Kroger’s – Segregates Employees?

This story is about the social structure between black and white employees at Kroger and isn’t intended to insinuate that Kroger’s is a racist company and/or guilty of segregation. It’s just the first time I’ve seen anything like this before and thought it was unique enough to write about.

There are three main sections of the cash out lanes at the local Kroger with the middle lanes being self service with the outer lanes being operated by employees and located near their respective exits. I’m cashing out at the lanes furthest from my exit as the lane was open and there is no point in standing in line, right? As I’m putting my groceries on the belt I noticed that there are all the employees working the lanes I’m in and around are black. I didn’t think anything of it other than not remembering Kroger’s having so many black employees before. After purchasing said groceries, I crossed through the self service lanes to the exit nearest my ride and noticed that the other lanes were being operated by white employees. There was a clear cut segregation in the cash out lanes by the employees. The south lanes were being operated by black people and the north lanes being operated by white folks.

I should mention that age was another factor in this segregation as the black people were younger and the white people were older. Still though, it was a little odd to see, especially since it wasn’t that Kroger’s was only operating one or two lanes, but had at least 4 lanes being run in each section. It seemed to make the segregation that much more noticeable.

Like I said, nothing unusual other than my noticing it and thought it was unique to see.

~ by reignking on December 29, 2008.