If you could use one word to describe Atlanta, what word would you use?
Talented? Atlanta is home to some of the most incredible artists that have contributed to hip-hop and black culture. Whether you are talking about Outkast, TI, Goodie Mobb, Killer Mike, or Jeezy, Atlanta has no shortage of talent.
Black excellence is “a thing” here. People don’t call Atlanta “The Black Hollywood” for nothing. Our ancestors would be so proud to see that a state that was once the heart of slavery has transformed into a Black Mecca. We went from plantations to sprawling mansions. Slaves to entrepreneurs. We went from demanding a seat at the table to building tables ourselves. Atlanta has singlehandedly changed the landscape of what it means to be black in America.
Atlanta is home to diversity. It doesn’t matter your race or where you fall on the LGBTQ spectrum, Atlanta has a place for you. There is no place for hate in Atlanta.
It’s no surprise though that every so often, some institution in Atlanta rears its ugly head and reminds us of an ugly part of our history. While grabbing drinks after work recently at Establishment, a restaurant in the heart of Midtown, I noticed a sign that read “Dave Reed Presents: A Slave’s Greed”. Literally in the middle of drinks, I noticed that white waiters passed the sign, pointing and laughing. I wasn’t amused. In fact, I was offended.
I immediately called the manager to my table, who blew me off. It’s a playwright the owner is in, he said. Google doesn’t lie. It took me all of 30 seconds to figure out that the owner wasn’t Dave Reed, his name is James H. As I’m sifting through Google validating blatant lies, employees from the restaurant approached me, verifying that it wasn’t a playwright and it was indeed a racist joke. Despite several requests to have the sign removed from the restaurant’s own employees, the sign was left up in plain view because most of the staff found it funny.
I called the manager over again, demanding to understand the joke. He said it was a screenplay that two of the staff members wrote (he must have forgotten his first lie) and he apologized if I was offended. He had no more to offer outside of a half baked apology. At least he went to the board and erased it, finally.
It’s not lost on me that the restaurant’s name is Establishment. There is irony in the fact that the restaurant has rustic chic, antebellum-influenced décor, which is code for “slave themed ornamentation”. What is lost on me, however, is how a restaurant this racist continues to exist in one of the most diverse spaces in the city.
What do you want? has been their ongoing question to me over the last week as I have used my platform to lambaste them. No, I don’t want money. Money changes nothing. No, I don’t want an apology. “Sorry” doesn’t change the ugly ways of their hearts. I’m a writer. I want to write. I want to write about my experience, how it made me feel and I want to tell anyone who engages with my platform about a racist establishment that exists in the heart of one of the most diverse places in the world. I want them to feel the horror I felt every time my story is shared. Social media is powerful and words matter.
There is no place in Atlanta for spaces that go against the core of what it means to be from Atlanta. I wonder if they still find their joke funny.
They should be a shame of themselves…they just can’t hide it… Not funny or a joke
Your taking the opinion of one woman who feels that she can be “The conversation starter”
This post is filled with fake news and lies. To make things worse she is actually promoting racism in this manner rather than trying to get to the bottom of this.
For all its worth the context of the word slave doesn’t constitute racism and if you know your history black people weren’t the only slaves ever. In fact we all are greedy slaves to a capitalist society. Black people
Based on this blog, you’re semi-literate. It’s not surprising that you’d immediately get offended.
Please elaborate Toomby Tombs
WTF is semi-literate?! Either you ARE are you AREN’T. We see which side of the coin you’re on….Toomby Tombs. Smh LOL
Lol your a perfect example lmao … are are ??? Lmaoo dumb bitch
I will never dine there!! And I will inform my friends to do the same.
I will not dine at the Establishment and I eat at a lot of the restaurants in Atlanta
Black People stop giving the business our money. Racism did not end, it’s amplified now because of 45’s attitude. Thus giving others the impression that they can do as he does without consequence. I have not been nor will I give the Establishment any of my money.
I agree! Stop giving yourn money to racist idiots. Dine at the black owned restaurants and live.
Looking at everything else on the board it is out of place if it is play. I see a list of needed bar items crossed out and then the writing. Was it there when you arrived or written while you sat there? As a African-American person I am not easy to call racism, and this looks like a misunderstanding at the most.
I have pass the words to my network of 1000+ and ask that they pass the word’
Everyone needs to chill social media is tearing us apart. Establishment isn’t racist the owner is nice I’m black a male I work here in Atlanta and Atlanta has no racist establishments in the city we all know this. Please stop spreading or trying to be an influencer of hate. What your doing is illegal and fake news and false accusation this isn’t ok stop clout chasing. Stay tuned for the real story.
@ jake – you’re as black as donald trump & as soon as you said “fake news” you gave it away! I’m a grown African-American Man & I can guarantee you no Black Man uses the words “fake news!” Easy to lie & claim you’re this or that when nobody can see you, but this time your words gave you away! Now go dust off your maga hat & take a seat in the back of the establishment!
You talking bout black as Donald trump .. fucking idiot .. who said this post was about black people ??????? Don’t feel special like we were the only slaves dumb ass .. you a slave yourself to capitalism just so you know ..old girl must have sucked yo dick for a comment on her “BLOG”
I ain’t gone lie ..this Hoe a idiot .. what person in they’re right mind can comprehend this into a meaningful statement .. dumb ass .. plus wasn’t there more than just black slaves ?? Some people just try to revolve the world around themselves .. bitch yo opinion does not matter .. you might as well go judge the dick you put in yo mouth and not a note you know nothing about .. old Instagram thots think they got a voice .. bitch get yo broke ass on … you finna take a BIG L .. hella black people come here and still will even after this story is heard and laughed at .. believe you me .. I’ll be one them .. fucking thot… I bet this hoe gone commit suicide lmaooo
Atlanta has a plethora of racist institutions. Thats why the wage disparity is 50% between Black people and whites. Whites pay themselves more. Take off your rose colored goggles.
I agree! Stop giving your money to racist idiots. Dine at the black owned restaurants and live.
The employees themselves confirmed that it was a racist joke. This sounds pretty unequivocal. I am sorry to hear about this experience and sad to witness the personal attacks Juanita is receiving for simply sharing the experience.
There is a number on that receipt to the ” good ole boy” resturant establishment.
You seem awfully concerned with reading into what this message might or might not have implied for someone who defended the new Kanye in their last blog post.
Atlanta has become increasingly racist since the white flight/genteification reared its ugly head. Black people allow it to continue by not addressing it. Good for you for speaking up! The problem isn’t ‘Establishment,’ the problem is white people. We have to be honest about their ignorance and bigotry.
Poorly written, dime-a-dozen article about something we hear about far too often.
It’s embarrassing that a grown adult human being would equate this to “racism” in a state where black people used to be murdered for their skin color…
Stop being a child & just leave you phony Yelp activist.
Count how many times this article mentions the word: “I” – it’s a short article, and clearly the main focus is the author’s own imagined self importance.
I used to work here until I witnessed the floor manager at the time call one of the food runners a “ni***r” and then walk around to each employee saying it was “ok because they grew up in macon together” and “everyone there says it, it’s normal” the GM “suspended” him. He was back at work the next day. Sick, if you ask me. I never went back.