Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

A7
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 3 January 2017

Lawsuit: Dude ranch owner asked chef for ‘black people food’

SCOTT SONNER
Associated Press
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Mad-
eleine Pickens wanted the
African-American chef she
recruited from the country
club she owns in Southern
California to cook “black
people food” — not “white
people food” — at her rural
Nevada dude ranch and
wild horse sanctuary, ac-
cording to a federal lawsuit
accusing her of racial dis-
crimination.
Armand Appling says the
wealthy philanthropist and
ex-wife of Oklahoma ener-
gy tycoon T. Boone Pickens
told him fried chicken, BBQ
ribs and corn bread would
be perfect for the tourists
who pay nearly $2,000 a
night to stay in plush cot-
tages, ride horses and take
Wild West “safaris” on ATVs
at her Mustang Monument
Wild Horse Eco-Resort. In this July 25, 2006, file photo, Oklahoma energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens, right, with his wife, Madeleine, appear at a House Energy
and Commerce subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Appling alleges he was Associated Press
fired 2014 in retaliation for
complaining about a hos- comments were racially Du agreed with Pickens’ ployees “not fitting in” physical strength and “was
tile work environment. He motivated. At worst, Pick- lawyer, Dora Lane of Reno, reinforces a long history not accompanied by any
says Pickens’ stereotypical ens’ remarks “reflect a non- that the only comment of African-Americans not overtly racial slurs.”
references were common- racial personality conflict that specifically referred to being allowed into elite, “Indeed, Appling does not
place at the Elko County and amount to discourtesy, race was the reference to private-club settings. Pick- allege that he ever heard
ranch stretching across 900 rudeness or lack of sensitiv- “black people food.” ens owns the exclusive Del any overtly racial epithets,
square miles on the edge ity,” they wrote in recent Lane said categorizing Mar Country Club north of such as the ‘N-word,’” she
of the Ruby Mountains court filings. foods by ethnicity is com- San Diego where Appling wrote in court documents.
about 50 miles west of the U.S. District Judge Miranda monplace in the restaurant worked before she hired But Williams told the judge
Utah line. Du said during a hearing industry. Some restaurants him for a 5-month stint in last week the comments
Among other things, he in Reno last week that Ap- serve Mexican food, oth- Nevada. must be viewed in the con-
says Pickens, who is white, pling’s lawyers have failed ers Chinese or Thai food, “In many cases, the people text of racial stereotypes.
instructed him to terminate so far to prove the sort of she said. “The suggestion fighting to keep African- Du agreed that Lane’s
two other black kitchen racial hostility needed to that such categorizations Americans out of these arguments focus on the
staffers — one she referred win such a civil rights claim. are inherently offensive is private clubs would use “plain meaning of words”
to as her “bull” or “ox” and She dismissed the original nonsense,” Lane argued code phrases like ‘they do while seemingly ignoring
another who had “too lawsuit that was filed in Feb- in earlier court documents. not fit the image,’” Williams the context of comments
much personality.” He says ruary but gave them until “This is especially true here, said in court documents. made about “African-
she told him they didn’t Jan. 13 to refile an amend- given that Pickens’ alleged He added the use of the Americans in history and
“look like people we have ed complaint seeking un- comments actually reflect words “ox” and “bull” im- stereotypes that could give
working at the country specified damages from a preference for ‘black plies ownership of property, rise to racial animas.”
club” and didn’t “fit the im- Pickens’ nonprofit, Save people food’ rather than given “America’s long his- “If the alleged comments
age” of the staff she want- America’s Mustangs. a racial animas against tory of slavery where they were not directed at him,
ed at the ranch. “It takes a lot to prove ‘black people’ or ‘black were considered personal but others who look like
Pickens’ lawyers argue these allegations,” Du told people food.’” property of their owners.” him, it may affect his work
that even if all the allega- California attorney Willie Williams said Pickens’ com- Lane argued it was a com- environment,” the judge
tions are true, none of her Williams on Thursday. ments about the fired em- plimentary reference to said.q