Re: [Mpls] BOYCOTT MARKET BAR-B-QUE (The e-mail)

[Brobson34]

The lack of empathy on this list for the family who attended Market Bar-B-Que, and the urge to rationalize and otherwise excuse the behavior of the people who "served" them, is appalling. These people are not lodging their complaint anonymously; they signed their name to their post. They obviously would not be contemplating legal action if other patrons hadn't unilaterally come forward to defend them, going so far and to provide their names for future testimony. It wasn't a single waitress who disrespected them; the next person up on the hierarchical chain likewise treated these paying customers in a manner calculated to ensure they wouldn't return. Does anyone doubt this happened? On what basis?
People on this list must think that the "Whites Only" signs and other manifestations of Jim Crow are ancient history. They aren't. They are a fundamental part of that grandmother's personal experience. To suggest that this woman suck it up and extend herself further by getting in touch with the owners is naive at best--racial ignorance is a harsher, but no less accurate description.
How have African-Americans in this country historically gotten satisfaction for their grief and insult; by trying to reason with executives further up the corporate ladder, or by threatening or filing a lawsuit and/or organizing a boycott? That's what racist establishments, whether the racism is widespread, happenstance, or otherwise, understand and react to. If the manager had caught the waitress pocketing the $65 bill, she would be fired on the spot, and I don't imagine there would be many on the list arguing that she just needed the money this one day and should be excused for her behavior.
If the people on this list don't realize that black citizens routinely try to ignore or rationalize away the subtle and not-so-subtle ways they are treated with fear, suspicion and dislike by the white community, especially right here in passive-aggressive Minneapolis, then it's time to get a clue. When your mother is crying, your kids are scared, and a waitress, a restaurant manager and a police officer all don't want to own up to the fact that you were mistreated, despite the consensual opinion of objective observers, further patience is probably not a virtue.
Finally, those who profess to want to know the "whole story" before drawing any conclusions should hope for a lawsuit. Otherwise your stance is just a convenient way of ignoring what happened, while congratulating yourselves on your fair-mindedness.

Britt Robson
Lyndale