"Islamaphobic Bullying Hijabis and Racist Coffee Shop in Hamtramck I’ve frequented this shop for over 8 months now, in my first experience was with my cousin, we shared a heart to heart in that space so the “neighborly” shop became dear to me. The location is very close to home, has free parking, and stays open into the night. Almost everyday I sat there, worked my online job, and bought coffee from Jeff whom is the best baristi. Even suggesting and inviting other friends to visit the location. However it was yesterday I was harassed out the door, like a stranger in my own community. A white male staff member that I’ve never seen before came up to me during their close and sarcastically, asked me if I enjoyed my coffee, I told him I didn’t have coffee today, he asked me what I purchased I told him plainly I didn’t have the money to purchase anything. He said that’s what libraries are for and instead of me explaining to him that libraries require money for parking and close early on Sundays and I don’t have power on at my house so I’m here using the wifi looking for jobs , I asked him if there was a problem trying to bring forth clarity. The tension continues to rise as he pulls me into more passive aggressive interrogation rather then confronting me with grace he made me extremely uncomfortable with his disrespectful attitude towards me. Trying to gain understanding I asked him if/why he was watching me and he said it wasn’t out of the norm to ask customers questions about purchases, however this was the first time I was ever been asked. The only difference was I recently began to wear hijab and I’m afraid that the worker was intimidated by my presence as a black hijabi. I even explained to him his approach was rude and unwarranted and that I would’ve appreciated if he could articulate himself with maturity instead of passive aggression. Still no apology. I understand how to patronize institutions fairly and I understand creating a standard in a space, however I was not prepared to be met with hostility and treated with haste as I’ve invested in the shop over months of stable income. And conveniently, he was compelled to bully me when all other customers were gone. The only other witness was another male white employee I’d purchased from before. Looking for alliance I told the other employee “I’ve bought coffee from you before” he replied “Not today” I said “Did you here the way he talked to me” he said nothing and the other employee continues screaming for me to leave. There is a restaurant just a block away called Sheeba, the day before this incidence I went to spend my last 10 dollars for chicken hadith. When I got up to pay for my meal the cashier wouldn’t accept my money because someone already paid for my meal, AlHamdulilah THAT is the culture of Hamtramck, this coffee shop doesn’t not belong in the Hamtramck neighborhood. Im deciding to no longer invest in this space. Im wiping my hands of this environment Inshallah, I will have the money to purchase a coffee again but the culture of the establishment is vile."
