This should not be happening in this day and age

[pigletmania]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2359316/Yorkshire-cafe-owner-Martha-Renee-Kolleh-puts-sign-warn-customers-Im-black-woman.html

I am , I did not realise that this can happen nowadays. This poor woman should not put a sign on her door warning people of her race. If I was nearer I most certainly would vist her cafe

Jst makes this town look like its full of nasty bigots

If you could find the same story by a different paper that would be good!!!! I don't click on that paper's articles and I am sure most intelligent women don't either.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-23248503

Does that help?

I refuse to believe its a whole town, perhaps she is unfriendly and not as welcoming as Tracey.

I'm intelligent and I read the Daily Mail, Telegraph and Guardian. That's a mean stereotype.

Splithead that statement s not god for an intelligent woman!

Good doh

I can't imagine needing that round here but reading the BBC article the town is 97.5% white, so maybe there is more igmorance there. I thought attitudes like this went out with the ark!
I would definitely visit if I was nearer; it looks as though she offers an interesting variety.

The area I live is probably a similar ratio of white if not higher and I suspect someone of another race opening up a cafe or shop here would get the same attitude, some people would walk out ( most likely making rude comments when they did).

My exp was african and there are people who I'd known for years who no longer talk to me because of him. I don't miss them

If that is really how people treat her and its not something that she just feels is occuring then that disgusts me.I am truly disgusted.I just cant get my head around things like this.What sort of rationality do people have?

If I read a sign like that on a cafe, I'd probably walk away.

Mainly because I'd assume the person who put it there was bat-shit crazy. Partly because it would make me feel uncomfortable that whoever put it there would be actively looking for racist slights from customers.

People walking away when they read the sign is not proof that they are racist.

Agree with Pretty Kitty, that sign would make me feel uncomfortable too. I'd assume the owner had a rather large chip on their shoulder and I'd probably avoid. It's awful if she has been treated badly though.

As the article puts it, it wasn't the whole town, but enough for her and her more regular customers to notice. Having people walk in, see you, and then walk right back out over and over is kinda noticeable as is having more people willing to come in and stay when a White worker is front of house repeatedly. You don't really need to be looking for it to see those things and she specifically says many of the people there are lovely.

Good on her for not taking it silently on the chin and making a stand, I would eat there in a heartbeat and support this hard working mother.

Oh splitheadgirl what a response...

I think I'd avoid it too. Not because I am racist, but because she sounds a bit barmy.
Hideous experience for her nonetheless, although it does sound as though the cafe is on it's arse anyway.

Is a West Indian cafe selling goat curry etc really a viable business in a small yorkshire market town?

Splitheadgirl,that's a really insulting post,I live in Australia where the printed press is really not that good,very parochial and local event based.I access the news online,read the Daily Mail,Times and BBC, amongst others.
,

I used to work in a town that was very high % white.

Each year the local takeaway shut on Sep 11 as people would either not use it, or throw eggs and yell insults at the "foreigners" there.

They were Indian Christians! Kids born in England, so not even foreign.

Some people really are so ignorant that they can't cope with seeing someone who looks just a little different.

TabithaStephens - maybe she should stick to yorkshire pudding and some dog food for the whippets.

What fantastic publicity for her cafe though :)

I heard an interview from her someone posted to twitter yesterday. Tbh if I saw a sign like that on a café I would walk away as it is IMO somewhat antagonistic and indicative of a massive chip on her shoulder. Challenge prejudice at the point of contact ? absolutely. But make provocative statements like that to customers who haven?t actually displayed any prejudice yet and you are being very antagonistic and aggressive without good cause IMO. Good publicity stunt to go to the dm though eh.

splithead - I am bright and intelligent and I read the DM. (Now for the other side of me: Fuck Off with your stereotypes!)

I'd find the sign funny, a bit tongue-in-cheek, not offensive or an indication that she was 'barmy'

FWIW I reckon she's probably right, and I very much doubt she's come to this conclusion over night. You can see the menu from the outside of the cafe so obviously something appeals to these customers, before they walk in...

As kitty says would be nice to know if people were walking out of the shop before or after seeing the sign.

I wouldn't necessarily walk out if I saw the sign but it would make me think she was slightly odd and not a very sound business woman.

If people were walking out before... Well, this is the main thing that stops me wanting to move out of London. Very depressing.

Splithead I stopped reading the DM a few months ago due to their appalling lack of morals. So did a lot of MNers. It may not be anything to do with intelligence but my conscience sure as hell feels better now I don't read it.

This news story makes me sad. Good on her for having the guts to draw attention to it.

What Prettykitty said - I'd probably walk away from a cafe with a sign like that.
Is the owner sure people walk away because of the colour of he skin ? Nothing to do with the menu? Or possibly her demeanour if they do better when 'Tracey' is serving ? Some people come over as naturally friendly and 'people people' which can be lacking from others. Obviously I have no idea in this case - don't know the people - but I am incredulised to think that anyone other than a paid up BNP member would actually walk out of a cafe because the owner has black skin.