This week in the War on Workers: Crappy clothing chain Wet Seal faces race discrimination lawsuit

The model second from left may appear on Wet Seal's website, but apparently
she wouldn't be welcome as a store manager. Wet Seal is just one of a number of clothing chains dealing in poorly made clothes for teenage girls you're likely to find at your local mall. But Wet Seal distinguishes itself by being the one currently facing a federal lawsuit alleging an actual company policy of racial discrimination in hiring and promotions. Steven Greenhouse writes:

The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Santa Ana, Calif., includes a copy of a March 2009 e-mail sent by the company's then senior vice president for store operations to lower-level managers after she had inspected several stores, saying 'African American dominate ' huge issue.'

One plaintiff, Nicole Cogdell, the African-American former manager of a Wet Seal store in King of Prussia, Pa., said the company terminated her the day after that e-mail was sent. She said that she had heard the senior vice president, Barbara Bachman, tell a district manager that she wanted someone with 'blond hair and blue eyes.'

Yes. In 2009, a high-level corporate executive told her underlings as a matter of policy that there were too many black people working in the company's stores. And at least one store manager was fired immediately after that message was sent. That seems like a pretty good basis for a lawsuit, dontcha think?

But, but, but, what about our post-racial society?