Business: Wendy's #128
Location: 11741 Beltsville Dr. (Calverton Shopping Center), Calverton, MD
Date of incident: May 19, 2007 Quick Hit
Simply put, Maria at this Wendy's fast food location needs to be fired immediately for her indiscretion and racist outburst. I guess she should have looked up to see who was waiting in line before her stupidity got the best of her.
The Beef
It happened just like that. I stopped in at Wendy's to pick up my daughter's usual Saturday post-track-meet meal, a spicy chicken sandwich, and witnessed one of the most brazen examples of race hate I've ever personally seen up close. And the source of it was somewhat surprising. But maybe it shouldn't have been?
When I walked in there were five or six white gentlemen in the winding line in front of me, and there was what sounded like a heated argument going on behind the counter between the African manager (he seemed to be doing most of the talking) and one or two Hispanic women. During the five to six seconds it took me to walk to the back of the line I was only able to make out three things in the very emphatic exchange: the manager said something to the effect of, "If it falls on the floor, THAT'S A PROBLEM!" Then one Hispanic lady went and did it: She replied to the manager, "It's only a problem for black people!"
I guess my first reaction was disbelief at what I had just heard this chica utter. Then, as what she said resonated in my mind a couple seconds, it made me want to slide over the stainless steel counter like a black Jack Bauer and get up in her face to forcefully question whether she and her entire family circle were even in this country legally!
The manager, in his heavy African accent and rapid-fire delivery, handled the moment as best he could considering the timing (lobby full of patrons), I guess. He shot back without missing a beat, "Don't you say that again! You're in the wrong!" Or something close to that. Had I been in his shoes I doubt I would have been so judicious in the heat of the moment.
After that, I don't think I took my eyes off Maria (the manager, Philip, told me her name when I inquired about what had just happened...and I told him, "She's got to go!"). I watched, no, glared at her intently until my order was ready and I was set to leave. Besides me and Philip, there were no other black people in the restaurant at the time, and about 10 whites eating in the dining area. And everyone behind the counter besides Philip was Hispanic. Maria cast a few glances my way as she wrapped sandwiches and served customers at the drive-thru window. But she didn't let her gaze linger. Not like I wanted her to. I was trying to read her mind, hoping that she would say something else now that I was front and center waiting for my order. But as I gathered my food and took one last backwards glance at her, I thought I saw fear and shame in her posture and eyes, as if she was wondering whether I'd be waiting outside for her after her shift, and like she has just betrayed her race by revealing the secret of how Hispanics really view us, the race they recently supplanted (13% to 14%) as the largest minority in America.
Epilogue
The thumbs down designation with this article is more for Maria and her mindset than the restaurant itself. I never did find out what had fallen on the floor, but judging from Philip's reaction, it probably wasn't something innocuous like a kids' meal toy. I doubt very seriously Wendy's cultivated Maria's behavior. She assuredly brought that raggedy baggage with her.
But maybe I'm just being too sensitive. I mean, in a back-handed sort of way was Maria actually complimenting black people on our hygienic sensibilities compared to other people's? Nah, probably not.
It remains to be seen whether Wendy’s rectifies the situation by doing the right thing. Hopefully, as I pen this piece 24 hours after the incident, Maria has already been made an example of and the message that bigotry won't be tolerated on a Wendy’s crew has already gone forth, en español! Rest assured, I'll be checking back with Philip. Fortunately, I left my card with him, just in case he needs a witness to present to upper management to back up his firing of Maria.
