*On any given day in the US, one-third of American adults eat at a fast-food restaurant. However, fast food doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone.
For some, it is just a place to eat, while for others, it is more than that. Fast-food restaurants are hyper-concentrated in some of the country’s lowest-income areas.
For some living in those communities, owning a fast-food franchise is a path to wealth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, African-Americans are more likely to consume fast food than any other group, and that is why they suffer from high rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
You have to wonder why that is the case?
Marcia Chatelain’s book Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America covers the history between the expansion of the fast-food industry and the struggle for civil rights. She recalls that, as a child, she would notice cultural sites in her home town, indicating that they had been sponsored by the local Black McDonald’s operators association.
Unrest of 1968
During the unrest, many people left the inner cities fearing the future uprisings, and they did not want to deal with Black consumers holding them accountable for their deeds. This was known as the white flight. McDonald’s saw this as a business opportunity and got African-American franchise owners for the stores that were abandoned. As the value of property dropped in these neighborhoods, McDonald’s ability to expand at a cheaper rate led to an increased number of restaurants.
Herman Petty: The First Black McDonald’s Franchise Owner
Henry Petty represents a lot of the early African-American franchise owners. Some were college-educated, and some had a military background; however, all of them had trouble dealing with the discriminatory practices and could not get bank loans. They wanted to create businesses in their communities and see opportunities that would help their people be successful.
Role of Franchise in the Black Community
Considering its history, McDonald’s had provided a lot of African Americans a chance to prosper. However, when a franchise adds to the health issues of people, and we see communities relying on a business to provide refuge, hold youth job programs, sponsor youth sports, and college scholarships, then we have a big problem.
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