Restaurant Racism vs. Bad Service

When it’s not imagination

Regardless of race, many people have experienced bad customer service while dining out.

But when does bad restaurant treatment cross the line into something more than what is considered poor, slow, or nonexistent service?

Take the case of twenty-one secret service agents on President Clinton’s detail in the early 1990s. One morning, the group of secret service men went to a national restaurant chain for breakfast.

According to a news report, six of the secret service men were Black, one was Hispanic, and fifteen were White.

During the first hour of their arrival, agents were served, including seconds, and even a White family arriving after the secret service agents were seated received their breakfast order.

But, the only customers not served during the first hour were the six Black secret servicemen in military attire, seated together at a nearby separate table. An hour later, the six men stood up, and only then did their orders appear.

The incident later proved to be the most expensive six plates of eggs ever not served.

When poor service or treatment is solely directed toward a specific person or group without customer violation of state, federal, or local ordinance, the line crosses into civil rights abuse.

It is easy to find articles from the past and present about restaurant discrimination. An overlooked aspect of the issue concerns parents who confront discrimination in a restaurant while dining out with their children.

Two examples:

In an article for People Magazine written by the 12-year-old actor, Lonnie Chavis, he recounts his experience at a Hollywood restaurant: While in the company of his parents and young guests, a White employee accused him of stealing from her tip jar.

The incident nearly escalated into a police matter as Chavis’ mother did everything possible to deescalate the confrontation, wrote Chavis.

Chavis’ article underscores how a parent confronted by outrageous treatment in a restaurant must keep in control to protect the child.

It’s a theme explored further in G. Correias’ article about the experience of taking his teen son to a restaurant for a hamburger. Bad Service Or No Service Is Part Of The Black Experience, And Inevitable

Thank you for reading.

Sources

Black Secret Service Agents Sue Denny’s — Jim Sielicki, May 24, 1993

Voices Against Racism, fifth paragraph — Lonnie Chavis June 17, 2020 12:00 PM