Discrimination finds home in bars

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Posted: 3/1/07

Jim Crow is not dead in Athens. Several weeks ago, The Red & Black ran a front-page article detailing how the University had the highest number of reported hate crimes in the entire Southeastern Conference since 2000.

We saw some attempts at damage control by University administrators after the article ran, all of which were trying to put the University and Athens in the best possible light for minority recruiting purposes in the pursuit of expanding diversity within the student body.

Contrary to what the administrators claim, there still is an environment that breeds hatred and bigotry in Athens, and it happens to be where many students go weekly.

Earlier this month, I went downtown on a Tuesday with several friends to Bourbon Street. All of us were over 21 and stone sober, but only one of us, namely my Indian friend, got rejected. He was wearing dress clothes and was overdressed for most bars downtown.

The bouncer would not let him into the nearly-empty bar simply because of the plain silver chain that was tucked inside his dress shirt. The bouncer also told him that he would not be allowed in even if he took off his chain and placed it in his car.

From what I've heard from others, this is not a unique or isolated incident. Another of my friends, who is black, was surprised I had not heard of this occurring before and proceeded to name several popular bars downtown that are known to have discriminatory tendencies - and no, Generals is actually not one of them.

These bars will generally not admit those wearing white shoes, sweatpants or sweatshirts, athletic jerseys, hats not worn straight forward or straight back, "holy" jeans or chains.

Who exactly do you think they are trying to keep out?

It may just be me, but I don't think Bourbon Street or many other bars have much of a classy image to preserve, if that is their stated goal.

These policies obviously bear a disparate impact on minorities, who, for whatever reason, are not desired in these bars.

These policies are segregationist, selectively enforced and fly directly in the face of several laws, including Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

As a business student, I perfectly understand a businessman's right to make a profit and encourage a welcoming atmosphere for customers.

There is a definite need to keep gang colors out of any establishment in the name of safety, so I understand the origin of some of the policies.

Tell me though, what symbolism do white shoes have? Does a simple chain tucked inside a shirt mean a person is packing heat?

The current dress codes at select bars downtown are being used not as a means to keep order and customers flowing in, but as a thin "legal" excuse to keep minorities out.

If these select downtown bars were impartial and evenly applied their farce of a dress code, no frat guy or sorority girl would ever be permitted in when dressed up for a themed social or Halloween.

While these downtown bars do not directly impact the University, the environment and attitude that is fostered on-campus by these policies erodes any strides that the University makes in recruiting a diverse student body.

These policies' existence simply reinforces whatever stereotypes that may be had of a Southern college town, and have farther-reaching implications than most of us can imagine.

How many students chose another school over Georgia because of perceived racism? How many football players decided to play up North in a more welcoming environment? How many awards has the University lost out on because of an unwelcoming image?

What it boils down to is that racist policies and attitudes are still alive and well in Athens, and neither Athens-Clarke County officials nor University administrators have the guts to confront it.

Jim Crow is not dead in Athens.

- Matt Totten is a senior from Brunswick majoring in finance