A seasoned hotel worker claims he was discriminated against after receiving a different response on a job application when he altered a key detail on his CV.
Dwight Jackson, 27, says the Shinola Hotel in downtown Detroit kept passing over his applications for multiple positions until he changed its name.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Jackson claims he made numerous attempts to work at the luxury hotel between January and April 2024 but was denied the opportunity to interview for the positions.
It wasn’t until he submitted a resume with a “Caucasian name” – John Jebrowski – that the hotel contacted him about undergoing an interview process that same week, the filing states.
Dwight Jackson, 27, sued the owners of the Shinola Hotel, claiming they kept rejecting his resume because he was black.
Jackson said he started out using his birth name in his initial attempts.
But as soon as he applied under the alias John Jebrowski, keeping all of his work history and skills the same, he says he got a call from management for an interview.
Jackson went through the interview process, but was told he was not a viable candidate for the position, according to court documents.
“Mr. Jackson confronted them and said, ‘I’m Dwight Jackson, I’m the guy who’s been applying for a job,’ and they said, ‘We’re done. We don’t want to hire you,'” Jackson’s attorney, John Marko, also said. CBS Detroit News.
‘It is illegal to discriminate against someone in the hiring process because of the color of their skin.
“The lawsuit alleges that (the hotel) unlawfully discriminated against Mr. Jackson by refusing to interview or hire him for a position for which he was qualified and the sole reason was the color of his skin,” Marko added.
Since filing the lawsuit, the hotel has issued a statement saying it “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
Jackson claims he only changed his name on his resume and kept all other details the same each time he applied.
Since filing the lawsuit, the hotel has issued a statement saying it “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
‘We take this allegation very seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
‘We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the community.’
Jackson has alleged in the lawsuit that he suffered stress, humiliation, emotional distress and financial damages due to the incident.
According to the documents, she is seeking “an amount that the trier of fact deems just and equitable, together with interest, costs and attorneys’ fees, and such other additional relief as this Honorable Court deems appropriate” as damages.
DailyMail.com has contacted Shinola Hotel for comment.