I visited Carmi Soul Food, which was a new to me, although I had visited the neighborhood before. I found the address online and drove there with my family. Walking in, I was hyper-aware of my race. All waitstaff and patrons were black. I was curious if they were curious about our being there, or if that was just my own hyper-awareness projecting. The food was excellent, and both my parents greatly enjoyed it--said they would come back.
I do think this was a case of me being hyper-aware, but everything my parents said in regard to the restaurant I was trying to pick apart for racism. My mother asked if the bathrooms were clean. My dad asked if they take credit cards. My mother wondered if the neighborhood was safe to park the car in. Maybe my parents would have asked the same questions at a white-owned business--in fact, on pulling into my neighborhood, Point Breeze, my mother remarked that she didn't want to leave valuables in the car. So maybe I was alone in my almost paranoid concern about whether we were being racist or not.
I do think this was a case of me being hyper-aware, but everything my parents said in regard to the restaurant I was trying to pick apart for racism. My mother asked if the bathrooms were clean. My dad asked if they take credit cards. My mother wondered if the neighborhood was safe to park the car in. Maybe my parents would have asked the same questions at a white-owned business--in fact, on pulling into my neighborhood, Point Breeze, my mother remarked that she didn't want to leave valuables in the car. So maybe I was alone in my almost paranoid concern about whether we were being racist or not.
One Large participant: AT
Name of black-owned business: Carmi Soul Food
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Race/ethnicity of participant: White
