Race Issues

[MisStarrlight]

Last weekend I was working (as usual) and I did up this one girl's face. She was really cold toward me, but I just went through as normal...you know, matching her foundation, helping her pick out a lipglass or something. So I gather up her stuff & she says she has to get her money from her friend-no biggie. I tell her that I have a makeover waiting for me, but that I'll hold her stuff, so just come find me when she was ready. She said ok & walked off. I started on my makeover & a few minutes I look over & she is with one of our freelancers...no biggie on that either...I put her stuff up at the register and told the freelancer that she could ring it under my number when she was ready (since freelancers don't have their own numbers & just take credit for whatever the lady added on). Next thing I know the freelancer is re-doing her face. It was the middle of an event so we were busy so I didn't let it affect me or whatever, but after I was done with my makeover, I was cleaning my brushes & the freelancer came over & apologized for taking my lady from me & I said that it didn't matter, she was being really cold toward me so whatever, but I asked her what the lady's problem was...and she said that she had asked her if I put the right color foundation on her. That she didn't want some "strange white girl" doing her makeup. WHAT THE HELL DID SHE ASK ME FOR HELP THEN FOR?!?!?!?!

Then I had two other ladys not let me help them cause I was white. One looked me up & down and said "no thanks, I'll wait for her (pointed to an artist that happens to wear NW45)" and then another said, no thanks, I need someone who can work with my skin.

Ok, so I'm the only "white girl" at my counter....well, my manager is white, but she is older & doesn't spend much time on the floor when I'm there. And I'm not just white, I'm transparent (I ideally would wear W5)...this, of course, doesn't bother me at all. I grew up in the middle of bumblefuck-in the country so I absolutely crave diversity, and I love my location for that. Our #1 selling product is NC45 Studio Tech, but we also have a lot of darker skinned African-American women and lighter skinned Latina women, Middle Eastern, as well as tons of Orthodox Jewish girls that shop with us...all of whom I am quite capable of matching their foundation or doing their faces up...I play it off as a joke if the customer makes race an issue ("Can you find someone to match my skin"...implying that since I'm transparent, that my eyes do not work), and I try not to let it bother me.

But on Saturday, I just couldn't take it anymore. 3 people, almost back to back to turn away from me? I had to step off the floor cause I probably would have flipped out on the next customer that implied anything to me. And as it turns out...I missed my goal by just $100-the amount that those 3 ladies would have more than made up for.

UGH!

 

[quandolak]

...........

 

[Deirdre]

I try to be really conscious of this when I'm shopping, and it so happens, the girl I trust most, does not share my skin colour. She just happens to be the best at the counter, IMO.

I'm really sorry people have to be this way. If everyone would just look past the skin, we'd see PEOPLE maybe, and our world wouldn't be so sad and mixed up.

That's one of the reasons I'm so dedicated to the company, I love their inclusive creed and their makeup!

 

[flowerhead]

That is ridiculous. Anyone who is emplyed by MAC is able to distinguish the colour and undertones of someones skin. Dont let the stupid bitches upset you, they are just ignorant and scared people.

 

[giz2000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerhead That is ridiculous. Anyone who is emplyed by MAC is able to distinguish the colour and undertones of someones skin. Dont let the stupid bitches upset you, they are just ignorant and scared people.

Totally agree...don't let ignorant people get under your skin...you do what you do best, and let them deal with their issues...

 

[litlaur]

That mentality makes me think of my search for a great hair stylist. For years I went to Asian salons because that was where my mom took me or at least recommended to me. "Asians know Asian hair." After years of switching stylists, the one who does wonders with my hair...

is a bald white guy!

I've had a lot of "ehh" foundation matches, but that was the MA's lack of competence, concern, maybe poor eyesight or even the lighting, nothing to do with his or her own skintone.

 

[little teaser]

thats crazy and just goes to show that racistism very much exsist more so than you think and some people just dont get it people dont look down at them because the color of there skin it's there ignorant ass attitude girl you should of went over there and wipe that bitch makeup off yourself dont let people like that bother you there the ones that have to wake up everyday and remain shallow not you

 

[f1rewater]

I'm really sorry those idiots gave you such a hard time ... *hugs*.

I really can't get my head around the reasoning that only someone with your exact same color can help you choose makeup.

I would really love to hear the "explanation" behind such a moronic argument.

 

[d_flawless]

i would have just been like, "well we have all been the same training, and our slogan is 'all ages, all races, all sexes' but that isn't enough for you, go ahead and enjoy your wait for..."
sometimes it isn't even worth it to make a point of saying anything, but honestly, one day she will have a crappy experience with someone with the same skin tone, and she'll realize that doesn't always mean anything.

 

[amoona]

I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you. I know it's easier said then done ... but just brush those people off. If they don't want to be helped by you then they don't need to be, you can spend your time better by helping people who want to be helped.

 

[Hawkeye]

Oh man. Talk about ridiculous.

It's amazing isn't it? Racism runs deep in every single race.
But the best thing is if you asked any of those 3 ladies if they were racest-the answer would be NO

amazing.

Honestly- I would tell your manager your concerns and other than that you just got to realize that people can be ignorant assholes. It's not your problem-it's THEIR problem and to be perfectly blunt there isn't a thing you can do about it-theres just a hate in there.

To put it point blank-people are jerks.

people are just down right cruel and they have a superiority complex. And its such a common misconception that racism is only one sided - hate transends race, period.

You can never change a persons mind, you can only change a persons heart. The only way to counter act hate is with love.

But how can you change some ladies racist thoughts? You can't. Some people are seriously so upheld in their hate they have no clue what they are missing-and guess what? They are missing an opprotunity to look absolutely fabulous, and they are missing an opprotunity to meet a wonderful woman.

Just be nice and if they want to act like racist asses-just realize that it's making them look bad. Can you imagine what the other girls that helped them out thought of them? Probably not very much.

*HUGS* Just let it roll of your back-its hard but you can do it. And if the time ever comes and someone makes a racist remark to you-just look them square in the eye and say point blank-" I will get so and so for you"

Or if you want to be really mean *evil grin*
Next time one of those ladies come in offer to do their makeup and make them look HORRIBLE!

hehehe don't do that really -you'll get complaints. but it would be amusing!

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

I agree with "youbeabitch"

Honestly. Don't let it get to you. I know its hard not to take it personally , Ive been in a similar situation.

Racism is EVERYWHERE..and it happens to EVERYONE!!
whether people want to believe that or not. That is their own issue.

But this is a sticky subject, So I won't go further.

I'm sorry that it happened to you. Just remember.. you can do makeup just as good as anyone else! If they don't want to come to you because they think your gonna put pale makeup on them or something ignorant.. That is their problem. 100% , As long as you Know you are capable of doing everything that the other makeup artists were doing..Then thats all you need

)

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

That mentality makes me think of my search for a great hair stylist. For years I went to Asian salons because that was where my mom took me or at least recommended to me. "Asians know Asian hair." After years of switching stylists, the one who does wonders with my hair...

Asians have been the worst for my hair. *shudders

A lot of women of color think only similarly shaded women can understand their makeup issues, like matching colors. That's the argument of wanting someone who is the same shade as you. It isn't always the case, though, of course.

I'm sorry you had to deal with racism, especially the first women who wasted your time (and the product on the floor.) There's really nothing you can do to change that mentality (and as youbeabitch said, they probably don't consider themselves racist, which is the biggest kick in the ass.) I'd explain to your manager what happened, if only so that she understand why you were under your goal. Also, I'd see if she has any tips on how to deal with it.

 

[Uchina]

Race issues always piss me off! Ethnicity should be a source of pride, not one of pain and limitations (this goes for my white sisters too). In fact, when white people tell me "oooh I wish I was Azn, u so lucky" it makes me seriously uncomfortable. Be happy with yourself and be proud of your roots!

 

[GalleyGirl]

Not to piggyback on your post, but something similar happens to me all the time. We have men come into my work all the time (I work in the collections dept of a museum) and they will totally ignore me and go straight to the one guy working here thinking he is the one in charge (when in fact he is our secretary).
Also, where I used to work before, in retail, we had Armenian women come in all the time who would only work with the one Armenian saleslady we had. I would understand if it was a language issue, but it wasn't as they all (except for a couple older women) spoke English perfectly. So I know what you're going through and it's sooooo frustrating!!

 

[sexypuma]

I am sorry for both of you guys. It is so ridiculous that in our society people are still so ignorant. Don't let them get to you.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalleyGirl Not to piggyback on your post, but something similar happens to me all the time. We have men come into my work all the time (I work in the collections dept of a museum) and they will totally ignore me and go straight to the one guy working here thinking he is the one in charge (when in fact he is our secretary).

LOL i know. Because in their eyes the man must obviously be in charge because he's a man

 

[MACaholic76]

I have a lot to say so I am going to try not to ramble here. You brought up a lot of issues and we have to be real careful as not to mix them up. I am really sorry that happened to you first and foremost and I mostly feel sorry for the emotional reactions this is causing you.
Disecting what has happened to you would take forever, but I'd like for you to think of a few things:
By definition, people of color do NOT have the power and privilege in our society to be racist. I get really weary when Whites refer to people of color as racist. No such thing. What you experienced was indeed prejudiced and/or discrimination. Is the area you work at mainly populated by Blacks?
Trust is a huge issue with us as well as it is makeup. I think women of color altogether were raised to believe that "we dont need that stuff" so even getting to a counter and slapping on some lipstick is a huge deal. Not saying you dont know your stuff which I'm sure you do (otherwise you wouldnt b working for mac, right?) but I reassure you that matching our skintone, especially if hyperpigmented, can be hell. Trust me.
One of the things I do at my counter is that if I'm not doing anything and someone is being color matched, I assist or stand by the artist to learn. I like to do this for all different skintones.
And also, dont judge your skills on such a small amount of customers. Gurl... u got a lot more that will come! Also, do not judge one racial group by the fact that you missed your money goal due to the 3 women of color that ...and I'll use the word "chose" to use someone else. You are mixing things together that shouldn't be.
I have a lot more to say but I think I got ADD...I lost track. Laterz!

 

[Indigowaters]

Ok. First off, I want to say sorry that your feelings were hurt by that situation. Some people are cold, yes, and they don't have the right to have attitude. I am in no way excusing their attitudes for treating you that way, but like the post above stated, we have an issue with trust when it comes to makeup. It's already hard to enough to try makeup without looking like a "clown" and it's doubly hard to walk into a store where some people (not the artists) think you can't afford the products. This causes a problem in us because we feel that if we DO somehow get the wrong color, that when we bring it back, people will look at us like, "Yeah, she couldn't afford it" or "She's always bringing stuff back". Because alot of people don't know MAC's motto or their operation of making sure everyone knows how to match colors for every skin type, we get defensive when we think someone might not match us well. Trust me, I've had African-American people not match me well and make me look "ashy". I don't think it was more of a race issue than it was a trust issue. You kind of had to prove you knew your stuff. But don't let it get you down, rather see it as a challenge. Once you do a great job on a woman of color, believe me, she will run back and tell all her friends who did it and they will love your work regardless of your color.

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACaholic76 . By definition, people of color do NOT have the power and privilege in our society to be racist. I get really weary when Whites refer to people of color as racist. No such thing.

Please Elaborate, Because I disagree.