When a patron noticed that some of the décor at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Connecticut resembled “nooses” hanging from the ceiling, the establishment came under fire. The chain of restaurants has apologized for the event.
Misinterpreted Décor
Cracker Barrel explained that the objects in question were wrapped ropes connected to décor elements rather than real nooses. However, the restaurant said that its staff’s failure to notice the possible resemblance to nooses when putting up the decorations was “completely unacceptable.”
Alfonso Robinson tweeted, “Someone at Cracker Barrel in East Windsor needs to explain why there are nooses on the ceiling…,” along with images of the décor.
The same evening, Cracker Barrel replied to a tweet, stating that the “noose” adornment was, in fact, a wrapped cord from an old soldering iron that was a part of the exhibit at the restaurant in East Windsor. The eatery guaranteed that the object had been taken out.
Constructive Discussion with Activists
According to Keren Prescott, the founder of PowerUp-Manchester, activists visited the restaurant after the event and had a “constructive” and “positive” talk with Mark Smith, the manager.
Smith said that no one had ever complained about the noose-like cable that had been on display at the restaurant for 22 years. He asked Prescott to check the premises and gain a better understanding of the circumstances.
“At one point, the manager said, ‘You might notice things that I don’t,’ which I really appreciated because as a white man, he might not view certain things the same way a black person would,” Prescott recalled in an interview with the Journal Inquirer, expressing his appreciation for Smith’s candor.
Requests for Evaluation
A number of Twitter users have pushed Cracker Barrel to either publish a schedule for the review process or do an inspection of all the decorations in each of its locations.
In response, Cracker Barrel stressed in a statement to Fox News their dedication to fostering an inclusive and friendly atmosphere. They admitted that although their vintage decor may have certain elements from bygone eras, their culture is firmly anchored in the present. The business swiftly took the item down and thanked the visitor for bringing it to their attention.
Cracker Barrel views this incident as an error that needs to be fixed because they want to uphold a culture of hospitality that values and welcomes all guests.
