Am I Eligible for Rehire?

I formerly worked as a supervisor in a zoo gift shop and, prior to the pandemic, I received a write-up due to a customer complaint. The situation arose when I was cleaning up after a child who had made a mess. By 5 PM, if everything is tidy, you can close the registers and leave for the day. Unfortunately, the child’s mother interpreted my actions as racial profiling, believing I was “watching them because I thought they were stealing.”

This led to a meeting with my manager, where we reached a written resolution. I left the zoo on good terms, but afterwards, the pandemic hit, and all my colleagues were let go.

I’ve always hoped to return to the zoo in an administrative capacity, but I worry that this incident might be viewed negatively by recruiters. Should I even consider applying? I’m concerned that a future manager or recruiter might misinterpret the situation and think I am racist.

I truly enjoyed my role at the zoo and also held various positions in different departments. My husband advises against applying because of this incident, but it makes me feel disheartened. What should I do?