Fiat-Chrysler Worker Claims Bias, Says She Was Taunted with Toy Monkeys

» Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

Valarie Davis shattered a couple of ceilings when she became the African American woman hired as a clay sculptor for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 15 years ago. She even flew to Italy to personally deliver the clay model she had sculpted of the prized Alfa Romeo.

Now Davis, 47, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is suing Fiat Chrysler, claiming in a federal lawsuit that the Auburn Hills-based automaker failed to intervene when other employees taunted her by placing toy monkeys, blowup monkeys and monkey calendars in her studio, and calling her names like “chicky monkey” and “little brown friend.”

Troy employment attorney Shereef Akeel is representing Davis, who received a right-to-sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

FCA declined comment, but issued a statement to the newspaper:

“FCA US LLC prohibits workplace discrimination and does not tolerate harassment of any kind. The Company takes complaints of discrimination and harassment seriously and investigates complaints in a timely and impartial manner. Employees who violate this policy face disciplinary action up to and including discharge. FCA uses its best efforts to protect the privacy of all individuals involved throughout the investigation process.”

The racial taunting allegedly started in 2004 — one coworker reportedly asked when Davis was pregnant if African American women produced chocolate breast milk — and intensified over the years. The monkey toys began showing up around 2013, according to the lawsuit.

Also on Patch

• Halloween Costumes ‘Normalize Racism’ Against Arabs: Letter
• Dearborn Anti-Islam Protesters’ Free Speech Rights Upheld
• CLU: Emagine Palladium’s ‘Tough Love’ Policy Discriminatory

Despite Davis’ complaints to management and human resources officials, nothing was done, according to the lawsuit. Instead, she said, the taunting intensified after she first complained, the taunting intensified.

Davis works in an office with 10 employees and is the only African American.

» Photo via Shutterstock