A Black man named Dwight Jackson has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the Shinola Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. The lawsuit alleges that Jackson was denied a job opportunity at the hotel when he applied under his real name but was offered an interview after changing his name on his resume to a more traditionally Caucasian name, 'John Jebrowski'.
According to the lawsuit, Jackson, a 27-year-old Black man, applied for various positions at the luxury Shinola Hotel between January and April 2024. Despite having relevant experience as a Front Desk Agent at other luxury hotels in Detroit, Jackson was initially not offered an interview by Shinola Hotel.
After receiving no response to his initial applications, Jackson reapplied to the hotel using the alias 'John Jebrowski' with a nearly identical resume. The lawsuit claims that he was promptly offered multiple interviews within the same week under the new name.
Jackson's attorney, Jon Marko, emphasized that the case highlights the issue of name bias in hiring practices. He mentioned that discrimination in hiring, especially based on minority-sounding names, is not uncommon. A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research also found that resumes with Black male and Black female names received the fewest callbacks from employers.
Marko stated that Jackson's case is significant because it demonstrates a clear disparity in treatment based on the applicant's name. Despite the challenges in proving name bias, Jackson aims to raise awareness about this issue and prevent it from happening to others.
In response to the allegations, Sage Hospitality Group, the operating partner of Shinola Hotel, stated that they take the matter seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. They expressed commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and building a diverse workforce.
Marko revealed that Jackson confronted the interviewer at Shinola Hotel after revealing his true identity and expressing his concerns about potential discrimination. Subsequently, Jackson was informed that he was no longer considered for the position.
The lawsuit seeks to address the alleged violation of the Michigan Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act and shed light on the broader issue of name bias in hiring practices across the country.
