In 2015 I and my business partners were granted with the largest concessions inside the “most prestigious” country club in our country.

Among all the units we were given, one was problematic from the beginning: a small bar/buffet inside the gentlemen's locker room. Specially designed only for men, no females allowed ever. This is where the golf crowd would hang after playing.

They called themselves “the real board of directors” of the club, claiming that it was really them in charge and none other. This was usually said by them as a joke, but eventually there was the idiot who actually believed it and acted upon it.

I never had any issue with the group itself: their many complaints about food and service were promptly managed. It was a pain in the neck, but it was our job to serve them and keep them happy while making a profit.

One day, this quiet guy from the group tells me that he needs a word with me, in private, “It’s very simple, it won’t take long” he assures.

We both step out of the room and I am all ears for what he has to say. He starts “Well, thank you Juan for giving me a few minutes of your precious time. But some of us were wondering if you could do something about Armando (one of the servers that worked regularly in this unit): he shouldn’t be there, you must understand”. And he gives me a smirky face that I’ll never forget, trying to seek for my approval on what he just said. “I don’t know what you mean,” I respond. “Has Armando been rude to you and your friends? Is he not doing his job properly?”. “Oh no, it’s not that! Not that at all! He works good, he is just not fit to be in there” smirky stupid face again, and I’m still not following what he means. He gets closer to me and whispers “He is a bit dark, you know? He really shouldn’t be there”.

Those words burn as I listen. I start boiling in anger at this asshole but I keep my cool, for now.

I ask this piece of crap person, “Are you telling me Armando can’t work here because he is black? Is that what you mean?”. With his lowest voice he responds “I hope you understand, and keep this between us”. “I’ll manage this issue the only fair way I can think of” I respond and he shows a face of relief, having no idea of what I am about to do.

I call Armando and I explain what just happened. I let him know that he is safe in his workplace and that I’ll stand up for him to the last consequences, he agrees with my plan.

We both walk into this place where the golf crowd is gathered and ask for the racist guy out; seeing me with the waiter makes him doubt of what is happening but he agrees to speak to us nonetheless.

“Please apologize to Armando now, and please make sure nothing like this ever happens again” his face is a poem; he can’t believe I sided with my employee rather than him and his racist thoughts. “I am a member of this club” he says “I deserve respect, and surely I don’t have to apologize to him or to anyone. I’ll take this to the board next Monday, and both of you will be in trouble. You are just servants here; I pay for your time and you better learn to behave” and he storms back to his friends.

Every Monday the club’s board would meet, and they always requested a waiter to be present to serve drinks and some snacks during the meeting. The waiter always waited outside of the room in case he was called. That particular Monday it was Armando on service duty.

When the meeting is over I get called by one of the directors; he wants to talk to me in private about a very delicate matter. We meet and he tells me he has received some serious harassment accusations from a member of the club, that I must answer with my side of the story promptly.

I tell him the whole story, and then I call Armando to confirm what has really happened with this person. He believes our side, apologizes for the inconvenience and says he will resolve the issue.

Three days later the racist member of the club comes to our main restaurant, asks for me and Armando and apologizes for the insult. For some member of the board that wasn’t enough of course, it was decided to suspend him for a few months from entering the club. My decision would have been harsher.

Happily Armando had great years of service with us; he was an honest, hard-working, committed member of our big restaurant family. I wish that wherever he is now he never has to deal with assholes like the one that day in the club.