Woman Investigating Racial Harassment Post-Suicide Becomes a Victim Herself
In Salt Lake City, Joscelin Thomas, a Black woman employed by a Utah school district to probe racial harassment, has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she faced discrimination from district officials herself.
Thomas, who worked in the Davis School District’s office for equal opportunities, contends in her lawsuit that she was subjected to inferior treatment compared to her white counterparts, including being perceived as less intelligent, criticized for her work ethic, and denied the same training and mentoring opportunities.
The lawsuit states that Thomas experienced a different and hostile work environment from the outset compared to her non-Black and lighter-skinned colleagues.
Thomas’s hiring in 2022 was part of a recruitment drive following a mandate from the U.S. Department of Justice. The district was required to establish an office dedicated to investigating racial harassment incidents after a 2021 federal inquiry revealed extensive racial harassment against Black and Asian American students in the district, including numerous instances of racial slurs.
The investigation also found that Black students, constituting about 1% of the 74,000 students in the district, faced stricter disciplinary actions than white students for similar infractions. District officials acknowledged to federal investigators the trend of unequal treatment, yet no measures were taken to address these disparities.
Black students reported being subjected to racist taunts and comments from white students, including being likened to apes and receiving derogatory remarks about their skin color. Instances of racial comments about slavery and lynching were often overlooked, with Black students being told to “go pick cotton” and “You are my slave.”
The district’s racial problems intensified when Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor, a Black and autistic fifth-grade student, committed suicide following severe bullying at school. Tichenor, the sole Black student in her class, was frequently subjected to racial and ableist harassment. Her parents attributed her suicide to the school’s failure to address the bullying effectively.
Following this, the district acknowledged its mishandling of the situation, resulting in a $2 million settlement to Tichenor’s family and a $200,000 settlement to three other Black students who faced racial harassment.
Lawsuit Questions District’s Commitment to Change
Post these incidents, the district revised its harassment policies and introduced an online platform for reporting harassment or discrimination. Thomas was responsible for investigating these reports, but her attorney, Katie Panzer, questions the district’s commitment to cultural change, citing Thomas’ own discriminatory experiences.
“Our hope is that through our efforts to address the violation of Dr. Thomas’ rights, the district will be forced to make systemic change,” Panzer said. “The district has an obligation to provide both students and employees a safe environment free from race discrimination. We would like to see them actually fulfill that obligation.”
The lawsuit details instances of Thomas being treated as inferior by her colleagues, including being asked to clean trash instead of networking with administrators. Her contract was not renewed after a year, and she was placed on administrative leave shortly before it expired, following a planned meeting with the human resources director to discuss her experiences of discrimination.
“Davis School District administrators, teachers, and staff stand firmly against any form of harassment or discrimination that affects a child’s learning experience in our schools,” Williams said, declining to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit. “Our primary duty and responsibility is to create a safe environment for every child, employee, and patron.”
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