My Brief Visit At A "Mexican Restaurant" For Black People In Dekalb County GA

I have a lot of conflicting images and messages that I took in last night so please bear with me as I attempt to organize them.

On my drive back from a store in Gwinnett County (northeast of the ATL) I decided to call up my buddy who I hadn't seen for a few months.  He invites me to a Mexican restaurant in Decatur GA where he is hanging out.  He tells me they have a bar in the back and that we can grab a beer and hang for a minute.

I pull up into the shopping complex and in addition to the restaurant I see a "hair care" store right next door.  Here are the pictures that I took which indicate the importance of "purchasing" your way into beauty that some women seem set upon:

"Barack Obama Limited Edition Plate" please meet the "First Lady cut".
I get pained when I see people who should be following up with their elected officials to insure that they have actually delivered for them INSTEAD living vicariously through the eyes of these elected officials.  I would have less problem with someone modeling their hair after a movie star than after a political figure.  I can't see how one can maintain their focus upon their own permanent interests and dispensing accountability while carrying on as such.

Here is the conflicting part - I am not condemning the use of hair extensions and blonde hair to augment the beauty of a Black woman.  But when long hair and blonde hair (which is unnatural for a Black female) is thrown up out of proportion on a store front - YES this registers as an exception to those who are making note of the messages that are being presented - Be something other than what your natural self.  Between the "natural hair" Blacks that seem to 'enforce' their dreads as the standard of consciousness at one extreme to the 'Wanna-be's" who don't know themselves at the other - the entire affair is quite confusing.

So then I walk into the place.   Easily 150 to 200 Black people assembled in the Mexican restaurant at the dinner tables and at the large bar/sports bar area in the back.  Another point of conflicted- it is not a criminal act for Black folks to eat at a Mexican restaurant.

At the same time the first thing that popped into my mind after seeing the wait staff full of Mexicans was the movie "Do The Right Thing" where there was a lack of Blacks represented by the restaurant despite their abundant patronage.

Again - the restaurant is clearly fulfilling the expectations for service of the crowd and thus they keep coming back.  They have a right to hire who they want to.

Let me also say that had I drove to Hairston's Club which is about 10 minutes away I could see a Black owned place that is full of Black patrons as well.  So again there is no indictment that I am attempting to make against Black folks who choose to dine and hang at a Mexican restaurant that is not Black owned.

The point that really hit a nerve with me is that when I did arrive there my buddy was engrossed in a deep conversation with two other guys.  My buddy was talking about his favorite subject "RACISM".

• The White folks are a different type of people because there is no way in the world that a Black man or any other would do the evil that they have done in this world.
• The Jews are some dirty, underhanded people

I was not for debate tonight.  I went off and took more pictures of what I was seeing.   Despite seeing a recent report about the "Black Spending Power" at an all time high I could not help but see the contradiction that was in front of me.  In addition my friend - and likely a good portion of the Black people in the establishment always talk about Black economic empowerment - yet after failing to support so many other venues that have come and gone in this particular area in Dekalb County GA - they now pack into this particular establishment, throwing their stated concerns by the wayside.

The contradictions were too great for me.

As I did join in on the conversation I heard two points that got my attention.

• My friend told one of his new debate buddies that he was not a Christian and that he doesn't judge people by their church attendance but by their actions.  He said that Christians were some of the biggest hypocrites in this world.  Most of the women in the place will do what ever on Friday and Saturday and be the first ones in church on Sunday morning.  This didn't sit well with the other guy.  He told my friend that he was overgeneralizing and that he needed to evaluate people individually rather than associate their failure with the failings of their religion.
• Then the second guy told my friend "You hate Black people".  The irony of it all!!!   My friend told me that he is a "communist" and that he loves Fidel Castro.  (I am serious).   Now someone else is saying that he "hates Black people"?   I was laughing inside.   I had to come to my friend's defense.  I asked the guy "When you watch the news regarding all of the thugs (street pirates) who are terrorizing the Black community - have you EVER said to yourself "That guy who assaulted that Black person HATES BLACK PEOPLE?".      This line of questioning had the guy startled.  He said "I never thought of it like that.  I fell you".
• I went on to tell the guy that my friend works in an alternative school..  He has to deal with young Black people who are just exiting jail.  What you are seeing is NOT someone who "hates Black people".  Instead you are seeing a man who has had his IDEALISM stripped away from him by dealing with people who "Don't Give A HOOT What He Thinks About Them".  (I have heard enough of his conversations to know what he is dealing with in this school).     I told him "He doesn't 'hate Black people - he is shouldering a lot of burden that the COMMUNITY IS FAILING TO PROVIDE HIM HELP WITH".  What he has to deal with is far beyond what his paycheck affords him.
• "Do you think that a prison guard would have a happy tale to tell you about his work environment when all he sees are people who are living for the day?"  I asked him.  He said "you still have to have love in your heart for Black people and I don't fell it in him".

I can provide a good character reference for my friend of more than 25 years.  I told him about 15 years ago that "Race is your religion".  He went into public education at the time with the theory that "if someone cared enough for these Black kids who have been beaten down in this RACIST society - they will turn out just like those who have more opportunity afforded to them".

I saw the dramatic changes in my friend as he (seemingly) sought redemption and reconnection with his upbringing as he sought out teaching jobs in the most poor and undesirable schools in the system.  It was clear that HE CARED FOR the students more than they bothered to obtain the consciousness that would allow them to care as much per their school work and commitment to discipline.

It is his direct interaction with this harsh reality that has stripped him of his idealism.

I was not interested in having yet another "race debate" with anyone and thus I left after the first pitcher.

It is clear that some people love talking and complaining about this country and White folks.  Sadly if I were to fast forward another 10 years - the very same conversation would be replayed - all while standing in an drinking establishment that is owned by someone else.

The "consumer' mindset is abundant within our community.