Abstract
In this article, I explore “wait time” as a form of racial border patrolling experienced by interracial couples when they dine out. I am framing “wait time” as something imposed and intentional to exclude these couples. When interracial couples are together, they are conspicuous reminders that the borders of whiteness are permeable. Racial borders, upheld through legal and extra legal means, include the contested, patrolled and often hostile spaces near the colour line. Interracial couples dining in restaurants across the globe report in their online post-dining reviews that they experienced comparatively long wait times to be both being seated and served. They report seeing other patrons not being made to wait while they are made to wait. Much of the literature on wait time during leisure assumes a colour-blind backdrop. Exploring the historical construction of race, specifically racial borders, provides the context for understanding why interracial couples are made to wait. I begin with an overview of the historical construction and reinforcing of “exclusionary” borders of whiteness. Next, I outline digital discourse analysis and the context of the data collection: TripAdvisor. Finally, I analyze the TripAdvisor reviews written by interracial couples. Analysis of the reviews highlighting the border patrolling of these couples is pervasive: “Wait time,” poor service, and being rushed out are three ways interracial couples' experience being excluded. At stake is not just the time lost or the energy of dealing with negative emotions associated with racialized waiting, at stake is humanity.
Highlights
In this article, I explore “wait time” as a form of racial border patrolling experienced by interracial couples when they dine out
Interracial couples dining in restaurants across the globe report in their online postdining reviews that they experienced comparatively long wait times to be both being seated and served
The experiences of interracial couples must be “understood in a broader context than that established by the acceptance of traditional explanations” (Zuberi, 2011, p. 1585)
Summary
The categorization of human beings, a largely European project, was rooted in mediaeval and Renaissance imaginations, organized through the Enlightenment, and dispersed around the globe and enacted through discourse, colonization, slavery and capitalism (West, 2002). For instance, is built on a platform that uses networking through “friend” connections and “groups”—not all information posted is available to all users making access to a variety of experiences across space and time limited Unlike platforms such as Yelp and Facebook, TripAdvisor allows for a single-word search across a range of geographic locations, including “world wide.”. Using a digital discourse analysis (Recuber, 2017), I will show that interracial couples experience and perceive “wait time” in restaurant dining as racialized and negative in comparison with service they see given to other diners. TripAdvisor is a useful platform to access the written reviews that include the experiences of interracial couples dining across the globe. Despite experiencing racial border patrolling, some reviewers still rated the restaurant as “excellent.” This was not the case for the reviews that cited difficulties with being made to wait indicating that “wait time” may be more negatively felt and effective as a tool for policing racial borders
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