I live in Bulawayo Zimbabwe where we have a pub,
Time Bar, that hides its racism behind a membership policy. Twice I've been
refused entry on this basis and when I pressed the bouncers on why they said
the Manager, name given as Peter, is the one who decides who comes in.
However,
on both occasions as we were barred from entering, numerous white people
strolled in, some of whom I know. When I met one of them, an engineer who's
working on a project for me, I asked him about Time's membership. He had no idea
there was such a policy and neither did any of his friends.
On another occasion
I went there with white friends and had no problem going in. 30 minutes later I
was physically thrown out and told "you're not the kind of people we want
here, you know what you did" with no further explanation.
Now we
Zimbabweans are a patient and forgiving folk and I haven't been back there
since but I told everyone about this and found out others have similar stories.
I don't need to fight someone to drink their beer as there are many other
places where I and my fellow blacks are welcome but this practice has to end.