Joe Barry Carroll accuses restaurant of discrimination

Funny, I've been thinking of compiling an alternate list in the "wasted the most talent" thread and Joe Barry Carroll aka Joe Barely Cares was one of the names that came to mind. In any case, the article:
:

The retired NBA All-Star and a friend claim they were ousted from the bar of a ritzy Atlanta restaurant because they were black. The restaurant says they weren’t the victims of a discriminatory policy, but a long-standing practice rooted in Southern hospitality that allows women a seat at the bar when the place is packed.

Those arguments were made Monday at the start of the weeklong federal trial of a lawsuit filed by Joe Barry Carroll and attorney Joseph Shaw. The two say they were humiliated when a security guard escorted them from the Tavern at Phipps when they refused to give up their seats to a couple of white women, an action they say was part of a broader pattern of discrimination against blacks.

The reason, according to the restaurant:

The restaurant’s lawyers said the men were asked to give up their seats as part of a long-standing “good manners” practice that’s been in place at the restaurant for 20 years. Attorney David Long-Daniels said thousands of men have complied with those rules, from stars like Michael Jordan to the other men at the bar the night of the incident.

“Chivalry is not dead,” he said. “And it’s not a civil rights violation to give up your seat to a woman.”

On one hand I do respect that, but at the same time it's a bit antiquated. I'm all for being a gentleman but in the spirit of equality, a policy of "first come, first served" seems fair. Besides, the plot thickens.

“They were embarrassed. They were humiliated,” said Bramlett. “And part of the reason it was painful is they had an unobstructed view of seats where white patrons were seated.”

Bramlett said interviews with current and former employees show that Greg Greenbaum, the restaurant’s head, feared that “black thugs” would follow if blacks started flocking to his business. He said the restaurant systematically encouraged managers to avoid hiring too many black staffers and limited black hostesses on peak nights.

Staffers were also told to “slow serve” black patrons during hectic times, he said. And during the February 2003 NBA All Star game, when young black basketball fans crowded the city, the restaurant hung large “Welcome Rodeo Fans” banners and played country music, according to court records.

A bartender has testified that Carroll and Shaw were the only men seated at the bar at the time. If that's true then in this instance, it might just be their policy based on chivalry, though if those other allegations are true then that's certainly disturbing and makes me wonder. Of course, as far as the restaurant's attitude towards women is concerned...

It was all aimed at attracting “white businessmen and well-endowed women” at the expense of black patrons, Bramlett said.

The restaurant’s hope, Long-Daniels said, was to become a safe haven for women so they could come for food and fun after a long day of shopping at the adjoining mall.

Just a couple of sexist undertones there. Chivalry isn't dead, indeed.

“Chivalry is not dead,” he said. “And it’s not a civil rights violation to give up your seat to a woman.”

No, but it's a civil rights violation to force someone else to.

And chivalry should be dead. It's entirely based on the idea that women are weak and useless, and the sooner it fucks off the better.

And chivalry should be dead....the sooner it fucks off the better.

Yeah keep thinking that and see if you ever get laid on a regular basis. The way i see it chivalry isnt based on just women, its manners around here. I hold the door for men and women alike. Its just a thing called being nice to people.

But this bar policy of only women at the bar..is anyone surprised? most clubs let in 3 times as many chicks as guys. Can we sue every club now for discriminating against us having male genitalia?

Stories like this sicken me, as I a white heterosexual male, I know what it's like to be a victim of prejudice.

I hold the door for men and women alike. Its just a thing called being nice to people.

That isn't chivalry, though, it's just manners. As such, it's not what I was talking about.

“Chivalry is not dead,” he said. “And it’s not a civil rights violation to give up your seat to a woman.”

No, but it's a civil rights violation to force someone else to.

This actually is a good point. In the end, it's likely to be a fight of "policy" & "culture" VS Law.

No, but it's a civil rights violation to force someone else to.

lol wut

Ex-NBA player loses Ga bar discrimination claim

A federal jury on Friday found that an upscale Atlanta restaurant did not violate the civil rights of an ex-NBA All Star and a friend who claimed they were expelled from the bar because they were black.

A panel of nine white members and three black deliberated just 15 minutes before deciding that Joe Barry Carroll and Joseph Shaw were not subject to racial discrimination. Their attorney Jeffrey Bramlett had been seeking at least $3 million in damages for the humiliation and embarrassment he claims his clients suffered when a security guard escorted them from the Tavern at Phipps in August 2006 after they refused to give up their seats to two white women.

I still think something shady was going on at the joint.