What are you doing in this store? Patterson asked, his eyes moving from Bennett's face to the dresses in her arms and back to her face. Bennett's confusion deepened. I'm shopping, obviously. Is something wrong?
Patterson's expression hardened. I received a call that there is a black female in this store acting suspicious, possibly planning to steal merchandise. The caller said she felt unsafe. Bennett felt her stomach drop and anger immediately flare up in her chest. She looked around the boutique and saw other customers now staring at the confrontation.
She saw Patricia Patterson standing near a display rack, watching the scene with barely concealed satisfaction. Bennett turned back to the officer with disbelief in her voice. Are you serious right now? I'm shopping. That's what people do in clothing stores.
I'm holding dresses that I selected to try on. Is this because I'm black? Patterson held up his hand in a gesture that was meant to look calming, but came across as condescending. "Ma'am, I need you to calm down. I'm just responding to a call and doing my job.
I need to see some form of identification." Bennett's jaw tightened with anger, but she kept her voice controlled. Identification for what exactly? I haven't done anything wrong. I'm a customer in a store selecting dresses to try on in the fitting room.
That's not a crime. Patterson's professional mask slipped slightly, and his underlying racism showed through clearly. Look, let's be real here. Someone like you in this expensive boutique looks kind of suspicious. People like you don't normally shop in places like this, so I need to see some ID and verify who you are.
The words hung in the air like poison. Several customers gasped audibly. Someone pulled out their phone and started recording. Bennett stared at Officer Patterson with a mixture of fury and disbelief. Someone like me?
Bennett repeated, her voice tight with controlled anger. People like me? You mean black people? Officer, you're saying black people don't shop in expensive stores? Patterson's face flushed slightly, but he doubled down.