He recalls the neighborhood bully and the Portland gangs. They chased him, spit at him, beat him and called him racist names. Most of the time, he ran from the bullies until his dad explained that he could not escape hate and ignorance. Now, some 30 years later, Stovall shares the advice with his clients. He practices law in the Portland area, representing workers who are racially harassed or discriminated against.
People are afraid they're going to get fired or get blackballed.
It's a lot easier to run, and I know. That's what I did for a long time. Stovall often thinks about his childhood when he talks to clients who believe it's easier to quit their jobs than to confront the office bigot or a boss who refuses to pay them fair wages or give them promotions. As a child, he lived in a triple-decker on Brackett Street in Portland. His family lived on the second floor.