Over the past ten seasons,
our hidden cameras have captured some unforgetable responses to the question:
"What Would You Do?"
It's time to celebrate some of our favourite moments
on this Flashback Friday.
[woman's voice] Another black shopper is accusing the NYPD of racial profiling
[man's voice] says he was handcuffed by cops after using his debt card
Very embarrassing.
I was very much humiliated.
It happens all too often.
African Americans: followed, questioned, even accused of stealing.
Simply because of the color of their skin.
[Obama speaking] There are very few African American men in this country, who haven't had the experience of being followed while they were shopping in a department store
That includes me.
Today, we're setting up at Sarar, an upscale suit and clothing store in the heart of Wall Street.
Gabriel is an actor
Playing a customer profile while shopping for some clothes.
[worker] That belt is $150 dollars.
[customer] Thanks.
If you were shopping here and you heard this:
[worker] You're in the wrong store. We don't sell urbanwear here.
This is Wall Street, it isn't Harlem.
What Would You Do?
Well, we bring along a $250 million dollar shark!
Someone who knows a bit about fashion and what it's like to be profiled.
[Damon] Hated it! I'm out.
That's right! Damon John, founder of Fubu clothing, investors, Shark Tank.
He sits with me behind the scenes to watch this all unfold.
[worker] Hello there.
[customer] Hey, how you doin?
[worker] Hi.
[worker] Sir, something you're looking for?
[customer] Uhh.. just checking out the jackets right now.
[worker] You know that's a $600 dollar jacket. Right?
[customer] O-kay.
[worker] Alright. Just want to let you know.
Right off the bat, our sales man makes things.. uncomfortable.
[worker] Sir, we do have a lot of cameras throughout the store. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of that.
[worker whispering] I just want to make sure that it's not bothering anyone over here. You guy's are okay?
[female customer #1] Uh, why would he be bothering us?
[worker] I just wanted to make sure. I don't - I want to make sure a customer is certian
[female customer #1] Well-
[worker] I would rather be spending my time and attention with, you know, ladies like you that are obviously able to afford, you know, clothes in this store.
[female customer #1] How do you know he's not able to afford anything?
[female customer #2] But, I don't even have a job.
[female customer #1] She doesn't - She's in Med School and I'm a stay at home mom.
[worker] You have a Louis Vuitton bag. You guys have -
[female customer #1] I mean, honestly. He probably has more money than we do if he's looking at $600 jackets.
[worker] I highly doubt that.
Crystal Harrison is incredulous. And then, our sales man makes it crystal clear.
I mean, 9 times out of 10, if somebody steals something, they're black. Okay? I mean, it's -
pretty much how it goes.
[worker] It's not racist! It's just - it's just the facts. Okay? It's not about racism.
[worker] You guys watch the news, I mean -
[female customer #1] He's not bothering us.
[worker] Okay.
[femalecustomer #1] You're more bothering us than he is.
[Damon] She said, "You're more bothering us than she is."
[female customer #2] Aren't you being rude to him? What if he's like, a celebrity?
It struck me that you were laughing throughout it all.
[female customer #1] Well, because I was so uncomfortable so I had no idea what to do.
It was nervous laughter.
[female customer #1] Yeah, I'm still really nervous.
We're at it again with Damon John riding shotgun.
And what he sees, doesn't surprise him.
[worker] I really don't think we have anything that's gonna interest you, sir.
[worker] We're very - kind of a classic, gentleman look.
[customer] I don't know what that means but.. I'm just gonna look at a suit, okay?
[customer] I got a credit card. I can pay for this.
[worker] You have a credit card?
[customer] I do have a credit card. Wanna see it? Here you go.
[worker] We don't take stolen credit cards, sir.
[customer] Come on man, why would you think my credit card is stolen?
Not a word.
Even when our sales person gets security involved.
[security] I'm gonna have to pat you down.
[customer] I don't believe this man. This is messed up.
[worker] Sir, we need you to take your jacket off. Okay?
[customer] Is this legal?
[worker] Yes, it's legal.
[customer] I didn't do anything, I'm just looking at the clothes. [worker] We have to protect our merchandise.
[worker] We have to protect the merchandise in the store.
Gabriel is clearly not getting any help from our sales man.
So, he approaches this next woman for some advice.
[customer] Excuse me, can I get you're opinion? Does this look good?
[worker] Is he- is he bothering you? I don't- I'm sorry.
[customer] Does it work with the hoodie?
[female customer] No.
But again, our sales man is right there; thinking and saying the worst of Gabriel.
[worker] Sir, can I just take a look inside that jacket?
[customer] Why? This is-
[worker] I feel as though you may have put something in that jacket.
[worker] Can you just pat him down and make sure that he doesn't have any-
So far, no one seems to object to this embarrassing, public, pat down.
That is, until her husband, Raul Sigara, takes a step forward.
[Raul] I don't want to intrude or anything but, you know, I live in Europe so- I mean..
[Raul] This would never happen in Europe.
[Raul] You can't profile on the basis of looks of someone.
Wow.
[worker] No, I wasn't profiling anyone.
[Raul] No, what I'm saying is that, how can anyone make conclusions on the basis of the color or, you know, looks, and stuff like that?
[worker] I mean, 9 times out of 10 when someone steals something, they look like him.
Raul is speechless.
[worker] Are you saying I was wrong?
[Raul] Oh, yeah. Definitely.
But his wife, she's just getting started.
[worker] So, I was making you uncomfortable?
[worker] He looks like he's someone that would steal from-
[female customer] No he does not!
[female customer] Because he's black? Are you racist?
Before she gives us any proof, it's time to introduce ourselves.
So you notice right away, and you whisper to your husband
[female customer] I said, "I just want to leave."
Right away? [both] Yes.
[Raul] She wasn't very far from slapping you
Until now, Damon has just been watching our scenario unfold.
Alright, Damon is gonna get ready for his next scene.
But, what if he jumps right in?
[Damon]Alright, how do I look?
With a help of a disguise, this multimillionaire is about to be profiled himself.
[worker] I'm just- give me a second to check in your jacket.
[Damon] What do you mean, check my jacket?
[worker] Now we need to- Security!
This next man notices but, he doesn't say a word.
[Damon] What do you- what do you mean?
Well now Damon, like Gabriel before him, is in the middle of the store getting stopped, harassed, and frisked.
[worker] I'm pretty sure I saw you put something in your pocket.
[Damon] I just stood right here. I just walked in.
[worker] Just give him a quick pat down and let's make sure he didn't take anything. Okay?
He could be worth the GDP of a small country and still, no one steps in.
So we send our shark back into the tank one last time.
[worker] Sir, do you have any idea how much this store costs? I mean, things are very expensive here.
[worker] I mean, it's a very high up store. This is mostly Wall Street banker types.
[Damon] I, uh.. Okay, I mean, I, uh, get it. I'm-
This next man just can't turn away.
[worker] Seeing people that look like you, who come in and, you know, I mean, you're making people feel uncomfortable here.
[male customer] Why would you tell him that?
[worker] You're just not the type of customer that we have. I mean, just look at him.
[male customer] Yeah, but I've been lingering around, took a phone call.. I mean, I don't usually get into people's business but it's a judgment call you're making based on how someone looks.
[male customer] I've been lingering around even longer.
[worker] You know, you're dressed very nicely.
[male customer] I think you're being totally inappropriate.
[worker] I'm sorry that you're feeling that way but I-
[male customer] Well, I think you should apologize to him
[worker] I think you should mind you're own business.
[male customer] I can respect that but, at the same time, when you see injustice taken in place, like you're doing right now, people have to step up
[worker] Do you feel safe around a guy that looks like this?
[male customer] I feel less safe based on your comments right now.
[male customer] I think the way that you're engaging him makes me feel unsafe because it's filled with bias. I think it's filled with a lot of prejudgment and I think you guys should engage him.
I think it's.. What Would You Do?
How you doing, my man?
[male customer] Oh, man! Are you serious?
It's 'What Would You Do?'
You okay?
[male customer] I'm good man, I'm gettin' a little hot in here!
The fact that you're African American had something to do with it?
[male customer] Of course, I've been subjected to discrimination. Of course. It's hard to escape it in New York or anywhere.
[male customer] If I'm not dressed like this, if I have on my basketball cap and I walk into a store, it's the same kind of thing.
And you can be wrong about who that person is!
[male customer] Absolutely. It could be me! The guy who's ready who hold up the store, dressed or undressed.
Or, that guy could have a lot of money.
[male customer] Absolutely.
You heard of Shark Tank?
[male customer] Absolutely.
You know Damon John?
[male customer] I thought that was Damon! I said, "This looks like the- this is who I said- Yeah!
[male customer] I thought so at first.
[Damon] Pleasure to meet you man.
[male customer] Outstanding to meet you.
[Damon] You really represented good right there. You didn't take it at all. You just jumped right in.
In other words, don't judge a person by his or her color because you could so often, be wrong.