This man is NOT black!
Busboys and Poets is owned and founded by Andy Shallal, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States. Though somehow his business keeps getting “mistaken,” as a black owned business.
Articles call the place black owned, Yelp listings called it black owned, they joined Black Restaurant Week, and even their employees will tell you the place is black owned.
How did this happen???
When he first opened his restaurant he stated that he was going to “pander,” to the black community in an attempt to win them over, and that he wanted to put a “black people welcome,” sign out front.
Though, he said he identifies much more with black culture
When he says that he identifies much more with black culture, that depends on who he’s speaking with. When a white journalist asks him what his favorite food is, its a cauliflower sandwich and other vegetarian options
But when a black journalist asks him? You already know what his answer is going to be….
Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens…. Now the “I’m going to pander to the black community,” makes sense.
But why pander to black people!?!?
Figures
Not everyone has appreciated Andy Shallal’s pandering to black people
