Black firefighter settles suit over racial prank

Los Angeles Times ^ | November 9, 2006 | Sandy Banks

[EveningStar]

A black firefighter who was served dog food in his spaghetti by fellow firefighters will be paid more than $2.7 million to settle a lawsuit alleging racial harassment within the Los Angeles Fire Department...

[EveningStar]

Read the whole thing!

[southernerwithanattitude]

2.7 million to eat some dog food?


Count me in!

[EveningStar]

SoCal ping
Misc ping
others ;)

[Rummyfan]

Yeah me too!

[JennysCool]

A Fire Department investigation suggested the incident was intended to "humble" Pierce — who stands 6 feet 5 — after his team won a fire station volleyball game. A lawyer for one of the defendants initially called the incident "a good-natured prank … [not] in any way motivated by race."

But a UC Santa Cruz professor who was hired by Pierce's attorney to review department records of discrimination complaints said the prank was clearly intended to "humiliate and dehumanize" Pierce.

"The association of a black man and dog food resonates with the deep historical roots of slavery and the corresponding dehumanization," said sociologist David Wellman, co-author of "Whitewashing Race: Colorblind Policies in a Color Conscious America."

Get set for more of this utter crap now that the Libs are back in town.

[CottShop]

Well, I'm disabled & just PRAYING that someone will pull that kind of prank on me so I can sue for disability discrimination- cripes- This country is so bleepin sue crazy- I thought there was gonna be caps on lawsuits? Whatever happened to that meausre? Dems shoot it down?

Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...

[Mr. Brightside]

A Fire Department investigation suggested the incident was intended to "humble" Pierce — who stands 6 feet 5 — after his team won a fire station volleyball game. A lawyer for one of the defendants initially called the incident "a good-natured prank … [not] in any way motivated by race."

But a UC Santa Cruz professor who was hired by Pierce's attorney to review department records of discrimination complaints said the prank was clearly intended to "humiliate and dehumanize" Pierce.

"The association of a black man and dog food resonates with the deep historical roots of slavery and the corresponding dehumanization," said sociologist David Wellman, co-author of "Whitewashing Race: Colorblind Policies in a Color Conscious America."

I would eat a bite of dog food and suffer this humiliation for half of the settlement amount.

[digger48]

I can't say that I ever equated dog food with slavery.

Did they have Alpo in 1850?

[blues_guitarist]

Effin' California!

[aomagrat]

But how did it taste?

[Ruth C]

I sure don't remember dog food being associated with slavery, I do remember it is associated with poor seniors!

[Argus]

"The association of a black man and dog food resonates with the deep historical roots of slavery and the corresponding dehumanization,"

When I was a kid my next door neighbor ate dog biscuits for laughs. He had red hair and freckles but I guess he was really dehumanized.

[petkus]

Isn't the city of Las Angelos under the control of Mayor Villagarosa?

[isom35]

I've never eaten dog food, but it always smells good to me.

[cyborg]

I was a volunteer firefighter and the racial animosity between the black and white male firefighters was enough to wonder why anyone not white bothers. I wouldn't be surprised if this was racially motivated but I'm not sure if millions is right. Departments are funded by taxpayers so if it was racially motivated, well it'll just be hurting the taxpayers.

[QQQQ]

Some of the(or most) airlines serve it for much less:-)

[al baby]

Id eat dog pelosi for 2.7 million dollars

[CrazyIvan]

"The association of a black man and dog food resonates with the deep historical roots of slavery and the corresponding dehumanization,"

OK, then what kind of discrimination is associated with cat food?

[Solamente]

I had a "Jewish" bass player who fit my orchestral needs at the time. He got into a depressed funk from smoking too much reefer no doubt. He was sleeping 20 hours a day, and not looking after himself. I tried to help him weather the storm by bringing him food and a few bucks here and there, but finally I made him a tuna fish sandwich from cat food.

When I told him so, he snapped out of it, but of course, he no longer wanted to play bass for me!