Does it make me racist?

Question

To know for a fact (from years of experience) that black people are horrible tippers? I have black friends, and I've never been one to feed stereotypes, but it's just TRUE. Then again, maybe all the black people I've waited on have just thought I sucked something awful...so bad that they wouldn't even leave 5%.

no dogg - How can it be racist when it's true? Do people just have to ignore blatantly obvious (and incidently undesirable traits) in other races?

Okay...so would it be better to say that at least 80% of the black people I have waited on in my corner of the world have been less than great tippers?

I'm not saying ALL there, but it's still a generalization. I can make plenty more about the white people I wait on...they don't drink anything but tea and water with lemon. Is that racist?

Justin C - You are so right on with all of those horrible, ugly but no-less true generalizations!

Answer 1

Yes and no. I hate to say this but this comes with upbringing and can be tied to a person's respect for others and sometimes their social class. (If you are "just over broke" you have to struggle for every penny - and you try hard to hang on to them).

I was raised in an upper middle class family and am accustomed to dining out at establishments where tipping was normal and expected. I have acquaintances from other walks of life who think that servers are paid adequately and tips are not necessary (some are Black and some are White). Of course you and I both know this is not true.

I once saw a White family at a restaurant leave a tip of about $1.50 in change (including pennies) for a meal for six people. The waiter (who was also White) just stared in disbelief.

I am a Black American and I am not one of the people you speak of. I leave a minimum of 20% for good service (15% if I am not fully satisfied). Maybe you should try working at a different establishment, with more upscale clientele. This would improve your chances of receiving a more sizable tip from all of your customers no matter what their color.

Best wishes!

Answer 2

Yes!

To make a generalized statement and categorize every black person is a racist statement and attitude. You say your not one to feed stereotypes but you’re doing it. What if a black person was to make a claim that all white waitresses only deserved a 5% tip. Would that be racist? YES!



Edit #1

no dogg - How can it be racist when it's true? Do people just have to ignore blatantly obvious (and incidently undesirable traits) in other races?

You don't have enough information available to know if it's true. I know people (white people) who don't believe in tipping at all. Let's say the people you've delt with feel the same way but tipped 5% anyway? Maybe they are giving a great deal of a tip in thier eyes? Perception is everything.

You shouldn't have to ignore anything. If it bothers you it bothers you. In general feelings can't be right or wrong, they are just feelings. However to publicly label black people as horrible tippers is just silly, it's your opinion and you are intitled to it but my in my opinion it's a racist skewed view.

I've been a server in a few differant resturants. Some people don't like serving older people, they felt they wouldn't get a good enough tip. Sometimes that was true but not because they were old or because they were black. It's because they were poor tippers, plain and simple.


Edit #2

Here's one last example. My mother generally leaves two bucks maybe three. No percentage. Sometime good tip, sometimes bad. One time I asked her (when this happened she was 40 something and I was still a server) why such a horrible tip for a $50 meal and here's what she says to me "I didn't make them to take a job making $2.00 an hour. The waitress did no extra work based on what I ordered." I used to be so embarrassed, now I just cover her share when we are out together.

Answer 3

I don't know if that makes you racist, but you are certainly stereotyping unfairly.
I'm black and I tip well ALL the time. If service was just okay, they still get the standard 15%. If it was anything above and beyond that, they will earn even more.
I used to wait tables while in college and I know what a difficult job it can be. I also know that all races have people who are horrible tippers.
I'd been stiffed by many white people, but it didn't stop me from being nice and giving good service.

Answer 4

I was a waiter for 7 years and I had the same experience. My best friend is black and he told me that he was taught that. He was the worst tipper I ever saw; if we went out he would leave a penny and laugh. I asked him about that. He told me that she deserved nothing from him. Is that racist, no it's an observation. Everybody's life experiences shape their personality and what they think is true. I did have a regular that happened to be black and he left me a good tip often, but he was also a known drug dealer and he had a lot of money. Maybe thats the answer, maybe the average black person makes less money and they have less to give. An observation can't be wrong, maybe give a survey. Ask black people if they are bad tippers and why?

Answer 5

I'm a great tipper and I'm black. I tip well above the 15% and sometimes I do it even when the service wasn't great. I have white friends who are horrible tippers.

Funny you make such a generalization because my sister used to be a waitress and all the old white people would leave a quarter or dime as a tip. She used to laugh at it because she thought that maybe they thought they were still living in the 1920's and 30's but I thought it was just plain rude to insult her in that manner.

Answer 6

Not ALL black people are bad tippers. Just the ones you met. To say ALL you'd have to be tipped by every black person in the world.

Oh, and no, you're not racist. Just a bad choice of wording.

To all the people that called her racist- Shut the **** up. You've probably made a comment like that before. Almost everyone has.

Answer 7

racist? well u r not exactly racist. ur just sterotypical about them. U should stop thinking like that or keep it to urself because someday a black may help u and when that does happen maybe it will make it up for ur thinking of blacks being terrible tippers. If u were racist then u would have no black friends at all cause u wouldnt feel like making any. So no ur not racist~ur just sterotyping~PS its not only blacks who leave less than 5% its everyone. everyone must have done it once at least sometime

Answer 8

It isn't just the Black race that does this. I've gone to dinner at a convention were this White man at my table threw 3 pennies down for the waitress. When you work with the public like that, you will always get someone who will tip lightly or not at all. Just ignore it. They are only being rude. Try not to expect anything at all, then when you do get something, you will appreciate it more. Good luck!

Answer 9

You must deal with a lot of different people and your experience this about who tips good and who don't . It just happens to be "black people" you notice that don't tip or don't tip enough.If other people are tipping you right then maybe it's not that your not good at your job. You been doing your job for years with that experience a lone am sure your good at your job. I don't think it makes you a "racist" it's just something you notice where you work. As we all know that every "black" person is not like that. It's just happens to be where your working at. Don't think of yourself as a racist. And be careful who you tell this to what you notice because it could cause a fight or rumors that you don't like black people. Some people have a way of turning things around. So be care-full who you talk to.

Answer 10

I`m half black. I find this pretty offensive, I mean saying something like that can offend a lot of people. I've had tons of black people leave me generous tips, and ive had a lot of white people leave me pennies. It's not right to blame a race for a few peoples lack of tip, maybe theyre short on money and can't really afford to tip you. Money is tight look at gas prices.. Honestly.