Posted on 10/17/2006 5:15:23 PM PDT by Livin_large
Rose Rock, the mother of comedian Chris Rock, claims she was racially discriminated against when she was seated but ignored for more than a half hour at a Cracker Barrel restaurant along the South Carolina coast. Rock said Tuesday she planned to sue the Lebanon, Tenn.-based company. A Cracker Barrel spokeswoman said the restaurant chain was investigating and taking the complaint "very seriously."
Cracker Barrel has in the past faced numerous lawsuits and a federal inquiry over complaints of refusing to serve black customers, discriminating against minority workers and firing gay employees. The company has taken steps to rebuild its folksy image and reach out to minorities.
Rock, who is from Georgetown, said she and her 21-year-old daughter were the only blacks at the chain's Murrells Inlet restaurant in April. She said when she asked the manager about the delay she was told they could have a free meal.
"He never called over the waitresses and asked, `Why did these people sit here for an hour without service?'" she said. "The only thing he said was we could have a free meal and neither of us wanted to eat."
Cracker Barrel spokeswoman Julie Davis said the company doesn't "tolerate any form of discrimination."
"It has always been a violation of our policies and procedures and it is neither condoned nor allowed," she said. "We do not allow the type of behavior you are describing," Davis said.
Rock said she contacted the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission and was told her complaint would be handled, but "nothing ever happened."
The head of the commission, Jesse Washington, said Tuesday that after initial discussions, the complaint was finalized Aug. 7 and his agency also was investigating. He would not comment on the complaint.
"We get thousands of charges coming through here in the course of a year," he said. "It's not out of line _ the time frame on this. It is being investigated and we will be in touch with her when we have a report."
The Rev. Al Sharpton will join Rock on Wednesday in South Carolina to announce that Sharpton's Action Network will finance the planned lawsuit.
"I'm getting reports from all over the country about Cracker Barrel," Sharpton said from New York on Tuesday.
He also said state officials are slow to act on such complaints.
"When people are talking about there is no more discrimination, a lot of it is because they are not following this stuff up," Sharpton said.
Cracker Barrel, established in 1969, operates 547 restaurants in 41 states, according to the company's Web site.
Georgetown is about 60 miles northeast of Charleston.
Life is good for Rev. Al.
And justly deserved, I might add. :-)
Ohhhh.
I am not big on Denny's have only dined there in the past when that is the only place next to where I am sleeping for the night.
And it is too late for other places to be open.
Always reminded me of cold cafateria food.
Even in our long hospital stays the OHSU dining beats a Denny's hands down.
I just figure if we all stand there and take it, nothing will ever change.
When my daddy ran a grocery store, my sister and I were "required" to appear there after school every day to work. If we had talked on the phone while we were waiting on a customer, I doubt I'd be here today. :-)
We went to ChiChi's in Roanoke a number of years ago & were seated for over 20 minutes when we asked for a waitress after seeing others that came after us getting served. After finally getting the attention of a waitress we were told ours would be with us soon. After another 20 or so minutes with no waitress we left and complained to the front desk. They asked where we were sitting and we told them. They commented to each other & marked on the seating chart that waitress so & so's table was now open. We never returned.
There was a big uproar around here a few years ago. A family owned a restaurant. They had 2 young girls that worked after school.
Well, at least people know I'm not "pretending" around here..........LOL.
I know, it undermines REAL discrimination. It seems they were handle appropriately with the offer of the free meal and the apology.
Heck, my waitress was black and my wait was about that long as well. Do you think I was discriminated against? She was busy and I also had to hunt her down to get my check, because I had to get back to work, but I tipped her well. She was pleasant and I enjoyed my food.
*Rolling my eyes*
It's GOOD for children.
Heck, we got off the bus at the store!
Thank goodness. Enough of that nonsense IRL.
Have a good night :)
People just need to slow down. We have to hurry enough as it is. Enjoy meals. Play the peg games. Shop or browse the store. Talk to each other. :')
Cracker Barrel restaurants are in the upper midwest as well. I know of a couple in the Twin Cities in Minnesota and I think I saw one in South Dakota.
I've never dined there, however.
I guess most of us aren't raised to LOOK for anything that might be construed (and sued) as discrimination.
Oh, did I forget to mention that? Must have slipped my mind...
Darn right. One of the worst things we ever did IMO was tell kids they don't have to work anymore and hand them a video game and tell them to go play. The oldest, (8 or 9) was running the register and making change. The youngest waited tables. The girls had to assure SS that they wanted too do this.
Or I-40 at Charlotte Pike.
I was wrapped in cold-water towels for a couple days after going to Cracker Barrel in '69 or '70. "Comfortably Numb" comes to mind... when I was a child, I had a fever, etc.
However, I do go to Cracker Barrel as an adult, and I like it just fine.
Your kidding?
Isn't that the case in most "family" owned places.
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