- Racial slur written on customer’s truck during routine service, causing deep humiliation
- Dealership fired employee but family wants stronger response beyond corporate statement
- Customer wants to understand why this happened and ensure it doesn’t happen to others
Apparently, getting an oil change now comes with a complimentary reminder that racism is still alive and embarrassingly employed.
According to Yahoo! News, a Wichita man named Larry Martin Jr. is speaking out after discovering that a racist slur had been placed on his truck by an employee at Rusty Eck Ford, turning what should have been a routine trip to the dealership into a deeply humiliating experience.
Martin had taken his truck to the dealership for an oil change and went about his business after picking it up. He had no idea anything was wrong until weeks later, when the dealership contacted him and told him an employee had written something derogatory on his service sticker: “ni**er.”
Martin said he was stunned when he finally saw it, particularly because the sticker was positioned inside his truck where he would see it regularly. He described the experience as humiliating and said the word “carries a lot of weight.” His daughter, Kelsey Martin, was equally shocked, especially because her father had reportedly maintained a good relationship with the dealership.
“No one deserves to be humiliated like this,” she said, adding that an apology was not enough to address what her father experienced.
Rusty Eck Ford states that the employee responsible has been fired after launching an internal investigation. The dealership also said it does not tolerate racial, hateful or discriminatory conduct. Cute statement, but the family understandably wants more than corporate-speak and a terminated employee.
“Rusty Eck Ford became aware early last week of concerns regarding alleged inappropriate conduct. Rusty Eck Ford does not tolerate racial, hateful, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate conduct in the workplace.
Upon learning of these concerns, the company promptly initiated an internal investigation. Based on information developed during the investigation, the company terminated the employment of one individual.”
The Martins met with dealership leadership, but apparently left with additional questions. The company acknowledged that the family presented information requiring further review and said its investigation remains ongoing.
That is important because this was not simply some anonymous racial slur floating around the internet. Someone allegedly had Martin’s actual vehicle in their care and chose to put that word somewhere he would eventually encounter it.
Martin said he wants to understand why it happened and hopes it does not happen to anyone else. Fair enough. Nobody should have to wonder whether the person servicing their vehicle is also using their property as a canvas for racism.
