Could you stand up to bigotry at your favorite bar?
(http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/4 ... 14.article)
June 14, 2007
BY MARY MITCHELL Sun-Times Columnist
Sometimes doing the right thing just doesn't feel good. Take the case of a young white male professional who believes he witnessed discrimination against a group of young African Americans at his favorite watering hole.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said the man, whom I am not identifying because I don't want him to run into any trouble if he decides to go back to the bar.

"I've been going to that bar for 10 years. I was so shocked, I followed them out of the bar and went down the street to another bar to get their phone numbers."

This is what the man -- and one of the people in the group -- says happened last Sunday night at the Mark II Lounge at 7436 N. Western, near the Evanston city limit:

"Me and my buddies were throwing darts by the front door when four black kids walked in. The man who runs the place told them: 'Sorry, guys, this is a private party.' I had never heard him do anything like that before."

The man said he confronted Tony Anton, the son of the club's owner.

"I called him out," the man said. "He responded with: 'I'm not a racist, it's just bad for business.'"

Since Monday, I've left several detailed phone messages for Anton. He finally called me back at 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday and left this voice mail:

"This is Tony from Mark II. I'm sorry to call you this late, but I haven't been able to sleep because of these false accusations. I am deeply hurt by it. Not only do I encourage diversity, we operate a business where it flourishes. If you came in unannounced any evening, you would be pleasantly surprised by our diverse environment here."

On the night in question, my source said, there was another black man in the North Side bar who looked to be about 40-something. The group that was barred was made up of people in their 20s, including Nellie Guy.
"When we walked up to the door, we were able to walk in," Guy said. "As soon as we got ready to sit down at the table, [Anton] snatched the barstool and said it's a private party. My sister's man said: 'Come on, man, this ain't no damn private party.'

"On our way out, I heard some guy ask the owner, 'What's this all about?' and he said: 'I'm not a racist, but it's bad for business,' " Guy told me.

"What's bad for business?" she asked. "Four black people walking in. Four black people trying to sit down? Four black people trying to buy some beer?"

She didn't suspect anything until after she saw about 12 other people going in to Mark II, including two other African Americans.

"I don't know if four blacks going in together was the problem, or what," Guy said. "But I was still shocked for the simple fact that approximately a year ago, we used to go there all the time. It's not like we have never been in there."

Mark II, also known as "The Deuce," is described at CenterstageChicago.com as a "good dive bar" that "caters to a crowd that appreciates cheap beer, a jukebox, dart boards, a pool table and late hours."

Guy said she, her fiance, her sister and her sister's new husband showed up about 1 a.m. to cap off an evening of celebration.

"It stays open really late, and my fiance really enjoys it and goes there a lot," she said. "When this guy came over and said he witnessed what happened, I really appreciated it. I'd like to pursue this matter before they make it an 'all-white bar.' Because I didn't see anything wrong with us."

It is not unusual for black males to complain about being barred from a bar that has a predominantly white clientele. But owners of popular clubs have found legal ways to exclude them, such as imposing a dress code.
Even on the South Side, it is common for club owners to bar people dressed in jeans, gym shoes or baseball caps as a way to keep out perceived roughnecks. Young black men who wear their hair in braids or locks have also been stopped at the door.

But the "this-is-a-private-party" ploy is as blatant as it is old. Unfortunately, there seems to be a tipping point for black patrons in white bars just as it is in some neighborhoods.

A few blacks -- fine. But too many blacks, and white patrons go somewhere else.

"I have not seen racism like that before with my own eyes," said the white patron from Mark II.

Still, he is conflicted. He has been going to The Deuce since his college days, and many of the people there have become his friends.

But challenging racism is always the right thing to do.

Even when it makes us feel bad. (end)

WTF, did I get transported into the 60's?

A few Italians --fine, but too many Italians, and I am thinking I am about to be whacked.

A few Mexicans --fine, but too many Mexicans, and I am thinking hide the woman and children.

A few Indians -- fine, but too many Indians, and I am thinking our company is about to be outsourced.

A few Irish -- fine, but too many Irish, and I am thinking bar fight.

A few Arabs -- not so fine, It only takes one to be a suicide bomber.

A few Whites -- fine, but too many Whites, amd I am thinking fundraiser for the KKK.

A few Indians -- fine, but too many, and I am thinking the local Casino is rigged.

A few Germans -- fine, but too many Germans, and I am thinking NAZI convention.

A few Jewish -- fine, but too many Jewish, and I am thinking the block will look dull this christmas.

A few racist -- not fine , but one man coming out to defeat the ignorant few great, the whole bar coming out to defend the blacks would have been even better.

You know, usually in articles like this it seems that the writers or those quoted are self serving (Mary Mitchell). This piece was not only extremely well written but also level headed and straightforward. It was written as "it is what it is and that sucks". I never saw the Jesse Jackson style grandstanding and respect that. I've been to a lot of bars all over this city and can't remember seeing any racial issues or profiling but screw that bar for doing something like that.

Does anyone really care if there are a lot of people of a different race in a bar anymore? Went into a dive out here on the west side called the Tap Room a little while back with 3 other white people and it was all black and hispanic in there. We grabbed a beer and quickly made about 20 new friends, nobody cared about race or anything. This city is just so damn mixed I can't understand stuff like this happening.

Which one in the article is North's bar buddy?

Excellent point(s).

I have driven by the Mark II on countless occasions but never have gone in. I have a feeling this news will not affect their business in any way.

This place is a big-time late night hangout for NU students, many of them notoriously underage, so I'd have to agree with you there.

_________________

funny Nas...

_________________
@audioidkid