Last Thursday, nine former Auburn University Athletic Department employees filed a racial discrimination suit against the college in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, Alabama.
The lawsuit stems from a spree of firings in 2010. When AU moved its basketball arena from the old Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum to a new arena, the Athletic Department let go of 11 workers, 10 of whom happened to be African American.
Kurtis Chandler was one of the employees who was let go. In a statement at a press conference following the filing of the suit, Chandler said: “it is just mindboggling that in 2011 it [racial discrimination] is still going on.” The employees want their jobs back at AU’s Athletics Department as well as compensatory and punitive damages as well as back pay.
The nine workers filed complaints with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) last June about the job losses, however the EEOC apparently had been moving too slowly for the group, so they commenced legal action on their own.
Some analysts suggest that the employees are making a “mountain out of a mole hill.” These critics argue that AU had simply downsized its workforce without any conscious malice and that the majority of the fired workers happened to be African American was a random coincidence.
There are others who see more disturbing motives. These critics point out that Auburn is located in Montgomery, Alabama – one of the bastions of the Old South where discrimination was rife.
It’s often difficult to parse the veracity of discrimination allegations. Even after you consider witness statements, relevant documents, and historical context, there is the possibility for serious errors.
News stories – even in-depth news analyses – typically don’t delve deep enough into allegations of racial discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment to provide readers with enough meaningful information to draw fair conclusions.
Does this mean you shouldn’t react emotionally when you read stories about racial discrimination? Obviously not. But a more mature approach to analyzing the news might help; withhold your judgment until more facts are clear.
If you’ve personally witnessed (or have been victimized by) racial discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, or wage and hour violations, you know how difficult it can be to get other people – even sympathetic family members – to empathize with your concerns and to really hear out what happened to you. Solving job-related “hostile work environment” situations begins with active listening.
If you crave to be listened to about your discrimination or harassment matter, talk to the reputable, compassionate, and experienced team at Joseph & Kirschenbaum. Dial (212) 688-5640, or learn more about the team on the web at www.jhllp.com.
To learn more about our innovative, uncommon coaching programs for professionals and entrepreneurs please use one of our contacts below.
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When my husband and I finally got pregnant, I just could not wait to be a stay at home mom. Well, I was wrong! Don't get me wrong, I love not having to work and I love being a mom, but now I live hours away from anyone I knew or cared about before I met my husband. Since I live so far from any of my family or friends, I have litterally spent no more that a few hours away from my daughter since the day she came home. My husband just can not fathom how I get to sit at home all day and still get depressed. Every other day I just can not stand the sight of my 9 month old baby! It's a horrible feeling that just leaves me feeling worse about myself. And I know I can't tell anyone that I want to just get rid of her sometimes because everyone will look at me like I'm a horrible parent! I tried asking my doc to put me on some kind of med. but no such luck... oh well I guess I'll just go crazy in the mean time.
Wow, I've never heard of the co-op daycare, but it's a great idea! I'd be more than willing to watch other kids in exchange for a day off. Thanks Susan
Thanks Rosa, you don't know how good it feels to have someone that actually understands how I feel! I will def. take things into consideration and maybe I can convince my husband to add a few days of daycare to our bills. Thank you!
I understand why you are depressed-- what human being wants to stay home all day, every day? It's hard to get your husband to understand that, however, because the way he sees it-- he's getting the short end of the stick because he's got to go out there and make the money to support his family. He sees the positive to you being at home.. you get to spend time with your baby, you don't have to go to work, etc. All nice things. In reality, you have the huge burden of tending to an infants every need, maintaining a clean house-- or as much as your baby will allow you to clean, and preparing meals for not only your 9 month old but yourself as well. Then when your husband is home, you have the added responsibility of being a wife. I've been in your shoes-- it's a terrible feeling, especially when you have no one to talk to.
You mention having days when you can't even stand the sight of your child which,to me, screams "I need a break--NOW" and believe it or not, if your 9 month old spends most of her time with you alone, she needs a break from you, too. One thing you can consider is taking your daughter to daycare twice a week (or every other day). You'll have to do your homework on this because I know some places charge on a weekly basis and some charge on a daily basis. This, however, will give you the opportunity to spend some time by yourself, take a nap, go out and enjoy the outdoors without having to push a stroller around, run errands, etc. AND it will give your baby the chance to interact with other children her age and learn.
Other things you can do on days that you do have your little one with you is to NOT waste the precious time that you have with her by keeping you both indoors. Go out. Whether its window shopping with your baby, walking around a park, investing in a baby gym membership, sightseeing, going to the zoo, etc. All of these places offer the chance to meet and interact with other parents which will open a whole new door for play dates for you and your baby.
I don't think you are a bad parent for feeling the way you do, just a parent who needs a break and definitely needs to get out of the house. If you feel like your feelings towards your daughter get progressively worse or that you are beginning to neglect your child, then I would advise to go back to your doctor to get some help.