So, I recently did a training for TRC volunteers and the community and one of my new volunteers got really interested when we were talking about disparate impact and discrimination and wanted to know if these same rules and concepts applied to bars . . . here’s why.
I would like to share my story about the racist bar policies at Logan’s (located on Johnson St. between State St. and Broom St. some may remember it as the old Angelic Brewery).
This summer, I frequented Logan’s Bar. I noticed that as the summer progressed, more and more African Americans were coming. I was not the only one to notice; I heard people saying things such as “Logan’s is so ‘thug’ now” etc.
First, after a noticeable change in the ethnic dynamics of Logan’s, management posted a dress code which was undeniably targeted at African Americans. It included things such as “No do rags” “Hats must be worn straight forward or straight backwards” etc.
The second instance of racism came after a night when a few purses were stolen from the bar. An acquaintance of mine (who I will keep anonymous) was responsible for playing music on this weekend night. The next day, a manager told the “DJ” to refrain from playing Hip-hop music presumably because it attracts more African Americans. The manager must have assumed the people/person who stole the purses was African American.
The last of my three examples of racism is in regards to the UW student ID policy. For those of you who don’t know, late in the summer, Logan’s made it so that you could not enter unless you could show a UW student ID. I noticed a stark contrast to the ethnic diversity on one of the nights the Student ID policy was used. I saw an African American UW-student try to get into the bar with some of his non-UW student friends. Unfortunately, his friends were not allowed into the bar. However, on that same night, I arrived with one of my friends, who is Caucasian, and although he was not a UW-student (I was at the time), we had no trouble getting into the bar.
I have been boycotting the bar ever since and I encourage others to do so as well.
Thanks Sam Wegleitner for sharing your story! I know there are many more out there like this, and I will continue to post them if the Isthmus will not. I don’t need to use your full name if you don’t want to.
