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Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2117
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 4 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 09:22 pm: | 
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L.A. Settles Suit With Black Firefighter
Nov 9, 11:48 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The city is paying $2.7 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a black firefighter who claims he suffered racial discrimination after co-workers served him spaghetti laced with dog food.
The City Council approved the award Wednesday, 11-1.
In his lawsuit, firefighter Tennie Pierce, 51, said after he took a bite of the meal two years ago, he noticed other firefighters laughing. He demanded to know what was in the food after a second bite, but nobody answered.
Pierce said he suffered retaliation for reporting the incident and verbal slurs, insults and derogatory remarks, including taunting by firefighters "barking like dogs (and) asking him how dog food tasted," the lawsuit said.
David Wellman, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz hired by Pierce's attorney, said the association of a black man and dog food "resonates with the deep historical roots of slavery and the corresponding dehumanization."
"It's not just silly stuff. It's racially motivated," he said.
As part of the settlement, the two captains involved were given one month off without pay, and a firefighter was ordered off work for three days without pay.
"I truly hope that my case will make a difference for African-Americans in the Los Angeles Fire Department," Pierce said in a statement.
The department takes seriously the issues raised by the lawsuit, Fire Chief William Bamattre said.
"It has been and remains our goal to create a positive workplace environment that supports all men and women that comprise the workforce of the Fire Department," he said. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5756
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 11:03 am: |
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After 911, firefighters were automatically elevated to the status sancrosanct heroes. Yes, they do exhibit a lot of fortitude, but their exclusive culture has never been friendly to "intruders", and they have a long tradition of being prejudiced both to blacks and females who seek to join their ranks. |
Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1404
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 10:07 pm: |
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After 911 I was introduced to this group of Black firefighters in NYC: http://www.vulcansocietyfdny.org/ I think there may have been a special about the organization on one of the news shows. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5759
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 12, 2006 - 01:09 pm: |
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There is still an undercurrent of racism in the ranks of the Chicago fire department, with whites currently whining that the fire fighter exam has been dumbed down so that more blacks can pass it. |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1137
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 13, 2006 - 05:13 am: |
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"There is still an undercurrent of racism in the ranks of the Chicago fire department, with whites currently whining that the fire fighter exam has been dumbed down so that more blacks can pass it."
I wouldn't be surprised if they called their relatives and friends in Michigan and told them to get out and vote for passage of the No Affirmative Action initiative so that they won't have experience blacks being given a free pass and access to the same nepotism and invisible white affirmative action whites enjoy.
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