If ever there was a mall that was created to cater to the rapidly changing fashion sensibilities of young people of color, it’s the Southland Mall in Hayward, California. I was there a couple Saturdays ago, picking up some items for my Halloween costume. It had been a while since I’d last visited that shopping center, and I was once again struck by the predominance of Asian American, African American, and Mexican American shoppers, most of whom appeared to be under the age of 30.  I can’t imagine that the fact that the Macy*s at Southland has no tuxedo shirts and no self-tie bowties, but several styles of Stacy Adams shoes has nothing to do with the demographic profile of its shoppers. Something about that strikes me as a little bit creepy. Is there such a thing as department store redlining? If so, then I think Macy*s Southland just might be doing it.

By the way, this baby-faced young man is just one of many I noticed during my Halloween shopping trip.

Ajuan Mance