My Aunt Never Ate at McDonald’s: Segregation, Memory, and the Black Gen X Story

In The Know with Tony Reeves

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McDonald’s was a cultural staple for me—growing up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, hanging out after games, and later during college nights in Tampa. But I discovered something that changed my perspective forever: my great aunt lived her entire life without ever stepping foot into a McDonald’s.
The reason? She remembered when McDonald’s was segregated and refused to serve Black customers. For her, that rejection was unforgettable, and she made a quiet, lifelong stand of resistance: “If my money wasn’t good then, it’s not good now.”
In this episode, I share how her story impacted me as a member of Black Gen X—the first generation to live fully in an integrated world, yet still directly connected to those who endured segregation. This is more than a family story; it’s a reminder of the sacrifices and scars that shaped our path forward, and why we must keep telling these stories for future generations.
👉 Tune in as I reflect on what it means to be a gatekeeper of history, memory, and cultural lessons.
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