Listening Post 1.

Andy’s Lounge and Package is located next to a trailer park community in the city of Davie, Fl. The bar is considered to be one of the oldest in the Broward County and is also part of the remains of Andy town, Fl a municipality located at the intersection of U.S 27 and SR 84 that was demolished in 1979 in order to allow the expansion of Alligator Alley. It is a place that integrates old American fashioned values and stereotypes. The bar is open late from 3 p.m. to 7 or 8 a.m. and according to one of the bartenders (Chad) it is hangout mostly for the Caucasian community and some blacks or Latinos that think they are white.
My first visit to Andy’s was a bit hostile. People looked at me as I was from another planet. Apparently everybody knew each other and I was a trespasser in their circle. I approach the bar tender and asked for a beer. Then I tried to initiate a conversation by asking his name. His answer was cold “My name is Chad,” he said. Then he turned his back and left. I sat in the bar for more than two hours, but even after my intents to smile and say hi nobody paid any attention to me and I was relegated to be by myself and with no company.
My frustration was increasing by the minute; it was noticeable that white Caucasians with lower income were close minded; however, I wasn’t ready to accept the fact that these individuals were avoiding me only because I was different. Then I decided to approach a group of two women and three men, very white complexion with very southern accents. I tried to say hi but they weren’t as friendly as I thought. “Who are you? We don’t know you?” They said. “Hi, how are you guys,” I said. Nobody answer. Then Chad the bartender said that it was better for me to leave. “I need you to go,” he whispered. I understood his words and his tone as a warning. It was almost 5:30 a.m. and I decided to go avoiding problems in order leave the doors open for my next visit.
For now, I prefer to stay away from pointing fingers on race or ethnicity issues. What I felt was a very close minded community that prefer to be within their own.