Waiting On A Friend (The Perils of Existing While Black)

I’m sure you’ve all heard by now of the two African-American men who were arrested at a Starbuck’s in Philadelphia, but please allow me if you will, to share what I in my unyielding and always vigilant pursuit of the truth have been able to ascertain. (Ok, so I may have a somewhat inflated opinion of myself) The incident was filmed by a customer who was vocally upset and perplexed as to why the two were being arrested. According to the manger they had not ordered anything and one of them who asked to use the bathroom had been told it was for paying customers only. They told the manager they were waiting on a friend for a business meeting, but she didn’t care she wanted them out. In the same video when the police arrive, customers can be heard protesting as the two men had been sitting quietly waiting for the aforementioned friend. Also, as evidenced by most of the other patrons defending them, they were clearly not causing any kind of disturbance. According to the men they arrived at 4:35 PM for their meeting. At 4:37 PM Philadelphia police received a 911 call from the store manager. Um…ok.

So, let me break this down for you. A manager at a Starbuck’s called the police to say “hey we got two people sitting around here not doing anything. Can you come and arrest their Black asses please, thanks”. Again, this happened at Starbucks. Renowned friend to laptop hobos and Wi-Fi moochers the world over. Yes, that Starbucks. Before I continue I just want to make something perfectly clear. (Clears throat) This bitch ass manager called the cops to arrest two people for doing what people do in Starbucks ALL THE TIME. The entire business model of Starbucks is to encourage people to loiter. They provide free internet access and use of electrical plugs to make it more accessible for your lazy ass loitering comfort. This is usually the part of the story where someone pisses me off with the following dumb ass statements and questions:

• Why didn’t they just order something?
• There must be more to the story.
• Why are you making it about race?
• What about their arrest record?
• We need to hear both sides.
• Why didn’t they leave?
• And of course, the infamous, if only they had complied, which thankfully wasn’t applicable as they made it through alive.

My response to the above? Bullshit. None of it matters. Why is it that white people are so threatened by the idea that one of them could be racist that they dismiss any obvious instance of it and make ridiculous assumptions and excuses without giving it any real consideration.  Well fortunately, not all White people. The White patrons of the store, including the woman filming the video, said that they’d been sitting there for hours without making a purchase and no one had said anything to them about it. Yet two black men sat there for a matter of minutes and ended up perp-walked out. But the problem isn’t just that the men were treated in this manner. No sir, the problem is that a manager at Starbucks, a place that is notoriously friendly to all walks of life felt the need to call the cops on two men who were doing what people do there all the time…and instead of loudly proclaiming “this is some bullshit!” the cops arrested them. How did this go from not buying something to being arrested? Why not just walk them out?  Why the parade in cuffs with six officers in tow?

Ok, stop. I know what you’re going to say, the cops were just doing their job to which I again say, Bullshit. In the actual 911 call the manger says "Hi, I have two gentlemen in my cafe that are refusing to make a purchase or leave." Man, this is getting exhausting. According to witnesses these two men, who again had been there a matter of minutes were never asked to leave. But hold on I’m not done, it gets worse. The police dispatch call goes out as "we have a disturbance at the Starbucks" "a group of males inside causing a disturbance." Again, they were sitting quietly waiting for a friend…sheesh.

So yesterday the Philadelphia police commissioner, who just happens to be Black and had previously defended his officers’ actions while condemning the two men, issued an apology to them. Contrary to earlier reports, he confirmed they did not refuse when asked to leave. Not one of those officers asked the two men what had happened or for their side of whatever story this crazy woman had concocted in her head. They were simply arrested, with no discussion. He now says his officers did not properly assess the situation and the two should never have been arrested. According to him, he and his department are issuing new guidelines for handling these situations in the future. Well Hallelujah! But that does nothing for the men who spent six damn hours in jail for the ridiculous crime of Starbucking while Black.

And what of the manager who initiated this entire humiliating and unnecessary experience? Well the CEO of Starbuck’s made a public apology and said the manager is no longer with the company. It was not clear whether she was terminated or just quit. Oh, and of course her old Facebook posts are making the rounds now and include some pretty racist shit. This is the Trump era folks where Becky is allowed to be unreasonably nervous around young black men.  It’s racism at its finest and this woman didn’t give a damn about her bigotry being exposed. She just wrongly assumed her bosses would back her up. And to be honest they may have, if not for the White witnesses who this time refused to be complicit.