Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Suit: Racist Power Plant Boss Wanted Oprah Dead
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Mar 3, 2010
Modified Mar 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Mar 3, 2010
Modified Mar 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
More of the racist comments behind a former power plant employee's $4 million discrimination suit came out today. Suzanne Langford, who worked at Starrett City power plant from 2004-2007, says her white boss called a black worker (not her) "a monkey" and "a gorilla," saying that he "should be up a tree sucking on a banana." He also bore ill will towards Oprah Winfrey; allegedly telling Langford the talk show host "should have died in a plane crash," reports the Post. The Queens woman also claims she was forced to serve as locker room attendant in a men's only area decorated with "sexually explicit photographs" showing "women in various states of undress, in sexually suggestive attire and in a demeaning manner."
Tagged
discrimination
Oprah Winfrey
power plant
queens
racism
racist
slur
starrett city
Sabrina Jaszi
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
AI wary NYC students say the tech is still sneaking into classrooms
Students are calling out educators for still using AI in posters, slideshows and quizzes.
By
Jessica Gould
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Mayor Mamdani attends Oct. 7 vigil amid protests in Union Square
Protesters continued chanting, singing and yelling throughout the ceremony, and some people booed the mayor.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Mayor Mamdani attends Oct. 7 vigil amid protests in Union Square
Protesters continued chanting, singing and yelling throughout the ceremony, and some people booed the mayor.
By
Giulia Heyward
Queens pharmacy owner charged in alleged $31M Medicaid drugs fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
NJ probe finds about 1,100 more problematic voter registrations
By
Mike Hayes
Man convicted of scamming NYC renters out of $100K sentenced to 2-4 years in prison
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .