Racism is still very prevalent in our society today. I have always been educated on racism, injustice and all the discriminations that were and still are present in the world.

Through the grace of God, I have never really come face to face with racism or discrimination. My motive has always been to simply ignore it and let it all play itself out. After 25 years of living, I had my first heartfelt experience with racial profiling and discrimination.

My name is Akeem Burl. I am a senior at Southeastern Louisiana University majoring in English.

I am a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda National Honors and Leadership Society. I am a volunteer with St. John the Baptist Parish Recreation Department, a certified lifeguard and swim instructor and hold the title as the 2015 Captain of Krewe of Agape. I am an employee with the New Orleans Aviation Board. I am a native of Garyville and a resident of LaPlace.

On Feb. 4, I celebrated a birthday of a close friend. We ended the evening with a few cocktails and appetizers at the very popular wing spot in Metairie. We were greeted by a friendly host and enjoyed ourselves like any other guests that were there.

A few of the guests in our party had to send their food back because it was cold, as if it had been sitting for quite some time. I can agree; my loaded fries looked as if they were on display. The night went on and we continued to enjoy ourselves despite the cold food.

When it came time for our party to pay for our bill, five to seven officers entered and hovered around our table. They were very friendly and asked about our night. When the waitress approached the table, I asked her what was going on. Her reply was “I don’t know, I think the manager called the cops on you all!”

I couldn’t understand the problem. At this time, I became very uncomfortable and chose to take my ticket to the waitress and have her ring me up that instant. The manager approached after hearing me say I felt uncomfortable.

She began to apologize and said “I’m sorry.” I said, “For what?” and she proceeded to tell me she felt uncomfortable because we sent our food back, we were a bit noisy and she felt that we weren’t going to pay for our food.

At this point my emotions were all over the place. I felt disrespected and humiliated. She never once approached the table to see how we were doing or to tell us keep the noise down. I feel she stereotyped us because we were a table full of young African Americans and she was Caucasian.

Maybe this incident happened to her before; a party skipping out on their bill, but she needs to understand “we” are not all the same. This experience really took a lot from me. I have never felt so distraught in my life. I did not sleep the night of or after this event because I was still in a stage of disbelief.

The words “I felt you all weren’t going to pay for your checks” really took a lot from me and they have never left my mind.

I have never in my 25 years skipped out on a meal or stolen anything. My parents went to college to provide me with the things I need, money being one of them. I get up every morning to go to work so I may also provide for myself.

I hope publicizing this story will help parents and younger generations understand and gain knowledge about what is happening in the world. We cannot escape from it as it seems, but we can learn to face it and take it head on when situations as these take place.

All races need to be informed about discrimination and racial profiling. My aim is that individuals who are not, become educated and knowledgeable about these type of individuals who find it “OK” to treat human beings in ways such as this.

Akeem Burl is a LaPlace resident. He can be reached at burlboi@yahoo.com.