Is it Discrimination, Profiling or just Policy?

A few weeks ago a neighbor and I went to our clubhouse restaurant to address an issue related to the service our children and their friends at the establishment.  Our sons called us and told us that management refused to serve them as they had implemented a new rule to NOT serve patrons under 16 years of age.  Apparently some of the younger patrons had been guilty of displaying inappropriate behavior, being rude to staff, not tipping and fighting outside of the establishment.  The new rule is that residents under the age of 16 can order food to go but can't sit down and be served in the restaurant without an adult.  I totally understand that independent establishments can have their own rules (no cell phones, no children at certain hours, etc.) however this situation is different.  We pay fees to 'belong' to the clubhouse.  If you know me, then you know that this enraged me! I pay my fees and my family belongs to this clubhouse and has all the rights and privileges that a paying resident is entitled to.

When I spoke to management (which by the way are young enough to be my children) I told them that they may as well have told my children to go to the back door and order their food then wait on the stoop to be served...circa segregation!!!

I made it clear to this young staff that OUR children are not the individuals who caused the problems  and that profiling the youth in this community can lead to some serious problems.  We also took this moment to give our boys a dose of reality...black children/men will be judged.  It's a fact.  However, you need to make sure that you carry yourself in a way in which people see who you truly are and not stereotype or judge you based on their experiences with a few select African American people.

I'm going to have to revisit this issues because our boys went back to the clubhouse today and while they were able to order their food to go, they were asked to wait outside.  This is not the 60s! And while I'm a realist, I don't want my kids to have to suffer discrimination or profiling  just to get a cookie and an order of fries! 

It's a sad commentary that my husband and I chose to move into a safe community where there are great schools, a great sense of family and we have to deal with issue such as this. I will continue to raise this issue with management until things change and I will continue to send my children to the restaurant so that they learn how to deal with issues of this nature on their own and stand up for themselves.

Note:  I chose not to name the establishment as to extend a level of respect to them that they aren't extending to our children, but if you know where we live then you know the clubhouse that I'm talking about!

Back to School Blues

Enjoy this first installment of my video blog.  While I will continue to write, I want to work on my editing and production skills so I'll be posting videos from time to time.