Well yes, the owners didn’t want to pay black waitstaff, but also tying it to patron tips meant that they had to perform fealty and fawning and “good humor” under abuse in order to get paid. It’s both a way to underpay and a way to control and break the spirit.
I mean it literally started so owners wouldn’t have to pay POC waiters, the rest was just added bonus
But yes everyone on a wage is underpaid
Well yes, the owners didn’t want to pay black waitstaff, but also tying it to patron tips meant that they had to perform fealty and fawning and “good humor” under abuse in order to get paid. It’s both a way to underpay and a way to control and break the spirit.