Well, as many of you know (or should know), February is Black History Month. A time when we commemorate the successes and struggles of those African American individuals that made possible much of the civil liberties we now actualize.
With that in mind, check this story out. So, I was out dining lavishly with my fraternity brothers. We were out on a Friday night about a couple of weeks ago for our preference night dinner, which is an occasion that better allows us to evaluate prospective pledge members. Typically, we go out to VERY nice restaurants like Citirus City Grill or the Old Spaghetti Factory but this time we, because of late planning, were forced to go to this kind of raggedy restaurant in Santa Ana called El Ranchito. Keep in mind that we are all dressed to impress and we walked into a Mexican family restaurant that's several levels beneath an El Torito or Aculpulco and was borderline tacky. Anyways, we are sitting at our tables just chillin' and having a good time. I begin to notice that the food is being served buffet style ONE TABLE AT A TIME. This is a huge disappointment because I am at one of the last two tables which equals last to get served. I immediately knew something had to be done. So, the very kind and young waitress, approached the last two tables and said, "Gosh, I wonder who I'm going to serve first?" Everyone at the other table said that they should be served first for this reason and that reason and blah, blah, blah. I on the other hand whip an excuse right out of nowhere. I told our waitress, "Since it is Black History Month, I feel that my table should be served first." At that moment, every table in the area bursted out in uncontrollable laughter. Keep in mind, my fraternity is mostly white, our waitress is a white young lady, and I am a charismatic African American male. The guys are used to me joking about my color and race issues altogether but the waitress was CLEARLY in a dilemma and did not know what to do. On one hand, I'm sure she thought that she could serve the other table first since they are technically before us, on the other hand, if she served them first she would be looked at as a possible racist and being inconsiderate to such an invaluable cause. Left with no alternative, she allowed my table to be served first. While I stuffed my face with the delicious food before me I wondered if it was okay to use my race to my advantage during a month that professes the liberty from such trains of thought? Were my actions justified or do I need a reality check?
P.S. By the way, that was the first time in my life that I blatantly used my race as an excuse to get certain benefits.
With that in mind, check this story out. So, I was out dining lavishly with my fraternity brothers. We were out on a Friday night about a couple of weeks ago for our preference night dinner, which is an occasion that better allows us to evaluate prospective pledge members. Typically, we go out to VERY nice restaurants like Citirus City Grill or the Old Spaghetti Factory but this time we, because of late planning, were forced to go to this kind of raggedy restaurant in Santa Ana called El Ranchito. Keep in mind that we are all dressed to impress and we walked into a Mexican family restaurant that's several levels beneath an El Torito or Aculpulco and was borderline tacky. Anyways, we are sitting at our tables just chillin' and having a good time. I begin to notice that the food is being served buffet style ONE TABLE AT A TIME. This is a huge disappointment because I am at one of the last two tables which equals last to get served. I immediately knew something had to be done. So, the very kind and young waitress, approached the last two tables and said, "Gosh, I wonder who I'm going to serve first?" Everyone at the other table said that they should be served first for this reason and that reason and blah, blah, blah. I on the other hand whip an excuse right out of nowhere. I told our waitress, "Since it is Black History Month, I feel that my table should be served first." At that moment, every table in the area bursted out in uncontrollable laughter. Keep in mind, my fraternity is mostly white, our waitress is a white young lady, and I am a charismatic African American male. The guys are used to me joking about my color and race issues altogether but the waitress was CLEARLY in a dilemma and did not know what to do. On one hand, I'm sure she thought that she could serve the other table first since they are technically before us, on the other hand, if she served them first she would be looked at as a possible racist and being inconsiderate to such an invaluable cause. Left with no alternative, she allowed my table to be served first. While I stuffed my face with the delicious food before me I wondered if it was okay to use my race to my advantage during a month that professes the liberty from such trains of thought? Were my actions justified or do I need a reality check?
P.S. By the way, that was the first time in my life that I blatantly used my race as an excuse to get certain benefits.
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