Tesla Supervisor Allegedly Claims Only Black Applicants Willing to Endure Racial Slurs Should Be Hired, Lawsuit Alleges

Tesla employees have once again initiated a racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the automaker. This time, it is led by human resources executives who claim they were dismissed after substantiating worker complaints concerning prevalent racial harassment. The lawsuit, lodged in U.S. District Court in California, involves six individuals from Tesla’s Fremont production facility—including five HR professionals and a senior security operations manager. They assert that they were penalized or terminated for advocating against offensive racial practices, such as slurs and harassment. The lawsuit alleges a concerted effort by corporate leadership in Austin to target outspoken employees who confirmed instances of racism and discrimination. One notable figure, Karen Draper, a Black woman employed as a senior HR business partner, reports being wrongfully dismissed despite commendable performance evaluations. The plaintiffs aim to uncover systemic misconduct, seeking a jury trial for financial compensation, including income losses and emotional distress. Tesla has yet to respond publicly to the claims.