TT
Truth Teller
Jan 22, 2026
Review for McDonald’s – Germantown, TN (1/21, ~11 AM)
I had one of the most dehumanizing experiences I’ve ever encountered at this location. I placed a legitimate table service order and was waiting for my food, only to be accused of loitering by a man named Adam, who chose to confront me and no one else in the restaurant. While I was quietly charging my phone and minding my business, he approached me under the assumption that I hadn’t purchased anything — despite the fact that my food was en route.
Meanwhile, several white patrons were also seated, eating or chatting without food in front of them for long periods. None were questioned.
To make matters worse, a white woman nearby had been staring at me, and when I politely asked for my boundaries to be respected, the situation was escalated — not because I was disruptive, but because I spoke up. Adam continued hovering, even after I repeatedly asked for space. Rather than de-escalate, they called the police on me, claiming I was loitering — despite the fact that I had a receipt and a food order.
The officer who arrived admitted I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet still carried out a trespass warning, allowing corporate employees and staff to misuse law enforcement as a tool of intimidation. This is a clear abuse of power and speaks to broader issues of racial profiling, selective enforcement, and weaponizing police presence against Black patrons who dare to set boundaries or simply exist.
This experience was humiliating, stressful, and a reminder of how Black women are constantly policed for simply taking up space. I will not be returning to this location and strongly urge corporate to review the surveillance footage and re-evaluate who they choose to protect and who they target.
The video only strengthens my position. It shows clear, documented evidence of my calm, repeated requests for space, and his refusal to respect boundaries. That’s not only unprofessional, but it also underscores the racial and power dynamics at play.
A few key points that the video highlights:
• I was not loitering: I ordered food. Period.
• He escalated, not me: The video shows who was pressing the issue, hovering, and ignoring clear requests to disengage.
• I remained composed: I didn’t shout, curse, or become physically aggressive — yet still faced police involvement and a criminal trespassing warning.
• He used refunding my order as a setup: Saying I’d be loitering after the refund is a circular trap — one he created after making the situation hostile enough that I no longer felt safe eating there.
He should never have been the one to approach me with my change if he was the source of tension. That’s not customer service; that’s harassment under the guise of “policy.”
McDonald’s has faced ongoing outrage over its treatment of Black patrons — especially:
• Calling police disproportionately on Black customers (sounds familiar in my case)
• Targeting Black people for loitering accusations, even after ordering (also strikingly similar to my case)
• Cases of racial bias, stereotyping, and being followed or monitored in stores (also present in my case)
By the time police show up, it’s already escalated.
It’s not about safety, it’s about control and exclusion.
As for Blacks, any police interaction carries real risk, regardless of how calm or cooperative you are.
This pattern is harmful because it sends the message that your very presence can be viewed as criminal, without doing anything wrong.
Using authority to punish the innocent is an abuse of power, not a neutral act.
It is wild to think that some businesses would run smoother without their own leadership or staff. But it happens when:
• Respect is lacking
• Micromanagement replaces trust
• And people bring bias instead of skill.