blacks given poorer service while dining because of tipping stereotype

Jul 10, 2007
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I've never waited tables so I have no firsthand experience but based on what I read here, the stereotype has been confirmed on multiple occasions.

New evidence of racist restaurant waitstaff may leave a bad taste in the mouths of African-American diners.

After polling 200 servers in 18 North Carolina restaurants, researchers found that a shocking 38.5% discriminated against black customers.

Waiters admitted that they often gave them poorer service, based on their expectations that black diners would be poor tippers, demanding and rude.

Sarah Rusche, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at North Carolina State, called it a situation of “dining while black.”

“‘Tableside racism’ is yet another example in which African-Americans are stereotyped and subsequently treated poorly in everyday situations,” said Rusche. “Race continues to be a significant barrier to equal treatment in restaurants and other areas of social life.”

The survey, which was published in the Journal of Black Studies, also found that 52.8% of servers reported seeing other servers discriminate against African-American customers.

The research uncovered how racist chatter often permeates the workplace.

The study mentioned that Denny’s employees were found to have racist attitudes toward its customers, going so far as to refer to a sudden influx of black patrons as a “blackout.”

Games of “pass the black table” are often played, according to the study.

Yet, only 10.5% reported never engaging in or observing racialized discourse.

Black diners reported having to be asked to wait unreasonable amounts of time for a table and even to be refused service.

Some diners reported that they were mistaken for valet parkers, coat checks and bathroom attendants.

Of the servers polled, approximately 86% were white. While Rusche admits her study represented a small sample, she believes it’s an accurate representation of the restaurant community in North Carolina and the U.S. in general.

In fact, Rusche admitted that these numbers may even be low.

“People tend to underplay their racist feelings because it’s socially unacceptable,” said Rusche. “On a national level, these racist preconceived notions and poor treatment may actually be more prevalent.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-sty...oorer-service-article-1.1067157#ixzz1t6x5XMDa
 

BladeVenom

Lifer
Jun 2, 2005
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Those expectations are probably borne out of first hand experience

They won't do a study on that though. Although every person I've known who has been a waiter has said blacks tip less, and are more likely to stiff a waiter.

I hear foreigners also tend to be poor tippers.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
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They won't do a study on that though. Although every person I've known who has been a waiter has said blacks tip less, and are more likely to stiff a waiter.

I hear foreigners also tend to be poor tippers.

Actually, it's more that white Americans tip obscenely more than anyone else on earth. I mean, here's a country where people buy a cup of drip coffee AND LEAVE A TIP.

It's ridiculous, and tipping should disappear utterly. It only fosters ill-will between workers and customers.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
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Actually, it's more that white Americans tip obscenely more than anyone else on earth. I mean, here's a country where people buy a cup of drip coffee AND LEAVE A TIP.

It's ridiculous, and tipping should disappear utterly. It only fosters ill-will between workers and customers.

i agree, tipping is stupid

but i do it D:
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
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I was at a restaurant sitting across from a group of 7 african americans this was a relatively high end restaurant, $40-60 per plate. When the 18% gratuity was added for a party over 6 (restaurant policy) the table complained to the manager because they felt they were already paying enough, having a ~$600 bill and the 18% should be taken off because the portions weren't as large as they expected. :rolleyes: They completely ignored the fact that the 18% was for the server who had to wait on a large table.
 

Train

Lifer
Jun 22, 2000
13,587
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www.bing.com
researchers found that a shocking 38.5% discriminated against black customers.

Based on what I've heard from every person I've known who has ever worked as a server (including blacks), that number seems low.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,634
6,014
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i get ignored all the time at restaurants, the last server i had came around like every 20 minutes

is it because i am white?

or just brianmanahan?
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
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expectations /= racism, maybe stereotypes, but not racism

stupid reporter and stupid PHD candidate are stupid.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
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Every friend I know who worked or works in the restaurant business told me African Americans tip poorly, plus they ask for the entire bottle of ranch dressing for 5 buffalo wings.
 
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mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
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428
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Every friend I know who worked or works in the restaurant business told me African Americans type poorly, plus they ask for the entire bottle of ranch dressing for 5 buffalo wings.

Why do they care how well they type?
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
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Self fulfilling prophecy. You give bad service because you dont think they will tip, and they give a bad tip because they got bad service. I dont want to get into a Mr Pink vs Mr Blonde thing here, but tipping is BS.
 

natto fire

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2000
7,117
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For the folks that hate tipping, what is your solution? Bonus points if you have ever actually worked in a restaurant or know how the finances work in one.

If you think restaurants have cash lying around to pay all their servers non-tipped wages, I lol in your general direction.

I suppose threads complaining about meals going up at least 5 bucks a plate would be a nice change from tipping threads.
 

HNNstyle

Senior member
Oct 6, 2011
469
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What about carryout at a place like Outback? Do you guys tip when you carryout? I generally will leave 5 bucks no matter how much I order.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
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Actually, it's more that white Americans tip obscenely more than anyone else on earth. I mean, here's a country where people buy a cup of drip coffee AND LEAVE A TIP.

It's ridiculous, and tipping should disappear utterly. It only fosters ill-will between workers and customers.

I got a sammich a quiznos yesterday for lunch and when my change came out of the coin change machine i put it in the stupid tip jar, i didnt think about it, i just did it.... i couldnt believe i just tipped for stupid sammich. i had the fleeting thought of reaching in and taking out my 41 cents but decided that would not be a very good idea.
 

BD231

Lifer
Feb 26, 2001
10,568
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If you work a sh t job in america you are going to be treated like shit at some point in your work day, and not just by blacks. White people were chill in the 80's/90's, back when they were to scared to say anything ... nowa days they see a black and automatically think thug/poor/uneducated even if their sensitive ass is workin tables; PHD has always stood for Playa Hatin Degree.

Maybe these writers and waiters should sell dope instead of teaming up on articles about blacks in states that are home to some of the most popular ghetto's in america.
 

OBLAMA2009

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2008
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its not just because of tipping, its how troublesome a customer is perceived to be as well

i have an uncle that owns a bunch of burger kings and black customers definitely have a bad reputation with them. he always says blacks come in and they dont start looking at the menu and deciding what they want until they get to the front of the line, which annoys the employees and the other customers. they know this and deliberately take longer, but they cant say anything about it. then when they get their food, they will take it, eat half of it and then make some complaint like the fries are cold, the burger has too much mayonnaise etc.. to get a refund.

one time i was at cheescake factory in san francisco and a black dude sitting next to us ordered some pasta with shrimp. he ate it with his date for half and hour, including all the shrimp, and then called the waitress over and said he didnt want to pay for it because it was too spicy. she took it off the bill without saying anything but you know things like that make people take mental notes. im sure he didnt leave a tip because of how "bad" the food was as well
 
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Dr. Zaus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2008
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Im posting in an ATOT tipping thread on race relations.

All we need is Jesus and we'd have the triple-troll-crown