This episode is different as we talk about discrimination and dress code with Mel and Mr. Black. For the past years, there have been many incidents of discrimination at bars around Austin, and it happens all over the country. Many people of color, including African Americans, are denied entry because of the way they are dressed. In recent news, DeAndre Upshaw was not allowed to go inside Kung Fu Dallas with his friends because he was wearing high-top sneakers. The problem with this story is that many patrons inside the arcade bar were wearing similar footwear. This caused an uproar and strong reactions all over social media. Other similar incidents have been reported in Austin and Houston as well.

The purpose of this episode is to address this issue, have an honest debate, and look for solutions but most of all we would like to keep conversation going past this episode. As much as you may enjoy spending time in these establishments, be aware that these practices do occur and something needs to change.

Put this conversation in context, feel free to read up on some of these incidents:

• Report about DeAndre Upshaw‘s story according to Culture Map Dallas.
• Similar incident happened in Austin in 2013. Here is the story from local KTBC Fox 7 News.
• Another report in Minneapolis where Bar Louie displayed their dress code, which describes stereotypical African American look according to the Huffington Post.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The recent incidents that occurred in Texas.
• Our own personal experiences.
• What the law states.
• The notions of fear when it comes to race.
• How stereotypes and judgement come into play.
• What makes people want to be at the popular spot so bad they must work for it.
• Some possible solutions.

UPDATE: since we recorded this podcast, the City of Dallas has released a guide as free training against discrimination. FULL STORY HERE.