Helping an elderly customer crack his crab legs should have been one of those small, wholesome moments that briefly make social media feel worthwhile. Instead, a video filmed at a Virginia restaurant became an argument about race, with some viewers criticizing a Black employee for showing kindness to an elderly white man.
The situation began after TikTok user @fysteehawk shared a video they believed showed an act of kindness. They wrote over the video, “POV: You witness kindness when nobody thinks anyone is watching.”
The video was filmed at the seafood restaurant The Boiling Crab, where an elderly man could be seen sitting at a table with his order in front of him. An employee stood beside him and helped him with his meal by slowly cracking the crab legs for him. Throughout the short clip, the employee appeared patient as she assisted the customer and seemed to be talking with him at the same time.
Since the TikTok user found the interaction heartwarming, they praised the employee in the caption. “It costs $0 to be kind. She could’ve simply served his food and walked away, but instead she took the time to help this older gentleman crack his crab legs so he could enjoy his meal,” they wrote.
The kind employee later saw the video and shared more context about the interaction. “Aww this is me, FOH manager. I offer this mostly to the people who are first time crabbers or guest who ask. However he’d been a few times, and I noticed he spiced up his order with a snow crab. I wanted to make sure he got the full experience. He is the biggest sweetheart and always kind to everyone. So please remember to be kind as well,” she wrote.
While some people online responded positively to the video, others focused on the race of the people involved, noting that the employee was black while the elderly man was white. Some commenters argued that black people should not be expected to serve white customers in that way. Others pushed back against those comments, arguing that the focus should remain on the employee’s act of kindness rather than the race of either person.
Viewers Leave Negative Comment Under Video in Virginia
Unfortunately, many viewers left negative comments under the Virginia video, with some arguing that the black employee should not have helped the elderly white man. “They will never do that for us,” one person wrote in reference to white people. Another person said, “Why is it always Black people showing kindness to other races, yet still facing racism.”
More black viewers shared similar sentiments, saying they would not have done what the employee did. “I’m not doing a damn thing for them,” one person wrote. Another person said, “I ain’t yo slave…” However, others disagreed with those reactions and viewed the interaction positively. “Idc what the comments are talking bout… This is cute!” another commenter wrote.
The reactions to the video showed how the interaction was viewed differently based on the race of the people involved. While some commenters criticized the employee for helping the elderly man, others focused on the kindness she showed him. The discussion also brought attention to the importance of treating elderly people with patience and kindness.
