‘Just trying to work y’all’: Black woman waiting in building lobby for a client interrogated by residents demanding to know why she’s there

Viral footage on TikTok shows two building residents confronting a woman who claimed to be waiting for a client, which has gone viral due to claims that the residents’ suspicions towards the woman stemmed from racism.

The video, which was recorded and posted by Nini, shows an elderly woman and man standing in the lobby of a residential building. The couple, who seem to be residents, were evidently asking Nini questions before she began recording, as the situation already seemed rather confrontational.

“I need you to step away,” Nini can be heard saying before attempting to de-escalate by assuring the elderly couple, “I have permission to be here; it’s OK.” The pair demand to know who, before telling Nini, “We could get fined for letting somebody in the building who doesn’t have permission or live here.” Nini feigns concern before reassuring the couple once again, “You guys are fine,” and saying she’s waiting for a “client.”

Nini explains that she is recording for her own safety before turning the camera on herself, speaking to the camera: “I’m just trying to work y’all,” she says. Meanwhile, the couple calls the police.

Eventually, the client arrives to find an awkward standoff between Nini and the couple, who berate him for not abiding by the apparent rules of the building. Nini questions whether her race played a part in the whole thing, asking: “Would they have done the same thing if I was white?”

Rules are rules

Plenty of people on TikTok were more than happy to give their two cents on the matter. Many agreed that the couple’s attitude seemed racist: “Yep they’re racist,” one commenter wrote. Another asked, “Why are you even engaging with them?” A few pointed out the couple gave “Karen” energy.

However, there were just as many who saw the other side of the argument, and they claimed that the elderly couple wasn’t racist. “If you followed them in without being buzzed in by the client, you were wrong,” wrote one person. Another commenter added, “If I were getting fined- I would absolutely not let you in. If your someone’s guests let them let you in and be done.”

As a black building manager that women [sic] is correct it’s called piggybacking,” claimed a third person in the comments. “Yes there [is] plenty of racism out here but this situation is not it.”

So were the two elderly residents just trying to uphold the rules? Who can say for certain? But people on TikTok had some questions about the supposed rules, as they asked why the lobby had chairs for visitors if nobody was allowed inside to wait. Others wondered why there wasn’t actual security to enforce the rule.