A Black server at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Tennessee has filed a federal lawsuit alleging she faced persistent racial abuse from colleagues and management failed to act. Roberta Mendez, who has worked at the Nashville-area branch since 2015, claims she was subjected to racial slurs and physical intimidation, according to the complaint filed on August 21.
In the lawsuit, obtained by The Independent, Mendez says white coworkers called her “nappy headed [N-word,]” “burnt biscuit,” and “monkey.” She also alleges a shift leader told her “I don’t like Black people.” The complaint contends Mendez was “physically pushed and hit” and that management “segregated its Black workers from its Caucasian workers.”
Mendez reported the incidents to supervisors and human resources, but says she faced retaliation. Following a 2023 incident, she was written up instead of the offending employee. When she escalated to HR, she was told “not to sign the write-up” and no action was taken. In September 2024, she was fired for “breaking company policy” after submitting a grievance, while white colleagues faced no consequences for similar behaviour.
Attorney Kyle Biesecker, representing Mendez, said the complaint speaks for itself and expects depositions to confirm the allegations. Cracker Barrel did not respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuit adds to Cracker Barrel’s history of discrimination claims, including a $9 million settlement in 2004 over racial bias and a previous policy against LGBTQ+ employees, later reversed following backlash.
