Restaurant Owner Puts Up Sign Alerting Customers She’s Black [#BIGDUMMYFILES]

So racism is no longer an issue, right? Well let me introduce you to a restaurant owner in Ossett, West Yorkshire, UK is named Martha-Renée Kolleh, 46, who immigrated to the UK from Liberia.

She has run Yeanon Cafe for two years, but recently, the overt racism by would-be customers has forced Martha-Renée to put up a sign telling customers she is black. Frankly, she's fed up with people walking out when they see the color of her skin. Here is how it all went down, according to the Mirror.

She said: “One family came in, took one look at me and said ‘I think we are in the wrong place’. In my experience, I have had a really tough ride recently. Another man came in, ordered some food and sat outside. When I was bringing his food to him, he walked away without paying. I am losing out on business because of the actions of some of these people. It upsets me and I have had enough of it, I cannot be running a business like this. My family try and make our customers welcome but none of them deserve this kind of behaviour towards us.” Ms Kolleh said the reaction to the sign had been mixed. She said: “Some people find it amusing, they were laughing and said ‘oh yes it’s about time you put that up’, so I think they all realise what’s going on here. I have had support from my loyal customers, and that is very pleasing for me to know I have their backing. But some others just read it and walk away. I’ve heard one or two swear words as well regarding the notice. Just this morning a man in the street told me that because I put up the sign that I was being racist, but how that can be I do not know. I am only trying to make a living for myself and my children, but I am tired of the discrimination against me and my business.” [...] “I put (the sign) there because of the way people treat me in Ossett. They just open the door of my cafe and once they take a look at me they walk out” she said. "Now, when they open the door they will expect to see a black face. I put the sign up because my frustration had built up over a long amount of time."

It's sad that when people hear stories like this, they automatically assume this person is just complaining about nothing. I'm glad I live in the U.S., where racist have no problem being served by the race they claim to dislike.