and demanded to know what had happened to the boy and what punishment he had received, he said.
A few months prior, Sales started working at the hardware store. He was trying to save money before starting college at Washington State University after just finishing high school
Sales was reminded by the episode of the prejudice he had experienced in high school and at a few of his prior employment. He said that he had been called the N-word at school and that a manager at a previous employment had dubbed him a “colored boy.”
Kimberly Sales, Sales’ mother, referred to the incident as “pure, unadulterated discrimination,” adding that Lowe’s owed her son “more than an apology.”
After being contacted for comment, Lowe’s later disclosed to a nearby CBS affiliate that the hardware retailer had expressed regret to Sales.
“We have apologized directly to Mr. Sales for asking him to change his clothing when it was never appropriate to do so. According to a Lowe’s spokesperson, “Diversity and inclusion are important to our culture at Lowe’s, and we remain committed to fostering an environment where all individuals are safe, treated fairly, valued, and respected.” “We know this is a teachable moment, and we will take action to coach and train the managers at the store to help prevent this from happening again,” the spokesperson added.