'I felt worthless': When racism rears its ugly head at the supermarket

Born into the apartheid in her home nation of South Africa before moving to Australia and growing up a dark-skinned female in a foreign land, she knew early on that prejudice can leave a mark.

Walking into Yvette's home on Monday morning, the first thing that caught my eye was a book on the life of Nelson Mandela.

Continuing to look around I glimpsed artwork I can only guess originates from her culture.

The pride in her lineage was evident for anyone who crossed the threshold.

It's a pride that stems from varying factors, including her South African upbringing and her father's efforts to pioneer diversity.

And it's a pride that's compelling her to call out acts of racism in the community.

Over recent weeks, Yvette says she has been made to feel dehumanised, particularly at the checkout of some local supermarkets in Mandurah on the southwest coast of WA.

"Random bag checks are never very random," she tells me.

"Four times in the past month I have been the only person of colour standing in the line, and I am the only person to have had my bag checked.

"In some stores like Kmart you let it go, because you can see everyone's bags being checked, but it's becoming far too common to be a coincidence."

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One such instance occurred just last week, and Yvette decided enough was enough.

"I called them out on it, and the manager came rushing over to me, getting quite heated and telling me the store isn't racist," she said.

"She then told me she was watching me on the camera the entire time. Why did she need to watch me? I was just getting my groceries.

"One man behind me told me that it's 'people like me, who use the race card' that are the problem.

"But later, as I was leaving, an African man ran up to tell me he had experienced the same thing. And many people I've spoken to since have had similar experiences.

"Again, it's too common for coincidence."

Yvette has been staring racism in the face for her entire life.

Born into the controversy and conflict of the South African apartheid, her father made the decision to move their young family to Australia when she was just eight years old, hoping to give his children a better life.

The name-calling that came with being the foreign kid forced her to grow up tough, and learning karate became a handy skill during her school days.

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"I would often be called a wog or a few other names, but that honestly never bothered me that much," she said.

"I could live with that. Kids will be kids and I still had better opportunities here than in South Africa."

But the difference between a few pot shots from school children and systemic racism from grown adults in the workforce can't be understated, Yvette said.

"For someone in that position to look at me and judge me on the sole basis of my skin colour, it's hurtful," she said.

"I have a degree in behavioural science, I know when someone is judging you. I felt worthless.

"I've seen it my whole life, but the other day is the first time I've ever reached a point where it's just unacceptable."

Yvette says education is the way forward.

"I'm not sure whether these workers go through training for this sort of stuff, but I think there has to be more done to put a stop to this," she said.

"How many people of colour are made to feel this way every day?

"No matter who you are or what you look like, you deserve basic respect."