Alabama 1964 - Dinner at Dale's

In the summer of 1964, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law. Among other things, it prohibited racial discrimination in restaurants open to the public. A few days later, I went with a date to Dale's Steak House in Florence for dinner. I was fully prepared for a reception that would be cool at best. I was wrong yet again!

The service was wonderful and the steak was awesome. I thought to myself, "If Dale had served me a week earlier, he might have needed to explain why to a racist neighbor. But today, he could answer, 'It's the law', as he turns to pour me another cup of coffee."

Conclusion: I was not the only one freed by that provision of the Act. Dale was also freed, along with white restaurant owners all over the south.

Recently, a politician suggested that given the racial progress since then, the Public Accommodations Provision could now be repealed since he believes it "violates private property rights."

I can just hear white restaurant owners everywhere shouting, "Shhhhhh!"

What do you think?

Wendell Wilkie Gunn