Kyle Sales, a teenage worker at a Lowe’s in Washington, was instructed to take off his “Black Panther Wakanda Forever” shirt by a manager after a customer found it offensive and racist. The manager verbally reprimanded Sales and offered him the choice of changing his shirt at home or purchasing a replacement.

Questioning the Decision

Sales questioned the incident, asking, “What makes this racist?” Despite his frustration, he concealed the shirt with a sports jersey. The customer returned the next day to inquire about any penalty imposed on Sales for wearing the shirt.

Reflections on Prejudice

Sales, who had experienced racial prejudice in the past, felt the incident was a form of discrimination. He compared it to negative experiences he had during high school and previous jobs.

Lowe’s Apology and Commitment

Lowe’s expressed regret for the incident and directly apologized to Sales. The company emphasized its commitment to diversity and inclusion and pledged to provide training to prevent such occurrences in the future.

This incident highlights the challenges of navigating perceptions of racism and underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace environment.