Patrons act over segregated dining (“Cracker” Barrel gave whites better seating and service!)

The New York Times via SMH ^ | May 5, 2004

[savedbygrace]

I have a totally different opinion. CB hasn't been worth a hoot, IMO, for a very long time. I haven't gotten a decent meal in a CB in years. Or decent service.

[Darnright]

>My personal experience with those church groups was that tipping was NOT something they felt they had to do. It was very common to make $1.00 (or nothing) off a party of 12 who occupied your entire section for an hour. If servers (of any color) refused to wait on blacks, I'd bet it was because of perceived tip concerns based on experience.<

Cracker Barrel needs to assess a 15% gratuity on large parties, like other restaurants do. There is no excuse in not protecting its wait staff from boors.

[gitmo]

No, I honestly don't get the reference.

I have no clue.

[gitmo]

Any idea which states had the offending CB stores?

[CMOTB]

I think maybe whites should be offended and complain. After all, they are calling it the "Cracker" barrel. Isn't Cracker a slang word for white folk?

But seriously, I've been there many times and find it hard to believe that this was intentional disrespect toward their customers. At least I don't like to think that this type of thing has been happening.

[GadareneDemoniac]

Ding, ding, ding... I think we have a winner here, folks! You nailed it!

[savedbygrace]

Yessir. The only way I could possibly be saved is by the Grace of God.

[freedumb2003]

I think they became "Denny's"

[ScoochDude]

Don't stop at the CB in Christiansburg, VA.
It's chock full of tail gunners, prolly 20% of the waitstaff.

[jimfree]

There used to be a restaurant years ago here in Houston called Sambo's

The Sambo's chain was a casualty of changing sensibilities regarding race and reserved racial words.

I worked for a time (a few months in the mid 70s) as a weekend night cook at the Sambo's in Meridian, Mississippi. The assistant manager I worked for most was a black gent. I also remember our having an enormous black clientele. (The food was decent and decently priced.) Sad how those things work. That assistant manager may have later become a manager only to lose his position with the company - all to please Jesse Jackson and the NAACP. I take heart that he was a smart guy and would easily have landed on his feet in any of a number of pursuits.

[happylady1979]

I work at the Cracker Barrel in OKC and I have worked at The Barrel for 1 1/2 years. I have been a hostess, cashier, and worked the retail store. I have always done by best to give everyone the best service I can. The Barrel has managers, staff, and guests of every age, race, gender, and sexual orientation. If any of this did happen, it is a terrible shame, but I have never been witness to or heard of anything like this till now. I think it is ridiculous to accuse an entire company of such a thing, for the alleged actions of a few people. I know those of us who work there have better things to do than plot against ethnic groups. Thank you for your time.

[scan58]

There were a few Sambo's in Oklahoma City, where I lived. IIRC, they all became Denny's.

[wtc911]

Color coding applications has been going on for decades. A little red chack in any corner does it.

My oldest is in grad school in liberal SoCal. He tells stories of outright racism (grafitti on dorm room doors variety) that he has seen personally. Racism continues strong in America.