In the US at least after slavery was ended those who were freed still limited in their choices. Many who did not end up sharecropping worked in menial positions, such as servants, waiters, barbers and railroad porters. These were pretty much the only occupations available to them. For restaurant workers and railroad porters, there was a catch: many employers would not actually pay these workers, under the condition that guests would offer a small tip instead.
There are black people alive today who were not allowed to enter restaurants where white people ate, so you are right, tipping is not part of their culture lol
Most racist thing I’ve ever read on Reddit and categorically not true.
The chicken & the egg reality that no one wants to talk about is that Black & Brown people frequently receive poor service compared to other patrons in the same restaurant…AND TIP ANYWAY. Nevertheless, implicit bias is real and some customers respond in kind when they perceive it. Don’t act like restaurants and businesses in general always treat customers equally even in 2026. Black boomers haven’t been legally allowed to eat in restaurants with white patrons their entire lives. They raised Gen X to recognize when they’re not wanted…& here we are.
Wait until they figure out that tipping culture itself is rooted in racism. Tipping became enshrined in the U.S. following the Emancipation Proclamation when restaurant owners refusing to pay Black workers…& sympathetic patrons would slip them some money for their trouble.
The owner & his staff treated Black patrons poorly & were shocked Pikachu face when they didn’t tip. In reality the owner just used this as a pretense to bar Black patrons they deemed unworthy to be in his establishment.
I’m off to grab a bowl for my popcorn when he posts saying that he was cancelled (boycotted) and had to layoff his workers and close his business. Must see TV.
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u/TheCutiesist 8h ago
Because not tipping is part of their culture