Whataburger is bending over backward for employee in Black Lives Matter mask dispute

Patterson was modeling respect

At a football practice years ago, I overheard a young Black boy using the N-word and asked him if it would be OK for the young white boy standing near him to use the word. He said it would not.

I commend TCU coach Gary Patterson for having the intestinal fortitude to confront the young Black man who was using the N-word. (Aug. 4, 1B, “Patterson allegedly repeats racial slur used by player”) The coach was trying to set a standard of behavior for his athletes. Respect begets respect. There should not be a double standard, and there is nothing good about a word that causes so much hurt by its use.

- Willie R. Hargis, Forest Hill

This wasn’t about defending honor

I was born and raised in a small city in West Texas, so I know about defending the honor of where you live. Some residents of Weatherford and Cleburne dressed in combat gear and carried semiautomatic rifles recently in defense of obscure Civil War monuments. That anyone in 2020 would go so far as to threaten to kill someone over a piece of concrete and metal representing a rebellion against the United States is reprehensible.

- Brian Rosson, Fort Worth

Put your students out there

To all who say it’s safe to reopen schools: Prove it. Send your kids back to class first. And offer to drive a school bus.

- Jack Bowen, Fort Worth

This is a clear racial injustice

Thank you for your coverage of Ma’Kiya Congious and the racist treatment that left her unemployed. (Aug. 7, 7A, “BLM protest held outside Whataburger in Fort Worth”) Whataburger not only didn’t respect or value its employee enough to protect her against racist behavior, but went so far as to side with the customer who complained.

Whataburger’s stance of “not having a stance” proclaims loud and clear that it is a morally bankrupt company that values the almighty dollar over employees. I hope it feels the repercussions of its actions financially.

- Katie Crum, Fort Worth

Whataburger doing right

The Star-Telegram’s front-page story Thursday about Ma’Kiya Congious (“Employee, restaurant part ways over mask”), says she “asked management about how to give her two weeks’ notice for resigning,” then quotes her asking, “Can I put my two weeks’ notice in?”

On the recording, she clearly asks if she can, not how to put in two weeks’ notice. The manager even asks to confirm and she does.

Friday’s story on Page 7A says, “The employee appears to have unwittingly resigned during a discussion of the mask with a manager on Tuesday.”

Words have meanings. “Can” and “how” are different words. “Unwittingly” would mean she did it without intent. Whataburger is going above and beyond by agreeing to pay her for the two weeks.

- Joe Lopez, Fort Worth

Need to know about dangers

Thank you for the stories in Wednesday’s paper about the man pointing a gun at protesters and the neo-Nazi hate group leader’s arrest. (3A, “Man accused of pointing gun at protesters arrested”; 4A, “Leader of neo-Nazi hate group, 2 others arrested”)

Both stories help clear a path to a better Tarrant County community. I hope such journalism is unscathed by your change in ownership.

- Chuck Noteboom, Fort Worth