(I work the floor at an independently-owned menswear store. The owner, my boss, spends a lot of time at the shop, and tries to keep prices as low as possible to help our cityâs large homeless population get good job interview clothes. A clearly homeless man is wandering around the store. The other patrons are giving him looks.)
Customer: âExcuse me, sir?â
Customer: âI think you may want to call security. That⌠bum over there, he keeps feeling the suits and muttering to himself. Iâm just sure heâs planning to steal one.â
Me: âWell, maâam, I think thatâs quite unlikely.â
Customer: âOh, come on, you know how they are! I mean, Iâd keep an eye on him even if he wasnât homeless!â
(The homeless man in question happens to be Hispanic.)
Me: âWe donât discriminate here, maâam.â
Customer: âWell, Iâm sure the owner would want to hear about this!â
(I give in and call him over. The customer explains her concerns. As a black man, my boss isnât happy with her racism, but agrees to talk to the homeless man.)
Owner: âExcuse me, sir, are you finding what you need?â
Homeless Man: âWell, not really. Iâm hoping for something versatile in a dark or navy wool, but most of the options in my size are cut American style instead of European, which fits me a little better. Not to mention theyâre all pinstriped, which I really donât have the build for, you know?â
Owner: âI⌠yes, I understand. I think we may have some options over here, if youâll follow me. How did you know all that?â
Homeless Man: âBack before I lost my job, I used to be really into this stuff. Iâm not looking for anything fancy, just something I can use to look good for a job interview later today.â
(My boss helps him find something he likes, and comes to the counter with him. The suit is priced at $87.)
Homeless Man: *digging in his pockets* âHang on, I think Iâve got enough.â
Owner: *to me* âTake my card. Iâm buying it for him.â *to the homeless man* âHere. The suitâs yours, on one condition. After your interview today, you come back and apply for a job here too. Got it?â
Homeless Man: âI⌠oh my God, thank you. Thank you so much.â
(Two years later, that formerly-homeless man is my manager, and has a little girl with his new wifeâthe ownerâs sister.)