Sorry, any middle aged “man” who is still working at a fast food restaurant as anything but a manager or owner isn’t a man. He certainly isn’t providing for his family or paying for his way.
The economy sucks, especially for blacks. You take what you can. Or would you rather, for him to prove his “manhood,” have him quit his job entirely and go on 100% welfare? Would that make him a “man” in your eyes?
So for all that time, was the economy so bad that if he were truly qualified to be promoted, he couldn’t be?