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General Mills, the multinational food company known for its cereal brands, is facing a federal lawsuit filed by several of its Black employees who claim that one of the company’s plants in Georgia has “embraced a racially hostile work environment” controlled by “white supremacists.”
In a detailed 60-page lawsuit filed earlier this month, the plaintiffs allege that managers at the Covington, Ga., plant have consistently favored white employees for promotions over Black employees, and have issued more disciplinary actions toward Black employees.
The lawsuit describes the plant as being run by a group of “male white supremacists operating in management and HR,” who the plaintiffs claim have formed a group called the “Good Ole Boys.”
The lawsuit asserts that the “Good Ole Boys” use history and symbols misappropriated by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist hate groups to intimidate Black employees.
These symbols, according to the plaintiffs, are intended to keep Black employees “in their place” and discourage them from speaking out against discriminatory practices at the Covington facility.
The lawsuit cites incidents dating back to the plant's opening in 1988, indicating a systemic issue that has persisted for over two decades.
One notable incident mentioned in the lawsuit involves a mural displayed in the factory from 2005 to 2021.
The mural allegedly served as a memorial for Confederate leaders, featuring General Mills brand mascots such as the Cocoa Puffs cuckoo bird portraying Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, and Chef Wendell from Cinnamon Toast Crunch as Robert E. Lee.
In another disturbing incident from 2006, a Black employee discovered the letters "KKK" written on his personal lunchbox.
When the employee reported this to management, he was required to provide a handwriting sample to prove he had not written the letters himself.
Additionally, the lawsuit references an incident from 1993 where a noose was left on a Black employee's desk. The same employee claims that a year later, a white colleague told him to "go back to Africa."
The plaintiffs argue that these “egregious incidents of racism” have been consistently ignored by both local HR and corporate-level HR for 20 years.
The eight plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial, financial compensation for losses, and damages for the emotional distress caused by the alleged discrimination.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for General Mills told NPR that the company does not comment on pending litigation.
However, the spokesperson emphasized the company’s “long-standing and ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” and asserted that General Mills does not “tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
This lawsuit follows several recent high-profile cases of alleged workplace racial discrimination.
In 2023, employees of the salad chain Sweetgreen filed a lawsuit in New York, accusing the company of fostering a hostile workplace.
Similarly, in 2021, a federal jury in San Francisco awarded $137 million to Owen Diaz, a former Black contractor at Tesla, after he was subjected to racial discrimination, including being called the N-word and being told to "go back to Africa."
