Chicago Bar, Original Mother's, Accused of Racist Conduct After Barring Entry to Six Black Males because Their Pants Were "Too Baggy"

Original Mother's, a popular Chicago Gold Coast bar, has come under fire for allegedly discriminating against six black college students, visiting from Washington University in St. Louis, who were prevented from entering last weekend because their pants were "too baggy," while their white friends, attired in similar clothing were admitted. The Anti-Defamation League and the Chicago Urban League have called for formal apologies and retraining for employees at the bar.

On Thursday, the bar's human resources manager Dan Benson said security concerns, not racism, guided the decision to exclude the six students and four of their friends. Benson said gang violence was common nearby and pointed to security video that showed two black members of the group with backward ball caps. So, isn't that a form of discrimination to readily assume that once you see a black kid in baggy pants he or she is up to no good? The black students, visiting from Washington University in St. Louis, even offered to change clothes in their hotel, but the bar told them it wouldn't matter. They also said a white student traded pants with a black student and got into the bar without trouble. The students raised civil rights complaints, including one with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

The letter from the civil rights group read, "We strongly suggest that Mother's re-examine its dress code, conduct immediate retraining of all employees to avoid any future racial discrimination or appearance thereof, and issue a formal letter of apology to the six students who were denied entry."

In a statement issued late Friday afternoon, the bar's management said it is taking the issue "very seriously."

"Consequently, we are conducting a detailed investigation of the events this past Saturday evening to determine what happened and why," the statement said. "And if anything inappropriate was done or said by anyone employed or affiliated with Original Mother's, we will take appropriate disciplinary action against the people involved, do everything in our power to promptly rectify the situation and make sure nothing of a similar nature occurs in the future."

The bar's management also said it plans to contact the students. I do understand that there are many troublemakers who come to many bars across the country, but you cannot readily discriminate against a black male just because you have had problems with some rowdy patrons before. Newsflash -- not every black male is a thug.