A black server at a Cracker Barrel restaurant near Nashville is accusing the company of retaliation, claiming she was fired after she complained that co-workers were insulting her with slurs like “burnt biscuit,” according to a lawsuit filed last month.
Roberta Mendez claims her white coworkers regularly called her “nappy head ni**er”, “burnt biscuit”, and “monkey.” She also claims that her shift leader straight-up told her “I don’t like Black people”.
As the NY Post reports, “These are meritless allegations, and we will defend ourselves vigorously,” a Cracker Barrel spokesperson told The Post.
Mendez said she reported these incidents to her managers, assistant managers and the store’s general manager, Jack Kinle – but Kinle wrote up Mendez after her complaint in 2023, according to the suit.
In August 2024, Mendez took her complaints to Cracker Barrel corporate, explaining “her treatment and the treatment of other Black employees,” andwas promptly fired a month later for “breaking company policy”. While those who were accused of racism received no punishment.
The lawsuit does not provide details on the alleged behavior that led to Mendez’s firing, claiming that she always “met or exceeded” performance expectations.
Mendez is seeking her job back, or front pay for wages, as well as compensation for lost wages and benefits, attorney’s fees and damages for violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race.
History of allegations
The food chain is no newcomer to allegations of racism. In 1999, the company was sued by the NAACP for allegedly not giving promotions or access to management positions to black workers.
Cracker Barrel also has held an anti-LGBTQ+ stance over the years. The restaurant reportedly has a history of firing their queer employees stemming from 30 years ago.