"There's No Place Like The Neighborhood."

That is Applebee's slogan these days.

But Lord have mercy, what is wrong with you Negroes? Now your reputation for not tipping is affecting even other Negroes who are trying to get their grind on.

I honestly don't know what to make of this story.

"No, you didn't read the date on this story incorrectly. It really is 2011. In a story involving allegations that sound like they belong in the civil rights era or earlier (seriously, does even the most racist person in this day and age care about the color of the person bringing them the bar food and blue beverages?), an African-American woman has filed a discrimination complaint against Applebee's, claiming that the manager in the Towson, Md., restaurant where she worked allowed her to serve only tables taken by black customers, and fired her when she complained.

My Fox DC reports:
23 year-old Courtney Haywood started working at the Towson Applebee's in 2007 as a server and bartender.

In May of 2011, she claims new management at the restaurant allowed her to serve food only to black patrons.

According to the thetowerlight.com, Haywood said "I talked to a manager, who kept saying, 'I will take care of it, don't worry about it.' And nothing was taken care of."

After filing several complaints with the company, Haywood said she was given a termination letter in October 2011.

Haywood has filed a complaint of racial discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

A communications firm for Applebee's released a statement saying “We take these allegations very seriously. We're fully committed to creating a fair work environment for all of our team members. We have not received a copy of the alleged complaint, so we do not have any further information to offer at this time." [Source]

See, this is why you couldn't pay the field to eat in a joint like Applebee's.

Anywhoo, there are some folks who just aren't comfortable having you Negroes serve them in restaurants, and maybe the manager was just aware of that fact.

I have to wonder about my girl Courtney as well. Did she buy into the black folks don't tip stereotype? Hmmmmm. And were there other black waiters and waitresses in the joint? Who did they serve? The Hispanic and Asian customers?

Still, if what Courtney alleges is true; it doesn't excuse the Manager from playing social engineer with his lousy food joint. "Courtney, you serve the black folks, I think they will feel more comfortable if they see a black face." Unbelievable!

Finally, I see that God really loves these GOP candidates.  I wish they would tell me how to reach her; she seems to reach out to these guys quite often.

"ATLANTA (AP) -- Republican Herman Cain said God convinced him to enter the race for president, comparing himself to Moses: "'You've got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?'" [Source] 

Yes, Herman, she is sure. Something about needing a few laughs. It can get pretty stressful up there in Heaven.