"There are too many black people in the store."

[Scuba]

from my email ...

Dear Scuba -

I was fired from McDonald's because I don't "fit the profile."

What profile? Well, my boss never said. But she did say:

"There are too many black people in the store."

And she did say: "We need to get the ghetto out of the store."

And: "It's dark in here and needs more lightening."

Today, I'm filing suit against McDonald's, along with 9 of my former coworkers, for firing us on racist grounds. Will you stand with us?

Tell McDonald's: Racist harassment is not legal and simply NOT ok. Pay your workers, fired on racist grounds, back pay and damages today.

I worked hard at McDonald's, working my way up from cashier to manager in just a year and a half. I never had a disciplinary action or write-up filed against me. But then, they fired me just like that. Now I need to figure out a new way to support my two kids.

We asked McDonald's corporate to help us get our jobs back, but the company told us to take our concerns to the franchisee – the same franchisee that just fired us, and that regularly harassed us on the job.

The fact is – this problem is bigger than just our store. It's a problem with the company as a whole when workers at McDonald's have nowhere to turn when facing racism on the job.

If we had a union, we could stand together and demand respect, but on our own, our bosses get away with racist harassment.

Sign the petition: McDonald's must pay back pay and damages to the fired workers like me and make sure that this type of racist harassment never happens again at any McDonald's in the country.

Monday was Martin Luther King Day, and today we find ourselves still fighting Dr. King's fight. It's simply ridiculous that in 2015, we still have to take our bosses to court for racist harassment at the workplace. But we do.

I hope you'll stand with us.

Thanks for all that you do,

Katrina Stanfield
Former McDonald's Employee
Low Pay is Not Ok

[polly7]

1. That's horrible.

I wish I could sign that petition. Good luck to them. K&R.

[Butterbean]

2. Holy crap! n/t

[theboss]

3. This is going to be a hell of a tough case to make

The owner of the franchises in question is black apparently.

http://www.wset.com/story/25507784/dozens-of-mcdonalds-employees-in-halifax-co-shocked-by-sudden-termination

[jeff47]

5. You don't have to be a different race to be a racist. (nt)

[theboss]

7. Agreed 100 percent

I'm just saying it makes the case more difficult.

[jeff47]

12. It would only make the case more difficult if that was not true.

A pattern of firing people due to race is a pattern of firing people due to race. Doesn't matter what race the person doing the firing is.

[nxylas]

20. No it doesn't

It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race. The law doesn't make an exception if the victim is the same race as the perpetrator. I worked for 3 years for a state government agency that deals with discrimination claims, so I can say this with some degree of confidence.

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. You are correct and ...

Wilson v. McClure et al, 135 F. Supp. 2d 66 (D. Mass. 2001), started the ball rolling ... there are hundreds of cases resolved at the state level.

I worked for 3 years for a state government agency that deals with discrimination claims

Which state? (if you don't mind me asking) ... I had 10+ years in, here is Arizona (I was a busy, busy man).

[nxylas]

28. South Carolina

I was busy too, as you can probably imagine. I have to say, though, that it was pretty rare for someone to come right out and say that they were discriminating, like in this case. Most of them made at least some effort to hide it, however unconvincing.

ETA : in the interests of full disclosure, I should probably state that I was not an investigator, so that I don't get accused of trying to misrepresent myself. However, even us lowly admin staff were required to take a course in anti-discrimination law.

[1StrongBlackMan]

31. LOL ...

ETA : in the interests of full disclosure, I should probably state that I was not an investigator, so that I don't get accused of trying to misrepresent myself.

No worries ... people will accuse you of misrepresenting yourself, whenever you take a position that they disagree with ... even when your exposure is more closely related to the matter, than their reading of the newspaper article/google, that informs their opinion.

BTW I was an investigator, and more.

[Major Nikon]

34. This is true for all the basis identified by civil rights laws

Old people can discriminate against old people. Men can discriminate against men and women against women. People of the same faith can discriminate. On and on it goes.

[happyslug]

45. As explained above, it is illegal to discriminate, even if you are the same race/sex/disabled etc

For years one Federal Court of Appeals ruled that it was NOT a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when a woman discriminated against another woman. Every other circuit had ruled a woman could be found to discriminate, but one court held out otherwise. Finally the Supreme Court stepped in and said YES, a woman who discriminate against another woman was violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Thus it is possible for people who themselves are members of a Protective Class to be found to have discriminated against people of the same protective class.

[deafskeptic]

30. ^^^exactly! n/t

[glasshouses]

37. Can a black person be racist?

[greiner3]

48. Most of the info I've read over the years say there were a few percentage of US slave holders;

Who were themselves black.

Hell, I'd even go so far to say someone such as Allen West, Thomas Sowell, Alan Keyes and Clarence Thomas would own slaves if 'States' Rights' became the rule of the land.

And that's only 1/2 /s

[Anansi1171]

53. Yes, black people can treat other black people terribly!

Being as we are only human, what else should we expect?

[7962]

55. Of course they can. But not according to some people right here on DU.

Its been brought up before. Unbelievably, some who are normally well educated will actually tell you that no, blacks can NOT be racist.

[alp227]

23. What's his name, Clayton Bigsby? Nt

[MADem]

49. Uncle Ruckus is not just a figment of a clever cartoonist-writer's imagination.

He's out there in the real world too, measuring how 'bright' this one or that might be.

It would be easier if they had him on video surveillance saying those things--then they'd be rolling in clover.

[HappyMe]

4. That can't be right.

There is no racism!

I wish them all the best in the constant battle against racism.

[theboss]

6. The owner of the store who fired them was black

I have no doubt that there is an undercurrent of "these stores are too black" running through McDonalds. I've lived in plenty of cities where there "good" McDonalds and "don't go there" McDonalds.

I think this one is going to be tough to prove without a hell of a good paper trail.

This is the problem in general with economically based racial discrimination. We know it exists, but unless you have Donald Starling at the top of the pyramid is incredibly difficult to prove.

[HappyMe]

8. Just because the owner was black

doesn't necessarily mean that that person's attitude towards black people is good.

[FLPanhandle]

9. But it will probably be a factor in any trial.

Further increasing the hurdle.

[HappyMe]

11. A really good lawyer will find a way.

People sue for pretty stupid things and get money. This is far from stupid, it will be hard but I don't think impossible.

[MADem]

50. If they've got the video surveillance of him saying those things, he's toast...

Burnt toast!

[theboss]

10. Agreed

But there is more to the story than stated in the email.

When most people here, I was fired for being black, they picture the guy doing it as a sweaty white guy in Boss Hogg's suit, I think.

[appalachiablue]

46. I figured the boss was black/non-white when reading the OP. Agree something else is going on here.

Maybe the BOSS is the issue and should have left, not the unfortunate employees who were fired. LOL.

[rocktivity]

21. It's not racism when you're a member of the same race?

Last edited Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:53 PM - Edit history (1)

The only black people around the McDonald's should be HIM? Or is the real problem that there were too many black MANAGEMENT people "in the store" and UPPER management might fire HIM?


rocktivity

[Nye Bevan]

13. What a disgustingly racist person.

I hope these folks win their suit for back pay and damages. And McDonalds should remove this person as a franchisee, if possible.

[VScott]

14. Sounds like a 'he said/she said' situation

Or, possibly another employee hoax news story.

There's just not enough information and/or evidence to support either sides claim.

[FSogol]

18. Except that they signed their name. The hoax stories are usually, "my cousins' friend said...."

[2naSalit]

15. Why not file a complaint with

the Labor Relations Board in your state? I have done that in the past and won.

[druidity33]

33. That was my first thought...

maybe the board itself is not so kosher?

I'm reminded of the PBS board in the past and other non-representative BODs.

[2naSalit]

35. It certainly can be a toss up

and likely depends on which fiefdom one inhabits as to whether it is a worthy endeavor.

[druidity33]

38. Yup. I'm in MA...

and our board is responsive, QUICK, and fair. Across the border in NH, my Union friends say, "REALLY?! Damn." Not so much.

[2naSalit]

40. Yeah, NH has some problems with

recognizing civil rights... especially for women and POCs. There are areas of that in MA too but I've not been there for a really long time. I recall when New England, in general, wasn't the best place for civil rights for anyone but wealthy whites... even long after 1964. I was born in MA, wouldn't live there again unless someone paid me to and if it was enough to afford living on Cape Cod where I am from. Was born in Beantown but family is from the Cape.

[gelsdorf]

16. This same exact thing is happening at the Five Guys in Greensburg, Pa.

A 'customer' told the district 'supervisor' that it was too dark in there. This IS 2015, isn't it??

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/dining/2015/01/09/Five-Guys-manager-sues-says-targeted-for-refusing-to-schedule-more-whites-Greensburg-Pittsburgh-Westmoreland/stories/201501090190

[johnp3907]

27. My hometown.

[Rozlee]

17. What ever the color of the manager, I'm sure they don't want the bad publicity.

Back in 1991, after we'd gotten back from Desert Storm, a unit mate of mine and I were at a McDonald's in downtown San Antonio and noticed a very thin unkempt man dressed in almost rags standing by the side of a cashier trying to get their attention and holding a ten dollar bill. The cashier ignored him and when it was our turn, my unit mate said, "He was here long before we were." The girl at the cash register said that he was a homeless person that they weren't allowed to serve. This upset us and we asked to speak to the manager. The manager said they didn't serve him because the homeless people around there sometimes asked tourists for money and then used it to buy alcohol. My unit mate pointed out that he was here trying to buy food, not alcohol. That manager was very rude. She stated that they were not serving him and that was that. We got back in line and bought him a burger, but didn't get anything for ourselves. They had picked on the wrong gal. My unit buddy went on a rampage writing to the newspaper, calling McDonald's corporate headquarters and in general, getting the word out that Mickey D's was the modern Scrooge. The owner of the franchise contacted her and tried to pacify her by telling her of all the charities McDonald contributed to, including homeless shelters, women's shelters, etc. He said that he'd spoken to his managers and that such an incident would never happen again. Then, he sent her a gift coupon book for $100 for McDonald's. She gave it all to homeless people downtown. If one person rocking the boat upset them that much, hopefully, national publicity will make them come around.

[Munificence]

42. I hate to distract

from this important post but I have to shout out to a brother/sister?

You must of been a "wing nut" (San Antonio reference above so I am making that assumption). You guys done a bang up job clearing the way for us grunts in 7th corp - and it was/still is very much appreciated.

[Rozlee]

44. 114th Evac Hospital.

[marym625]

51. Good for you and your friend

I despise the kind of attitude that cashier and manager have. Just disgusting

[LittleBlue]

22. If the former employees are right about this

I hope they take the store owner to the cleaners. No place for that in our country.

[Curmudgeoness]

25. This doesn't surprise me.

I went to a local McDonald's the other day in a marginal neighborhood because it was the only place to eat. This location used to have mostly black employees because of the area it is in, but this time, every worker at the counter was white, and every worker in the back preparing food was black. It seemed evident to me that they did not want blacks to be in contact with the customers. It is interesting that I see this story after I just had been thinking about my experience.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

26. Black people in America cant be racist

[deafskeptic]

29. Golly! You have every reason to file a lawsuit! n/t

[tavernier]

32. Rec'd and signed.

Hope you win!

[Flatulo]

36. How utterly depressing.

[bcool]

39. Somewhat of the reverse of this...

I was passing by the WalMart near my house the other day when I noticed a transportation shuttle from a retirement complex pulling into the parking lot.

Funny thing was, that particular retirement facility is about 20 miles away, and there are a couple of WalMarts a lot closer to it.

It then hit me...the shuttle was full of white people and the WalMarts closer to the retirement place are frequented by a much larger black clientele.

[Enthusiast]

41. The owner of the NBA team The Atlanta Hawks said something very similar.

[dembotoz]

43. i live in a very segregated area-my area quite white near major urban quite black

i can see this happening. The very white and wealthy suburb folks would not be caught dead with their kids working in a fast foodery. the black unemployment rate in the urban area is quite high. Lilly white area is where the jobs are so you end up with retail and fast food employees much darker than the residents in the area.
.some of the businesses remain quite white, now that i think of it, wonder about how they hire

I see how some folks stare when they see mostly black employees in this area. I can see how local store management would get comments......This wealthy white area is not know for its compassion shall we say.....I can see the bind the store owner would be in. Discrimination is obviously wrong, but i could understand the pressure to do it.

Suba--thank you for pointing out the obvious to me....

[Omaha Steve]

47. Thanks to you

I'm posting the story in LBN too.

Signed and shared the link.

OS

[kelliekat44]

52. I've been boycotting McDonalds since 1998. nt

[appalachiablue]

57. Good for you!

[appalachiablue]

54. This injustice is awful & unfair. Where else are these people supposed to work, esp. in a

semi-rural area in this big box, corporate age? The country's symptoms of decline seem to increase, rapidly-income inequality, wage stagnation, job losses, extreme wealth at the top, hate, fear, conservative policies & churches, extremism & clearly re-segregation of POC & whites, the rich & poor.

[NJCher]

56. this just makes me very sad

It's one thing to be out of a job when it's just you, but when there are kids involved...

I hope this person gets some relief soon, be it getting re-hired or a new job.



Cher