Anthropologie Your Days Are Numbered!
With employees revealing a secret “code name” for their black customers. Anthropologie miss me with your fake ass Maya Angelou quote post. You know damn well you don’t care about showing solidarity with Black customers, Black creators or Black people in general. The Black Lives Matter movement is nothing but a hashtag to you. Anthropologie your days are fucking numbered!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5QDTajtJm/
The streets are talking and it ain’t looking good for you sis!
A former Anthropologie employee and private Instagram account @flleurdeblooms commented under the Maya post that the stores would racially profile black customers by calling them “Nicks.” The IG user went on to say “So many times the management told us to watch people of color over the headsets and I refused to follow around mostly black people who were just minding their own business and respectfully shopping. Please change.”
On Wednesday, the company posted a statement to Instagram. “Regarding allegations of racial profiling,” it reads, “we have never and will never use a code word based on a customer’s ethnicity. Our company has a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination or racial profiling in any form. Employees who do not adhere to this policy are subject to disciplinary action which may include termination.”
However, the use of the derogatory terms “Nicky” “Nick” or “Nicks.” was not isolated to a single store. It’s clearly part of Anthropologie’s culture as employees from other locations Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City, and Canada confirmed the use of the term with seeing Black customers for in-store surveillance.
Anthropologie Your Days Are Numbered!
After being dragged for days Anthropologie made an official statement “You may have seen that we have been challenged to be more transparent, unbiased, and fair in our stores and with our business practices,” the statement began. It went on to say that the company doesn’t have a code word and has a zero tolerance policy for racial profiling, but that it was learning how to combat racism. “We are committed to doing better — to be being better.”
Workers reported similar experiences — at Urban Outfitters and Free People as well, which all belong to the same parent company, Urbn — while Black customers said they had been “followed throughout the store” on numerous occasions, at numerous locations.
The thought on not being paid is upsetting to me and my homegirls!
No Budget AKA Work For Free
Influencer Lydia Okello then took to social media and shared her experience with the boho brand. Stating they asked her to work for free on a Pride month campaign. Okello stated their fee in their initial response to an Anthropologie employee, was met with the response that there was “no budget” for the campaign. The Anthropologie employee didn’t acknowledge that Okello should receive compensation until several emails later.
In tweeting with Lydia I shared my personal experience with the brand. I was in talks with them to cover a plus-size event and feature their new plus-size line. They later ghosted when rates and compensation were brought up. Left thinking maybe it’s was me I see now it was them.
Why is it so hard for brands to pay Black creators?Â
Standard Donation and Promises
Anthropologie’s alleged racist practices and “whitewashing” can be seen in their predominantly hiring white employees. They are also been called out for culturally appropriating products.
Later that week, the brand responded with a post promising to stand with and support the Black community, including donating $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund and a commitment to diversifying its workforce.
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