Suit Alleges Racist Acts at Capitol

A record executive in charge of marketing black music for EMI Music’s Capitol label has alleged in a lawsuit that she was fired after complaining about racist conduct by a supervisor.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 9, contends that Brenda Jones, former vice president for R&B; marketing, was castigated by her supervisor in the presence of co-workers and denied business travel expenses while white colleagues received them routinely. Jones contends that the company’s human resources department ignored her complaints and that senior label executives tolerated racist remarks being made in their presence.

The nature of the allegations may be particularly troubling for EMI, which shocked the record industry several years ago by closing its black music division at Capitol, once home to Nat King Cole. At the time, the division was drowning in red ink. Now, sources said, EMI is considering folding all or part of its Priority label, which specializes in hip-hop music, into Capitol.

A spokeswoman for EMI said, “EMI and Capitol Records take allegations of discrimination very seriously. It is our policy to not tolerate discrimination. In this instance, we believe the case is without merit and we intend to defend it accordingly.”

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages and alleges that Jones was terminated and escorted from her office in July, one month after filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about her supervisor’s conduct.

An example of the conduct unfolded at a March 2000 meeting where Jones and other Capitol executives gathered to discuss the marketing of records during Black History Month, said her attorney, Loyst Fletcher.

According to the lawsuit, her supervisor--in the presence of top-level label executives--quipped that the company should “do something like ‘Birth of a Nation,’ ” referring to the controversial 1915 film known for its unabashedly racist depiction of African Americans.

The executive could not be reached for comment.