White Man Fired For Marrying Black Woman

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Author Message   Tonya "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Tonya Post Number: 6937 Registered: 07-2006 Rating:  Votes: 2 (Vote!) Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 03:43 am:        Court reinstates ex-coach's racial suit Tuesday April 1, 2008 10:06PM CNN/Sports Illustrated Find this article at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/ncaa/04/01/bc.bkc.iona.racialrulin.ap NEW YORK (AP) -- A jury might conclude that a white former college basketball coach was fired because he was married to a black woman, a federal appeals court said Tuesday as it reinstated a lawsuit that had been dismissed by a judge. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan restored the lawsuit brought by former Iona College basketball assistant coach Craig Holcomb against the school, finding a jury might say he was fired in part due to his wife's race. The appeals court said Holcomb was entitled to try to prove Iona was motivated by his interracial marriage when it fired him. The college has maintained the firing had nothing to do with race and Holcomb was fired in an overhaul of a poorly performing team. "We emphasize that Holcomb has adduced little evidence to suggest that he was terminated solely because his wife was black," the appeals court wrote. "But he needs only to prove that the decision was partly so motivated to prevail on the ultimate merits of his claim." The three-judge appeals panel wrote that it was the first time it had concluded that an employer can violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by taking action against an employee because of association with a person of another race. Three other appeals courts nationwide have made the same ruling. Holcomb was hired by Iona as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team in 1995. He was named associate head coach in 1998 after the school hired Jeff Ruland, a former NBA All-Star, as its coach. The team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and won a berth each year in the NCAA tournament. Holcomb was fired along with another coach in 2004. In a $2 million lawsuit, Holcomb said two of five college officers responsible for his firing had racially inspired motives and a desire to help fundraising among Iona's mostly white alumni, the appeals court said. A federal judge in White Plains dismissed the lawsuit before trial, saying Holcomb had not established facts linking the alleged racist tendencies to the administration's evaluation of the basketball program. Holcomb married a black woman, Pamela Gauthier, in June 2000, and Ruland began a relationship in 2001 with a black woman who was her friend, the appeals court said. In his lawsuit, Holcomb outlined examples of racially charged behavior by the school. The appeals court wrote that he said when he asked one of the college officers if he had received his wedding invitation in February 2000, the man replied by asking him if he was "really going to marry that Aunt Jemima?" The appeals court noted that the officer insisted the accusation was ridiculous. The appeals court wrote that at this early stage of the litigation, "these circumstances are more than sufficient to support an inference that Holcomb was terminated on the basis of his interracial marriage." The appeals court said the fact Ruland, who was also in an interracial relationship, was not fired does not "allay the suspicion that the firings were grounded in an illegitimate motive," especially since firing Ruland would have cost the school a lot of money. A lawyer for the school did not immediately return a telephone message for comment Tuesday. Holcomb lawyer Jeffrey Udell said his client now teaches health and physical education at a high school in Westchester County. "He's very pleased with the decision and looking forward to having his day in court and being vindicated," Udell said. "He's looking forward to having the truth come out." Holcomb contended the move was part of a pattern of discrimination http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2008/04/03/88843.htm Excerpt: [Craig Holcomb] was one of two assistant coaches – the other of whom was black – fired by the school. At the time he was fired, Holcomb was an assistant to Jeff Ruland, a white former NBA All Star and Iona Alumnus whose long-time girlfriend was a black woman and friend of Holcomb's wife. In court papers, Holcomb showed evidence that an athletic director and a vice president at the school – two of the five officials responsible for firing him – used racial epithets and took other discriminatory actions against African-Americans. Of central concern in the case was decision to ban Holcomb's wife, Ruland's girlfriend and high school recruits – most of whom were black – from alumni booster parties. Holcomb contended the move was part of a pattern of discrimination by school officials, one which ultimately cost him his job. …. The court agreed with Holcomb that "a reasonable jury could determine that Holcomb was fired in part because he was married to a black woman." Holcomb accused Vice President and former Athletic Director of using the N-word http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2008/04/02/2008-04-02_jury_should_hear_coachs_claims_he_was_fi.html Excerpt: Holcomb accused Iona Vice President and former Athletic Director Richard Petriccione of repeatedly using the N-word to refer to black players and of calling a Nigerian employee a "jungle bunny." In 2000, Holcomb says, he asked Petriccione if he'd received the invitation for his wedding to Pamela Gauthier, an African-American. According to Holcomb, Petriccione responded: "You're really going to marry that Aunt Jemima? You really are a n----r lover." Petriccione also drew a racially tinged comparison between his players and those at rival Fordham, Holcomb said. "Everybody at Fordham thinks they have these good black kids and Iona has n-----s," Petriccione said, according to Holcomb's complaint. Petriccione has denied making the remarks.   Serenasailor AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Serenasailor Post Number: 1839 Registered: 01-2006 Rating:  Votes: 1 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 - 01:34 am:        Personally I am not surprised. Society seems to be very accepting almost welcoming of BM/WW couples but not WM/BF couples. Meanwhile in the end the real losers are always BLACK WOMEN!! Society is ESPECIALLY welcoming of wealthy Black men who marry White women. AGAIN!! What Kola said was right. That is not the right image. A white man choosing a Black womb over a White one. Black women can only produce Black babies. However a white woman is free to do whatever the hell she wants. Society gives her that chose. Which is why White supremacy benefitted her THE MOST. IN FACT that is the whole premise of White supremacy. To hold the White woman up and protect her womb. Do you guys remember the now coach but then basketball player for University of Kentucky. He said that he was not allowed to date Black women. In fact NO White men were. However his fellow Black teammates were allowed to date White women with immunity IN FACT they were ENCOURAGED!! That is why Kola make her poignant speeches on why Black women should stand up for herself. Black women you are not just going to be standing up to Black men but, you will be also standing up against a evil, racist, matriarical White supremacist system that seeks to destroy you, your children and your people.   Doberman23 AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Doberman23 Post Number: 1225 Registered: 01-2006 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Wednesday, April 09, 2008 - 04:58 am:        i have to agree with you about black women standing up for themselves and not worrying about other people anymore (well they have to stand up for their kids of course). i heard about this story before and i think that there is some validity to it. the player your speaking of is rex chapman i believe he eventually married a black woman and he said that he believed it prevented him from moving up the coaching chain.