For many people, shopping is routine. For others, it becomes an experience of suspicion, humiliation, or exclusion—simply because of the color of their skin. 

• Being followed through a store.

• Asked to show a receipt when others are not.

• Denied service.

• Questioned aggressively.

• Treated like a suspect instead of a customer.

These experiences are often described as “shopping while Black.” They are not misunderstandings. They are not acceptable. And under Missouri law, they may be unlawful discrimination.

At Baldwin & Vernon Trial Attorneys, we represent individuals who have been mistreated in places that are supposed to be open to the public—and we hold businesses accountable when they cross the line.

What Is a Public Accommodation Under Missouri Law?

The Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, which include most places open to the general public, such as:

• Retail stores and shopping centers

• Grocery stores and pharmacies

• Restaurants and bars

• Hotels

• Movie theaters and entertainment venues

• Gyms and recreational facilities

• Hospitals

• Schools

If a business is open to the public, it must treat members of the public equally and without discrimination.

What Does Discrimination Look Like in “Shopping While Black” Cases?

Discrimination does not require the use of slurs or explicit statements. In many cases, it appears through unequal treatment, including:

• Being closely followed or surveilled without cause

• Being accused of theft without evidence

• Being required to comply with rules not applied to other customers

• Being denied entry, service, or the ability to complete a purchase

• Being subjected to hostile or humiliating conduct

• Being confined to a room

• Having law enforcement called based on race rather than behavior

• Being accused of theft even after providing your receipt

The law looks not only at what happened, but whether similarly situated customers of a different race were treated more favorably.

Your Experience Matters—Even If No Arrest Occurred

Many people minimize what happened to them because:

• They were not arrested

• They eventually completed their purchase

• No one explicitly mentioned race

But discrimination under the MHRA is about impact and unequal treatment, not whether the encounter escalated to criminal charges.

If you left a business feeling embarrassed, targeted, unsafe, or singled out because of your race, your experience deserves to be taken seriously.

How the Missouri Human Rights Act Protects You

Under the MHRA, individuals subjected to discrimination in public accommodations may be entitled to pursue claims for:

• Emotional distress

• Economic damages (if applicable)

• Punitive damages in appropriate cases

• Attorney’s fees and costs

The purpose of the law is not only compensation—it is accountability. Businesses must be held responsible when discriminatory practices are tolerated or encouraged.

Why These Cases Matter

“Shopping while Black” cases are not about overreaction. They are about dignity.

No one should be made to feel criminalized simply for existing in public spaces. These cases force businesses to examine policies, training, and cultures that allow bias to persist—and they help prevent future harm to others.

Justice requires more than apologies.

Justice requires a reckoning.

How We Approach These Cases

At Baldwin & Vernon Trial Attorneys, we understand that clients bringing public accommodation claims often come to us feeling:

• Angry

• Embarrassed

• Doubtful anyone will listen

• Concerned they won’t be believed

We approach these cases with care, preparation, and respect. We investigate thoroughly, build cases with trial in mind, and tell our clients’ stories in a way juries can understand and connect with.

You Don’t Have to Accept Discrimination as “Normal”

If you or someone you love experienced discrimination while shopping or visiting a public business in Missouri, you may have rights under the Missouri Human Rights Act.

We are here to listen.

We are ready to act.

Justice through a Reckoning.

Standing with you every step of the way.