A Black woman from Tennessee has gained attention online after sharing a video describing an experience she says she had while in China.
The woman shared a video showing herself shopping inside a store in China. While in the store, she noticed a female sales associate walking closely behind her as she moved through the aisles. “Guys she is following me. Do you see?” she said while filming herself walking, with the employee visible behind her.
“Being Black is so crazy,” the woman added, suggesting that she believed the experience was related to her race. Some viewers online agreed with her interpretation, saying they felt the sales associate may have assumed she would steal, referencing a stereotype that is sometimes discussed in similar contexts.
As the woman continued walking, the employee remained behind her even while she was visibly filming the interaction. “It’s so crazy,” she said. She then continued moving through the store to show that she believed she was being followed. When she changed direction, the sales associate also changed direction and followed her. In the caption of the video, the woman wrote, “Being black in Shanghai china.”
In another video, she said she did not believe the store was being racist toward her, before adding, “Maybe a little.” She clarified that she was followed throughout her time inside the store and said she did not make any purchases. She suggested that the employee may have been following her to offer assistance or answer questions, noting that similar customer service practices are used in other stores but said it made her uncomfortable. The woman also shared that while in China, she experienced people taking photos of her on multiple occasions. Despite this, she did not speak negatively about the country or its residents.
Viewers Divided Following Tennessee Woman’s Experience in China
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers expressed strong reactions after seeing the woman’s video, with some interpreting the incident as possible racial discrimination. One person wrote, “Racism is weird.” Another user added, “This is purely racism… not curiosity to profile someone based off their looks and follow them in a store to make sure they don’t steal JUST because of their race is racist.. yall always infantilize grown adults just because they come from different areas.. they know what they’re doing hence why they’re not doing it to people of lighter complexions.”
Others said they would not have been able to stay calm in the same situation. One person wrote, “I’m not mature enough for this situation yet.” On the other hand, some viewers suggested the employee’s behavior may not have been motivated by bad intentions, describing it as a common retail practice in parts of Asia. One comment read, “This is a huge retail culture in Asia, specifically in northeastern Asia. They usually tail people around in sportswear/shoe stores, accessories, or skincare stores. It’s because in these types of stores they don’t usually have all the sizes and options out, so in case you were to want to try a specific size on, they’ll be there to help. Hope this clears it!”
The video divided viewers, with some interpreting the situation as an example of racial bias, while others believed the employee’s behavior was simply part of standard store policy and customer service practices.
