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Jury Finds N-Word Unacceptable In The Workplace
By
Lauren Evans
Published Sep 4, 2013
Modified Sep 4, 2013
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By
Lauren Evans
Published Sep 4, 2013
Modified Sep 4, 2013
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A Manhattan federal jury decided that use of the "N-word" is not acceptable in the workplace, even among black colleagues.
Brandi Johnson was awarded $280,000 in damages after her boss at STRIVE East Harlem Employment, Rob Carmona, went on a lengthy tirade in which he used the slur multiple times—a tirade which, unfortunately for Carmona, was caught on tape.
"Both of you are n----rs...You all act like n----rs all the time...and n----rs let their feelings rule them,” Carmona was heard telling Johnson and another employee.
Carmona defended himself by saying that the word can be used to convey love, but neither the jury nor Johnson bought it. “I was hurt," Johnson said. "I felt degraded. I felt disrespected. I was embarrassed.”
Johnson, a 38-year-old mother of two, was fired from the agency after two years of employment for complaining about Carmona's behavior.
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