First, I should let you know that I only joined IMDB in order to comment on this thread. Second, I too have not seen the movie, although as soon as I find a place where I can get it, I hope to. I came across it looking at movies filmed in Minneapolis. Third, I have had over ten years experience working in a restaurant.
I have to admit that I agree to a certain extent with the OP. Now, it is obvious that not all black people are bad tippers. As stated, that is prejudiced. However, from experience the American Black community tends to tip poorly. I say American since some of the nicest and best tipping customers are people who came willingly to the US from Africa. Those who have not come willingly from Africa (e.g. Somalians who fled thier homes) I can understand their inability to tip well, and they tend to be quite nice, as well as apologetic for their lack of a decent tip.
I am white. My ancestors moved here in the early 20th century. They lived lives that were quite rough, including being beaten for having any alcohol (My Ojibwe/Canadian ancestors), forced to live in squalid conditions (My Lithuanian ancestors forced to sleep in the back room of a butchers' shop), and attacked on the streets (German ancestors, especially during WWII). None of my ancestors owned slaves in this country, and it is doubtful they did elsewhere.
The rhetorical question that
people shouldn't be allowed to eat out in restaurants unless they can tip "appropriately?"
is ridiculous. They do. Standard is 15%. I had to claim at least 8% of my total sales as tips, else risk the wrath of the IRS. Claiming 10% or less raises just as much of a red flag. Tipping originates from the Great Depression as a way for restaurant owners to keep their staff while only giving them a pittance as their wage. It
is necessary to tip decently. It is assumed you will. Without it, there is no reason to work in that profession, unless the owners create a profit-sharing of some sort, but it is doubtful that will happen. The idea that
you'd be better tipped in an "exclusive" country club
may be so, but how many jobs are there in places like that? Also, most require a large amount of experience serving before even attempting to apply, so where would that experience come from? Not to mention that if people took your advice, the number of sit-down restaurants would nearly, if not completely, disappear due to lack of staff.
For my final point, I have been harassed, insulted, taunted, demeaned, and assaulted by people of all races, but from experience, the American Black community tends to be quite racist, ranging from using the n-word (no matter if it was taken back, it is still a word of hate and should be dismissed from use by all people), creating derogatory terms such as "cracker", and often commenting on the look or actions of another person and attributing it to their race. The title of this film is a great example of that. I can only hope that it shines light on these problems.
Does racism exist? Yes. It is only natural, sadly, that the human brain is wired to be with and support people who look and/or act like yourself and be aprehensive towards those that are different. The key is to not act on it. It is heart-breaking that so many people have recently. The only way I can forsee racism toward fellow human beings becoming a thing of the past is for people to accept that others are people too. Treat people like you want to be treated. Would you like it if someone came it to your workplace and essentially stole from you? Of course not.
Now, before the "slavery, therefore I'm privileged" argument can be formed, I will address that. Not with the simple copout that after the Civil War the colony of Liberia was formed specifically for former slaves (it is generally considered to be a botched affair), but with the point that the American Black community today has many of the same benefits from slavery as the White population does, From infrastructure that (possibly by their ancestors) was built in the East, to the Chinese population in California. Built on their backs. I do understand this, but my parents come from poor origins, and with the use of their intellect were able to rise a bit from it. I put myself through college, paying for it with tips from the restaurant I worked at and scholarships earned from studying hard in high school. I graduated from college in 2008, just in time for the economic collapse that we are currently living in. I am poor. I am down-trodden. Yet I treat people as equally and fairly as possible. I don't always see reciprocation.
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zimpilgrim
9 years ago
@erichill22
Perhaps black customers don't tip you because they perceive the contempt towards them that you've displayed here.
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