This morning I went to Denny’s in Milpitas, CA, to get breakfast after dropping Nathaniel off to attend a program. In the early nineties, many minorities accused Denny’s of racism.
Some restaurants were accused of making blacks prepay, not serving them as quickly as whites. And sometimes not serving blacks. I also remember African Americans were encouraged nationwide to boycott the restaurant during this period.
In one instance, black Secret Service agents assigned to protect the president said they sat unserved until the whites around them had finished eating. Eventually, a class-action lawsuit was settled for $54 million in 1994 and became the catalyst for transforming Denny’s. Today at Denny’s:
- Half of the parent company employees are minorities.
- Minorities also hold over 30% of supervisory positions.
- Named by Fortune magazine the “Best Company in America for Minorities” for two years straight.
I wanted to share with you something that happened to me today while I was at Denny’s. I was served by June, a friendly, conscientious waitress.
As I was nearing the end of my meal, June stopped by to let me know she was going on break and whether I had needed anything else before she left.
I told her, “No, thank you,” and she left the bill on my table. I pulled out my debit card and placed it next to the bill.
The manager stopped, by my table, to take my bill and card to the cash register. When she came with the bill, it was without the inclusion of a tip.
I clearly wanted to leave June a tip for her superb service. When I mentioned this to the manager, she told me she thought I would leave cash. However, unfortunately, I was plum out of cash and expected to reflect the tip in my debit.
Here’s the exciting part – the manager asked me how much I wanted to leave. I answered $2, and she pulled the amount out of her pocket and left it on my table.
I wanted to share this with you because, in many instances, justified or not, we are quick to point the accusatory finger but are neglectful and/or slow to spotlight the positive and praiseworthy. This is my effort to pay it forward.
Remember, the movie of the same title starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment. Here’s a brief clip to stimulate your memory:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxJUEuTcLwU&feature=related
Stepfathers Pay it Forward
As stepfathers, I believe most of us want to pay it forward since we didn’t have to be one. This is your assignment: pick three people you can do something for that they can’t do for themselves.
Remember, it can be monetary, an act of kindness, or service. Send this request to your network, encouraging them to pick three people to help. Please also share what you did to help someone in the Comment section. Thanks.
Yesterday, the “Pretty Lady” and I went to the movies. At the end of the movie we helped a couple that was looking for a glove – unfortunately, we didn’t find it.
Gerardo