ESPN's Mark Spears made sure to say he loves the city of Healdsburg, California, but that didn't stop him from slamming the store he claims was racially profiled.
“But this evening, while enjoying Healdsburg, my friend, who is African American, and I were racially harassed by two employees at a store in Healdsburg called @antheminteriors. I was subjected to discriminatory profiling,” Spears wrote in the article. Instagram post.
“When something like that happens, I feel angry inside and feel pressured to buy expensive things to prove my worth and prove them wrong.
“After resisting the urge, I tried to give the woman who worked there the benefit of the doubt by asking her if she knew where the nearest restroom was.
“She advised me to go to the @healdsburgpolice station across the street and use their facilities. Confused, I asked her why she was going to the bathroom at the police station. The reaction was that it was okay not to get arrested.”
“Thank you to those who have shown love, not ignorance or racism,” Spears concluded her note.
Janelle Rovner, founder of Anthem Interiors, contacted Spears to apologize. The San Francisco Chronicle reported..
“I deeply regret that that was his experience,” Rovner said. “I've worked really long and hard to build a solid business. I care so much about the community, my employees and everything else, but to have something like this happen I'm really shocked.”
Spears appeared to accept the apology, saying, “I felt it was sincere.”
“When I walked in, I just felt it,” Spears added. “The clerk was basically staring at us with a raised eyebrow.
“Anyone who has been racially profiled knows when it's happening,” he said. “It feels like someone is spying on you and watching what you do, like they're expecting you to steal.”
Spears is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.
