by Rep. Antonio Parkinson —

There has been a lot of conversation revolving around law enforcement’s interactions in Black communities and with people of color.

While in Nashville, during one of these discussions, I was approached by a Republican colleague, who wanted me to know that she was once accused of shoplifting by a member of law enforcement.

After hearing her story, I asked her if she’s ever had a gun pointed at her face and told, “if you move, I will kill your black ass!”

Her response was, “no, but he did accuse me of shoplifting.”

The response told me that she considered her experience equivalent to the traumas experienced by young Black males in Black neighborhoods.

On my social media page, I asked the question: How old were you when an officer pulled a gun on you for the first time?

While not surprised that it happens frequently, I was surprised at the amount of comments and shares that I received from the post.

The almost 400 comments and more than 200 shares at the time of this writing speaks to the importance of the subject but, more important, gave respondents a vehicle to speak to the violent traumas they faced at ages that ranged from as young as nine years to 30 years of age.

Aside from age, what I found interesting was the demographic information of those who responded. While, it was expected that Black males would be the majority of those who responded, I was surprised to see the number of women that had guns pointed in their faces by members of law enforcement.

This element of the post reminded me that the events that led to the murder of Sandra Bland was not an isolated event, but more common than we know.

Additionally, the mental health aspect of having a member of law enforcement to point a loaded gun in your face, while threatening verbally to kill you, is a traumatic event for most.

In many cases in the Black community these traumas are rarely addressed.

When the seeds of violent traumas are planted in the minds of our babies, those seeds continue to grow over the years and begin to bear fruit.

The distrust, anger and perspective of how that now 20-year-old sees and responds to law enforcement is now that of possible fight or flight because of how their early interactions were with law enforcement.

The policies set forth for many years prior to me being elected to the General Assembly has created a deep framework into the fabric of our state and nation that empowers law enforcement to act in the manor that has become the norm in black households.

The fact that a Black mother has to educate her Black child at a very young age further contributes to the fear and distrust that they associate with the sight of law enforcement.

Most White parents never have to educate their sons on how to interact with officers in their communities.

There is a marked difference in how a Black child or man is treated verses that of White citizens.

(Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis) represents District 98. Reach him in Nashville at 615-741-4575 and in Memphis at 901-570-5810.)

Russ Graham, co-owner of Flight Restaurant & Wine Barat at 39 S. Main St. and Monroe, has been forced out of the business in response to allegations of racism and sexism at Flight and some of its sister restaurants.

Flight came under fire in recent days when former employees took to social media to claim that management instructed them to seat black customers in areas where they couldn’t be seen by white patrons entering the facility.

The former employees also said the restaurants’ owner, Flight Restaurant Group, was very selective about who was hired, employing very few black people and those they did hire worked in the kitchen area.

Co-owner Tom Powers said the company is bringing in a human resources firm to evaluate policies, procedures and standards to ensure the company is taking care of employees.

And, Flight Restaurant Group will be conducting an investigation to figure out if there were any violations that needed to be addressed.

The complaints went viral on social media, prompting a flood of comments condemning the alleged practices.

Protests ensued in front of Flight Restaurant and at the new restaurant, Porch & Parlor in Overton Square, owned by the same group.

Tuesday’s (June 16) Memphis City Council meeting – held virtually on YouTube – included a resolution presented by Councilman JB Smiley Jr. to address the matter.

All Memphis City Council members co-sponsored Smiley’s resolution and voted to support a hold on all city contracts with Flight Memphis, LLC, pending an investigation.

Flight pays the city to use curbside parking near its restaurant as a valet parking area in what is called a ramping agreement.

Minutes before the resolution was read, Smiley received an email from Powers, the co-owner of the restaurant group.

Smiley read the email to councilmembers and the public, stating that Flight Memphis, LLC, decided to buy out co-owner Russ Graham who “will no longer be an owner, affiliated with, or an employee of any fashion with any of their restaurants.

“We are committed to ensuring that our restaurants are inclusive and provide a comfortable and welcoming environment to all,” Powers said.

Smiley said, “The voices of the people, the voices of this council have been heard and have been taken seriously by Flight Restaurant.”

Smiley advised the council not to back down or take similar accusations lightly.

“What we have the chance to do here is set an example, set a precedent for any organization – for any entity – that has been accused of serious accusations of discrimination against black and brown people.

“Telling black and brown people – telling me, telling my brothers, telling my sisters – to go upstairs is the same as telling us to go to the back of the bus. This is year 2020. I’m assuming that this body, and the administration as well, will not allow or will not engage in business with any entity that has shown discrimination against black and brown people.”

Smiley then read a statement from the city’s chief communications officer, Ursula Madden, on behalf of the administration’s response to the allegations. Madden referred to the allegations as a “rumor” pending an investigation.

“I think we’re much past ‘rumors’ at this point,” Smiley said following Powers’ response.

To Smiley, Madden’s statement seemed “tone-deaf,” lacking any type of regard for those who felt discriminated against.

“We will not sit idly by while we’re intentionally engaging with entities that have been accused of allegations such as these.”

“You don’t buy an owner out like that unless there is something serious going on,” said Councilman Worth Morgan.

“As for me and my family, there are other places to eat.”

“We take this seriously,” said Councilman Jeff Warren, who stressed the importance of the investigation.

Protests denouncing racism and injustice continue nationwide following the torturous killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, MN.

Upscale restaurants in Chicago have also reckoned with demonstrations demanding accountability and reform following recent allegations of racism.

(To see the full Memphis City Council meeting for Tuesday, June 16, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnMN8Dw6cGs.)

The issues with Flight and its sister restaurants bubbled to the surface this week when former employees blew up their spot on social media. They pulled the covers back on antebellum attitudes and worst practices, sparking outrage and creating shockwaves that reverberated from downtown to Germantown.

I mean we know this stuff happens. But we didn’t KNOW-KNOW. It was appalling to see it big and bold in print and firsthand.

Flight is not new to these allegations. It first came to my attention in this very newspaper when Roquita Williams wrote about it (July 2011). Haven’t been since.

To my recollection, I have only had two negative experiences here in Memphis that were very clearly and saliently race-related. Honestly, I still frequent those establishments. Only because it wasn’t the company culture, it was the individual. Every visit before that, or after, has been a positive. However, all of this brings up the issues of imbalance, misperceptions and the pressure to represent the whole.

We all know that “Karen” will turn your place out. But she is still handled with kid gloves. She’s very obviously treated gingerly because of the skin she’s in. Servers, both Black and White, ask yourselves why.

Then there’s the vicious cycle. Waiters assume Black patrons don’t tip then proceed to provide bad service then get tipped below standard if at all then continue spreading the “see I told ya” false narrative.

Or conversely, Black patrons receive patently bad service then sometimes feel the pressure to represent the whole and not make a scene or feed the stereotype but don’t feel obligated to reward crappy behavior. It’s a crisis of conscience. Memphis notoriously has an issue with poor service across the board, but I know that I know that I know that Black patrons get the crap end of the stick.

Now, I can already hear some people screaming respectability politics at the screen!

Nope that ain’t it. Speaking for self, I don’t always have the energy to yield to my “turn up” spirit. More importantly, I believe in pushing and applying pressure from both sides. I stand firmly on this but that’s another conversation for another time.

Why is it that only “certain” people are worthy of baseline respect? Why is it problematic only if, for instance, I send food back because it’s not what I asked for but not Becky With the Good Hair? Why is it painstaking for servers to be polite/attentive/respectful?

Some of it is poor training and poor management in general. Some of it is flat out bias and a reflexive disdain for Black folks. But lemme help you out real quick:

Per NewsOne as of February 2020, there are nearly 50 million African Americans in the U.S. who collectively spend over $1 trillion per year. Which, per Nielsen, is “on par with many countries’ gross domestic products.” Factor in that Memphis proper is almost 70 percent Black.

Let those numbers sizzle in your spirit in addition to the fact that most of us are WIDE AWAKE right now. You don’t want that smoke, whether that be protestors shutting you down (see: Porch & Parlour) or flattening your bottom line.

Moreover, Black folks are inarguably the heart and soul of Memphis and have been. From WC Handy, Memphis Minnie and Robert Church to Al Kapone, Lil Buck and Gina Neely, we are the lifeline and seasoned salt of this city. And the ambassadors to the rest of the world! Otherwise Memphis would be the sleepy soggy saltine by the River.

So, what to do as we slog these micro- and at times macro-aggressions? Again, I don’t believe in kicking up drama, but I DO believe in addressing the issue.

Here are some TIPS you can take to the bank:

Servers/Owners:

• Abide by the golden rule: Treat Others The Way You Want To Be Treated.
• Our hair is our hair. It is NOT unprofessional. And our melanin is poppin’. Stop putting folks in the back of house.
• Black people are not all the same. Many of us tip and tip well, especially for good service.
• You come with attitude, you’re getting attitude right back. AND NO TIP.
• There is not a more loathsome creature on earth than “Karen.” Keep that same energy with her.
• If there’s an issue, simply and politely address us just as you would with “Karen.”

Patrons:

• Do tip for good service. These folks survive off their tip money.
• Do NOT tip for poor service. You are not obligated to represent the whole. That’s too much pressure. That type of person will think what they think anyway.
• Speak up. If you have been objectively discriminated against tell a friend or 10 and the manager. Then body them on Yelp, Trip Advisor, Google, etc….
• Remember that there’s power in the black dollar. Don’t hesitate to withhold it from places that don’t respect you. Let them feel it in their pockets because that’s a language they understand.

Time’s up Flight and every other restaurant that expects Black folks to pay for the pleasure of your disrespect. (Cue: “You about to lose yo job” video.)