Furniture store owner defends calling black customers a racist slur: 'I did what I felt like was right'
A furniture store owner in Southhaven, Miss. admitted to WREG reporters that he did yell racist slurs at black customers, but he says the offensive language was justified.
The station was provided footage of Hometown Furniture's owner, Terry Pace, cursing and yelling the slur at black customers on Saturday.
One witness said that he could not believe the man's actions.
"You hear people on TV saying these things, but to hear it in person just so aggressively was really off-putting," James Mayes said.
In an interview with WREG, Pace admits that he used the N-word, but says that he was provoked. He also claims he was attacked, resulting in a black eye. Police confirmed to the station that they were called to the store, but no report was filed.
"I don't care what they say. I did what I felt like was right. You weren't there. You didn't hear it. You didn't hear all the stuff I heard," Pace said on camera. "I called [them] the N-word when it was over with. When it was all over with, and they kept mouthing off to me. Yes, ma'am, I used the N-word."
Despite his store only being in the shopping plaza for two months, the property manager says that they have received several complaints regarding Pace.
"We need to come out here and support the businesses. We need to come out here and support Southaven and uplift it. We don't plan on having him stay," property manager Radhya Spencer said.
One fellow business owner in the plaza, Marvin Clark, said, "[Pace said], 'No. I don't finance, because the only people that want to get furniture financed is the colored. And they don't pay their bills.' Yes. This is what he told me, and I let that go."
Pace's Hometown Furniture's lease is up next month. Spencer says they do not plan to renew.
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