Tech giant Apple say they have apologised to six black students after they were told they
could not come into a store in Melbourne because staff thought they might steal
something.
On Tuesday afternoon, year 10 students from Maribyrnong College in Melbourne's west
visited an Apple store at the nearby Highpoint Shopping Centre in their uniforms.
The students accused Apple Of "racial profiling" after one Of the students said he and his
friends left the store, but later returned and a security guard told them they could not re-
enter.
One of the students filmed the exchange on their phone.
"These guys (the security guardsl are just a bit worried about your presence in our store,-
an Apple staff member can be heard saying in the video.
"They're just worried you might steal something."
A member of the group then replied: "Why would we steal something?"
Apple told triple j's Hack in a statement that they have apologised to the students.
"We've looked into the details Of the situation and we apologise to the customers
involved," Apple said.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure all our customers are treated
the way they should be.
"Inclusion and diversity are among Apple's core values.
"We believe in equality for everyone, regardless of race, age, gender, gender identity,
ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
"That applies throughout our company, around the world with no exceptions. "
Angry with how they were treated, the students uploaded the video to Facebook.
Student Maboir Ater said it was not the first time he had experienced "racial profiling".
"When we walk into a store with a group Of minimum three people, the security watches
us — they follow us and that just makes us feel like we're not welcome in the store," he
said.
"They judge us before we can show our character.
"It's because we're teenage boys, but also because we're black teenagers.
"They see us and think of all the stereotypes."
could not come into a store in Melbourne because staff thought they might steal
something.
On Tuesday afternoon, year 10 students from Maribyrnong College in Melbourne's west
visited an Apple store at the nearby Highpoint Shopping Centre in their uniforms.
The students accused Apple Of "racial profiling" after one Of the students said he and his
friends left the store, but later returned and a security guard told them they could not re-
enter.
One of the students filmed the exchange on their phone.
"These guys (the security guardsl are just a bit worried about your presence in our store,-
an Apple staff member can be heard saying in the video.
"They're just worried you might steal something."
A member of the group then replied: "Why would we steal something?"
Apple told triple j's Hack in a statement that they have apologised to the students.
"We've looked into the details Of the situation and we apologise to the customers
involved," Apple said.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure all our customers are treated
the way they should be.
"Inclusion and diversity are among Apple's core values.
"We believe in equality for everyone, regardless of race, age, gender, gender identity,
ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
"That applies throughout our company, around the world with no exceptions. "
Angry with how they were treated, the students uploaded the video to Facebook.
Student Maboir Ater said it was not the first time he had experienced "racial profiling".
"When we walk into a store with a group Of minimum three people, the security watches
us — they follow us and that just makes us feel like we're not welcome in the store," he
said.
"They judge us before we can show our character.
"It's because we're teenage boys, but also because we're black teenagers.
"They see us and think of all the stereotypes."
The past has not been left behind. No matter what people say or think, racism is still a very real deal today. Whether it be the rising antisemitism in Europe or, as this article states, suspicions placed on black teenagers specifically because they're black is evidence of a past that still has roots. It is almost impossible to completely uproot these ideas without breaking the "tree" or society in the process so generally we like to leave it underground, where its hidden. It's in seemingly small incidences such as these that racism and other deep issues buried come to light. It's interesting how our modern society reacts to such issues, where in earlier years they might have protested, today people simply post it to social media and automatically millions hear about it. The author seems at least slightly biased and between the lines you can even feel emotion. He is an author desperately trying to let the world know about these inequalities. It is by journalists such as these that even big companies are stood up against and the truth is revealed. Overall this article exposes a truth that are world is still bias, unequal, and not everyone has the same rights (as we like to claim in modern society), it is statement calling for a need for change as well as moving into the future but leaving the past behind.Hack, Triple J. "Apple Apologises to Black Students for Refusing Them Store Entry." ABC News. ABC 2015, 13 Nov. 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
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