On Monday, a video of a Baltimore restaurant that denied a black mother and son service surfaced. The restaurant's reason was that the nine-year-old boy wore inappropriate clothes, even though they served a white kid who wore the same outfit.
Black mother's son faced racial injustice
The black woman, Marcia Grant, shared two videos and photos of the incident on her Facebook on Monday. She said that even though she had experienced racial injustice before, it was hard for her to see her son, Dallas, endure it.
She said that she had faced racism many times in the past, but it was hard for her to see her son upset because he was treated differently with the white kid.
Black boy wore inappropriate clothes
The racial injustice happened at Ouzo Bay, a restaurant that is owned by the Atlas Restaurant Group. A white employee, an unnamed manager, was seen in the videos telling Grant that they could not serve her son. He said that it is because of her son's clothes.
The black boy is wearing an Air Jordan T-shirt, athletic shorts, and sneakers. The manager said that, unfortunately, they have a dress code. He started suggesting the boy change into "nonathletic dress shorts," if possible.
White kid wore the same clothes as the black woman's son
The black mother then turned her camera to a white kid dressed just like Dallas' clothes. The white kid, wearing athletic clothes, appears to be leaving the restaurant after serving him and his family a meal. Later on in the video, the manager claimed that he did not get a good look at the white kid.
Describing the incident as "disturbing," the Atlas Restaurant Group issued a statement. It wrote that it should never have happened. The group placed the manager in the video on indefinite leave and wrote that they are sickened by the incident. Atlas is sincerely apologizing to the black woman Marcia Grant, her son, and to everyone who is impacted by the painful event.
Today, we learned of an incredibly disturbing incident that occurred at one of our restaurants in Baltimore, Ouzo Bay. We sincerely apologize to Marcia Grant, her son & everyone impacted by this painful incident. This situation does not represent who or what Atlas stands for. pic.twitter.com/jsofGRLVw1 — Atlas Restaurant Group (@AtlasBaltimore) June 23, 2020
The group said that it does not intend to cause racial injustice with its dress codes. They were just as a result of ongoing input from customers. Atlas also wrote that it ill immediately change its policy. Their dress code would not apply to children ages 12 and below.
On Tuesday morning, the black woman did not respond immediately to a message requesting comment.
Previously, an incident also occurred with the same group Atlas regarding its dress code. In September, "The Associated Press" reported that one of its restaurants did not serve a customer following their dress code.
The Choptank banned customers wearing baggy clothing, sunglasses after dark, and bandannas. The AP reported that later on, the restaurant changed its dress code.
Other related articles:
Black Mom Confesses How She Feels Raising a White Child
Katherine Heigl Getting Ready to Explain Racial Injustice to Black Daughter
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Proudly Stand Up for Racial Injustice
