An electrician with the
Fire Department of New York (FDNY)
found a noose in his locker recently, after he'd filed a complaint against the department for racial discrimination.
Gregory Seabrook, who has been with the department for 20 years, says that he found the noose at an FDNY facility in Brooklyn.
"There's an ominous message behind it," said Seabrook's lawyer,
Stephen Jackson, who plans to display the noose to the media during a press conference soon.
The noose is "elaborately constructed" and tied in a "monkey knot," his attorneys told the
New York Daily News.
Seabrook and a group of four other African-American electricians filed a complaint with the
New York State Division of Human Rights. They claim that minorities are often overlooked for promotions and overtime opportunities.
Seabrook's lawsuit is a good lesson for all of us, regarding how the legal route can shine light on the kinds of discrimination that many of us find in the workplace. Whether you're in academia, Hollywood, the White House or at the post office, there are multiple occasions in which African Americans are not given access to the "good ol boy" network, keeping us locked out of the same opportunities that are made readily available to our white counterparts.
At the very least, millions of black folks are forced to overcome blatant hostility in order to be successful. I've seen this form of discrimination up close in my own workplace and I'm certain many readers have as well.
With regard to the noose being found in Mr. Seabrook's locker, this should hopefully speed up a settlement from the city. It is an embarrassing reminder that there are quite a few Americans who still hate black people and many of these individuals are our co-workers and superiors in the workplace.
While the actions of this individual or group are not reflective of the entire department, it lets us know that we haven't made as much racial progress as we may like to think.
I hope Mr. Seabrook is successful. His struggle will create opportunities for others.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.