Hi my name is Cassie. I am a first generation Canadian. My parents immigrated from Ghana in their twenties. I am the middle child between two sisters. Growing up my parents always taught us the importance of education, discipline and good behavior. They worked extremely hard so we would never experience poverty and I am very thankful for them. My dad was especially keen on us pursing professional careers and higher education. Although my true passion resides in visual arts, poetry and crocheting,
I have a BSc in Chemistry degree and currently work in the pharmaceutical industry. I also have a small business called Holy Raw where we promote all natural skin care and give back to local communities in Ghana.
I used to work for a popular Canadian retail pharmacy chain. On a Wednesday, when the cash supervisor was changing the till in the pharmacy, a white lady approached the counter and asked the white cash supervisor if she could pick up her prescriptions. He explained that he did not work in the pharmacy and was only changing the till, he then asked me to come to the counter. I came to the counter and said, “hi, may I please get your last name”. She looked at me with disgust on her face and said, “I didn’t ask you, I asked him to get my prescriptions”. Speaking directly to the cash supervisor she gave him her last name. The cash supervisor and I exchanged silent looks of confusion. I went to retrieve her prescriptions. As I was getting her prescriptions she screeched, “I don’t want you to help me! I want him to help me!”. It was clear she was getting agitated by my presence. I gave the prescriptions to the cash supervisor so he could confirm those prescriptions were hers and cash her out. I then went back to completing other tasks.
Initially, I wasn’t exactly sure why she didn’t want my help. I always try not to assume it is because of the colour of my skin. As the cash supervisor was cashing her out she began to explain to him the reason why she didn’t want my help – because I was black. She explicitly said she does not like black people and will not come back as long as I worked there. These comments cleared up my “is it because I’m black?” thoughts and denial. There was no more doubt left.
To be completely honest I was pretty hurt by what she said. She had no idea who I was as a person and didn’t even give me a chance to change her perspective. I’ve seen my parents work so hard and sacrifice so much for my sisters and me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was live an honest life, make my parents proud and not be judged by the color of my skin. I continued working at the pharmacy and didn’t let her comments paint a negative picture in my mind towards all white people. I wish she could have done the same. I wish she could have continued coming to the pharmacy and allowed a black person to assist her regardless of whatever negative experience she might have had in her past.