It's hard to believe that in 2020, people are still being refused service for the color of their skin. The sad reality happens in quiet ways around the country day after day. A Black woman is speaking out after she and her son were treated in such a way after just trying to grab lunch together.
Marcia Grant and her 9-year-old son Dallas wanted to stop at Baltimore's Ouzo Bay. The upscale Greek restaurant denied Marcia and Dallas service. The reason they gave was that Dallas was not dressed appropriately for the restaurant. Marcia noted to the restaurant manager that there was a white child dressed very similarly who had just finished eating. The management continued to insist that it was simply a matter of dress code, asking Marcia and Dallas to leave.
The heartbroken mom says this is the first time her child has been targeted by racism. She shared the video on Facebook so that others could see what they endured. The restaurant group has since apologized, but that apology can't erase Dallas' memory of the experience.
A Black mother was heartbroken when she and her son were denied service at a restaurant. Marcia Grant believes she and her 9-year-old son Dallas were turned away from Ouzo Bay, an upscale Greek restaurant in Baltimore, because of the color of their skin. Marcia captured part of the incident on video.
Marcia explains that when she and Dallas asked to be seated, she was informed that they couldn't be served because he was wearing athletic wear. Marcia pushed back, citing that not only is he a child but that another child whose family was being served in the restaurant's outdoor seating area was dressed very similarly. The restaurant stood firm.
The only difference between the two families? The seated family and child were white.
"I can't really say why they wouldn't let me in the restaurant originally. But once I pointed out to the guy that there was a white kid there with similar dress, I can only imagine that it was based on the fact that Dallas was Black," she told Michael Strahan in an interview.
"I kept on insisting that, you know, the white kid has the same thing that Dallas has on, why won't you let my son in," Marcia continued tearfully.
"He just would not, regardless of how hard I pushed for [Dallas]."
Marcia was especially crushed because this was the first time her son had experienced discrimination firsthand.
"He goes to a predominately white school … and they teach the kids that everyone is the same," Marcia said.
"So for him to see a kid outside (at the restaurant) that looks like one of his friends at school, it was tough for him."
"He knows I'll always fight for him," Marcia added. "We just have to keep on pushing for social justice."
Marcia's account of the incident was shared over 5,000 times. Atlas Restaurant Group, which owns Ouzo Bay, issued an apology on Monday.
"Today, we learned of an incredibly disturbing incident that occurred over the weekend at one of our restaurants in Baltimore (MD), Ouzo Bay. The video made public earlier today was by a very concerned mother after she and her young son were denied seated dining service at the restaurant due to her son not meeting the dress code requirements."
"The video clearly shows the woman's son, an African American young person, wearing athletic shorts, and an Air Jordan shirt. The video also shows a Caucasian youth, dressed similarly, who was permitted to dine in the restaurant. This should never have happened, the manager seen in the video has been placed on indefinite leave. We are sickened by this incident. We sincerely apologize to Marcia Grant, her son, and everyone impacted by this painful incident."
In addition to its apology, Atlas revised its dress code policy where children are concerned. "We immediately revised our dress code policy so that children 12-years-old and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, will not be subject to a dress code at any Atlas property. From a management perspective, there is a level of sensitivity, discretion, and customer service we expect, and this incident will serve a teachable moment to ensure it is not repeated."
It's interesting to note that this isn't the first time the restaurant group has had a problem in relation to its dress code policies. The Baltimore-based hospitality group, founded by former professional lacrosse player Alex Smith, was called out on Twitter last fall for its discriminatory dress code policy across its properties.
Elle senior staff writer and Baltimore native R. Eric Thomas tweeted a question to The Chopank, located in the Fells Point area of the city, about its dress code policy. Instead of getting a reply, he was blocked.
"Well this is … professional. Earlier today I took issue with blatantly discriminatory dress code at a new Baltimore eatery called @The_Choptank and asked them to explain the rationale behind the restrictions (seen here in a pic by @jmgpix). Instead of answering, they blocked me!"
The person who originally posted the photo of the rules, photographer J. M. Giordano, received a reply from the restaurant.
"Being new to the Fells Point neighborhood, we simply implemented the dress code standard that is used by several other properties in the area including Barcocina, Bond Street Social Moby's and The Horse You Came In On. Have a great day," the tweet read.
A dive into the matter by The Washingtonian found that other Atlas Restaurant Group venues had strict dress code policies, citing Ouzo Bay as one of them. Calls to the restaurants cited in The Choptank's tweet indicated that none of them had dress codes that strict. The hospitality group also claimed restaurants in development in the DC area would have similar dress codes.
Marcia didn't indicate whether she'd been contacted by the group since it issued its apology. She was happy to share the story of Dallas' encounter with a Baltimore police officer, however.
"A Baltimore City Police officer recognized @i_am_dallas_greene yesterday. He told Dallas that what happened was not his fault and that Dallas could come to eat at his house ANYTIME!"
