Saturday October 31, 2009
Broaching discrimination
Sambal On The Side
By BRENDA BENEDICT
As a provocative film by a renowned German investigative journalist about ‘‘latent and blatant racism’’ in Germany plays in cinemas here, our columnist wonders whether it’s only race that needs addressing.
It was just like that infamous scene in Pretty Woman, where the uppity sales assistant at a Rodeo Drive boutique told Julia Roberts’ mini-skirted, leather boot-clad call girl that “there’s nothing here that fits you.’’
My episode occurred circa 2005 — my first year in Germany. I had accompanied my Togolese girlfriend Doreen to a swanky store on Frankfurt’s shopping mile. She had wanted office wear and a new winter coat. Dressed simply in our jeans and tees, we rode up to the “prestige floor’’.
As Doreen picked items to try on, we realised that none of the sales assistants came to help us as they did with the other customers. One of the skirts did not fit and Doreen then asked an assistant if it was available in a bigger size.
Without bothering to search, she replied, “There are no skirts in bigger sizes here.”
Doreen retorted, ‘‘Strange because this one is,’’ while holding another skirt up.
We got a disaffected shrug for a reply.
However, the sales assistant cornered us later at the escalator down to the cashier, insisting that she carry our chosen items.
Doreen refused saying, ‘‘I do not want you receiving any commission for your non-service and I’d like to speak to your manager, please.’’
Incredibly enough, the store manager justified his staffer’s behaviour, arguing that her refusal to assist earlier was because she was tired after being on her feet the whole day.
As it was still early afternoon and she clearly suffered no aching feet whilst dealing with her other albeit white customers, we sensed a pink elephant in the store. We walked out.
I recalled this experience recently with the Oct 22 premiere of Black on White: A journey through Germany. The film, by renowned undercover journalist Guenter Wallraff, chronicles his year-long ‘‘existence’’ as a Somalian living amongst white Germans.
His previous incarnations include a Turkish guest worker and the discrimination he had faced, and a journalist at a national tabloid where he unearthed questionable work ethics.
While I’ve yet to watch the movie, its synopsis describes how he was denied club memberships, could not rent apartments owned by whites and how he was even sometimes called Neger. Black empowerment groups wondered whether a white man in disguise who, apparently, is fighting their cause, could actually plumb the depths of their disenchantment.
They questioned why he did not instead feature real black people with hidden cameras and speculated whether he’s just “earning money on the costs of our suffering”.
Wallraff argues that he wanted to experience “what it’s like to be black in Germany.”
While I appreciate both arguments, I appreciate even more anyone who puts racism under the spotlight, whatever their colour.
What interested me and which somewhat relates to my anecdote was that when Wallraff a. k. a Kwammi Ogonno dressed shabbily and spoke broken German, he was often treated ‘‘like anyone else who is economically marginalised’’.
However, when he dressed well, spoke impeccable German and walked into expensive stores, he was treated courteously. To me, this seems as if a preconceived idea of ‘‘status’’ could cause colour blindness. And therein lies another form of discrimination that people seldom address.
I still wonder whether that sales woman treated us badly simply because of our colour. This is because to date I’ve not experienced any form of overt racist behaviour. If anything, people generally treat me as part of the crowd. Others may argue that I’ve simply been lucky.
However, I do note a marked difference in treatment based on how I project myself. Scuffed shoes or ill-fitting jackets do not make good impressions. Further up the scale, the way you speak, your education, career and economic standing can sometimes make or break you. So it moves on from colour to the overall package.
I can also understand how this latent ‘‘status discrimination’’ can sometimes be taken for racism. For instance, not everyone immigrates to another country under favourable circumstances. In Germany’s case, a sizable number are non-white.
Similarly not all non-white citizens lead privileged lifestyles. So then, like the fictitious Kwammi, you’re hit with a double whammy: you are non-white and economically disadvantaged. Hence, when you receive frosty treatment, it’s understandable if the ‘‘R word’’ comes to mind.
But not many easily admit to the sway of status. The word that drives some to live beyond their means in the hope of being accepted and accorded the same respect given to those already in that ‘‘aspired position’’. Yet given people’s financial situations now, I find it unacceptable when someone discriminates against me for not keeping up materially.
It’s bad enough if someone judges me for the colour of my skin, I don’t need a further benchmark based on economic might.
Whether at a florist’s, a doctor’s or an immigration office, I deserve as much respect as the woman in the cashmere twinset toting the Birkin.
Brenda Benedict is a Malaysian living in Germany. She is happy that no matter how insignificant her boycott, that store will never get her custom.
Have you had similar experiences? We would like to hear from you. E-mail: weekend@thestar.com.my
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