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A view of Maurice's in 2007, before the flag came down. Photo: AP.
Maurice's Gourmet Barbeque's Maurice Bessinger, who hoisted the stars and bars over his nine Columbia-area restaurants on the day, almost a decade ago, when South Carolina permanently lowered the Confederate flag from its capitol dome, told a local television station this week that he could no longer afford to keep his controversial flags flying -- and it's not for the reasons you'd think.
Bessinger's empire, built on a secret recipe for yellow sauce and his reputation as an old-style Southern charmer, was once the nation's biggest commercial barbecue operation. But his open embrace of a symbol indelibly associated with slavery disgusted many of his customers and dismayed most of his business associates. Walmart pulled his Southern Gold sauce off its shelves, and, according to Bessinger's autobiography, Defending My Heritage, the company lost 98 percent of its wholesale business.
Still, Bessinger claims he isn't trying to woo back barbecue fans who were repelled by his rebel politics. He's instead blaming the recession for the rising cost of dry cleaning.
"Bessigner says the flags cost too much money to maintain," a report on WLTX's website explained.
The Confederate flag will still wave over two Maurice's locations, but the South Carolina state flag will fly at the other restaurants in the chain. According to the WLTX report, the Confederate flags will return if "the economy picks up."
Bessinger did not return calls seeking comment.
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2-23-2010 @3:28PM MH said... Is there somewhere I can go buy pit-cooked pork to ensure I NEVER see any Confederate flag fly again?
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2-23-2010 @8:55PM Gerald Lewis said... Amen to that!
2-24-2010 @5:57AM Evelyn said... Try the Moon, moron!
2-23-2010 @9:50PM RON said... TRY LEROY'S BBQ and CAR WASH..........
2-23-2010 @10:17PM randy said... Its a part of history and the civil war wasnt fouight only because of slavery.How ironic that you can have black history month. But a confederate flag is so bad.
2-24-2010 @12:20AM Lee said... Yes, you will never see that flag in China or Saudi Arabia. Please pack your things and leave as soon as possible.
2-24-2010 @2:11AM Di said... Yes, you can go to blazes, you yankee devil.....
2-24-2010 @2:09AM Di said... Yes, you can go to blazes, you yankee devil.....
2-24-2010 @3:04AM Double Standards said... I am so tired of being told not to use this word or that word because it insults the black folk. But how many times do you hear black women, yes, you rarely hear a man, calling a toddler or a young child "you stupid N***R" . Don't sit there and say oh its with an "a" on the end when you hear the R clear as crystal. Ya'll black women need to be more kinder to your children, you can repremand your kid without using derogatory slurs not only against your own race but your own flesh and blood.
And another thing... if you don't know what a " cracker " is don't use the word. Yes, I'm a white woman, yes I have kids and grandkids. BUT it is as offensive to me to be called a "cracker" who is two or three times removed from slavery. If you read your Bible you will see that many creeds and colors were once slaves.
By the way a "Cracker" is the term they used for the guy with the whip out in the fields. Slaves would whisper that the " cracker" was coming round. Now, unless you are into BDSM don't use the term "cracker"
2-24-2010 @3:34AM Rich said... Try Corky's BBQ out of Memphis... I know they have places in Nashville too. You can even order it on line, though I confess I don't find mail order ribs all that appealing. I do buy their dry rub and sauces off the web though and they are excellent. Funny thing is, when the food is good you don't need to wave a flag to get people to come to your place. But it is a pure joy to see Maurice's flag waving driving away business. It seems so right and just!
2-24-2010 @7:18AM Emily said... There may be no Southern flag on a pole but it will still be southern bar-b-que. Enjoy.
2-23-2010 @7:20PM Ming said... The only problem with the 'Heritage vs Hate' argument is that the so called 'rebel flag' is in fact the dixie battle flag. If people who flew the 'rebel flag' even cared to study their own heritage they'd understand it's not the confederate flag which people incorrectly refer to as the 'Stars and Bars'. The original confederate flag, which is the true 'Stars and Bars' bares a closer semblance to the United states flag but with less stripes and the stars in a circle.
I grew up in the South, and I love the South. I have little appreciation for thinly veiled racism served with a side of ignorance. Does this article even qualify for a food blog?
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2-23-2010 @9:14PM tyrebitre said... "Ming said..
I grew up in the South, and I love the South. I have little appreciation for thinly veiled racism served with a side of ignorance."
I, too, am Southern through and through. When I see a pick-up with the St Andrew's Cross in the back window and the "Heritage Not Hate" bumper sticker, the first thing that crosses my mind is : " Now there is a well educated individual who, while having pride in his family's history, is keenly aware of the racial diversity of our nation and is finely tuned to the intricacies of harmonious race relations in our modern world." Actually, now that I think about it, what really crosses my mind is more along the order of : " When the hell are all these bigoted idiots finally going to die off ? "
2-24-2010 @11:59AM Paul said... Long live the Stars and Bars, Ming! As to racism, if you have a problem with Jesse Jackson as well as the Confederate Flag, at least you'd be consistent!
2-24-2010 @7:03AM youdamnho said... You dont see white history month or an organization for the advancement for white people advertised on your cable t.v. It sounds racist when you put it that way doesnt it?
2-24-2010 @12:47PM MH said... That's because the other 11 months are white history months.
2-24-2010 @12:47PM MH said... Thanks, I am perfectly aware of the difference between the stars and bars and the flag that is commonly flown. In fact I probably know more than most people about it - for example, I know that the flag flying over the restaurant in question is NOT the actual battle flag (a very similar design but the actual battle flag was square, not rectangular).
That's why I said I don't want to see ANY Confederate flag. ALL of their flags represent treason.
2-23-2010 @8:14PM MTM said... So, based on this, Wal*Mart will pull ALL items with a Mexican flag on them. There is a lot more problem with illegals in this country then the Stars and Bars flying.
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2-23-2010 @11:31PM wood said... mexicain flag is not racist, but your statement is...first who will take the jobs, that they do not...white white person will work sweat shops, pick tobacca, or fruit...better yet who will by apples for ten dollars a pound, veg for 15 dollars a pound....all your cloths or made in third world countrys where labor is cheap...electronics are made in counrys with cheap labor....fast food cheap labor...most workers are non white...cut your grass cheap labor....so lets bring back slavery but this time only people with no pigment...then we will not have illegal aliens..and since whites are the majority and will be come slaves prices will go down for us true americans and the backs of the pure races of bigots and a@@H*les who love the racist flags..
2-23-2010 @8:14PM Richard said... Sounds like this mans a real dumbass. I'm southren born and breed. My flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes
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