Name:   Lifer - Subject:   It's racism and it's everywhere Date:   9/2/2020 8:35:28 PM (updated 9/2/2020 8:36:22 PM)

Friday before last the Boss and I went into Wendy's to get a sandwich at lunch.  There were a few folks at one table in the dining room. I walked up to the plexiglass in front of the register and the fellow behind the counter started pointing to another sign about masks being required.  I gave him my standard response when asked to put on or if I need a mask.  I smiled and said "no thank you, I'm trying to quit".  He, being large and in charge, informed me he "couldn't" take my order without a mask.  I said you're kidding, right? I ask that becasue he was "wearing" his mask like a chin strap.  When I pointed this out to him he declared "but I'm wearing one" very rudely.  I said OK, you win, and pulled my shirt up over my nose and mouth and said I'll have a Number 1.  He then came out from behind the counter to "escort" me out of the store.  I planted my feet and waited think he was gonna put a hand on me.  ONce he saw I was planted he backed off a bit and started motioning me toward the door.  I knew what I was going to do and I needed evidence so I turned around took a picture of the crew, all wearing chin straps instead of masks. One of the girls in the back looked up and saw me taking the pic and and hollered "that white boy taking ya'll picture".  They all turned their backs on me.  I took the pic and turned around and there is the manager standing at the door holding it open for me to leave.  This totally breaks social distancing protocol, BTW.  So I took his picture too. In defiance he just snatched his mask off to show me he was in charge.  I laughed and smiled on my way out.

Everyone knows how I feel about masks so I am certainly NOT going to be refused service for not wearing a mask by someone not wearing a mask.  I told him to expect a call and/or visit soon because I was going to drop a dime on him.  Which I did promptly while sitting at Arby's next door enjoying lunch. I filed a formal complaint with the company, along with the managers picture and was told I would be contacted.  I was a few days later. Had a very interesting conversation with the District Manager followed a couple of days later with a call from the manager himself to apologize, although with absolutely no contrition in his words or tone.  His apology was that he was on vacation when that email went out informing them they were NOT to confront anyone over a mask.  As I said, no contrition only a BS excuse.  I don't work there, got NO emails from them, yet I know his company position while he, the manager doesn't.  Doesn't pass my smell test.

I left out some details that don't matter but the bottom line is the guy thought he was bulletproof with his company due to length of service with the company.  He imformed me at some point during all this he "would be here tomorrow, he would be there next week, I ain't going nowhere".  I have never advocated for anyone to loose their job, not even the two Charter guys I caught in my house once and in the end I told his boss I would feel bad if he lost his job, although he really deserved it.  By disobeying a company directive he committed insorbodination, which is a terminal offense in ANY company.  IF he was unaware, and that is a big if, that is on him.  I will say that I don't think he feels so bulletproof any more and certainly wont be tellling any more white boys to put on a mask.

Bottom line is I felt like this was partly a power trip on his part mixed with some racism, which the "white boy" comment confirms.  The entire crew from manager on down were all black and had attitude with the white boy that refused to bow down to them and stand up for myself and REFUSE to wear a mask AKA let them exert contol over me.  They are, or I should say were, demanding of others what they flagrantly were not doing.  Unfortunately that store has video but no audio, but I expect will be getting audio in the near future.  The Boss felt it was racist also, not to mention stupid as hell and she is much more mild mannered than I am.