Deli Owner Faces Backlash And Closure After Displaying Controversial Sign In Store Window
Note: This article is a reissue of a story that first appeared in the news in April 2015.
Jim Boggess, a deli owner in Flemington, sought to honor his heritage by celebrating it within his local community. He believed he had found the perfect way to do this by posting a handwritten sign in the window of his Main Street deli that read, “CELEBRATE YOUR WHITE HERITAGE IN MARCH, WHITE HISTORY MONTH.”
The sign did not receive the reaction Boggess had anticipated. Bhakti Curtis, a customer of mixed race, was particularly offended by the sign. Curtis felt that the sign was a direct affront to Black History Month, noting that the “T” in “WHITE” was crossed in a manner reminiscent of KKK symbolism. He filed a complaint with the Flemington Police Department.
Although the police did not find the sign to be racist or offensive, Boggess faced significant fallout. After enduring public scrutiny for several days, he eventually removed the sign, but the damage had already been done. Customer traffic to the deli diminished, and Boggess’s financial difficulties worsened.
A month after the sign’s initial display, Boggess was forced to shut down the deli. Despite making amends with Curtis and even taking a photograph with him, the business could not recover.
In a bid for public assistance, Boggess launched a GoFundMe campaign titled, “Jimbos White History Sign Gone Bad.”
The campaign page stated:
“If you haven’t heard about this incident, you can find more details by searching ‘Flemington white history’ online or checking out ‘White History Month’ on YouTube. The situation escalated quickly over four days, after which I had to take down the sign for various reasons. It was meant to be a personal celebration of white heritage, but it was interpreted in a way I hadn’t intended.
I don’t believe I should be penalized for wanting to celebrate my heritage as others do. If you’ve read this, please leave a comment indicating your state so I can see where support is coming from.
Thank you for your support. I will remain resilient and hope to find new employment.
Thank you,
Jimbo Boggess”
Boggess reported receiving numerous letters of support from across the nation. Despite this, the loss of customers led to the collapse of his business and his American dream.
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Sources: NJ.com