The Honorable Richard McDermott
Note for Hearing with Oral Arguments
Friday, January 18th, 2002 at
9:00AM
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
|
LARRY PITTMAN, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Defendant. |
No. 99-2-52345-8 KNT DECLARATION OF Benjamin barnes IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT’S MOTION
TO DISMISS Note for Hearing with
Oral Arguments |
I, Benjamin Barnes,
declare,
I was hired as a lead in the shipping department, a white supervisor had left for out of State. When I started, the white employees that I had apparently decided that they didn’t like a Black man for supervisor. The white employees that I had apparently were deliberately stacking the pallets wrong for orders; they would place the wrong orders inside of the pallet containers so they would not be detected. I would look at the outside of the pallet and the orders would look fine, but the boxes that were placed on the inside were wrong. This happened on a frequent basis when I came to be the supervisor. This appeared to be done deliberately to me. I told the management, a white supervisor of the warehouse, shipping and receiving, about who I thought was responsible but nothing was done.
While I worked at King’s Command Foods, I felt an air of distrust of blacks by management and an attitude that the blacks could do the dirty jobs. It was a plantation mentality. It left me feeling insecure and wondering when it would be my turn to get into trouble for something a white guy did.
I remember one time when someone—a white guy a supervisor —who worked with Keith Kern as a meat grinder, was telling Sidney Lanier racist jokes. This guy, whose name I don’t know, was always telling racist jokes, in front of me. I was shocked that they’d have enough nerve to tell a black racist joke to a black man. That’s really insensitive. Another time he tried to tell me one, but I walked off, to avoid it. I didn’t report it to the supervisors because they too were making racist jokes. It all seemed fruitless.
I have read the motion to dismiss me as plaintiff , but they did not state a reason why I should be dismissed except that I couldn’t prove that there was racial discrimination.
In my deposition, I spoke about when I was responsible for shipping and how the count was coming up short and that I felt someone was stealing. I got the blame even though I told Tom Butler, my supervisor, who I thought was doing it. Butler wouldn't even approach who I thought was stealing; they only came back to me. Management let it go on with a wink knowing that they could blame a black guy. I feel that I was the fall guy because I am black.
I was then threatened by a white worker who pulled a knife on me. Although I immediately reported this incident to Terry Smith, nothing was done to the individual. When I complained about no action being taken I was told by Terry Smith, " if you don't like it, go ahead and quit." I couldn't believe that response. It was bad enough with management treating blacks as inferiors, but to find out they cared so little they would allow a black to be physically threatened by a white and do nothing was enough to make me sick to my stomach.
I wish to state one more time very adamantly that you could cut the racially tense atmosphere with a knife at King’s Command. If you were a black man, you felt it. I don’t think that a white person can know what that means.
I certify under the penalties of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated this 6th day of January, 2002.
______________________________
Benjamin Barnes
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