“We ready ta go, CHECK PLEASE!”
Hell, bad tips, bitchery, entitlement junkies, ghetto, great people Add commentsI’ve never in the nearly two years that I’ve worked for “the Restaurant that Cannot be Named” had a more horrible night than I had this past Sunday. I was stiffed, I was maimed, I was harassed, I was yelled at, I was stiffed, I was stiffed, I was stiffed. I was so pissed off at one point that I was ready to walk out the door and not look back but I stayed…
The first of the night went great. I had awesome tables, was making great tips, made a couple of new friends who came back to see me tonight. It was after 8 o’clock that I started having problems.
First problem table came in the form of three really ghetto black guys that reeked of weed. From the time I went to the table, they had attitude problems with me. I didn’t even have a chance to introduce myself or anything before the first one, LemonJelo with the nappy braids sticking out of his head like the snakes of Medusa, looks at me and says, “You da waidah? Brang three Hen and Coke ovah,” and tries to wave me away. “No problem, sir, I just need to see three ID’s.” You’d have thought I just blew up their cars for the looks they gave me.
“Why you gotta see dem fo?” OranJello asked. “Because I have to see an ID from anyone who is drinking alcohol or I’m not allowed to serve them.” One by one, the three pulled out their state issued ID cards out. Only one of them turned out to be 21. “I’m sorry guys, I can’t serve the two of you,” I said, handing them back their cards, “Can I bring you a coke or something?”
“You can brang dey Hennessey like I ask.” LemonJello said, starting to get pissed off. “I can’t serve them any alcohol because they’re not 21 and I don’t want to get fired.”
“Jus brang da damn dranks, dude, we ain’ gon’ tell nobody!” The third guy, Cheeto said. “Sir, I’m not going to serve you, there’s no point in continuing to ask. I’ll gladly bring you something non-alcoholic, but nothing from the bar.”
“Man, fuck you, we ain’ gotta take dis bullshit, we drank heah all da time! Dis jus cuz we black.”
“Sir, this has nothing to do with your being black, this has to do with me wanting to keep my job and not serve someone who’s underage. If you continue to talk to me like that, you’ll be escorted out of here. Now, do you want something to drink or not?” They got up and left.
The next two tables weren’t hateful or anything, they were just cheap bastards. I had to clean up three spills from one womans little groin spawn who couldn’t have been more than 2 years old and who shouldn’t have been sitting without a booster seat to begin with. Her mother decided to let her drink from a regular cup, claiming “My baby don’t need no kiddie cup, she a big girl now.” I tried to prove otherwise by bringing a kids cup anyway, only to have her set it aside and let the brat try to drink out of her cup. Three times she spilled it, and her lazy mother refused to even try to clean it up. She just waved me over. They left me nothing.
The next table of the night had to be the worst one of all, and while they were there a couple of regulars that I love came in. They were black, and yes, the race matters and you’ll see why after I tell you about this table.
It started out a woman and her two kids. I’ll name then LaSqueeshia (mother), ShaMarion (son), and Qualatisha (daughter). The son and daughter were real names, I didn’t find out the mothers real name. Anyway, they sat down at one of my tables and started waving me over while I was taking an order from another group. I tried to ignore them so I could answer questions for my table, and LaSqueeshia started yelling quite loudly “Can we get a servah ovah heah? We been waitin fa 10 minutes already.” They hadn’t even been sitting for 2 minutes, much less 10. I finished my order and put it in, then grabbed some bev-naps and went to my new table.
“Sorry for the wait, everyone, how are you tonight?” I asked as cheerfully as I possibly could.
“We done ate dinnah, we jus came ta have some dessert.” LaSqueeshia said. “What all ya’ll got?” I picked up the menu and opened it to the dessert page, and pointed out a couple of the good ones. “Do dat cake get some ice cream?” she asked, pointing at a chocolatey delight. “No ma’am, but you can get some ice cream with it for 75 cents extra and believe me, it goes great with that cake.”
“Why we gotta pay exkra if it tase good wit it?” one of the kids asked. “Because the ice cream doesn’t come with it, so you have to pay for it if you want it.”
They ended up ordering a big dessert that they could share, two waters and a sprite. They stayed for an hour, with momma on the phone most of the time. More of the family showed up, including two ugly women with the wrong weave in. After about 45 minutes of my checking on them and them not answering me, I went and printed their check out and drop it off. Since they hadn’t asked for it, I stopped by the table behind theirs to see if everything was okay, it was a party of 6 from out of town and I was chatting with them, just having a good time with them trying to get a tip. For the record, this also was a table of black people. As we were talking, one of the bitches from the dessert table turns around and looks at me, and yells “We ready ta go, CHECK PLEASE!” I looked up and held up my hand in an ‘I’ll be there in just a second’ gesture. I stayed with the table for a couple of minutes longer and told them I’d be right back.
I walked the few steps to LaSqueeshia’s table. “Hey there, ladies, how was everything tonight?” None of them bothered to answer me. “Are we all done with this?” I asked, pointing to the dessert. The woman who’d yelled at me waved it away and kept yapping on the phone. I took the plate and told them I’d be back to take care of the check whenever they were ready, and went back to what I was doing. My regulars were sitting across from them and the 6 top was still sitting on the table behind theirs. I went by to chat with my regulars, who’ve been my regulars for close to a year now, and was talking to them for a few minutes.
While I’m talking to them, I suddenly hear the same hateful voice that yelled for the check, “We ready ta pay, why you ain’ comin ovah heah!” I told my guests that I’d be back in a second and went back to my bitches. “All ready to go, ladies?”
“You bettah brang us back every penny of da change,” she replied. “No problem at all, ma’am, just give me a moment to cash this out.” I walked away. The check was 11 and some change. I wasn’t hateful toward these women at all, I answered their questions happily and they were just hateful the whole time. So in the end, I made sure they got exact change. 6 of it was in dollar bills, the rest in quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. “Ladies, be careful with the book theres a bit of coin change loose inside.” I said with a minor smile on my face, and walked off to my regulars again.
I sat talking to them for a little while. Their names are Deborah and Leonard, they’re an awesome middle aged couple with two kids, one in high school and one about to start college. They have a bit of ghetto to them but they tip, they’re nice, and I have had fun with them since the first time they came in. Being that I’d only had problems with black tables that night, I asked them honestly, “Am I doing something different with my black guests and not realizing it? Why is it these people are treating me so bad tonight?” I honestly don’t believe that I treat black guests any different than white, mexican or any other race of guests, and neither did Deborah and Leonard.
Deborah replied, “I didn’t notice anything different from how you served your other tables, why do you ask?” I told her about the other tables, and how I’d been stiffed 6 times already through the night and it was all from black guests. She was shocked, and I asked again, “I just really need to know if I’m doing something to deserve it or make them think I don’t want to be serving them!” They assured me that there was nothing wrong with my service, but I still wasn’t reassured.
The guests that I had to serve Sunday night were most assuredly reenforcing the stereotype of blacks in restaurants and it really pissed me off that I was the one having to deal with it! I don’t consider myself a racist by any means, but after Sunday night I was seriously close to losing both my temper and my beliefs. Sunday night is the reason that servers in the majority don’t want to serve black guests. I haven’t let it change me though; I still welcome any and all guests in the hopes of getting a tip from them and that will never change, but after getting stiffed so many times in one night from one racial group only, and being told by guests of that same group that I did nothing wrong in my service, I at one point threw down my swipe card, yelled that I was going on break and I didn’t care who watched my section and I stormed out the back door to smoke and calm down.
Oh, and the party of 6 from out of town that I had so much fun with left me nearly 40 bucks on a 130 dollar bill, didn’t know anything about any of the other guests that had stiffed me during the night, were black and awesome. I treated them the exact same as the other 6 tables. Was it just something different about the people in general?
Maybe I just need a vacation…by the way, if you consider me a racist because of this post, I hate it. I am only telling about my night, and hopefully showing you that although some black guests do perpetuate the stereotype, they’re still not all bad no matter how many bad seeds you have to deal with in one night. I still made a hundred bucks Sunday night, despite my stress. I can however see why most servers feel the way they do about black guests because it’s painfully obvious that even if you do nothing wrong, the majority of them still don’t tip.
Ribeye
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July 16th, 2008 at 7:57 am
The part of this post that’s racist isn’t the fact that you’re pissed about being stiffed by a number of black tables. While it’s unfortunate that you go from that justifiable anger to a group generalization, it’s a difficult-to-resist human impulse, and you’re clearly struggling with it, and that’s admirable.
However, there is a genuinely racist element to the way you describe black guests. The names LemonJello and OranJello are old racist canards, and to use them is misguided at best. Similarly, the way you caricature the speech of “bad” black patrons but not of “good” black patrons (like Deborah and Leonard) is problematic, as is your uncritical use of words like “ghetto” and “nappy,” which are freighted with a ton of racial and cultural baggage.
All this is to say, yes, there are elements of racism in this post (and in many others), but they’re not necessarily where you think they are. Sorry about the bad night.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason… having to put up with those stereotypes doesn’t make you a racist.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Well, I hate to say it, but it happens in pharmacy too.
My store is over 80% black, and I see the exact same thing that you see. The older generation (or the younger generation that works) are awesome to hang out with and talk.
The younger generation (who name their kids LaFon or ShaDaddyDoo) are absolutely horrible to deal with. Heres what I have noticed why:
1. No parental structure. Mommy didn’t want them and they have no idea who daddy is.
2. Raised on really poor role models: They are raised that its okay if you call women “Bitches”, a criminal record just looks better when you become a rapper later-on in life, and that by treating people like shit you can get what you want. You think they drink Hen and Coke because it tastes good? No, same with Grey Goose and Cranberry. They do it because Little Miss GrabYourCrotch super rap-star is doing it along with a stupid dance like the superman one that I hate.
3. If you are white, you enslaved their great grandfather. Mind you they have no idea who their great grandfather was, what part of africa he was from, when he came over, or what he did while he was enslaved (if he was at all), just that it happened, and they are angry. By giving YOU tip money somehow they are rewarding ‘the man’, so they stiff you to prove a point. With me, they say they are going to pay the $9 for the antibiotics for their crotch fruit and just never return again.
Yeah yeah, this sounds racist as all hell; but you know, sometimes in life things are true in certain circumstances that do sound a bit racist. Deal and get used to it, life isn’t one happy ball of fun.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I am not in the restaurnt business but I am in a service business.
You just had a bad run of clients and with the law of averages things are bound to change. Hang in there.
I can’t comment on the tipping practices of one group or another but I would give everybody the benefit of the doubt before I made any sweeping generalizations.
Perhaps other servers would comment on this subject.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:24 am
You certainly seem about due for a vacation.
Deep breaths.
It’s not just you. It’s gotta be left-overs from the crappy weekend I had. I’m telling ya, there’s some weird planet alignment going on right now. Gotta be.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
It isn’t you. And I don’t think it has anything to do with black or white, because I know white people who act the exact same way and give their children stupid names with nothing but vowels and apostrophes in them. I think some people (no matter what race)are just shitheads who feel entitled to everything and that they owe the world (and their waiter) nothing.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Racism, as I understand it, is judging an individual on his race. That’s wrong, logically and morally.
What is not racism is judging a race’s culture, in whole or in part. There’s nothing bad in saying that you don’t care for African-American names or tipping habits, no more than in saying you don’t like Mexican food or Indian dress or French movies.
And by the same token, it’s not racism if you judge an individual for some voluntary practice that may be stereotypical of their race. If a black person in dreadlocks and baggy pants comes into the restaurant and speaks terrible English, it’s logical to think that they might not be polite or a good tipper. Same thing if it’s a white person with the same characteristics.
So no, I don’t think the post is racist. It’s just common sense.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hi, I’ve been reading you since you started this site, and I’ve been a HUGE fan, though this is my first comment. I’m a 21yr old black woman, and I didn’t see anything racist in your post. I waited tables for a while but had to bow out after a few months to retain my sanity (and my felony-free criminal record….some nights you just wanna choke a bitch).
But my point is, that it’s sad but true that some stereotypes are valid for certain demographics, and whatever their race, some people have no idea how to act. You were wronged, repeatedly, and if you get a little heated, more power to you. You have the right.
And if it makes you feel better, you’ve still got a fan in me! Stay strong
July 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’m with Angry Pharmacist: I’d bet money that none of these kids has had more than a fleeting relationship with their fathers and that no one has ever threatened to knock them into the middle of next week if they don’t straighten up and fly right and treat people decently.
I’d bet money that moms never ever gave a second of thought to how much work kids are, but her friends were popping them out so she might as well do it to. And then, some random POS boyfriend refused to use a condom and she was too much of a push-over to tell him to get the hell out and there’s another baby…
Hate to say it, Ribeye, but all of your problems are the fault of the US government which, back in the 60s, destroyed the black family with welfare. I have no idea what the solution is because no one is ever going to make these women behave responsibly and so they will rear another generation yet more antisocial than themselves. I fear for all of us who are civilized.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I think you are being overly sensitive to your own concept of racism. Liberal guilt at it’s best. At worst, you mock the bastardization of the English language of others. But it’s very clear from your posts that if the toked up rastas had shown proper ID, you would have not only served them, but with the same consideration of all your other customers. This is not a problem with you, but rather with a string of customers that will never appreciate the service they get, no matter how well you serve them. In my time behind the bar and waiting tables, I could certainly having a fairly accurate guess of the tip % before I even sat the table, didn’t change how I served them. But when I was managing a restaurant and we had a black table came in, I went out of my way to seat them with a black waiter/waitress. Why? About 300% more likely to tip them well.
But that doesn’t forgive bad behavior by customers. Some people just have an axe to grind. One of my favorite moments was being accused of having different specials for black people because we had a (black) chef win a local contest for his fried chicken so they put it on the specials for about two weeks, and that night we had a homemade watermelon sorbet served in a bowl carved out of watermelon (which was bad ass, I’d kill someone for some of that right now). So one of the 8 specials was fried chicken and the special dessert was watermelon. Woman came up to me and told me she didn’t appreciate getting the black specials and wanted the specials that everyone got. I walked over to a white regular’s table and took the specials list right out of his hands and gave it to her. The woman wasn’t phased, but her husband seemed very uncomfortable to be out with her after that display. My regular also got a good laugh out of it when I gave him another specials list.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Personally, I think you’re doing a great job at staying neutral on the whole racist issue. I’ve read through all your blogs and there are stories about all races; it seems to me that you stress your frustration with ignorance, not race. Don’t worry so much about sounding racist, your writing is very entertaining and non-degrading toward anyone except stupid people.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
not racist i notice the same thing at my job 90% of blacks do not tip. funny thing is the ones who do tip very well perhaps they know? also if its a black man with a white woman you either get no tip or overtipped it is werid
July 17th, 2008 at 10:37 am
you’re not racist, you talk equally of stupid people of all colors, LOL
someone needs to speak out for servers, and maybe one day, some of those people will see themselves in your post. Wait, they may only be able to read as well as they can speak, so maybe a dumbed down version :)
July 17th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Honey, you are not racist. You have been guilted by an old liberal canard into blaming yourself for the bad behavior of a certain social demographic.
We as a society have failed the poor, black community because we have fostered an environment in which they are able to embrace a deeply entrenched entitlement mentality. Of course, these folks have free will to rise above their circumstances, but then it’s easier to blame all of your woes (however, great or minor) on your skin color than to try to rise above them.
Ribeye, you are a very good person. I think if nights like Sunday become a more frequent phenomenon, you might want to look for work elsewhere. You shouldn’t have to put up with getting stiffed for what surely has to be excellent service.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Man, I thought I had it bad in retail. I’ve spent the last two days (two of the most unproductive days in my working life, thanks! My boss is about to kill me) reading this blog from front to back. I live in Canada now, where tipping is a bit different as servers actually make a real minimum wage, but I’m still going to be upping my tipping amount.
The shit you put up with is insane, and the fact that you aren’t in prison for killing one of these SoBs just speaks volumes for your character. I wouldn’t have lasted a week in a place like that before I told some customer to fuck off and stormed out.
—
And yes, as others have said, you aren’t racist. As you’ve said many times, you don’t prejudge a table before you talk to them. I don’t think anyone (that isn’t a self entitled prick) would think less of you for dieing a little inside every time you hear “Brang us fo waddah wid to bawl of lemon!”.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Your remarks are not racist. You write about what happens. Period, dot, end of sentence.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
No you are not racist but pretty soon you will be if you don’t get out of there! Those bad ghetto tables will ruin it for the decent African Americans that I now get to wait on at my new place! I had a 2 top tonight, their bill was close to $40.00 and they left me with a $50.00 bill…keep the change…I have new respect for African Americans but it didn’t happen till I started working where I do now, where no black or white thrash comes in, just decent people.Don’t loose hope, you need to find a new job buiddy!
July 17th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
“the US government which, back in the 60s, destroyed the black family with welfare”
That is actually a myth. Black families haven’t changed except the low lifes just outnumber the decent ones. Remember what Bill Cosby said about blacks not taken responibility for their own lives?
There is honest to god racism against Blacks especially in regards to the ghetto tax but a lot of the blame rests on the black community for the problems they have.
As for the slavery thing these ignorant ass fucktards don’t realize that 99.9999 of their ancestors wound in slavery due to other Blacks selling them off to the Arabs and Europeans in exchange for novelties along with guns in order to kill other Blacks.
Most Black empires in Africa more then half the population was in slavery to the other half. All the Europeans did was take advantage of an existing market. Roots style slave raids were incredibly rare and likely only counted for about 1% of slaves. As for the voyage the same amount of slaves died on it as did the ships crew, passangers. Ocean voyages back then were hellish if a ship on a week long voyage didn’t have anyone die it was considered a miracle.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
whatwasmypostingnameagain, what the hell is your point? African-Americans are to be held mostly accountable for 400+ years of oppression because, as you say, “Most Black empires in Africa more then half the population was in slavery to the other half. All the Europeans did was take advantage of an existing market. Roots style slave raids were incredibly rare and likely only counted for about 1% of slaves. As for the voyage the same amount of slaves died on it as did the ships crew, passangers. Ocean voyages back then were hellish if a ship on a week long voyage didn’t have anyone die it was considered a miracle.”
Are you freaking kidding me?!! That’s unbelievable!
July 20th, 2008 at 7:50 am
“African-Americans are to be held mostly accountable for 400+ years of oppression because, as you say,”
Simple whites aren’t the ones who are responisble for them being in slavery. Whites were the ones who ended slavery in Africa not the Africans. Slavery is on the rise in Africa despite the denials of certain people. Without Africans enslaving one another there wouldn’t have been a slave trade shipping them to the European colonies throughout the world. Heck the Africans killed the ones that were shipped back when the Europeans tried to be generous and return the descendants of slaves back to their own lands.
Whites shouldn’t be held for repariations or any of that crap or feel guilty for slavery. Blacks in the US need to get their head out of their ass and start learning to live in the world rather then live as trash.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Love this blog. Found it from TAP, since I gave up the restaurant business for the pharmacy business. The thing people seem to forget about prejudice is the “pre” part of it. Its not racist to relay a story of specific assholes. Anyway, I probably won’t be the first or last to send you this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6pi-9LBtxs&feature=related
July 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Well I agree that no one today should be held response for making reparations for slavery in the US, but not for the same reason.
There is not a single person alive today who owned a slave before slavery here was abolished- no one at all. None of us have any control over our ancestors past and can’t be held responsible for their actions.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
“Simple whites aren’t the ones who are responisble for them being in slavery. Whites were the ones who ended slavery in Africa not the Africans. Slavery is on the rise in Africa despite the denials of certain people. Without Africans enslaving one another there wouldn’t have been a slave trade shipping them to the European colonies throughout the world. Heck the Africans killed the ones that were shipped back when the Europeans tried to be generous and return the descendants of slaves back to their own lands.”
Okay, this is ridiculous, as is the earlier comment:
“As for the slavery thing these ignorant ass fucktards don’t realize that 99.9999 of their ancestors wound in slavery due to other Blacks selling them off to the Arabs and Europeans in exchange for novelties along with guns in order to kill other Blacks. Most Black empires in Africa more then half the population was in slavery to the other half. All the Europeans did was take advantage of an existing market. Roots style slave raids were incredibly rare and likely only counted for about 1% of slaves. As for the voyage the same amount of slaves died on it as did the ships crew, passangers. Ocean voyages back then were hellish if a ship on a week long voyage didn’t have anyone die it was considered a miracle.”
Pathetic, conscience-easing sensationalist nonsense. While I agree that it is foolish and unfair to hold whites today accountable for slavery, to use these arguments to justify and excuse the horrible, demeaning behavior of those whites who were involved in and/or supported the existence of slavery in word, thought, and/or deed at that time is disgusting. All societies, European ones included, have had systems of enslaving people from rival areas. Thus, to isolate ONLY the Africans for doing as justification for the European entry into the slave trade is stupid and unjust. Also, the Africans did not consider the rival ethnic groups to be “one of them” any more than the various groups in Europe whom were constantly warring with one another through the centuries did. Furthermore, to compare the inhumane chattel slavery the Africans suffered at the hands of whites to that of the slavery conditions that existed in their own continent is a joke. Also, the “oh-so-generous” Europeans whom sent back select former slaves generations later for purely humanitarian reasons (yeah, right; do some research as to the REAL reasons for repatriation)sent them to areas designated by the Europeans as placed for repatriated slaves, not to their “own lands”. These places were often impoverished, barren lands far away from the areas in which Europeans had economic interest, and in doing so the indigenous people were often displaced to make room for the returned slaves, many of whom retained many vestiges of years of brainwashed slave thinking and thus treated the indigenous people horribly (i.e. the “Americo-Liberians” whom, upon “returning” to Liberia, shunned the local people, retained their slave names, only wore Western clothing, and held events that the local Liberians were banned from attending). Years of being told that Africans were barbaric and inferior caused the repatriated slaves to internalize the discriminatory beliefs and behavior that they had once been victims of and mistreat others. Not exactly a happy reunion, nor a welcome sight by the local Africans.
And when discussing the slavery that currently exists in Africa today among many other African problems, let us not forget that the hundreds of years of colonialism certainly had a less-than-positive effect on the continent as a whole. It’s not like white people came centuries ago, came to get their slaves and then left the continent alone; far from it. They encroached upon the Africans until the 1960’s and 1970’s, when the many of the African nations finally gained independence.
I’m not in any way excusing the atrocious manner in which many blacks behave nor the way that RS was treated. I am saddened and ashamed by it, as she in no way deserved it. But don’t start mixing apples and oranges; we are all perfectly capable of decrying the actions of these customers as extremely rude and inappropriate without exaggerating, minimizing, and falsifying horrid parts of history and the people who were unfortunate enough to have to endure it.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Hilarious that getyourfacts is just spewing crap.
Europeans enslaved other Europeans for generations. Europeans enslaved everybody they encountered. Muslims enslaved Europeans till the European areas started to defend themselves hence why they went more to African areas to get slaves.
“colonialism certainly had a less-than-positive effect on the continent as a whole.”
Funny that when one bothers to do any research one finds that a load of crap. Europeans put in systems that worked. Europeans put in the equilvant of trillions to make health care available, education, infrastructure. It was the Africans that ruined things by getting rid of anything that the whites had put up.
“only wore Western clothing”
Funny how much of the African empire royallty along with rich people who were Black in Africa wore Western clothes. It was considered fashionable and a sign that you were educated. Same thing happened in China and other regions that the Europeans become culturaly dominated in.
Most of the Africans had half or more of their population enslaved before the Europeans ever got there. Africans were slaughtering one another in genocidal wars long before Europeans were there. Mass disease, poverty, were long a common occurance in Africa.
As for claims that the Europeans polluted and depleted resources absolute garbage. The African continenat is still one of the most resource rich and pristne areas on Earth. Most African countries can easily make billions in selling raw materials each year even at the cheapest price for said materials. Guess what they waste all that potential.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 am
What a joke. I’m spewing crap? This is crap:
“Europeans enslaved other Europeans for generations. Europeans enslaved everybody they encountered.”
If you read properly, you would see that I mentioned that ALL people, including Europeans, enslaved their rivals. You aren’t correcting me, just rephrasing.
“Muslims enslaved Europeans till the European areas started to defend themselves hence why they went more to African areas to get slaves.”
Are you kidding? First of all, it is common knowledge that the Muslims were heavily involved in slavery of various different people(including but not limited to the East African slave trade that occurred far earlier than the European slave trade in Africa, which was primarily concentrated in West Africa), but to say that the reason that Africans were enslaved was “because the Europeans started to defend themselves” is totally ludricrous. Conflict between the Muslims and Europeans cannot be used as an excuse for slavery? Remember the Crusades? What about the growth of the Ottoman Empire? Furthermore, what about the European enslavement of the indigenous people of the Americas? What are we blaming that on?
Regarding colonialism:
“Funny that when one bothers to do any research one finds that a load of crap. Europeans put in systems that worked. Europeans put in the equilvant of trillions to make health care available, education, infrastructure. It was the Africans that ruined things by getting rid of anything that the whites had put up.”
Where are you doing your research–a comic book? Of course the SOLE reason the Europeans colonialized damn near a whole continent was because they were EXTREMELY interested in setting up institutions that were instantly made wholly accessible to the African people. Of course none of this “development,” which displaced whole villages and communities and of which in some cases the European nations CHARGED the Africans for (simply review info on foreign debt) was not at all to make living conditions for the EUROPEANS whom settled there more comfortable. Nope, the colonizers lived in squalor because they were dedicated to ensuring an “improved” life for the people whose continent they had invaded.
Regarding Western clothing:
“Funny how much of the African empire royallty along with rich people who were Black in Africa wore Western clothes. It was considered fashionable and a sign that you were educated. Same thing happened in China and other regions that the Europeans become culturaly dominated in.”
First, no one said anything about African royalty; I was talking about repatriated slaves and mentioning their attire as one of many indicators that the repatriated slaves did not see themselves nor hold themselves out to be “the same” as the non-slave descendants. Furthermore, you are incorrect, for African royalty past and present as well as non-royal civilians wear both native and Western attire depending upon the setting; to wear native clothing is not a sign of being “uneducated and poor.” In fact, high-ranking officials i.e. diplomats, ambassadors, etc often don native clothing as opposed to Western clothing for high profile meetings etc even today. Also, do you think it speaks well for YOUR argument to imply that to be viewed as “educated” and “well-off” one, be they in Africa or Asia, should take on such an assimilated, Eurocentric view that to wear the clothing customary to their land is a sign of ignorance and poverty?
“Most of the Africans had half or more of their population enslaved before the Europeans ever got there. Africans were slaughtering one another in genocidal wars long before Europeans were there. Mass disease, poverty, were long a common occurance in Africa.”
ANd you have what statistics to prove this? Half or more? Please remember Africa is a continent, not a country. Don’t throw your unsupported exagerations in here. Mass disease and poverty have long been a common occurrence ALL over the world, not only in Africa. Furthermore, the practice of genocide is widespread as well, and has been for centuries; certainly in Europe and Asia as well as Africa, but don’t try to use that as a smokescreen to defend the practice of slavery.
“As for claims that the Europeans polluted and depleted resources absolute garbage. The African continenat is still one of the most resource rich and pristne areas on Earth. Most African countries can easily make billions in selling raw materials each year even at the cheapest price for said materials. Guess what they waste all that potential.”
I won’t for a second, nor have I, pretended that Africans were or are perfect. Corruption, among other sordid practices, have certainly added to AFrica’s current woes. Africans have a huge hand in screwing up Africa. But you are very wrong to say that Europeans have not hugely benefited from CENTURIES of resoruce depletion in Africa–gold, oil, agriculture, minerals, diamonds, etc, etc, etc. European nations and private European companies grew wealthy off of African resources (and still do–who do you think owns most of that stuff today? The Africans themselves? Hardly; foreign companies.) I never said, however, that no resources currently exist. Although it is not as simplistic as you put it: “Most African countries can easily make billions in selling raw materials each year even at the cheapest price for said materials…” because of various factors, it is true that a lot of potential is being wasted in Africa.
Anyway, the whole point of my first post was to point out that the European enslavement of Africans was unethical and should not be pardoned and excused. I was not trying to start arguments nor deify Africans. We cannot excuse wrong behavior. I can’t excuse the Nazis for what they did to the Jews, or excuse what was done in Rwanda, or excuse what America did to the Native Americans–and neither should you. Wrong is wrong. A person who date-rapes the most promiscuous girl on a college campus is still considered a criminal. One cannot use the fact that the victim was not an angelic being as justification for doing horrible things to a person. The same goes for enslaving a group of people. Slavery and colonialism were about making money off of dominating other people, not about humanitarianism.
Anyway, RS post was about being treated horribly on a repeated basis by several black patrons of her restaurant. If we go by the reasoning of justifying bad behavior to other human beings because the people whom are being harmed are perceived as “deserving it”, than according to the black patrons she deserved what happened to her…because she’s white and therefore can survive just fine without their tips because hypothectially she has more opportunities than they do. Right? HELL NO! I don’t care if a white person had just walked up to one of them and called them the “n” word ten minutes before they entered the restaurant–she didn’t do it, and she shouldn’t have to be treated like sh*t because of something she’s not a part of.
Just as black people should not use slavery as an excuse for bad behavior, society (or individuals) should not use lame half-truths about Africans to excuse the fact that the Europeans and Americans enslaved Africans. Neither side has an excuse for their behavior.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Dear Facts,
Start your own blog - don’t hijack this one! Dayum! Want more ribeye.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Hi Ribeye-
I manage a casual eatery in San Diego and my guy’s asked me one day why black people don’t tip and I advised, much like many who post before it’s not so much that black people as a whole don’t tip, but those from the lower part of the socio-economic scale are just not educated. That includes being educated in social graces and conduct - so much of the time, the poor have no idea how the whole concept of dining in a restaurant is suppose to go down. Consequently many servers get treated like the McDonald’s drive thru clerk in some of the worse neighborhoods in America. As a black male myself, I consistently intervene when I see that my servers are having a difficult time managing a ‘ghetto’ table (no matter what color) and I try and educate them on what is acceptable for dining in our restaurant. Being that we are privately owned by a very wealthy Jewish Lady, she does not mind at all if I tell someone to get the fuck our of our restaurant. So, from time to time, I explain to my ghetto customers who don’t want to play nicely with us that they can take it elsewhere. I always let them know that we enjoy what we do and we simply want to share that with them and if they can’t accept that - then GIT!!! Ah, so much fun! For the most part though I have been able to turn some around and convert them into regular, tipping patrons who will venture out and try some nice grilled mako, ahi or halibut in our great restaurant. And as far as my employees, they’ve learned that some of the wealthy condo owners will come in a leave a $4 tip on a $60 check whereas on black lady came in and left a $157 tip on a huge to go order :-)
July 27th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I find it funny that in this post no one really sees it as racist, and I am NOT saying it is, but if anyone spoke these words they would be accused of being racist. However if they say something about whites, it is taken without so much of a 2nd glance. When I lived in anothor big city, we lived in apt building that was about 50/50 in terms of races. A black boy hit my car one day with his garbage as I was leaving the parking lot. Later on I went and told his mother that I didn’t appreciate it and would appreciate it if she would ask him not to do it again. Her son said I was lying and she started screaming at me calling me a racist. Unbelievable. He DID hit my car and I would have gone and told them had it been a white boy. Some blacks use it as an excuse for everything. The problem is that everyone allows it to be used an excuse. As soon as we start expecting everyone to take responsibility for their own actions, I don’t think race would be such an issue. Until then, it will ALWAYS be a touchy subject.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I find that lower class people, regardless of their race, don’t behave well in public period. I think that part of it is that they were never taught manners so they get defensive because they don’t know how else to act. What can we expect when a kid raises himself and has MTV for a babysitter?
I have also worked in retail and as a stylist. In both professions we were told to look at the shoes and purse before “wasting” too much time on a customer. In other words, if they didn’t look like money, we had a license to ignore them or treat them with less respect than our other customers. This is before they even opened their mouths. Judging someone strictly on appearance is far more prejudiced than anything that you have written. By the way, our clientele was about 80% white.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
In your haste to out-”fact” one another, a couple of you seem to have overlooked something that has been made very clear on this blog: Raging Server is a man.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
and I forgot to add: I’m jonesing for an update, Ribeye!!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Look, It’s as simple as this: Niggers don’t tip. They just don’t. They never have. Sure, there’s the odd exception to the rule, but its an exception. The rule is that niggers don’t tip. And you are ensuring your own poverty by working in an environment where your livlihood depends on a nigger tipping. Change jobs.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Man, it’s been a long time since I waited tables. Glad I’m out of that.
Ghetto lemonade, hot-water-and-ketchup soup, ebonics instead of English, those are all bad signs. My last serving gig was at an upscale seafood restaurant in Dallas, the kind of place you don’t get out of for less than $50 - and I still had to put up with that crap.
Regardless, trash comes in many colors. Sunday afternoons always did suck.