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Ossett cafe owner 'warns' customers she is black | Ossett cafe owner 'warns' customers she is black |
(35 minutes later) | |
A cafe owner has put up a sign telling customers she is black because she is fed up with people walking out when they see the colour of her skin. | |
The sign on the door of Yeanon Cafe in Ossett, West Yorkshire, reads: "I am a black woman... If you are allergic to black people, don't come in." | The sign on the door of Yeanon Cafe in Ossett, West Yorkshire, reads: "I am a black woman... If you are allergic to black people, don't come in." |
Martha-Renée Kolleh said she put it there because of the way she has been treated by some customers. | Martha-Renée Kolleh said she put it there because of the way she has been treated by some customers. |
"When they open the door they will expect to see a black face," she said. | "When they open the door they will expect to see a black face," she said. |
A spokesman for Wakefield Council said they were "obviously concerned" by the issue which they had not been made aware of before. | A spokesman for Wakefield Council said they were "obviously concerned" by the issue which they had not been made aware of before. |
"I would urge the business involved to get in touch with us as soon as possible," the spokesman added. | "I would urge the business involved to get in touch with us as soon as possible," the spokesman added. |
Figures for ethnicity from the 2001 Census show that of Ossett's population of 21,075, 98.9% (20,841) were recorded as white. | |
Closure threat | Closure threat |
Ms Kolleh said the reaction to the sign, which adds that the cafe serves "quality wholesome meals", had been mixed. | |
"Some people find it amusing, they were laughing and said 'oh yes it's about time you put that up', so I think they all realise what's going on here," she said. | |
"And some others just read it and walk away. I've heard one or two swear words as well regarding the notice." | |
The single mother-of-three has run the cafe for two years, serving a mixture of British, African and Caribbean food. | The single mother-of-three has run the cafe for two years, serving a mixture of British, African and Caribbean food. |
Ms Kolleh told BBC Radio Leeds a lot of people in Ossett had supported her, but if business did not improve she would have to close by autumn. | Ms Kolleh told BBC Radio Leeds a lot of people in Ossett had supported her, but if business did not improve she would have to close by autumn. |
She said: "I put [the sign] there because of the way people treat me in Ossett. | She said: "I put [the sign] there because of the way people treat me in Ossett. |
"They just open the door of my cafe and once they take a look at me they walk out." | "They just open the door of my cafe and once they take a look at me they walk out." |