[OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown business owners

[Liz Hannum]

Hey all,

I had an email forwarded to me by a City Commissioner from an OC resident
who felt mistreated at a downtown salon. The email is below but I'd like to
hear from you, how you've either helped business owners understand that
what they were saying was unacceptable from a customer service perspective,
or called them out on behavior that can be easily construed as racist. We
have All Are Welcome signs in some of our business windows, but this salon
is definitely not the first complaint we've had about being unwelcoming to
minority groups who want to spend their money here. Any and all advice
would be helpful.

Email from OC Resident:
*"My family moved to Oregon City from downtown Portland 3 years ago and
have enjoyed living away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. I am
an elementary teacher who understands the importance of learning and
teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusivity.  Today my wife, who is
mexican, went to get her hair cut and colored at XXX Hair salon in downtown
Oregon City. This is a process that can take many hours. During this time
the owner of the salon was also getting her hair done. After many hours my
hispanic wife was the only customer left, with the owner still getting her
hair done. The owner of the store then made continued disparaging comments
about mexicans. The owner and her stylist were looking at a picture and
stated, "this looks like two Mexicans looking for work in a berry field''
and "that is the only place Mexicans could work anyway." She repeated this
multiple times loudly for my wife to hear. During this time she also was
playing songs with the "N" word in it. My wife was very uncomfortable as
was the stylist working on her hair. She wanted to complete the cut and
color and the stylist working on her hair was very apologetic and was also
uncomfortable with what the owner was saying. When my wife got home she was
in tears. I called the owner right away and I told her how unacceptable
this was and that if this is the way she talks and acts at her business, I
am sure it is much worse at home. She told me she was just joking around
with a friend at the salon and that she has a lot of "Mexican Friends'',
so it wasn't discriminatory. I don't have any social media accounts, so I
cannot post this, but I also do not want to stay silent. Minorities in this
country have too often remained silent; whether black, brown, asian, and
every other minority. I am not a minority, so I do not know first hand how
it feels to be discriminated against by the color of your skin, but my wife
does know how this feels and I know my mixed children will have this occur
to them. It is a sad reality. I want to educate them about it, but it
saddens me that it still happens in this day and age.  The behavior at XXX
Salon was completely unacceptable and I would like the city council and
Mayor of Oregon City to speak up and not tolerate hateful and
discriminatory behavior. I want to live in an Oregon City where I know my
wife and children are able to go into any business without prejudices
and/or derogatory things being said. Thank you for your time."*

-- 
Liz Hannum
Executive Director

Downtown Oregon City Association
814 Main Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=814+Main+Street+Oregon+City,+OR+97045&entry=gmail&source=g>
Oregon City, OR 97045
<https://maps.google.com/?q=814+Main+Street+Oregon+City,+OR+97045&entry=gmail&source=g>

liz at downtownoregoncity.org <jon at downtownoregoncity.org>
Office (503) 802-1640
Direct (503) 802-1638

fb.com/downtownoc <http://www.fb.com/downtownoc>
downtownoregoncity.org <http://www.downtownoregoncity.org/>

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