In 2024, how is it that hair can still be a source of discomfort in a supposedly progressive society? This was probably the question in Rachel Tucker’s mind when she endured embarrassment at the 75 Main restaurant after the owner allegedly asked her to move because of her hair.
Tucker, whose family has a property in the Hamptons, was having fun with her white visiting friends on a day trip. She claimed to have never had a problem at the restaurant.
The curly-haired woman, who was at the restaurant with her homegirls in The Hamptons, New York, described how restaurant owner and HBO star Zach Erdem allegedly ordered her to move tables because her “hair was too big.”
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Tucker told The Shade Room Investigates that a white family sitting at a table next to her complained about her hair being in the way, and the owner was called.
Tucker said, “As soon as I sat down, within five minutes, a man came over to me and said, ‘We have to move you because your hair is too big, and it’s in the way of the table behind you.’”
When asked about the incident, the 75 Main owner said, “I am not racist. I’m always with the Black people.” Though he denied commenting on Tucker’s hair being too big, he did claim her hair was close to the complaining party every time she backed up, making the guest “very uncomfortable.”
Now this is where I ask, why couldn’t the people being bothered move? Or simply ask her to adjust herself? You would expect that in places like the Hamptons, where one would expect a certain level of sophistication and awareness, situations like this will be a thing of the past.
To make matters worse, Erdem reportedly instructed Tucker to take a table in the back of his restaurant by the loud DJ booth, where Tucker and her friends couldn’t even carry on a conversation.
I don’t know whether I would’ve stayed after that but Tucker did and even bought a drink, though she informed the waiter that she wouldn’t be paying the bill due to the inconvenience, and her companions proceeded to purchase entire dinners.
Even though her server accepted, they suggested that she pay to prevent Erdem from contacting the police—a threat he made following a heated exchange with Tucker—so she did as instructed and departed.
The proprietor of 75 Main later directed a restaurant manager to revoke Tucker’s payment, saying, “I hope it will make her happy.”
I think this restaurant owner is missing the point. It is not about waiving the cost. This incident underscores the urgent need for sensitivity training in establishments, ensuring that all patrons feel welcome. It is about fostering a culture of respect and understanding across our communities.
Tucker has since gotten in touch with her lawyer, James Walker, about the incident at Erdem’s restaurant. Walker branded the situation “racial profiling” and said the establishment can’t subject patrons to “emotionally traumatic” conditions.
The attorney is asking for a public apology and 75 Main employees to participate in “sensitivity training,” which Erdem has stated he is willing to do and has issued a public apology.
As we move forward, will we allow outdated biases to dictate our interactions, or will we choose to celebrate our differences? Research shows that 66 percent of Black women would change their hair for a job interview, showing how hair bias affects minorities in several places including in the workplace.
It’s time for businesses to take a stand against discrimination; to create spaces where everyone can feel comfortable and valued.
