His locker was broken into and eventually torn off the wall. Earlier this year, he found urine in his boots. Last month, a Maine Human Rights Commission investigator faulted BIW for its efforts to stop the racist attacks. It is simply not acceptable to allow a black man to be dehumanized in the workplace . . . How much racial discrimination occurs on the job in Maine is unclear.
Most employers are fair-minded and sensitive to harassment.
But when companies don't do a good job of investigating racial discord, workers like Moore turn to the state for help. During the past three years, an average of 63 racial discrimination complaints, involving work and housing, were filed with the Maine Human Rights Commission. The commission reviewed 538 cases over the past 10 years. But attorneys who handle racial bias lawsuits believe the amount of discrimination is much higher. Many workers don't complain because they are afraid of retaliation or losing their jobs, says Scarborough attorney James Michael Stovall.