Black Sues Black for Racism -- And Gets $40,000!

BET.COM ^ | 8/14/03 | Alex P. Kellogg

[rmmcdaniell]

Posted August 14, 2003 -- In an increasingly common racial discrimination case, a Black man won a settlement against another Black man for being degraded because of his skin color.

A dark-skinned Black waiter at an Applebee's restaurant near Atlanta alleged that his light-skinned Black supervisor was discriminating against him. To settle the suit, the company paid him $40,000.

Dwight Burch, a former employee, accused his manager at the Jonesboro, Ga., restaurant of repeatedly referring to him as a "tar baby" and "Black monkey" during his three months at the restaurant. Burch also alleged in his suit that his manager told him to bleach his skin and that he was fired when he threatened to report the man to officials at Applebee's headquarters.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission helped settle the "color discrimination" lawsuit, saying that such cases are on the rise. The number of cases involving allegations of skin-tone discrimination jumped from 413 in fiscal year 1994 to 1,382 in 2002, according to the EEOC. About 20 of the complaints filed during that time period have led to lawsuits, while most of the rest have been settled out of court. They currently comprise roughly 3 percent of the 85,000 cases the agency gets annually.

Burch experienced what Black scholars refer to as "colorism," discrimination within the Black community that goes back to the days of slavery in the United States, when Blacks with lighter complexions often received better treatment, such as less-demanding jobs and work in the master's house, while those with darker skin had to toil in the fields.

In a statement, the EEOC noted that Applebee's has added a protection against skin-tone discrimination to its anti-discrimination policies. Applebee's also agreed to provide employees cultural sensitivity training and to report any similar complaints of discrimination at its Georgia restaurants for the next year and a half.

Frank Ybarra, a spokesman for the restaurant chain, said in a statement that "No one should have to put up with mean and humiliating comments about the color of their skin on the job…. It makes no difference that these comments are made by someone of your own race. Actually, that makes it even worse." The statement also said the company denied the allegations but settled the case to clear the way for the sale of its Atlanta-area restaurants.

[Pikamax]

well.. it was bound to happen

[Ganymede]

Ha . . .

In my 30 years of life, I've faced more "discrimination" from fellow blacks than whites. So, good for him.

[OpusatFR]

Ok. So does it count if the black girl at work tells me, "You so white you look dead?"

She did. Seriously.

Does this count. Can I sue? Is 40K enough or should I go for the whole enchilada and ask for a mil...

[Arpege92]

If a black accuses a person of racism and discrimination then it must be true! Remember, blacks are the only race who don't discriminate against other's....(sarcasm)

[Arpege92]

If a black accuses a person of racism and discrimination then it must be true! Remember, blacks are the only race who don't discriminate against other's....(sarcasm)

[rmmcdaniell]

In my 30 years of life, I've faced more "discrimination" from fellow blacks than whites. So, good for him.

Its too bad the company is paying for this and not the manager himself.

[rmmcdaniell]

In my 30 years of life, I've faced more "discrimination" from fellow blacks than whites. So, good for him.

Its too bad the company is paying for this and not the manager himself.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[F.J. Mitchell]

I give this thread about 20 minutes, Max.

[Arpege92]

Geez, I've been called some serious racist names by blacks, Can I sue too? "Cracker" and "White devil" are just two names in a large pool of racist names!

[Graybeard58]

I saw my 83 year old Mother recently for the first time in about three months and she commented that I had really gotten a dark tan. Should I sue the racist????

[rmmcdaniell]

I saw my 83 year old Mother recently for the first time in about three months and she commented that I had really gotten a dark tan. Should I sue the racist????

Only if she works for a company with deep pockets.

[LuigiBasco]

I wonder if they split the loot!

[Guillermo]

Quit your whining, before I have to call the whaaambulance on your sorry tail.

[gcruse]

Its too bad the company is paying for this and not the manager himself.

BINGO

Black sues black.  White guy has to pay.
Something is very wrong with that.

[Arpege92]

Ok....my post was only meant as a joke. Maybe I should have added "sarcasm" to my post. :-}