#27: Shoplifting

Shoplifting stats and people of color is a topic that’s not often discussed, but it’s worth bringing to the table. Here’s the thing, just because people of color are more likely to be caught shoplifting, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re the ones doing all the stealing. There are a lot of biases that come into play.

The reality is that retail stores are more likely to target people of color and watch us like a hawk, leading to more arrests and convictions. That doesn’t mean people of color are more likely to steal – just that they have higher chances of being accused. Sadly, taking measures like this is a necessary precaution.