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"Allergic to black people, don't come in"

A cafe owner has put up a sign telling customers she is black because she is fed up with people walking out when they see the colour of her skin.

The sign on the door of Yeanon Cafe in Ossett, West Yorkshire, reads: "I am a black woman... If you are allergic to black people, don't come in."

Martha-Renee Kolleh said some people "take a look at me and walk out".

Local councillor Tony Richardson said he was "shocked" as he did not believe racism was widespread in the town. A spokesman for Wakefield Council said it was "obviously concerned" by the issue which it had not been made aware of before.

"I would urge the business involved to get in touch with us as soon as possible," the spokesman added.

Ms Kolleh said the reaction to the sign, which adds that the cafe serves "quality wholesome meals", had been mixed.

"Some people find it amusing, they were laughing and said 'oh yes it's about time you put that up', so I think they all realise what's going on here," she said.

"And some others just read it and walk away. I've heard one or two swear words as well regarding the notice."

The single mother-of-three has run the cafe for two years, serving a mixture of British, African and Caribbean food. Ms Kolleh told BBC Radio Leeds a lot of people in Ossett had supported her, but if business did not improve she would have to close by autumn.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-23248503

I think she is a moron to have not considered the possibility that someone might just not like her café? I mean, I sometimes walk into places like a pub or shop and take two looks and walk out. Does that mean I'm racist? Of course it doesn't. And how the hell could she infer from someone walking in and out that they're racist?

(edited 10 years ago)

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Reply 1

Algorithm69

She's a moron. She has no proof people are walking out because she's black. Maybe she's scruffy. Maybe her cafe is scruffy and stinks. Maybe the prices are too high. Maybe she has a face like a slapped arse. The reasons are endless.

I thought the BBC were better than this.

Reply 2

SR255

Original post by Kiss

This. Why would a racist walk into an African-Caribbean restaraunt anyway?

Reply 3

Clip

Could be a publicity stunt.

Reply 4

King_Julien

Original post by Kiss

This

and then

and finally :facepalm:

Reply 5

Kiss

Original post by Clip

Could be a publicity stunt.

Yeah I'm starting to think she just wanted more business and this was a good way to get it.

Reply 6

Mockery

I often go into a shop or an eating establishment thinking that it's a good idea, until I see the menu and realise that I will have to part with cash in the process, making me involuntarily flee..

I'm scared that this makes me racist, what do?

Reply 7

ssxx

Original post by Algorithm69

Can you read? She does have a reasons!

When her white employee works in the front, people do not walk out.
And some customers told her they know about this.

Reply 8

Seb.

Just because someone walks out they must be racist. Rule out the possibility that maybe the person doesn't like the café, or perhaps the menu.

Brilliant logic.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 9

username129099

if business did not improve she would have to close by autumn

And now her business is making national headlines. She's not a moron, she's a marketing genius.

Reply 10

Kiss

Original post by ssxx

Can you read? She does have a reasons!

When her white employee works in the front, people do not walk out.
And some customers told her they know about this.

That doesn't prove anything.

Original post by doggyfizzel

And now her business is making national headlines. She's not a moron, she's a marketing genius.

For accusations if she does genuinely believe that, if not she's one crafty mother****er.

Reply 11

chickenonsteroids

She thinks racism is that bad in Orsett? ok.

Some people will either take it as comedic and continue to eat there and others will see it as entitled and stop eating there. I think it's a pretty pointless thing to put up. I've walked in and out of a number of places just because I've decided I don't want to eat there. If the word black was changed with white there'd be an absolute ****storm about it.

Reply 12

Joel R

Original post by doggyfizzel

And now her business is making national headlines. She's not a moron, she's a marketing genius.

Well, initially true. But I hardly think people are going to go out of their way to visit this café just to see this sign/ woman, and personally I expect her business to do much worse with an intimidating sign like that in the front window.

Reply 13

ssxx

Original post by Kiss

That doesn't prove anything.

For accusations if she does genuinely believe that, if not she's one crafty mother****er.

Reply 14

danny111

Just want to point out that while it isn't uncommon to walk out (I personally have like hardly ever done this, don't most places have menus outside so you can check) there is a difference to just walking out and walking out after seeing the owner. So people calling her a moron for not realizing that people walk out of restaurants, well maybe by that logic...

Reply 15

Joel R

Original post by ssxx

"I hired a white woman called Tracey. When Tracey is in the cafe she does well and people will come in and it will be full, once I stay in the background.
"But if Tracey is not working and I'm working nobody comes in."

That is a smoking gun!

I doubt she's done any kind of statistical analysis on it. Additionally, Tracey may be more attractive, smile more, keep the shop cleaner, only work on sunday lunchtimes, etc., all of which would affect the custom.

Reply 16

kevin6767

Original post by ssxx

Can you read? She does have a reasons!

When her white employee works in the front, people do not walk out.
And some customers told her they know about this.

Original post by Kiss

I have been in this café when I visited a uni friend. I walked in, looked at the counter thinking it might be something new to try and the owner came round to serve me. I offered a polite thank you and left. There was a good reason I left. I did not leave because she was black I left because the food smelt and looked awful. I saw a cat walk out of the kitchen which made me think what work surfaces could that cat have been on? Why is there a cat wondering free in a café? This lady is delusional if A)she thinks that there is a huge demand for an exceptionally strange blend of English and Caribbean food in a small town in Yorkshire, and B) if she thinks that her food is in anyway appetising. The fact that her local labour councillor jumped on this declaring that they would not tolerate racism in the town demonstrates an appalling level of stupidity and band-wagoning.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 17

Drewski

Anecdotal evidence as it may be, she does provide evidence which backs up her assertion, it's not as one-sided as some in this thread make it out to be.

Reply 18

M'Ling

This is offensive because it is not just a moron holding a moronic opinion, but a moron telling non-morons that said non-morons hold a moronic worldview, and, as such, are morons, which is reprehensible. She needs to get over her skin-colour; everybody else has.

She's had her 15 minutes - Next!

Reply 19

manchesterunited15

Original post by ssxx

Can you read? She does have a reasons!

When her white employee works in the front, people do not walk out.
And some customers told her they know about this.