Man, 2019 has been something else man. I never thought that I would read a headline that would accuse an HBCU of racial discrimination. It’s inconceivable honestly. How can institutions, primarily in response to racially segregated institutions, commit racial discrimination. There’s plenty of opportunities and scholarships for non-black students at these institutions that black students aren’t even privy to. Where would a charge like this come from?
Well, look no further than Marshall Burns, a 73-year-old physics professor at Tuskegee University. He’s filing a federal lawsuit against Tuskegee alleging that the school “pays younger employees at least $18,000 to $30,000 more than him, although his professorship spans over four decades.” Burns earned his doctorate in 1972, has been at Tuskegee since 1976 and became full time faculty in 1980. He claims that he earns $60,500 a year and has requested a raise 12 times. In his 12-page lawsuit he says that teachers of African and Asian descent are earning more than.
“I’m not a greedy person,” Burns told the Montgomery Advertiser at a press conference held Tuesday. “I applaud people who are successful. They’ve earned it. I think I’ve earned it, but I haven’t received it. I have tried and tried and tried everything I know.”
The suit also claims that Tuskegee discriminated against him based on age and that “Tuskegee has ungratefully kept [Burns] at an associate level of pay for his entire academic career,”
Even though he’s filed this lawsuit, Burns says that he will continue to teach at Tuskegee and are ready for his fall semester students.
“At Tuskegee, I’ve had classes with students who are go-getters and very smart. That’s what gives me enthusiasm to teach.”
