Ouzo Bay, a restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland, is in the center of a firestorm over a “problematic” viral video. A black woman named Marcia Grant and her nine-year-old son were denied a table at the restaurant due to the son violating the restaurant’s dress code. Their policy clearly states that no “athletic gear” is allowed.
What’s All The Fuss About?
The boy’s mother decided to record the argument about the dress code between herself and a restaurant employee. And that video has gone viral. The key to the video is the comparison between her son and another boy at the restaurant who was dressed “similarly” but was allowed entry. She contends that they have on nearly the same outfit and that the reason why her son is not allowed entry is because of racism. But once the video is examined closely, the claim of racism does not really stick.
The black boy was wearing a full basketball outfit. He had on a Jordan Brand t-shirt with a giant Michael Jordan logo on the front, a pair of basketball shorts, and of course basketball style shoes to match. Compare that to the white boy who had on a pair of blue khaki-type shorts, a regular t-shirt, and a pair of basketball-style shoes. The colors of the shirt were nearly the same as the black boy’s shirt, but there was no athletic logo or anything of the sort.
Athletic-style shoes are actually allowed in the dress code, which the restaurant staffer said in the video. So both kids met the dress code when it came to shoes. The problem is with the shorts and the shirt. The white kid adhered to the dress code while the black kid did not. And somehow, this is spun by the mainstream media, random agitators, and the boy’s mother as an example of racism. It is not.
Is There A Precedent For This?
Dress codes are a common thing in restaurants. They create a certain vibe and atmosphere that keeps customers wanting to come back due to the enjoyable experience. The experience of a restaurant is very important due to the sheer number of available eateries that exist. What makes one restaurant different from the other? Food, of course, is the main thing. But it is not the only thing, especially in a highly competitive environment.
There is no inherent racism in dress codes unless said dress code is enforced on certain races differently. The now-viral video in question at Ouzo Bay is simply not an example of that.
Beware The “Woke” Mobs
A school of thought exists which says dress codes, in general, are targeted towards marginalized groups (read, black men) because of socioeconomic and cultural factors. This thought process ignores black restaurant owners that have their own dress codes. Black-owned nightclubs with majority black patronage are notorious for their very strict dress codes that they enforce with an iron fist.
Every establishment has the right to enforce their own rules. No shirt, no shoes, no service is the same thing as wrong shirt, wrong shirt, no service. To libel and/or slander a company because of an upset customer is simply the wrong thing to do. Ouzo Bay is in Baltimore, Maryland which is majority black. The parent company of Ouzo Bay, Atlas Restaurant Group, owns a decent-sized portfolio of restaurants all in the same area of Baltimore. If there were any allegations of racism, this incident with the dress code wouldn’t be the first alarm to ring.
Over the past few days, weeks, months, and years, black people have been used to push forward whatever political narrative the left want. From rewriting history to the abortion of babies. Enough is enough and it’s time for a change.
SOURCES:
Mother Of Black Boy Denied Table At Ouzo Bay Says She Will Continue To ‘Push For Him’ And Social Justice – CBS Baltimore
Black mother, son speak out about being denied service at Baltimore restaurant Ouzo Bay – Baltimore Sun
Company behind Ouzo Bay will eliminate dress code at 2 other restaurants | WBFF
Black mother and son speak out after being denied service at Baltimore restaurant | GMA
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