Man Claims Detroit Hotel Offered Job Interview Only After He Changed Name to Sound 'Less Black'

The Shinola Hotel in Detroit is being sued by a Black man who claims he was only given a job interview after changing the name on his resume. As per a copy of the complaint acquired by CNN, Dwight Jackson claimed that when he applied as “Dwight Jackson,” he was rejected a job, but was subsequently allowed an interview after he changed his identity to “John Jebrowski.” The complaint claims Jackson was refused a job in “violation of the Michigan Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act.”

Jackson sought many jobs at the Shinola Hotel between January and April 2024, including a receptionist position, his lawsuit claims. A copy of Jackson’s CV, which shows a history of steady work including positions as a “Front Desk Agent” at the David Whitney Hotel and the Marriott Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit, was given to CNN by Jackson’s attorney, Jon Marko.

Marko, a human rights lawyer, told CNN that “Mr. Jackson had applied for a job that he was eminently qualified for.” However, the Shinola Hotel declined to interview Jackson. Jackson reapplied for a job in April 2024 after his first applications were rejected. This time, he changed his name.

Jackson allegedly proved in court that the Defendant selected applicants solely on the basis of their name’s racial appearance. At the job interview, Jackson stepped forward to identify who he was. He confronted the interviewer and said the hotel had denied him an interview because his name seemed to be Black. The lawsuit states that Jackson was notified that he was no longer a competitive contender for the job shortly after he completed the interview process.

The operational partner of Shinola Hotel is Sage Hospitality Group. An email was sent to CNN on Tuesday by Anna Stancioff, the hotel’s spokesperson and senior corporate director of PR and brand communications at Sage Hospitality. Stating that they do not accept any form of discrimination, Stancioff stated that they take this “allegation” extremely seriously. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the community,” she added.