Black woman receives settlement from Ministry of Justice over racism claims after 20-year battle

A former Ministry of Justice employee has spoken out after receiving a six-figure pay-out from the government after a 20-year-long battle over discrimination.
Olivea Ebanks, 55, launched employment tribunal proceedings three times: in 2008, 2011 and finally in 2020 which were respectively won, lost and settled.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Ms Ebanks said: “Each time I decided to go to court, I have lost something significant in my life. The first time I went to court, I lost my good mental health. The second time, I lost my marriage and the third time, I lost my job.”
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[@simone6803]

Olivia, thank you for never giving up. Thank you for never “going away”. Thank you for being the stone in their shoe so they couldn’t simply discard you wit the ease they may have wanted. I hope you can begin your journey towards healing now and finding peace.

[@PoldarkGodzilla]

th-cam.com/video/Jp629azUWXE/w-d-xo.html

[@opallunar]

I see in the comments this is where kindness compassion and empathy came to die.

[@purpleowl2075]

The Ministry of Justice tried to ban her book about her experiences too with an injunction. In order to publish her book Almost British, she had to change her name to Nairobi Thompson.

[@Elgato840]

Thank you for standing up and speaking out. We know you are not alone! I hope you take time out to heal ❤
And pray we stand united more and more as this is the only way to overcome.

[@PotterSpurn1]

Poor lady. I don't know her case but she seems very nice and certainly undeserved of that kind of bullying treatment. I thought the Civil Service bent over backward to avoid discriminatory behaviours. Seems they are still not doing that well.

[@purpleowl2075]

Olivea, I'm sorry you had to spend 2 decades of your life fighting these devils and that you lost so much. The system simply isn't made for us and thank you for trying to make it better for the next person who goes in or interacts with that place.

[@teesmith5749]

I truly comment her and for fighting so hard and finally recieving the justice she rightfully deserved. Not everyone has the resources and the finance to fight their battles in court . I hope this will someone inspire her to be instrumental allow victims of severe systemic racism ( as my cousin has suffered for over 3 decades by three housing associations . Bolton at Home, St Vincents and Salix Homes - video on my page) the resources , so they can pursue the courts to obtain justice. We all need to put out foots down and now allow racism to be swept under the rug.
These types of racism she explain does not only extent in governmental roles , but those in day to day roles or in the legal profession. It is time we all stop giving these people our labour

[@Frederique41]

Bravo for speaking because it’s happening everywhere and stress nearly killed me due to racism and harassment!

[@PoldarkGodzilla]

If you don’t succeed in life blame racism not yourself 😂

[@purpleowl2075]

​@@PoldarkGodzilla If you don’t succeed in life, go online and victim-blame people of colour for the racist abuse you inflict on them

[@purpleowl2075]

@@PoldarkGodzilla What an asinine comment you've made there under the comment of someone who almost killed themselves due to racist harassment.

[@JenYin.]

@podarkgodzilla So what do you think stopped Black people who were enslaved from succeeding? I’m perplexed by the stupidity of people like you.

[@God_is_love_believe]

Shocking treatment!

[@daveworthing2294]

Milking it for every penny. Another lottery winner plays the race card.

[@E_Rex_Sean]

These people desire the victim role so bad. It’s disturbing.

[@purpleowl2075]

Your narc defence mechanism is showing.

[@E_Rex_Sean]

@@purpleowl2075 Do you call everyone that disagrees with you a narcissist? 🤔

[@purpleowl2075]

@@E_Rex_Sean No, only racist victim-blamers with psychopathic profile pictures.

[@purpleowl2075]

@@E_Rex_Sean No, just racists with creepy profile pictures.

[@JenYin.]

@E_rex_sean As someone who works in the civil service and has seen white people use the N word inside of the office. I can tell you. Your comment is stupid and you are ignorant!

[@HEKTIKx]

"Unfairly scrutinized and disproportionately disciplined" is there any chance you just wasn't very good at your job "NO EVERYONE THERE IS RACIST"

[@sophiachumber3578]

I know this lady and I can vouch for her integrity and sincerity.

[@HEKTIKx]

@@sophiachumber3578 there could be a 1000 reasons behind any decision but its always racism apparently.
She may be very sincere but the claims of racism is thrown around so casually that i pretty much don't believe any of it these days, unless is see some substantial evidence to back it up.
Her thinking she is being unfairly scrutinized is not evidence

[@KB-fe2pg]

Is there any chance you’re the type who sees colleagues and friends making racist comments and protects them? Until we decide as a society that this type of behavior will not be tolerated, it will continue. People need to get fired for being racist! It’s not okay & it does have a negative financial, emotional & physiological impact on the target.

[@HEKTIKx]

@@KB-fe2pg We already have decided racism is unacceptable as a society that's why people do get fired, arrested and sometimes locked up for such behaviours unless of course the racism is directed at white people then its acceptable.

[@purpleowl2075]

Just because you don't experience the problem, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.