Walmart will no longer keep multicultural hair and beauty products in locked cases

  • 27 Jun - 03 Jul, 2020
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Mag Files

Walmart will no longer keep multicultural hair and beauty products in locked cases following criticism that the practice is discriminatory against Black customers. The retail giant confirmed that the process of keeping certain products under lock and key, which it said was to keep shoplifters at bay, has been discontinued following concerns raised by customers. A spokesperson told KCNC that Walmart “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” and typically uses cases for products like electronics, automotive and cosmetics to deter shoplifters. The issue recently picked up steam thanks to a viral tweet in which a user shared two photos side-by-side: one of hair products from brands like Garnier and Suave sitting unprotected on Walmart shelves, and the second of Black haircare products locked behind glass. Customer Lauren Epps told KCNC she felt as though having her beauty and hair products locked up meant that the store deemed Black people untrustworthy. According to The New York Times, Walmart previously faced a federal discrimination lawsuit that said the practice of locking up certain products “implied that black people were more likely to shoplift,” while the company argued that the products were more likely to be stolen. The lawsuit was dropped last year.

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