Rock's Mom Cries Racial Discrimination

[Midnight Mike]

Rock's Mom Cries Racial Discrimination
No laughing matter for Cracker Barrel restaurants
October 18, 2006

Rose Rock, with the help and funding of Rev. Al Sharpton, intends to sue the Tennessee-based company for allegedly racially discriminating against her and her daughter when she was ignored for a half hour while waiting for service at a South Carolina restaurant, report news sources.

In May 2006 at the Murrells Inlet location, Rock claims that as the only black customers in the restaurant, she and her 21-year-old daughter were made to wait for service while the waitstaff helped all the other customers. When Rock took her complaints to the manager, he allegedly didn't address the offending waitstaff and only offered her a free meal instead.

Rock contacted the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, but hasn't heard back from them.

"We don't tolerate any form of discrimination, it has always been a part of our policy, it's neither condoned nor tolerated. We take this very seriously," says Cracker Barrel spokesperson Julie Davis. The company is investigating the allegations.

Despite its folksy, friendly reputation, the Cracker Barrel has been sued in the past for racial discrimination of patrons and sex bias and racial harassment of employees. Both cases were settled, with Cracker Barrel agreeing to adopt 42 pages of regulations (although not admitting to any wrongdoing) in the former case and reaching a $2 million consent decree to resolve the latter.

[mirrodie]

what did they expect when dealing with a bunch of crackers?!

[NIKV69]

I watched her being interviewed today with Sharpton. Very entertaining. Sounds like Cracker Barrel has had some issues with racism though. I have had nothing but great sevice when I have eaten in there. The whole thing sounds strange. I douby a waitress is going to ignore someone for 30 mins. This should be entertaining tho.

[hiss srq]

Tis the south and down there it is still a prevelant issue as far as race etc is concerned but I cannot see a well established organization like that really having such issues to be honest.

[PhilDernerJr]

So just because she was the only black person in there....the bad service has to be racially motivated!?

I think a person needs actually EVIDENCE of racism in order to claim it, other than an inferiority complex. You don't just reach into your bag of tricks minority traits and yell it out when life doesn't go your way.

[RDU-JFK]

As someone who spent four years in the south, I'm sick and tired of people who say it's a race issue and that the south is still racist. For the most part, Cracker Barrel has some of the slowest service around. I've been ignored for more than 20 minutes. They're busy.

And Al Sharpton should keep his ass and his business out of the South. What if it were a white discriminated against in a Harlem restaurant? Where would Sharpton be then?

I agree that one should use evidence, not the race card, to prove a point.

[Matt Molnar]

For the most part, Cracker Barrel has some of the slowest service around. I've been ignored for more than 20 minutes. They're busy.

I was just about to say the same thing. Us white folk get ****ty service at Cracker Barrel too. I've never understood the appeal of the place. The food isn't anything special.

[hiss srq]

I agree the service sucks but in some parts of the south treatment is still racially motivated to be honest. In several parts of Florida and Georgia in particular but not so much South Carolina. I went to school down there for 6 months during high school and did not notice it.