Local

Atlanta couple declines contractor’s services over Confederate flag

DALLAS, Ga. — Video of a black Atlanta couple turning away a contractor who arrived in their driveway with a giant Confederate flag hanging from his truck is going viral. But, they hope it sparks deeper conversations on race and civility, despite people disagreeing.

Zeke and Allison Brown had been trying to arrange to get repairs done on their golf cart's brakes. They were able to hire a contractor, and after some back and forth, were finally able to nail down this past Saturday as the day to get the repairs done.

But, as doorbell camera video from the couple's Dallas, Georgia home shows, it didn't go quite as expected when the contractor showed up with the Confederate flag billowing behind the truck.

"I do apologize, I know you've come from a very long way, but we're going to use someone else," Allison can be heard saying in the video, as she answers the door.

"She's upset with the flag," Zeke tries to explain.

"I'm beyond upset with the flag," Allison adds.

The contractor can be heard faintly saying he would take it down, but Allison responds: "You don't need to take it down."

"You can continue to believe what you believe, sir, but I cannot pay you for your services," she says. "Thank you. Have a good day."

Zeke and Allison said despite the video going viral, they hope it sparks a deeper conversation.

"My hope is that people realize that you can confront somebody calmly and sternly ... you can just talk to someone calmly and get your point across and they still understand perfectly clearly what you mean," Allison said, adding that it's also her conscious choice to spend her money with whomever she chooses.

Zeke added: "I think that if we learn to have these conversations and good exchanges of information, where people are listening, and retaining the information, and then learning from the information, and then sharing the good information - I think that has to happen."

"If change is necessary be willing to work on it and be willing to teach what you've learned and if you have more information than others, just be willing to share that," Zeke concluded.

The video has since gone viral online - where it's been garnering the attention of the likes of comedian D.L. Hughley, musician Questlove and more.

Listen

news

weather

traffic

mobile apps

Everything you love about wsbradio.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!