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Monday 27 December 2010

Re-exposed: Hungarian Bar Refused to Serve Blacks

COVER STORY
By Hakeem Babalola

A coffee bar named Megálló Prezzó is still not serving non-whites even after a controversial report was published about the racial policy of the management.

This development has cast doubt on whether the Hungarian government actually holds the power to compel pub and bar owners to shun discrimination as they attend to the public.

Megálló Prezzó, situated at Rákoczi ut 52 in down town Budapest, is known for its discriminatory policy towards blacks.

Although the waitresses often try as much as to avoid saying directly to their targets to get out; we don’t serve blacks here, their body language usually let out the cat out of the bag.

The investigation carried out by African News Hungary revealed that the waitresses often find excuses as soon as a black man walks in. They may look at each other’s eyes, or they may pull their hair and then look down. In some cases they may say they don’t speak English. However if the person speaks Hungarian, then other excuses quickly surface.

It may be that there is the need to wait for ten minutes – which often turns endlessly –because “waitresses are taking over from each other”. Or they may come together; mumble some inaudible words to each other – all in an inauspicious manner to tell the “unwanted” customer to get out.  

Meanwhile, such implausible excuses often take place while the white customers are being served or attended to.

According to African News Hungary finding, discrimination towards black guests is not as pronounced at another beer garden called Blaha Sörözö as alleged, which allows maximum of five black customers per night. 

”It is troubling to know that this kind of thing is happening in Hungary in this era of globalization,” said Johnston Mboni who said he was refused entry many times.

Although the Hungarian Constitution specifically outlaws any form of discrimination in private enterprises open to the public, the history of fencing off blacks – especially Africans – at nightclubs is appalling.

Discrimination at nightclubs is not a new complaint heard at Cit Hall. “But I can’t imagine a situation like this,” said András Keztheyi, former press secretary to the Mayor of Budapest.

In 1995, the then Hully Gully nightclub prevented Africans from entering as it often becomes a “private club” to discourage certain patrons. The club was later closed down only to reincarnate in the year 2002 in form of Rio, a summer garden rendezvous, which refused entry to blacks simply because, according to the management, the law enforcement officials were looking for three dark skin people. Government officials maintain that it’s wrong and that the government takes a political stand against racism and intolerance.

Like other places in the region, there are different associations which claimed to combat racism in Hungary. The founder of Music Against Racism, Lorincz Marcell, said that racism is a social problem and that it’s not new “but we must act against it”.

In March last year, Menedék Association for Migrants started a project against xenophobia, a welcome development among immigrants. It distributed flyers to bars, pubs, shops and clubs frequented by foreigners for awareness. There is Ebony Organisation which uses social and cultural activities to fight discrimination; while Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Movement chooses football to fight unfair treatment in this Danube region.  

On December 18, Far From Home Foundation, a new NGO founded to accelerate the integration of immigrants into the Hungarian society, celebrated the International Migrants Day with a Multicultural Evening. And the list goes on.

Meanwhile, the question many Africans who have experienced such discrimination often ask is whether the activities of these NGOs are enough to curb and, or sanction places like Megálló Bar. “I don’t think so,” declared Sillas. “I don’t even believe in this integration propaganda. It’s all talk talk without action”.

9 comments:

  1. The Hungarian government is terribly guilty for not standing up against this blatant discrimination. For a country that's a member of the EU and whose citizens are now traveling all over Europe and have a chance to see a better example, this is unacceptable. I understand that waiters and waitresses are some of the lowest educated people of the country, but when someone is in a customer service position, some basic human principles apply. And for an establishment to make racism and hate their main policy, well, that speaks volumes not just about the owners and their staff but the society and the government that lets it happen. I find that despicable.

    Hungarians call themselves "Central Europeans" and get offended if you say they are "Eastern." Well, with this kind of attitude they don't even deserve to be called "Eastern" because most of Eastern Europe does not openly discriminate against black (or any other) people like they do. As a Hungarian who immigrated to the US 7 years ago, I am completely disgusted and ashamed by "my people".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. when did you learn to speak Hungarian??

      Delete
    2. Since your mother is mongolian descent, I understand your disgrace of Hungarians...your poor mother was raped after world war two by the the brave red army...how many mongols? Who knows.....

      Delete
  2. This has been going on for at least 10 years at Megallo. There have been reports of racist discrimination against blacks for so long. How can that shit hole still be open?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmm! Censorship (9 April 2013) LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm English white and can say from what I've seen so far the reverse is true, your lot, as you referred to others as coming from sub-species, is exactly what we think of you Hungarian's, we view you as gypsies coming here to steal our jobs. Call us ignorant, or am I misinformed? That's the talk right now, so you with your degree, you may say your European like us and integrate amongst us, barely speaking English of three languages of gibberish, consider this; despite living amongst us we find it just as hard to put up with the expert way you have manipulated our jobs market and forced down wages working more hours than the Asians, come on this is not a competition to see who can ruin Briton. And next we got to put up with your cousins, the Romanians and Bulgarians who are one species above you. Can you pay back what you used in resources whilst you were here. Look! we are the issuers of money, we hold the cards. the only one that got away is general Mugabe, he gave us two fingers, he and his people own all their resources and the means to production, and sells most of it at a premium to the Chinese. this is a new phenomena we're worried about, because not even south Africa has achieved this because we have managed to own their banks, oil, land indirectly as we do with Hungary and others. You on the other hand own recession, as we and the Germans collect the high interest on those treasury bonds we issue for your subsistence. Having said; it doesn't mean you've got to run away as the host with national pride to England to steal our jobs.

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TV2's false report about Nigerians in Hungary

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Libya: The return of colonialist bondage.

Editor's Mail

Love the article on Gaddafi
We must rise above tribalism & divide & rule of the colonialist who stole & looted our treasure & planted their puppets to lord it over us..they alone can decide on whosoever is performing & the one that is corrupt..but the most corrupt nations are the western countries that plunder the resources of other nations & make them poorer & aid the rulers to steal & keep such ill gotten wealth in their country..yemen,syria etc have killed more than gadhafi but its not A̷̷̴ good investment for the west(this is laughable)because oil is not in these countries..when obasanjo annihilated the odi people in rivers state, they looked away because its in their favour & interest..one day! Samosa Iyoha

Hello from
Johannesburg
I was amazed to find a website for Africans in Hungary.
Looks like you have quite a community there. Here in SA we have some three million Zimbabweans living in exile and not much sign of going home ... but in Hungary??? Hope to meet you on one of my trips to Europe; was in Steirmark Austria near the Hungarian border earlier this month. Every good wish for 2011. Geoff in Jo'burg

I'm impressed by
ANH work but...
Interesting interview...
I think from what have been said, the Nigerian embassy here seem to be more concern about its nationals than we are for ourselves. Our complete disregard for the laws of Hungary isn't going to help Nigeria's image or going to promote what the Embassy is trying to showcase. So if the journalists could zoom-in more focus on Nigerians living, working and studying here in Hungary than scrutinizing the embassy and its every move, i think it would be of tremendous help to the embassy serving its nationals better and create more awareness about where we live . Taking the issues of illicit drugs and forged documents as typical examples.. there are so many cases of Nigerians been involved. But i am yet to read of it in e.news. So i think if only you and your journalists could write more about it and follow up on the stories i think it will make our nationals more aware of what to expect. I wouldn't say i am not impressed with your work but you need to be more of a two way street rather than a one way street . Keep up the good work... Sylvia

My comment to the interview with his excellency Mr. Adedotun Adenrele Adepoju CDA a.i--

He is an intelligent man. He spoke well on the issues! Thanks to Mr Hakeem Babalola for the interview it contains some expedient information.. B.Ayo Adams click to read editor's mail
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