Walmart Faces Discrimination Suit By African-American Woman Over Health And Beauty Products

Walmart is gaining some bad press because Essie Grundy, an African American consumer, went to purchase hair and skin products from their store only to find they were locked in a glass case. That's not what made her upset though - other hair and skin products for other races were instantly available for the consumer and not locked up.

KTLA reports that when the 43-year-old noticed the difference, she complained to management. An employee stated it was a directive from their corporate office.

Essie returned to the store to purchase a .48 cent comb.  When she noticed it locked behind a case she was shocked despite the low cost.

Once at the register, she complained to the cashier because she literally couldn't touch the comb without purchasing it beforehand. She noticed that products for other races weren’t treated the same way. Essie filed a racial discrimination suit against Walmart and rendered the services of well-known attorney Gloria Allred.

Essie said during a news conference:

I just feel that we need to be treated equal.  It's no way that we should be treated just because of a complexion. We are all human and we deserve to be treated as everyone else.

Social media has blown this story up about their disappointment with Walmart.

A spokesman for Walmart said in a statement.

We’re sensitive to this situation and also understand, like other retailers, that some products such as electronics, automotive, cosmetics and other personal care products are subject to additional security.  Those determinations are made on a store-by-store basis using data supporting the need for the heightened measures. While we’ve yet to review a complaint, we take this situation seriously and look forward to addressing it with the court.