Brenda Powell Morgan filed suit in Wake Superior Court, alleging thatthe former manager of the New Hope Church Road store in which she stocksshelves referred to her as "Buckwheat" on January 13.
An official at the corporate headquarters said the manager, CharlesStone, had been fired, and that the store does not condone racism. Stonecould not be reached for comment.
Morgan's suit is the second involving a Wake County Wal-Mart in threemonths. In December, Felicia Gray-Watson said a supervisor told her,"Slaves can't quit; they have to be sold." Gray-Watson had been apharmacy employee at the Knightdale store. Morgan's attorney saidadditional plaintiffs may join her suit.
Morgan said she had reported the incident to management, but that shefelt they did not seem to take her complaint seriously. "They have neveroffered an apology or anything," Morgan toldThe News &Observer.
In court papers, Morgan said that Stone uttered the slur in thepresence of another employee, and that when she turned to make sure he wastalking to her, she says he looked at her and repeated loudly, "Hey, you,Buckwheat."
Morgan further alleges that when she spoke about it with Wal-MartDistrict Manager John Watson, Watson told her Stone "didn't mean it" andwas "just playing."
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