A routine home showing for a black Maryland realtor quickly turned into a disturbing confrontation after an older man allegedly accused her of breaking into the property and called the police on her. On top of the accusations and racial profiling, the realtor also alleged that the old man said words she considered racist while he was reporting her to the police for something she supposedly didn’t do.
The incident occurred late in August in Columbia, Maryland. Realtor Chela Adrianna Perdue, also the woman in question, described the incident in a post that has since sparked outrage online. According to Perdue, she was showing a home to a potential client when the man confronted her and claimed she had no right to be inside.
Perdue said the man called 911 and allegedly told dispatchers that she was being aggressive and that he felt threatened. During the call, she said the old man repeatedly referenced her race, saying, “She Black, Blackity Black,” while also commenting on how young she appeared. The man also allegedly emphasized that the neighborhood was a “drug-free zone,” according to Perdue’s account.
Perdue said the situation was so difficult to believe that she called a previous client and asked them to return to the property to serve as a witness. The realtor sadly acknowledged that she was unable to record the entire encounter. Thankfully, the situation ultimately ended when police arrived. Perdue said the responding officers handled the situation professionally and even apologized to her for the man’s behavior.
The Incident Has Sparked Outrage
Still, it appears that the damage has been done for Perdue, as she later stated, “Imagine being a Black woman simply doing your job and someone deciding you don’t belong there.” In addition, Perdue also used the hashtags “#racism” and “#discrimination” in her original post. The video and account of the encounter circulated widely online, prompting a flood of reactions. Many commenters focused on what they viewed as the racial implications of the man’s allegations.
“ANOTHER FOOLISH OLD MAN!!” one commenter wrote. Another person criticized the man’s behavior in the context of former President Donald Trump’s political movement, writing, “I wonder why can’t he just mind his own business? When Trump got in the picture, all of the sudden, racists are so comfortable to exercise their racist powers.”
Some urged Perdue not to engage with the man. “Just ignore and stop explaining yourself. It’s none of his business,” one Instagram commenter wrote. Not everyone accepted the story without reservations. One skeptical social media user questioned the available footage, asking, “Where’s the part when the cops showed up? We need to see that part too.”
The incident has nevertheless renewed discussion online about black realtors and other professionals being questioned about their presence in neighborhoods or properties where they are working, merely because of the color of their skin. It’s not clear what happened to the old man in the video, or whether Perdue has decided to pursue further action against him.
