Holiday Shopping Incident Highlights the Importance of Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Kansas City, MO – A simple shopping trip on Christmas Eve turned into an unsettling ordeal for Marsha Willis, founder and CEO of Black Owned Business Kansas City (BOBKC). What should have been a routine stop to complete her costume for a Christmas Eve mass performance revealed a deeper issue of systemic bias and the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses that prioritize their communities.
A Search for White Leggings Turns Sour
After spending the day shopping with her four-year-old daughter, Marsha visited Viva Fashion to find white leggings to wear under her praise dance skirt for her Christmas Eve performance. The store was bustling, with long checkout lines and shelves packed to the brim with merchandise.
Although it took time to locate a staff member due to the holiday rush, an employee eventually assisted Marsha but confirmed that the store did not carry white leggings. Leaving the store empty-handed, Marsha was shocked when the security alarm went off as she exited.
Accusations Despite Evidence
Store security demanded to search her bag, but Marsha refused, explaining that she had not taken anything and suggesting they check the store’s surveillance cameras. Her request to review the footage was denied, with staff citing that it would take too long.
Instead of resolving the situation, a store representative accused Marsha of acting suspiciously and insisted that the detector was reliable. Despite walking in and out of the sensor multiple times—sometimes triggering it and sometimes not—the staff maintained their stance, further fueling the unwarranted accusations.
“I walked back and forth through the detector to show it was malfunctioning, but they refused to believe it,” Marsha recounted. “They were adamant that their machine was accurate, even after admitting later that high-end handbags sometimes set it off.”
Adding to the tension, the security guard threatened to call the police and took a photo of Marsha, stating he would post it on a “wall of shame” for alleged shoplifters. Meanwhile, her young daughter pleaded with her to allow the search to end the ordeal.
Proving Innocence Under Pressure
Determined to clear her name, Marsha methodically emptied her bag item by item for all to see, a process that left her visibly humiliated. Each item—lip gloss, personal effects, and more—was inspected and proven to be unrelated to the store.
When her bag was completely empty, Marsha passed it through the detector again, which did not trigger any alarms. A handheld wand scan of her belongings also showed no issues. Yet, even after this, the store representative called her “suspicious” and stopped short of offering an apology.
A Call for Community Investment
Marsha’s experience underscores the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses that respect and invest in the communities they serve.
“Stores like these profit from African American customers but often fail to treat us with respect or contribute to our neighborhoods,” Marsha said. “By supporting Black-owned retailers, we can ensure that our dollars are reinvested into our communities.”
As the founder of BOBKC—a network of over 33,000 Black business leaders—Marsha is already working on initiatives to uplift Black entrepreneurs. Her future plans include launching the Enterprise Center of Kansas City, a hub for economic empowerment, and the Retail Success Program, which will provide resources for Black business owners in the retail sector.
In the meantime, programs like The Porter House’s Retail Incubator are helping Black retailers thrive, and Marsha is developing a strategy to spotlight Black-owned clothing stores in Kansas City to give consumers more community-focused options.
A Vision for Change
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges African Americans face, even in everyday interactions, and the critical need for economic empowerment.
“I want my experience to shine a light on the systemic issues in retail and why it’s so important to support businesses that value us as customers and as a community,” Marsha emphasized.
Her story is not just a call to action but a testament to the resilience and determination required to create change. As we move forward, the importance of choosing where to spend our money has never been clearer—because every purchase has the power to shape a more equitable future.
