Racial profiling? At Disney???

[Khcuttin1]

Tiggerlover91, you can put a "mad" emoji all you want, but as an educated woman, I KNOW what I saw. Maybe it just a weird coincidence, but my gut feeling is that it wasnt. But until people like YOU who REFUSE to believe there is racial profiling, than NOTHING will ever be done about it. Its almost 2020 for Gods sakes! Who cares what color, religion, race, sexual preference, etc that you are or are not. It must be heartbreaking to even think that the Disney you so love could possibly ever do something so terrible, but its true. In fact its pretty much true EVERYWHERE, so Im hoping that your "mad" emoji was because you are upset at what I saw, and not at me "calling out" Disney for what appeared to be CLEARLY profiling. I had 7 pockets......security literally peeked in and let me through. How is that ok when the woman next to me was black with a tiny purse and she was made to feel like some criminal?

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Hmmm. White mom type here. My elementary age children and I always get the body cavity thorough search. I suspect the OP's security officer is just lazy.

 

[UncleMike101]

Every Security person at WDW is a human, so far, and as such they bring their own personal attitudes and prejudices to work every day.
Some will look for trigger traits by clothing, attitude, demeanor, body language, and yes race.
This makes the Security screening erratic and sometimes downright foolish in execution.
I simply jump through the hoop and then enjoy my day in the park.

 

[Anchored]

I think they do to a degree. When I go alone or with my white-looking kids (mixed but blue-green eyes and wavy/not curly hair) we never have to go through the metal detectors and my bag has gone through varying levels of inspection from a glance to a full out inspection
If I go with my boyfriend (black) and all of the kids, we have to go through the metal detectors every.single.time
It is annoying, and noticeable

 

[Khcuttin1]

I go to WDW all the time, but not until this last trip, a few weeks ago, that I clearly noticed something. Was it a fluke? When you go through security ( Magic Kingdom lets say ..because this is where I first noticed it)
Security checks your bags. Now as a white, "Mom looking" woman, I had a bag with 7 pockets, and the security guard literally glanced in my bag! I could have been carrying anything in that bag! The woman to my left was black, no children, and had a extremely small purse. They went through every lint filled corner of that little purse and then picked her to go through the metal detector! CLEARLY racial profiling. I started to intentionally "look" for that at the security entrances, and I was mortified to notice that if you are a minority, security goes through your bag with a fine tooth comb!! Disney? Yes, DISNEY. Has anybody else noticed this? They literally just glanced in my bag at every entrance. Can this be my imagination? If this is not my imagination, than something needs to done.. Racially profiling anywhere is disgusting and vile, but at Disney it seems particularly heinous. I would like to know if anybody has experienced this same thing at Disney?

 

[Khcuttin1]

IQUOTE="UncleMike101, post: 60673542, member: 512458"]
Every Security person at WDW is a human, so far, and as such they bring their own personal attitudes and prejudices to work every day.
Some will look for trigger traits by clothing, attitude, demeanor, body language, and yes race.
This makes the Security screening erratic and sometimes downright foolish in execution.
I simply jump through the hoop and then enjoy my day in the park.
[/QUOTE]
I

 

[Khcuttin1]

I agree with what you are saying, when you "look" for something you often find it. I LOVE Disney, but answer me this question. If there are 100 Disney security guards and only 1 of them "profiles", isn't that one too many? I felt so awful for that lady. We both were at the same table, I ( white ) on the left, her ( black ) on the right. 2 white security guards. I had an enormous backpack with 7 pockets, she had a tiny purse. I got a glance, and she got a full turn out of everything that was in her purse, and THEN had to go through the metal detector. Multiple people sided with her because she was so upset, and can you blame her? How was that fair? Im quite sure that all the people on this thread that disagree with my comment, are white. We live white privileged lives so we DON'T notice it when it happens to others. Im not saying that Disney is racially profiling every person.....Im saying that it DID happen to that poor lady, and when I opened my eyes I did notice that "some" security guards tend to unconscionably or conciously do it. Plain and simple. People can argue that's bull, but I GUARANTEE that there are stacks of complaints at Disney about that exact thing, and as someone who stood 2 feet away from a lady it happened too, I question how often is it done? That's all im saying. 1 guard doing it is too many. Can we agree on that.

 

[Klayfish]

Tiggerlover91, you can put a "mad" emoji all you want, but as an educated woman, I KNOW what I saw. Maybe it just a weird coincidence, but my gut feeling is that it wasnt. But until people like YOU who REFUSE to believe there is racial profiling, than NOTHING will ever be done about it. Its almost 2020 for Gods sakes! Who cares what color, religion, race, sexual preference, etc that you are or are not. It must be heartbreaking to even think that the Disney you so love could possibly ever do something so terrible, but its true. In fact its pretty much true EVERYWHERE, so Im hoping that your "mad" emoji was because you are upset at what I saw, and not at me "calling out" Disney for what appeared to be CLEARLY profiling. I had 7 pockets......security literally peeked in and let me through. How is that ok when the woman next to me was black with a tiny purse and she was made to feel like some criminal?

Uhhh...it's called random selection and random chance. We've gone in with a giant stroller holding two giant bags full of stuff and were not stopped for the metal detectors. We've gone in completely bagless and wearing cotton shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops and have been sent through. The fact that one person you saw get selected wasn't white does not make for racial profiling. I'm sure people of all color, creed, religion, sexual orientation and favorite Disney character get sent through security. Would you have written this angry post if the woman had been Asian?

Again, I repeat....oh please

 

[Jocelynaus]

I have 0 doubt some Disney security guards, airport officials, store clerks, etc etc racially profile and others don’t.

It’s abhorrent, possibly unconscious, but Disney is far from above it.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

First of all, racial profiling is an abomination anywhere it occurs whether it is the "Disney we all love" or anywhere else. It shouldn't happen anywhere. Yes, one person engaging in profiling behavior is too much.

Second, you assume that Disney condones or encourages this behavior. Assuming any of their security is engaging in racial profiling (and I'm not at all agreeing that they are), that does not mean Disney is even aware it is happening. Did you report what you observed to management? Where are the stacks of complaints that Disney is not responding to?

Third, having to go through the metal detector after having your bag checked is randomly assigned so that you can't hide something on your person instead of in your bag when you make the assumption that because your bag was searched your person will not be. Having to go through the metal detector is what everyone who enters the park should expect to have to do and when you don't have to then it just wasn't your turn. DH and I have frequently had to go through the metal detector after having every crevice of our bags searched as have many others. Those who travel bagless and/ or with small wallets purses do seem to have to go through the metal detector with frequency which I'm guessing is based WAY more on the logic that a concealed weapon isn't going to fit in that tiny purse but might fit into a pocket on their person. Before you go looking for racial motivation, it's best to consider other more practical reasons why this may happen. How do you know the direction for the day wasn't "anyone with a tiny purse is going through the detector" or "anyone in a blue shirt is going through the detector?"

I agree with what you are saying, when you "look" for something you often find it. I LOVE Disney, but answer me this question. If there are 100 Disney security guards and only 1 of them "profiles", isn't that one too many? I felt so awful for that lady. We both were at the same table, I ( white ) on the left, her ( black ) on the right. 2 white security guards. I had an enormous backpack with 7 pockets, she had a tiny purse. I got a glance, and she got a full turn out of everything that was in her purse, and THEN had to go through the metal detector. Multiple people sided with her because she was so upset, and can you blame her? How was that fair? Im quite sure that all the people on this thread that disagree with my comment, are white. We live white privileged lives so we DON'T notice it when it happens to others. Im not saying that Disney is racially profiling every person.....Im saying that it DID happen to that poor lady, and when I opened my eyes I did notice that "some" security guards tend to unconscionably or conciously do it. Plain and simple. People can argue that's bull, but I GUARANTEE that there are stacks of complaints at Disney about that exact thing, and as someone who stood 2 feet away from a lady it happened too, I question how often is it done? That's all im saying. 1 guard doing it is too many. Can we agree on that.

To the bolded, that's a pretty big assumption. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[jaysmom4285]

As noted, screening procedures are highly dependent on who is doing it at the moment. One day I watched the security person thoroughly search every pocket of every bag of the people in front of me, including opening eyeglass cases. The security staff switched out just as I got to the front of the line, and the new person just glanced in my backpack, squeezed the sides and bottom quickly, and sent me on my way. They all have different techniques, and I doubt (admittedly with no proof) that they pay much attention to who is standing in front of them.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Tiggerlover91, you can put a "mad" emoji all you want, but as an educated woman, I KNOW what I saw. Maybe it just a weird coincidence, but my gut feeling is that it wasnt. But until people like YOU who REFUSE to believe there is racial profiling, than NOTHING will ever be done about it. Its almost 2020 for Gods sakes! Who cares what color, religion, race, sexual preference, etc that you are or are not. It must be heartbreaking to even think that the Disney you so love could possibly ever do something so terrible, but its true. In fact its pretty much true EVERYWHERE, so Im hoping that your "mad" emoji was because you are upset at what I saw, and not at me "calling out" Disney for what appeared to be CLEARLY profiling. I had 7 pockets......security literally peeked in and let me through. How is that ok when the woman next to me was black with a tiny purse and she was made to feel like some criminal?

Don't you dare presume to say what I believe. I have lived it... YOU have not. I am black, you are not.
How about you go back and read my post and not react to the angry emoji. If you bothered to read it, perhaps you wouldn't have said what you said to me directly. Educated woman, I'll match my degree to yours anytime.

 

[KimBean]

I go to WDW all the time, but not until this last trip, a few weeks ago, that I clearly noticed something. Was it a fluke? When you go through security ( Magic Kingdom lets say ..because this is where I first noticed it)
Security checks your bags. Now as a white, "Mom looking" woman, I had a bag with 7 pockets, and the security guard literally glanced in my bag! I could have been carrying anything in that bag! The woman to my left was black, no children, and had a extremely small purse. They went through every lint filled corner of that little purse and then picked her to go through the metal detector! CLEARLY racial profiling. I started to intentionally "look" for that at the security entrances, and I was mortified to notice that if you are a minority, security goes through your bag with a fine tooth comb!! Disney? Yes, DISNEY. Has anybody else noticed this? They literally just glanced in my bag at every entrance. Can this be my imagination? If this is not my imagination, than something needs to done.. Racially profiling anywhere is disgusting and vile, but at Disney it seems particularly heinous. I would like to know if anybody has experienced this same thing at Disney?

My dh got stopped at every security check in a 10 day trip last time. He is a white male, no facial hair, no tattoos. (Not saying anything wrong with that just says he looks like a privledged square.)

I think your experience is completely coincidental and maybe biased by looking for something that wasn’t there. If they were going to profile white men are more likely to be shooters than black women in the US.

It’s mostly security theater anyway. Real security is being done that you can’t see.

 

[Darklord77]

In fact its pretty much true EVERYWHERE, so Im hoping that your "mad" emoji was because you are upset at what I saw, and not at me "calling out" Disney for what appeared to be CLEARLY profiling.

CLEARLY to you might not be CLEARLY to others. I think you should change your use of CLEARLY to "my PERCEPTION." You are using your perception of the situation as cold hard facts. I appreciate your point of view, but you have not justified your accusation that there is a Disney-wide problem with racial profiling.

 

[FCDub]

IF this is the case, why not say something to someone there? Posting about it on a message board weeks later does nothing to solve the actual "problem."

 

[JETSDAD]

For my family, when we have a bag it will be a cross body that my wife carries while my daughter and I go through the bagless entry. My wife has all the pockets open because they want to see in all of them. My daughter and I head straight to the metal detectors because that's the norm. Even though she is young enough to not have to go through she does anyways because she looks older and we just don't want to waste time discussing her age when she can just walk through the detector. When my wife gets out of the bag check she heads to the detectors. This is our norm. Anything other than that is abnormal to us and a pleasant surprise. Next time I'm going to watch for the white privilege lines because we've obviously being doing this wrong.

 

[sam1998]

Well, I think bag checks has recently gotten more...thorough anyway, so maybe that is what you noticed. Because we were there in late March and DH (40ish white guy) was carrying our backpack in and it was inspected with a fine tooth comb. Like, holding up our sunscreen and shaking it next to the security guys ear. The lady in front of him had pringles in her bag and hubby said the security guard made her open the foil seal so he could see in.

 

[Patches Lee]

I'm usually the bag carrier and DH goes through bagless with DD10. White with multiple tats on arms and sometimes wear all black clothing and in the 8 days of vacation not once got pulled for metal detector, but did get anywhere from items being picked out of my bag to look for hidden things, to a quick glance. DH on the other hand white, not visible tattoos, usually a button down or tshirt, with a kid dressed like a princess in the got scanned every time. I don't see a pattern but we are looking at multiple security guards at multiple entrances with people from all backgrounds. Unless you stand at one entrance enough for multiple days and watch the same security guard you suspect and track each person they screen across all those days there is nothing but an assumption.

 

[LSUmiss]

Tiggerlover91, you can put a "mad" emoji all you want, but as an educated woman, I KNOW what I saw. Maybe it just a weird coincidence, but my gut feeling is that it wasnt. But until people like YOU who REFUSE to believe there is racial profiling, than NOTHING will ever be done about it. Its almost 2020 for Gods sakes! Who cares what color, religion, race, sexual preference, etc that you are or are not. It must be heartbreaking to even think that the Disney you so love could possibly ever do something so terrible, but its true. In fact its pretty much true EVERYWHERE, so Im hoping that your "mad" emoji was because you are upset at what I saw, and not at me "calling out" Disney for what appeared to be CLEARLY profiling. I had 7 pockets......security literally peeked in and let me through. How is that ok when the woman next to me was black with a tiny purse and she was made to feel like some criminal?

Is it not possible that they have a system that they’re supposed to thoroughly inspect every so often unless they suspect something? I’ll add to the list of other white ppl who always get ridiculously searched. Forgot mom-looking...I get searched that way while literally pushing an infant in a stroller. DH almost always gets singled out for an extra check, but he’s 6’2 & a big guy. I always assumed that’s why. We often stay at the monorail resorts so sometimes this happens to us twice in a row when we go to Epcot.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

I wanted to add, regarding how OP's bag got a glance and the other party's tiny purse was taken apart- DH carries a large backpack with many pockets. Those pockets are usually empty, or filled with 1 item that is clearly visible. The main compartment usually has 2 larger clear zipper bags where the contents can easily be seen without having to take the whole bag apart. My much smaller bag tends to have small items in various pockets- usually 3-4 small items loose in one small zippered pocket. My bag gets checked much more thoroughly because security has to move those items around in the small pocket, or remove them from the pocket, to see what everything is. So what you're seeing as some injustice because her tiny purse was searched and then she was sent through a metal detector actually makes way more sense from a security standpoint.