Re: Why do blacks not tip?

I must admit, I have given small tips in some situations. Consider
this, does it make sense to tip someone who earns more than you do? Do
professionals, regardless of income, ever receive tips? I don't think
so. Yet, low status occupations, like a waiter, are always tipped,
without regard to their actual level of income.

I'm no sociologist, but I would guess that people who are a members of
a group with lower perceived social status would tend to interact
differently with someone who is a member of a racial or ethnic group
which has higher perceived status. Could this be why your Black
customers don't tip you? It's not that they can't afford to give you a
tip, its just that they want to keep their interaction with you at
arms length.

BTW, in some cultures, tipping is considered an insult. It's taken as
an assertion of the superiority of served over the server. I can
understand that point of view. Would you tip a member of your family
for bringing you food? In all cases, wouldn't sincere appreciation be
more highly valued than a couple of dollars?

Now, I must admit I've never worked at a job where tips were expected.
I can image though, that a tip might make me feel that the tipper is
implying that they are at the same level as my employer. You know,
"the wage giver". Or, that they are more successful financially than
me, and this is their little act of charity. Either way, it wouldn't
make me feel particularly good, regardless of the amount of the tip.

Attitude is everything, I guess..