Court: Texas company unfair to black workers

By DANNY ROBBINS (AP)

LUFKIN, Texas — State historical markers outside the headquarters of Lufkin Industries Inc. tell how the company started repairing sawmill equipment at the turn of the 20th century and grew to make many of the pumps dotting the world's oil fields.

But a different history has been written in a class-action lawsuit winding to a close. That story describes how the 107-year-old company for years discriminated against its black employees, assigning them to the worst jobs and repeatedly denying them promotions.

More than a thousand of the company's current and former black employees stand to divvy up $5.5 million in back pay and interest as compensation for what a federal judge in June called the company's unlawful discrimination in awarding promotions.

While each worker will get a relatively modest sum, those who brought the lawsuit see the award as validation of their struggle for equality in a region often associated with racial turmoil — most famously the 1998 dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Jr., by three white men in nearby Jasper.

"It's not about the money," said Sylvester McClain, 62, the former employee who initiated the suit. "It's about equal pay, equal treatment, equal justice."

Court: Texas company unfair to black workers....

In New Survey, Blacks Say Race Relations are Same Old Same Old

By The Buzz

Barack Obama has a 96% approval rating among Black Americans.

The approval rating for race relations is a sight lower than that. According to a CNN/Essence magazine poll, 55% of African Americans surveyed feel racial discrimination is a serious problem. During the 2008 election, that figure was at 38%.

In New Survey, Blacks Say Race Relations are Same Old Same Old....

Former technical inspector issues discrimination complaint against NASCAR

DOVER, Delaware — A black former technical inspector filed a complaint against NASCAR with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination.

Dean Duckett said discrimination started in May 2001 and lasted until NASCAR fired him from his job in the Sprint Cup series on Nov. 14, 2007.

Duckett told The Associated Press on Saturday that he would consider a lawsuit if NASCAR offered him his old job back.

"I'm looking for something. Even if NASCAR was to offer me my job back, I would do that," he said. "If they wasn't going to offer me my job back, I'm shooting for a lawsuit."

Duckett said his problems started last Nov. 10 when he got into a heated argument with another official the night before the Phoenix race.

"I said to him, 'I ought to cut you.' I don't carry no blades or nothing like that," Duckett said. "It basically came out in the heat of the moment. We got into each other's faces but nothing happened. My roommate pulled me away and said, 'C'mon guys leave it alone,' and we left."

Duckett said he apologized, made up with the official and thought the incident was squashed. Instead, he said he was called the next day to NASCAR's at-track office and was sent home. Duckett said he was fired by Cup Series director John Darby and human resources director Star George.

"They took my life away," he said. "I loved my job. I put everything into my job. I feel they took away from my family."

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said on Saturday the stock car series was aware of the complaint.

Former technical inspector issues discrimination complaint against NASCAR....

Does the All-Black Issue of Italian Vogue Mean Sisters’ Beauty is Being Appreciated Globally?

By: Jackie Jones

Fashions come, and fashions go -- and the same can be said about black models.

But it has been particularly difficult for black models to remain active players in the fashion industry game. Vogue Italia takes on racial discrimination in its July issue, which features only black models, including Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Iman, Pat Cleveland, Alek Wek, Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn. The U.S. issue of Vogue tackles the topic in an article in its July issue.

While most purveyors of fashion would suggest it’s a natural part of fashion to pick a flavor of the month, so to speak, many observers note that highly-paid supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek, Mounia and Iman have been pretty much replaced on the runways by models from eastern Europe.

Does the All-Black Issue of Italian Vogue Mean Sisters’ Beauty is Being Appreciated Globally?....