Le Basketbawl

Okay, I guess I am still underneath it all incredibly naive! I truly did not think that this sort of stuff still went on in any part of the USA. According to this report, sadly I was mistaken. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday that former NBA center Joe Barry Carroll has filed a suit against a restaurant located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. The former NBA number one pick is suing “Tavern at Phipps” in Federal Court, alleging that he and a friend were discriminated against while dining at the establishment.

Carroll is stating that he and a friend, Joseph Shaw went to the restaurant on August 11, 2006, and were eating at the bar. Carroll contends that Shaw and he were asked to give up their seats at the bar to two Caucasian women. Both Carroll, and Shaw are African-American, and Carroll says that none of the Caucasian men seated at the bar were asked to give up their seats. Carroll says that the two men were still eating and politely refused the request, at which time security was called and escorted the men from the establishment. Carroll says he was humiliated and traumatized by the incident.

The owner of “Tavern at Phipps” Greg Greenbaum, says he does not feel his restaurant did anything wrong, or discriminates. Then Mr. Greenbaum why were none of your white patrons asked to abandon their seats? Buckhead is a very wealthy community described as the “Beverly Hills of the South“. I have been to Beverly Hills, that kind of behavior is not tolerated there! During a historic time in our Nation’s history, when we will soon have our first major party nominee who is African-American running for President, this is just inexcusable, and just plain sad. After more than 50 years since Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus, that this could still be going on and tolerated boggles the mind. Could we still be that backwards thinking in parts of our nation? Unfortunately, maybe so.