Marcus Bradley, an African-American, has worked for Lowe’s Home Improvement in Danville, Virginia for the past 11 years. Bradley was making a routine delivery last week when he got a call from the store manager, asking him to return the merchandise to the store.
Bradley told ABC affiliate WSET, “I asked him why I couldn’t do it and he said because you’re black and they don’t want you at the house.” He was then told the customer had specifically told the store not to send a black delivery person.
Alex Brooks, who has worked with Bradley for the past four years, and who happens to be white, was shocked, and couldn’t believe his ears. “To me, it just ain’t right for a business that we work at to go on with the woman’s wishes,” Brooks said. He was sitting right next to Bradley when the call from the manager came.
Brooks went on to say that when they returned to the store, Bradley was replaced by a white driver. “It was one of those things like ‘These guys will get over it. They’re tough guys, they’re delivery guys and that’s kind of where I just had to put my foot down and say I couldn’t do it with them,” said Brooks.
WSET sent a reporter to the home of the woman who had requested that a black delivery driver not be sent to her house. She refused to be identified, and when asked her side of the story, she was adamant in defending her actions.
“I got a right to have whatever I want and that’s it,” she said, then added she didn’t have any regrets, either. “No, I don’t feel bad about nothing,” she said.
Mr. Bradley is disappointed that his boss didn’t support him but says he’s not leaving, either. “I mean I gotta work. I’m going to keep going to work like I’ve always done. But I would think Lowe’s would take it into consideration to think about what they’re doing next time,” he said.
According to the Washington Post, Lowe’s Home Improvement’s corporate office has issued a statement condemning the Danville store’s removal of Bradley from the delivery: “Diversity and inclusion is a core value at Lowe’s. The situation brought to our attention was troubling and an investigation was immediately undertaken. Under no circumstances should a discriminatory delivery request be honored as it is inconsistent with our diversity and inclusion core values and the request should have been refused. The investigation has concluded and the individuals involved are no longer with company.”
