U. S. News
Black man kicked out of sushi restaurant for wearing sneakers
Umi Sushi, an establishment in Atlanta, has a strict dress code. No sneakers are allowed, according to the restaurant’s rules, but a recent incident indicates its staff only enforces this rule on certain customers.
“What’s the difference?” he asks as he is led away from the dining patrons. The majority of his exchange with the staff member is inaudible. The customer is clearly flabbergasted, however, as the evidence of bias stacks up.
The man remains calm, albeit baffled, as he continues to question the double standard. The staff member clearly doesn’t enjoy the continued questioning, but the Black man and his companion are rightfully confused. “How crazy is that?” the man exclaims, nearing the camera. “She has on Adidas sneakers. You’re telling me those are good?”
“This is pure racism, she has on Adidas,” he says. The staff member balks at this accusation but fails in his attempts to refute it. Rather than offer a convincing argument, he chooses to walk away. As the man’s companion, still filming, notes that the duo will “wait for the police,” the employee says that he is “more than happy to have a conversation” about the issue.
Rather than address the man’s concerns, employees continually repeat their willingness to “have a conversation,” so long as it occurs outside the restaurant. Once outside, an employee finally addresses the man’s concerns, noting that “we’re all minorities here.”
Umi staff members continue to dodge the couple’s questions throughout the exchange. Things soon get heated after the man, identified as Steve by his companion, attempts to gain the opinion of a man they claim owns the restaurant. When he dismisses their concerns, the two men nearly come to blows. His dismissal of the duo, without even entertaining their concerns, stuck with viewers, many of whom tagged the real reason they thought they were denied entry.
“Buckhead is trying to ‘make Atlanta white again’ I see,” one commenter noted.
The video, shared to Twitter by Everything Georgia, soon prompted Umi Sushi to trend. Users are using the trend to promote a boycott of the restaurant. Even fans of Umi are announcing their intent to avoid the restaurant due to the actions of its staff.
The Facebook and Instagram accounts for Umi Sushi have been deactivated.
-
New York6 days ago
Due to the bird flu, New York has added new, temporary regulations for the import of dairy cattle
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Reunited Afghan family in Rochester after almost ten years apart
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Strong Hospital has a significant police presence during a search for a man from Livingston County
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Numerous people walk to bring attention to Black maternal mortality
-
Local News2 weeks ago
22 exotic animals left behind in a downtown Rochester building following the eviction of the tenant
-
Local News2 weeks ago
By April 29, RCSD intends to name an interim superintendent
-
Local News1 week ago
With the help of her kids, a Rochester teacher runs the Boston Marathon
-
Local News7 days ago
Friends and family assemble to honor the victim of the Driving Park Bridge hit-and-run