Fifty Black former franchisees sue McDonald’s over discrimination
McDonald’s Corp. is being sued by a group of 50 Black former franchisees who say they were pushed to run less profitable locations in inner-city areas and weren’t given the same financial help as their white counterparts. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs told Crain’s Chicago Business that these factors limited Black franchisees’ ability to expand and grow, which “led to financial ruin.” The lawsuit comes at the helm of a national racial reckoning and a push for individuals and corporations to take responsibility for racial discrimination. The complaint was filed Tuesday in Chicago federal court. McDonald’s also fell under scrutiny earlier this year when 5,000 women joined a class action lawsuit claiming they experienced sexual harassment while working for the corporation.
