The Study of Racialism

zandie · Suspended Joined: 19 Oct 2007 {Posts: 35 }

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=5819074
Woman says she was told she wan't 'black enough' for position?

By Josh DeVineFLINT (WJRT) -- (12/06/07)--A local non-profit agency is at the center of a racial discrimination suit. Was an employee passed over for promotion because of the color of her skin?
The allegations surround the Urban League of Flint and the chairwoman of its board. Both are named as defendants in a civil lawsuit just filed in federal court.
The case is ironic. The Urban League supports civil rights and economic equality for African Americans.
But its manager of finance and operations -- Jamie Kendall, a bi-racial woman -- sued, saying the board's chairwoman told her she wasn't, quote, "black enough" for the agency's top job.

"She's intelligent and hard working," said Kendall's attorney, Glen Lenhoff. "I just think she's a good employee and a good person."
And that's why Kendall wanted a new job: CEO of the Urban League of Flint. She applied and mentioned her interest to Valaria Conerly-Moon, chairwoman of the agency's board.
But that's when Lenhoff says problems started.
"My client's African American. She's light-skinned. And the suit alleges that the fact she's light-skinned played a role in her not getting this position," he said.
According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday, Conerly-Moon asked Kendall if she was "black enough" to run the Urban League of Flint. Then she says she was asked whether she thought she could identify with black people.
"A person cannot be held back or discriminated against because of the color of her skin, even within a racial group," Lenhoff said.
The suit also alleges slander, claiming the board's chairwoman knowingly spread false rumors about an affair between the employee and its interim CEO.
In the end, board members selected a different candidate -- one that Lenhoff says isn't as qualified. And one who he says may prove his case.
"We also look forward to a comparison of the credentials of our client as opposed to the person who got the job because that's an indirect way that a litigant can prove racial discrimination," he said.
And that's because Lenhoff says his client has a masters degree. The woman who got the job does not.
Attorneys for both the non-profit and Conerly-Moon have 21 days to respond to the lawsuit. Three calls to the Urban League were not returned.

i guess this is what we get for passing for black. Neutral

Melani23 · Superuser Joined: 30 Aug 2005 {Posts: 1193 } Location: USA

First, a bi-racial person is a not a 'light skinned Black'.

Second - I hope she wins big $$$ as this is discrimination.

Thirdly - so much for 'Black' unity.

Lastly - Haters will always 'hate'. Jealousy is as cruel as the grave.

Cool

zandie · Suspended Joined: 19 Oct 2007 {Posts: 35 }

why they keep calling her african then biracial?

MP mulattoprince · Wizard Joined: 10 Apr 2007 {Posts: 464 }

A bi racial is a light skin black in the eyes of the ODR, in the eyes of the ODR many mixed people and bi racials are called light skin blacks just ask Lisa Bonet, Jasmine Guy, etc. In the case of Mel B brown of spice girls she is just black because of her phenotype in the eyes of many African Americans and Americans in general. Trish Goddard the talk show host she is considered black because of her phenotype and Trish and Mel B both are bi racial. Mel B's mother is white and father is black, and Trish's father is white and mother is black so they often don't even get the courtesy of being called mixed or light skin. Some people know they are mixed but in general they are just seen as two black women.

If you have an ambiguous phenotype that shows no black ancestry -- then just live your life and stay out of the controversies.

Famu · Mentor Joined: 27 Sep 2007 {Posts: 282 }

I guess I don't understand:

Mel B calls herself a black woman---and also embraces her biracial ancestry, as does Halle Berry.

I might need a little help with this, but I'm not understanding how a "light skin" and "dark skin" regulate whether or not someone can be black.

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 677 }

MP mulattoprince · Wizard Joined: 10 Apr 2007 {Posts: 464 }

Famu wrote:
I guess I don't understand:

Mel B calls herself a black woman---and also embraces her biracial ancestry, as does Halle Berry.

I might need a little help with this, but I'm not understanding how a "light skin" and "dark skin" regulate whether or not someone can be black.

MP: I agree so I guess it depends on how the person personally self identifies themself.

BillyMadison79 · Experienced User Joined: 01 Mar 2007 {Posts: 133 }

I thought there was no such thing as not looking Black enough and that Black people can literally resemble any other race on the planet and still be considered Black because Blacks are so diverse as a race that they range from looking like blonde haired and blue eyed Germans to blue Black Dinkas. Atleast that's what many supporters of the ODR tell me.

punjabtrini · Mentor Joined: 04 Sep 2007 {Posts: 253 } Location: USA

zandie · Suspended Joined: 19 Oct 2007 {Posts: 35 }

http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2007/12/shades_of_gray_in_debate_over.html
Shades of gray in debate over Urban League lawsuit
Posted by Marjory Raymer | The Flint Journal December 30, 2007 18:00PM
Categories: Breaking News, Courts, Flint

FLINT -- Now, the issue isn't just black and white. It's everything in between, too.

A lawsuit filed this month against the Urban League of Flint points to the increasingly complex issue of race and equality.

A biracial employee, Jamie Kendall, sued the Urban League after not being promoted to CEO. Kendall claims she was asked if she was "black enough" to lead the organization dedicated to creating equal opportunities for blacks and other minorities.

"It is a touchy situation. We need to have some honest dialogue about it within our own culture," said local NAACP President Frances Gilcreast.

Glen Lenhoff, Kendall's attorney, is one of the area's leading attorneys on discrimination in the workforce, including reverse discrimination. He acknowledges, though, that this case is a first for him.

"I think it is an unusual case, but I think you'll see more and more of these cases as time go on," Lenhoff said.

And, he still maintains it is simply discrimination based on skin color -- just that this time it's about the shade of the color because Kendall is light skinned.

The Urban League's CEO, Lorna Latham, referred all calls to board president Valaria Conerly Moon, who could not be reached for comment.

"I've always been a proponent that we need to clean our house and make sure our house is strong. We need to do what's right for ourselves," Gilcreast said. "Light brown, green, purple, whatever, you should have the same opportunities."

The debate is sure to grow: The number of multiracial residents in Genesee County has steadily increased since 2000, the only racial category to do so, Census data show.

The issue has gone mainstream in recent years with the likes of Tiger Woods, whose ancestry is black, white, American Indian and Asian, and presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, whose mother was a white woman from Kansas and father a black from Kenya.

And in Detroit, a club promotion allowing all-night free admission to black women with fair or light skin set off widespread complaints and opened wounds in the black community. The event planned in October was canceled, and the promoter, who is black, apologized.

"There is an irony because the Urban League is supposed to be the bastion of civil rights," Lenhoff said.

The lawsuit asks for damages in excess of $75,000. It claims Conerly Moon asked Kendall if she was bi-racial and then asked if she was "black enough" and if she could identify with black people.

Kendall, manager of finance-operations, was one of three finalists for the CEO post but did not get the job. She continues to work for the agency.

Kendall is also suing for slander, claiming that Conerly Moon told at least one individual that Kendall was having an affair with the previous CEO.

lsgh · Mentor Joined: 02 Oct 2007 {Posts: 226 } Location: Seattle