Native Restaurant’s Firings?
2007 September 20
A reader writes:
I’ve heard today Native, the restaurant on Lenox and 118th, just fired all of its African/African-American workers without providing a reason upon dismissal. If that is the case, then I think it is reprehensible and it should be made known to the larger community. There is no reason that any business in Harlem, let alone any business anywhere, should be allowed to conduct business in such a manner, but especially in Harlem.
Anyone know anything about this?
Stumble It!
I bet this turns out to be nonsense — somebody is trying to create grief for the owner for some reason.
That is up there with one of the more irresponsible posts ever on this website. It’s clearly not based on any facts, and includes about 1% of the actual story. But this is how things work in harlem, everyone listens to “word on the street” and makes actions and judgements based on rumor and before you know it you have Al Sharpton standing on the sidewalk outside your business protesting you.
Way to go uptown flavor!
Can you tell us all the real story anon (if you have it)? It would be helpful to know so as to dispell the rumours
I have no idea LGP. I have nothing to do with it. I can just tell total bullshit when i’m reading it.
This sounds suspiciously at lot like a rumor. I thought the owner of Native IS black???
anonymous- i am not sure why you are getting so defensive. the post is just a tip from the reader and uptown flavor is asking for more info from the greater community.
Because before you know it, everyone and their mother in Harlem will be walking around spouting the absolute truth that Native is owned by racists who fired all the black people who work there. Don’t tell me we havent all seen it happen a million times. And i LIKE native. I LIKE eating there, and i dont want to see it’s business suffer from a rumor. There arent a lot of good little unique restaurants like Native in my immediate area, and i’d like to see it stay open. That is why im defensive.
This is nonsense.
I like Native too. I don’t want to see it close either, but I think you are jumping the gun. This isn’t the NY Times or anything. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for a blog to ask a question about a rumor of its readers.
I personally have not seen this a MILLION times. Do you have any examples? It is clear though from your post that you have a very low level of respect for Harlemites if you think they are so unintelligent to just jump on any boycott bandwagon with absolutely no real information.
Wait…who said anything about boycotts??? Wow, this is how the media spins stories. LOL
I agree with anonymous here. I think a more appropriate post would have been something like this: “a reader tells of a rumor about a large number of firings at Native. Does anyone have any information about this?” Any type of media — blog included — lose credibility when they engage in heresay and rumor rather than facts, especially when it concerns issues as hot-button as discrimination.
Marco, what are you talking about? Isn’t that exactly what Uptown did? It stated the rumor in quotations, and then asked if anyone had any more information. It’s not as if anything was stated as fact.
I am starting to lose faith in this blog. Whenver uptown gets involved posting crap to inflame tensions between blacks and whites in the community it always goes badly. This isn’t the first time either. I thought this blog was supposed to promote Harlem as a great place to live, shop and dine? Posts like these certainly do not help its cause.
No, C, my suggested post did not include the quote. (I think it was irresponsible to post the quote.) That’s the difference. Read the entire Uptown post again and then read my suggested post. There’s a huge difference.
The owner IS black. Agree someone is trying to cause grief, probably the people tht were fired.
Okay so i am sitting in my appartment drinking my coffee, watching CNN surfing the web, its 7:30 on Wednesday I dont have to work until later tonight and i see the name of my restaurant with the caption NATIVE Firings. Okay so i work at Native, have worked there for some time and yes Brian Washington Palmer is Black, he is also the owner of the popular night club No Parking. He is one of the hardest working people i know, there have been a lot of staff changes since i have been there, but it sure has nothing to do with race. In fact it has nothing to do with firing anyone. A lot of people have left on their own because their careers have taken them somewhere else. They did have to lay off two staff members because of the season changes but they were temperary positions to begin with. I love working at Native, and i recomend it to anyone who is looking for a cosy place, with great food and a great atmosphere, with reasonable pricing. We are also planning a lot of changes for the fall season that i hope eveyone will enjoy, including live music, finally, and we are in talks about openeing for lunch during the week.
I didn’t know Native was still around. Their website has been down for like a year. I guess they aren’t gone, they’re just hiding from potential customers?