Real Life in a New Orleans restaurant
Willie C. Harrison was born in Ascension Parish Louisiana on April 1, 1900 and lived his life in New Orleans. Throughout his life he experienced the Jim Crow south. Lynching was very real to him. Segregation was a part of life.
His Granddaughter, Katric Jones, lived next door to him and wanted to celebrate the purchase of her new car (1989 Hyundai Big Baller). Katric chose a restaurant/cocktail lounge called Top of the Mart for that occasion.
Top of the Mart was on Canal Street on top of a 33-story business building called International Trade Mart. The lounge was circular and completed a 90-minute rotation to provide patrons a full view of the city and the Mississippi River.
He knew from his own personal history that that restaurant did not accept Black people.
The hesitation was real. The Civil Rights history behind Canal Street takes us back to the 1960’s. As a major location for commerce, Canal Street hosted many protests and sit-ins. Race relations were tense to say the least and many Black people were imprisoned and beaten.
This was 1990, Katric assured him their visit would be more welcoming. This was his grandbaby. How could he deny her? For her, he looked beyond his anxiety about this place. He did so with trepidation. Old memories die hard.
As they were seated at a table you could see the nervousness in his eyes – the anxiety in his face. In his day, Black people were hurt and killed for less than this.
The waitress came to their table and asked, “How can I serve you?”
Willie responded, “You…will serve…me?”
At that point he cried.
The waitress thought she did something wrong.
Katric explained the reason for the tears. The waitress (who was White) asked if she could give him a hug and said she was sorry he had to experience such trauma in his life.
They all shed tears.