Former Howard University Vice President for Human Resources James Jones referred himself and others as “H.N.I.C.,” or “Head Nigger in Charge” and now he and the university faces a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, according to the Washington City Paper.
Jeannette Frett worked under Jones during his stay at the university and said he repeatedly used the expression in 2011 to “emphasize his authority and discourage any challenge to his actions and directives.”
“Historically, people who have referred to themselves as the “Head Nigger in Charge” have not taken kindly to anyone who they believe is challenging their authority, especially if it is a woman,” Frett said, who is suing Jones and Howard for discrimination and back pay after being fired soon after she reported fraud, waste and abuse by the Human Resources Office at Howard University.
“At Howard University, different rules, standards, and codes of conduct were applied to female employees and dark-skinned African-Americans like Ms. Frett,” said attorney Sharon Eubanks, partner at Edwards and Eubanks, LLC.
“The actions directed at Ms. Frett were far more severe than a breach of standards of professional behavior, they overtly constitute unlawful discrimination. Mr. Jones also created an environment of fear and silence, where any employee who exercised her rights by complaining about discrimination was certain to meet retaliation by Mr. Jones.”
