Black Female’s Ethnic Dress Made Workmates Uncomfortable, So She Sued Them

Daily Mail
December 9, 2013

Melphine Evans without the braids tied to her hair.
Melphine Evans without the braids tied to her hair.

A black female executive at British oil giant BP is suing the company, alleging she was told that the clothing she wore was inappropriate, and should only be worn ‘during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events.’

Melphine Evans was vice president and CFO at two BP subsidiaries before she was fired.

According to the suit, filed with the Orange County Superior Court this week, Evans says that her supervisors told her that her dashiki and braided hair made other employees ‘uncomfortable.’

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How could she expect oil executives to take her seriously when dressed like a children’s entertainer?

Melphine Evans is suing BP Products North America, her former BP West Coast Products office in La Palma and nine individuals.

Evans was told, ‘You intimidate and make your colleagues uncomfortable by wearing ethnic clothing and ethnic hairstyles,’ according to the suit, as reported by Courthouse News.

‘If you insist on wearing ethnic clothing/hairstyles, you should only do so during ‘culture day,’ black history month or special diversity events/days. … ‘If you are going to wear ethnic clothing, you should alert people in advance that you will be wearing something ethnic.”

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