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Shoppers Drug Mart employees are the absolute worst in my experience for racial profiling. They opened a new store so had hardly any customers, I was shopping for painkillers where there are numerous drug types, brands, strengths (mg), styles (capsules, gel cap, tablets), amounts and prices - all in small writing which takes quite a bit of time to disseminate and decide upon especially when your eyesight is poor as mine is. After a while I looked up and noticed a security guard standing in the aisle watching me. I was shocked and confronted him, asking if he was watching me, to which he quickly denied and left. Was so disturbed I quickly left the store without buying anything and refused to return to that location. Another time I was shopping for an eyebrow pencil where the colour name was printed again in small letters so was spending time to find the one I wanted amongst all the different browns. After I had chosen and started to walk past their counter, their staff member stood with her arms folded shaking her head. This was very alarming as I had shopped in that store since it had opened! So after effectively being accused of shoplifting a $3 eyebrow pencil for no reason other than being black, at the cash line, a white guy sprints out the door carrying a $50 box of diapers! Whatever they are selling at Shoppers or anywhere else is not worth my freedom. They have no right to profile me when it is never going to be me stealing. There are many, many black people who just do not do those kinds of things. We are not all criminals. I have worked in lots of stores and the majority of people stealing are the majority of people in Canada - the white people. Stop living on stereotypes, Shoppers Drug Mart and don't pooh-pooh people's experiences when they call and complain!

I think subtle racism is actually a very practical type of stereotyping and it didn't just got created out of air, there is a big chunk of that specific race (be it any race according to the stereotype) who actually prove the stereotype to be right. I am from india, living in Canada and if some house owner would prefer a white guy over me to rent their house, I would not blame him since a lot of people don't like the smell of spices that we cook all the time.\n\nAs far as stereotyping is sublet and not rude or hurting, I don't think it's actually so much of racism rather then preference.\n\nI just want to make it clear though that I do support racism, whatever is happening in US and a lot of other countries which is violent is a very horrible thing. Specially black people being racially profiled everywhere including malls and by the police themselves.

I feel so strange for understanding both sides of this argument as equally valid points in a vacuum...\n\nBut in my opinion, if you live in a western country, then you should adapt and dress like the people who live there, if not you will always be an outcast and not integrate into society.\nIf a guy in shorts and a wifebeater wants to sell you a new fancy dancy investment idea you are most likely not going to trust him, since he does not wear a suit as expected for people in this position.