Lamar Berko, a 30-year-old Black millionaire who owns a jewelry business in England, is speaking out against a London bar, saying he was racially profiled and denied entrance.
In an interview with The Independent, Berko alleged that the bar’s door attendant blocked him and his friends, saying there were “too many men.” Berko also said multiple white people were “waved” to come inside after his group was denied.
“In my field, I’m used to dealing with racism. In this country, it’s always indirect and never direct. For example, I’ve been stopped by the police so many times for no reason other than the car I drive,” Berko said. “But I could not believe my eyes when the staff member took my friends and [I] out of the queue — making everyone look at us as if we were troublemakers — then let in all white people and not us. I haven’t slept; I felt so violated.”
After they were told there were too many men, Berko said his group was later told that the bar was packed. The venue, according to Berko, was not even close to capacity. Berko also said he told the employee that he feels like he’s being racially profiled.
“I don’t judge by the race, just by the person,” the employee allegedly responded.
The British jeweler said he Googled his own name and showed it to the employee to prove what he does for a living, but his group was still denied, according to Berko.
“I didn’t even ask the price of the tables — but this was turned down. What reason would they really have to say no?” Berko said. “I wasn’t causing trouble or shouting, I didn’t flare up or swear.”
The frustrated businessman shared his story through social media, which led several other people to speak out against the bar. Following the backlash, Berko said the restaurant posted photos of Black women on their social media pages.
“When people started getting on to them, they went on their 24-hour Instagram story and posted photographs of Black women, back to back. I find that to be such a mockery,” he said.
Gregory Nicholls, who was among Berko’s friends, echoed the entrepreneur’s frustrations.
“This is something that happened to me throughout my 20s. It’s disappointing that, in my 30s, I’m finding myself in the same situation,” Nicholls told The Independent. “It feels like the fact that we’re Black means that we’re not considered good enough to enter certain places in this country, despite having the financial means. It’s sad.”
