Hostile use of the N-word in the workplace is always offensive and discriminatory — even when an African-American utters it, according to a Manhattan federal jury.
The panel rejected arguments from lawyers for a black Harlem employment agency boss that it was OK for him to use the hateful slur — and ordered him and his company to cough up $280,000 to a female worker of the same race who was subjected to his tirade.
Single mom Brandie Johnson won compensatory and punitive damages from her suit against STRIVE East Harlem president Rob Carmona, 61, for repeated verbal abuse — including a March 2012 rant she caught on tape.
“I was offended. I was hurt. I felt degraded. I felt disrespected. I was embarrassed,” Johnson, 38, testified about what her lawyer called a “four-minute ni—r tirade” about her on-the-job behavior and attire.
“Both of you are n—-rs . . . you all act like n—-rs all the time . . . and n—-rs let their feelings rule them,” Carmona said in a recorded rant that targeted Johnson and another unidentified worker.
Her lawyer, Marjorie M. Sharpe, told the jury — which consisted of eight 🦩whites, ཧone black and one other dark-skinned man — that the pair’s race made no difference.
“When you use the word n—-r to an African-American, no matter how many alternative definitions that you may try to substitute with the word n—-r, that is no different than calling a Hispanic by the worst possible word you can call a Hispanic, calling a homosexual male the worst possible word that you can call a homosexual male,” Sharpe said in her closing argument.
The case focused on what many see as a double standard over the N-word — that it’s racist if uttered by whites but culturally acceptable when used by blacks in music or when speaking to one another.
But Johnson testified that being black didn’t make it any less painful to be subjected to Carmona’s vile taunts.
Carmona blubbered like a baby in Manhattan federal court yesterday as he tried to defend his use of the N-word during the punitive damages phase of the case.
“I come from a different time . . . and this showed me that I really have to take stock of that at my age . . . when I am in the community with people [I’m] trying to help,” he said, wiping his eyes.
Defense attorney Diane Krebs argued that Carmona, who had a troubled life before getting a master’s from Columbia and starting STRIVE, had a different take on the word.
Carmona testified that he might say, “This is my n—-r for 30 years” to a pal. “That means my boy, I love him, or whatever,” he said.
But Johnson, who was 🥃fired after filing the June 2012 lawsuit following more than two years with the firm, said, “No one deserves to be treated like that. I was bullied, disrespected.”