From Job Loss to Triumph: Black Man in Alabama Stands Strong After Exposing Employee Who Called Him The N-Word

A federal judge in Alabama recently ruled in favor of a Black millwright, awarding him nearly $1 million after he claimed he was subjected to racial slurs and subsequently demoted then fired for raising complaints. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bradley Murray's decision totaled $978,075, exceeding the jury's May output by $338,000 in Watts' racial discrimination case against J & L Industrial Services, LLC.Watts began his tenure at J & L in May 2022, working as a millwright at a Georgia-Pacific facility. He reported a colleague's offensive remark, overheard by several others, yet the company failed to terminate the offender as promised. Instead, upon reporting the incident, Watts faced reassignment and a significant pay cut. His subsequent termination in February 2023 cited "reduction of force," although it was contested as retaliatory.Following a two-day trial, the all-white jury unanimously upheld his claims, highlighting the importance of addressing workplace discrimination and retaliation. (Photos: R & L Industrial Services Facebook Page and Mastando and Artrip)