Worker Forced To Endure Racial Slurs: Racism alive and well at New York City Transit Authority

Aug. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Racism alive and well at New York City Transit Authority

When transit worker M. Abdul-Malik first complained about racially disparaging remarks from a supervisor he was told by a union rep, that management felt his charges were without merit. Abdul-Malik is African American, the supervisor is white. Abdul-Malik claims the supervisor approached him on July 29, 2010 while he was cleaning a subway car and said, “Did you find any Boll Weevils?”

Boll Weevils are usually found when picking cotton. Abdul-Malik says he ignored the out of place comment. But claims later on at the end of the work day, the supervisor approached him and said, “Wrap it up and when you’re running through the woods don’t get caught and killed.” Taken with the Boll Weevil statement these seem like veiled references to cotton picking and run away slaves. The supervisor admitted to his superiors in writing, that he mentioned Boll Weevils because a passenger complained about seeing Weevils on the train.

“That’s ridiculous,” Abdul-Malik says. “Nobody talks like that in New York City.” The term Boll Weevil has another dubious meaning. The Southern Democrats who opposed civil rights legislation and desegregation were often called Boll Weevils. With work place violence and hate crimes on the rise this type of behavior shouldn’t have to be tolerated. Abdul-Malik is contemplating bringing up charges with the Federal EEOC, claiming that the supervisor’s comments have created a hostile work environment.