A Flemington, N.J. deli was forced to close its doors after the owner placed a “White History Month” sign in the window of the establishment, the Hunterdon County Democrat reported on Thursday.
Jim Boggess, the owner of Jimbo’s Deli in March posted the sign that read, “Celebrate Your White Heritage in March, White History Month.”
“No matter what you are — Muslim, Jewish, black, white, gay, straight — you should be proud of what you are. I shouldn’t have to feel bad about being white,” Boggess told the Hunderdon County Democrat in March.
However, many people had a problem with Boggess’ sign, including his neighbor, Bhakti Curtis, who accused Boggess of “mocking Black History Month,” according to the Hunterdon County Democrat.
Boggess took down the sign after a few days and apologized to Curtis.
However, it seems the apology was not enough to keep Boggess in business. Boggess closed his deli and has started a GoFundMe page for his deli in hopes of raising money to reopen.
“It was only supposed to be a white thing but people read more into it than that,” Boggess wrote on his GoFundMe page about his sign. “I did get tons of supporting letters from all across the USA. Which was very comforting during such a stressful time.”
“Then the bottom dropped out and customers were no longer coming into my deli, and now I am forced to close down my Deli and lose my American dream. I have become heavily in debt and getting shut off notices from everywhere for both business and home,” Burgess continued in his note. “I don’t think I deserve this just because I wanted to be proud of being white and be able to celebrate my heritage like everyone else does.”
As of early Friday morning, Boggess had raised $215.
Somebody wants a crowd-funded, racist-pity account.
He doesn’t have to feel bad about being white but maybe he should feel bad about being stupid?
Another questionable business decision. While I feel the neighbors had a right to their opinions about his sign, they shouldn’t go any farther than just voicing that opinion. Let the customers make their choice(s) about how to respond.
It appears a pattern is starting to take shape. On the one hand, I am getting a wry laugh at these grifting endeavors – the irony is high with these people. Choosing to victimize your business this way–the bakeries, flower shops, pizzerias, delis, etc.–but don’t cry afterward that you were “forced” to close down, etc., as you are the one who made the business decision, live with the consequences. Anyone who sends these fools money is a fool themselves; they are being taken for a ride. A serious business owner wouldn’t take such risks.
Hey, I’m white (though have Navajo in me and it shows in my bone structure) and I’m proud of my heritage – but I am well aware of our social history and the role the majorities have played in that history. I am also well aware that being white has very likely given me numerous breaks in the world – breaks of which I wasn’t aware of at the time. I personally don’t need a White Pride event to feel good about myself. I’m suspecting that as our nation becomes more and more of a mixed-race, non-white majority, we’re going to see more of this happening. I hope our nation can learn to move forward, together.
This crap is popping up all over now and I hope they are all forced to go out of business, one way or another. This happened the other day in Michigan where I live. I posted a local link two days ago…Think Progress got the story yesterday.
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/04/16/3647710/mechanic-will-legally-refuse-service-gay-people-michigan-updates-laws/
This guy has a facebook page. I don’t. Leave this bonehead a nice message telling him what you really think of his particular brand of bigotry. I would if I could.
Exactly.
He was already going under financially, saw his opportunity and ran with it.