Not during Hispanic Heritage month… Canna Coffee, a popular café in Northwest D.C., has been ordered to shut down following a viral video that captured the owner berating a delivery driver with racist remarks.
The incident, which occurred earlier this week, has sparked widespread outrage and led to the café being removed from major delivery platforms like UberEats and DoorDash.
D.C Shuts Down Canna Coffee After Racist Owner Berated Delivery Driver
The video shows the owner of Canna Coffee yelling at Gregorio Amundarain, a Latino delivery driver, for speaking Spanish.
The owner can be heard repeatedly yelling Amundarain to “learn English” in a heated exchange that quickly spread across social media.
Greetings @WashProbs can you please help me?
This month, we celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth, a time to honor our roots and contributions as immigrants. But hate and intolerance persist. Yesterday, in #WashingtonDC, Greg Harris, owner of CANNA Coffee Cookie Ice Cream Cafe Burger… pic.twitter.com/C6KkeU6nBp
— Noelia Belén Izarza 🇻🇪🇺🇸 (@myteks) September 17, 2024
This incident is not isolated; the owner has been accused of using derogatory language in a previous altercation back in March.
City officials had already been investigating Canna Coffee for various infractions before the video surfaced. The D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) and D.C. Health issued multiple notices of infraction and ultimately ordered the café to cease operations.
In a joint statement, the departments emphasized their commitment to protecting the health and safety of all residents, stating, “We will continue to work with law enforcement and community partners to ensure such behavior is not tolerated in our city”.
Why is it Racist to Tell Someone to Learn the Language of the Country They’re in?
The issue isn’t necessarily about encouraging someone to learn the local language, but rather how and why it’s done. Here are a few reasons why it can be considered racist or discriminatory:
Context and Intent: If the suggestion is made in a demeaning or hostile manner, it can be seen as an attempt to belittle or marginalize the person based on their ethnicity or language skills. In the case of Canna Coffee, the owner’s aggressive tone and derogatory language were key factors.
Cultural Sensitivity: Many countries, including the U.S., are multicultural and multilingual. Insisting that someone “learn English” can ignore and disrespect the diversity and contributions of non-English-speaking communities.
Power Dynamics: Often, such comments come from a place of privilege and can reinforce social hierarchies. It can make the person feel unwelcome or inferior, especially if they are already in a vulnerable position, like a delivery driver.
Legal and Ethical Standards: Discrimination based on language can violate anti-discrimination laws and workplace policies. Businesses are expected to treat all customers and employees with respect, regardless of their language skills.
It’s important to approach language differences with empathy and understanding, recognizing that learning a new language is a complex and personal journey.
