By GottaLaff
This post comes from Democratic Underground, verbatim (errors included):
A friend of mine (who is Black) went to purchase a tree every year for the last 16...yes...16 years at this christmas tree farm. When she drove up, parked and walked up the hill to choose which tree she wanted, the young man told her that he wouldn't cut the tree for her. So she was walking back to her car and saw that two or three others that were after her were getting trees. They were White, by the way. He cut their tree. So she figure she would go and have a talk to the owner. She explained to the owner what happened and what the young man told her. The owner said basically in so many words that they were not selling trees to Blacks. I don't know why my friend didn't ask why but she didn't. She said she was so damn mad, she couldn't think straight. So the next day she called her local radio station and told them the weird news. The DJ didn't want to talk about that. He said we have no control over their business and when she started giving more info, they hung up on her.
I know there is nothing she can do about this situation but I told her I would tell everyone I know what happened at WHITTAKER'S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM IN CROCKETT,TEXAS right at the border of GRAPELAND, TEXAS.
I'm Googling everything I can think of, but can't seem to locate the tree lot in question.
UPDATE, I found this little bit of info:| Farm: Whitaker Christmas Tree Farm |
| Owner(s): Jerry Whitaker |
| Day(s) open: Open daily, 8:30 am to dark. |
| Address: Rt. 2, Box 63A |
| City: Grapeland | State: Texas | Zip: 75844 |
Directions: Call for directions.
UPDATE #2, an interesting comment from an attorney:I am an attorney who handles discrimination cases.
| And I wouldn't want that one. Here's why: I wouldn't expect to win it, and if I did win it, I'd expect to lose money on it. I might take it just for the publicity if I were personally wealthy already and could afford to do so.
It's hard to prove that a tree farm is a common carrier. Common carriers (hotels, restaurants, etc.) can't deny services on the basis of race. Employers can not discriminate on the basis of race. The government can not discriminate on the basis of race. But because this tree farm is neither a common carrier, nor an employer of the injured parties, nor the government, this would be a tough case to win, I think. Generally speaking, individuals are free to discriminate, at will, without recourse.
This is a case for attorneys who are willing to do a whole lot of work for free (ACLU, SCLC, etc.).
Of course, the behavior is reprehensible, and should be fought. I just couldn't afford to do it. |
H/t: One of our Anonymi
.jpg)