Not black enough?
Canadian woman Rachel Brothers finally got the respect that she deserves after being wrongfully terminated from her job for not being “Black enough”; as she was awarded $10,200. Back in 2006, she was competing with Catherine Collier for the position of regional educator at the Kentville office of the Black Educators Association and ended up getting the job. Collier was hired as well but to a different position that she was not happy about and reportedly continued to undermine Brothers during her tenure, Collier saying that she was “older ” and “blacker”.
Less than a year later, Brothers was fired from her position, during which time she was constantly reminded that she wasn’t “Black enough” Brothers, who is biracial, made the decision to file a complaint against the company two years later.
Commission Chairman Donald Murray concluded that the company’s “colourist thinking” created a toxic work environment at their main office in Halifax and a regional office in Kentville.
The Black Educators Association is funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Education. Minister Karen Casey issued a release Tuesday afternoon saying the situation was “very unfortunate.”
“It is important that the BEA, and every other organization funded by the department, ensure they are respectful and equitable to their employees and clients at all time. I expect that the BEA will learn from this as they move forward and ensure that they create a workplace where discrimination will not be tolerated.”
Remember the saying its who you are and not what your are. As much as we want to shut out this issue, it still exists in 2014, what do you think about it?
Photo credit: Brothers’ Facebook
-Matia (@ms_hip_hop)
