Acting Like The Hair Apparent
(I am a Black woman, and I have natural hair, meaning there are no chemicals in it to make it straight. The customer in this story is a white woman, and she is the only one in the lobby.)
Me: “Welcome to [Movie Theater]. Will that be all for you today?”
Customer: *looks at me disdainfully*
Me: “Ma’am, is there something I can help you with?”
Customer: “Is all of that under your cap your hair?”
Me: “Yes, ma’am.”
Customer: “Why do you have so much?”
Me: “I’m Haitian. We typically have very thick hair.”
Customer: “Do you wash it?”
Me: “…Of course. I actually washed it last night.”
Customer: “It looks dirty. Why isn’t it straight? It looks unprofessional like that.”
Me: “My hair is naturally kinky. I’d have to get a relaxer for it to be—”
(Without warning, the customer reaches out, knocks my hat off, and shoves her hands all through my hair.)
Me: *swats her hands away* “EXCUSE YOU!”
Customer: “What? I wanted to see what it felt like.”
Me: “And you felt no need to ask me if it was okay to enter my body space?”
Customer: “Not really. I figured it was okay. I mean, it’s just hair. It’s not like it’s your boob or a body part or anything.”
Me: “It is, and I don’t care to be touched. Please don’t.”
Customer: “I was just curious!”
Me: “But you could have asked. I’m still a person.”
Customer: “No you’re not! You work here, and that means I get to do whatever I want to you because I’m paying you!”
Me: “Actually, [Manager] pays me, and I will call him to escort you out if you don’t finish your transaction and return to your theater.”
Customer: “Well, I don’t want to buy anything now because you don’t want me to touch your hair!”
Me: *voids transaction* “Please leave your items on the counter and enjoy your show!”
(She walks off to a manager, calls me uppity, and demands I be reprimanded for refusing to let her touch me. The manager kicked her out without refund.)
This story is part of our Black Lives Matter roundup!
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Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
