Righting a wrong

Posted 9/20/19

This summer a scene played out in Foley that has become far too common across the nation. An African American family was denied service by the Domino’s pizza shop in Foley. A manager there …

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Righting a wrong

Posted

This summer a scene played out in Foley that has become far too common across the nation. An African American family was denied service by the Domino’s pizza shop in Foley. A manager there instructed her employees not deliver to the predominantly African American neighborhood because, she claimed, it was dangerous.

Yes, there had been a car-jacking on those streets several years ago. It was an unfortunate incident that frankly could have happened on any street in any neighborhood. But that, and the fact that those who live there tend to be just one skin tone, painted the manager’s opinion. There were unsafe. They were unworthy of her concern.

This was wrong. And when a citizen called out the management for the error in judgement and the intensely misguided policy to deny service to an entire population, Domino’s leadership heard her. And for that, we applaud them.

The customer demanded not restitution, but rather, understanding, training and bridge building. Domino’s obliged. The regional manager assured reporters that the staff had been retrained and the manager on duty that night re-assigned.

Last weekend Domino’s arrived in the neighborhood park with dozens of pizza, sodas and toys for the kids. The families were thankful, but hesitant. It was a start, they said but probably, not the last of their problems.

Other restaurants have also refused delivery service to the neighborhood. Other restaurants have not heard their pleas for fairness and thorough customer service.

We urge other area businesses to take a step back to review their policies and consider how they treat all of their customers. Every customer deserves the same respect and the same service regardless of who they are or where they live.