The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.
After a particularly rocky spring season in the PR department, American Airlines seems like it just keeps getting further embroiled in controversy after controversy. Notably, American Airlines is currently a corporate defendant in multiple recent racial discrimination lawsuits, which are merely the most recent in a long line of similar lawsuits and public complaints going back quite some time.
This isn't the first time American Airlines has come under fire for alleged racism in its ranks, but after a relatively "quiet" interim period, shocking allegations made in the most recent discrimination suits have brought the company's rocky reputation back into the spotlight. It's even gotten to the point where the NAACP called out American Airlines in a public statement on June 4, warning that they may reinstate an old travel advisory against the company.
Related: American Airlines Apologizes for Wrongfully Levying a Serious Accusation Against Famous Singer-Songwriter
"Following a lawsuit filed by several African-American men accusing American Airlines of discriminatory behavior, additional reports of discrimination have surfaced which convey a troubling pattern of a failure to address harmful behaviors ," the statement opens.
For context, the lawsuit referenced here involves a February incident where eight unaffiliated African-American men were allegedly ordered off a flight over a white attendant's complaints of "body odor." The targeted men were not even sitting together, and they claimed that they were the only Black passengers on the flight. The statement then links to an NPR article detailing several other alleged racial incidents involving American Airlines , including another discrimination lawsuit from Chicago woman Pamela Hill-Veal, who claims she was confronted multiple times by a flight attendant in first class over "slamming" a lavatory door, and two separate high-profile incidents involving track star Sha'Carri Richardson and singer-songwriter David Ryan Harris.
The (Potential) Return of an Old Travel Advisory
American Airlines faced a similar controversy back in the 2010s, when a string of reported racial incidents and hostility toward Black passengers led the NAACP to issue a travel advisory against American Airlines. In response, American Airlines formed a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advisory council in 2018 for the purpose of preventing future discriminatory acts, and the NAACP lifted their travel advisory. However, with rising political backlash against DEI policies, the company disbanded their advisory council last year, and things have only trended downhill from there.
"The NAACP is proud to champion efforts to hold corporations accountable," NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson writes. "Recent discriminatory actions from company employees prove that there is a dire need for continued accountability and resolution to this clear pattern."
"We encourage American Airlines to come revive the advisory panel and reconvene with the NAACP to devise a path forward that ensures equitable experiences for all American Airlines customers. Without a swift and decisive response, the NAACP will be forced to reinstate an advisory against the airline."
It's been three days since the NAACP's statement was released, and so far, American Airlines has not made a public response. According to NPR , American Airlines made a statement earlier this year in regards to the aforementioned Hill-Veal lawsuit , claiming they had "been in contact with her to learn more about her experience." However, the company reportedly made no comment when asked if they were considering changing their staff training or policies.
For more WanderWisdom updates, be sure to follow us on Google News !
Have you had a funny, interesting, or just highly memorable experience while traveling? We'd love for you to submit a video of your travels for a chance to be featured on WanderWisdom and our social channels! Click here to upload your clip and share your adventures with the world.
Local News
