By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
As African Americans continue to seek their place in American society, whether in building businesses or buying homes, they are consistently reminded that racism still exists and is used to impede their progress and prosperity.
In 2022, Marisa Spooner-LeDuff opened Domicile, an art gallery and interior design studio in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood. The gallery is situated between a nail spa and a bookstore in the neighborhood’s business district.
In late January, while taking a break from work, Spooner-LeDuff walked to the nearest restaurant for a bite to eat. Upon returning to her business, she claims that two white men in their 40s stared at her from across the street and said, “We don’t want your business here. Go back to where you’re from.” According to Spooner-LeDuff, the men continued to watch her. Since then, she alleges that she has faced various forms of harassment, both subtle and overt, including being egged and vandalized, as well as verbal abuse from neighboring residents.
“I opened my art gallery in Madison Park and have dealt with a lot of racial biases, racial comments,” says Spooner-LeDuff. “People come in and make comments like, ‘Are you always here? Is the owner here?’ or ‘I noticed you keep the place clean while the owners are away, do you have a cleaning business?'”
Spooner-LeDuff, a Black woman from Louisiana, moved to the Pacific Northwest two decades ago and has been a resident ever since.
“I attended predominantly white schools in Baton Rouge,” she said. “I’m not a timid person. If I let every racially prejudiced remark affect me, I wouldn’t be able to do what I want to do in this world.”
A few weeks after the staring incident, Spooner-LeDuff claims that the manager of the neighboring bookstore approached her and showed her a photo on his cell phone of a noose hanging from his storefront, suggesting it was likely meant for her.
Surprised, Spooner-LeDuff questioned her neighbor about the incident, requested a copy of the image, and reported all the incidents, including the harassment by the two unidentified men, the vandalism of her vehicle, and the noose, to the authorities.
“He called and said, ‘Marisa, I have something to show you,'” Spooner-LeDuff recalls. “He pulled out his cell phone and said, ‘I think this was for you because I am white.’ He showed me the photo of the noose hanging from his storefront and said, ‘This must be for you.'”
“I told him I absolutely know it was for me because I had already been warned and told that I was not welcome down here. I believe the reason it was placed on his door is that I have an obvious camera pointing at anyone who comes to my front door,” she added.
Spooner-LeDuff claims that she has called the police on several occasions, only to have them dismiss the seriousness of the events as random acts.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to see the noose firsthand or in person,” says Spooner-LeDuff. “The bookstore manager said he had thrown the noose away, and for various reasons, I was somewhat glad he took it down. However, I would have preferred he kept it because it could have been turned over to the police as evidence and for assistance.”
“When I called the police, a young officer showed up and said these incidents are just random,” says Spooner-LeDuff. “After another incident where my car was egged, and mine was the only one targeted, I told the police that I’m not going to call them for every little thing that happens because nothing will be done or resolved. The main issue is the noose, and this community needs to be aware of what is happening.”
The Seattle Medium reached out to the Seattle Police Department and the bookstore manager for comments and information but had not received a response prior to the press time.
