Black workers of a Sara Lee plant in Paris, Texas–which closed in 2011–suffered atrocious mistreatment at the hands of white supremacist supervisors and staff. The workplace conditions that the Melanoid employees suffered were so vile and disrespectful, it was stated in the settlement (filed by 74 former Black employees at the factory) that the workers were subjected to “environmental racism”.

The Hillshire Brands Company, (formerly known as the Sara Lee Corporation), is slated to pay $4 million to the former Black employees who were mistreated. Reports reveal that the factory’s premises were covered in grafitti, with white extremist phrases and words such as “we hate these niggers”, “KKK”, and apes hanging from nooses–littered throughout the facility.

Not only was the blatant racism seen throughout the factory, it was also heard on numerous occasions, with the former Black employees recalling accounts of them being verbally assaulted by supervisors and co-workers with a barrage of racial epithets. The grievances of the Black workers were ignored by management.

The Black workers of the now-defunct Paris, TX plant were under the thumb of white supremacy at their job so much that it physically affected their health. CBS Chicago reported that the Blacks at this job were forced to do jobs in areas which were infested with black mold, asbestos, and other deadly substances. As a result of being railroaded into working in such deadly conditions, several of the employees developed cancer in the process.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) opened a two year investigation which concluded that the Melanoid people who were the victims of discrimination at this factory were entitled to the payout.

Follow this link to watch a video clip of a statement given by Suzanne Anderson, Attorney for the Dallas Chapter of the EEOC in regards to the settlement that is owed to the former Black employees of the Sara Lee plant in Paris, Texas.

B. Clark