A Black business owner in Oregon has claimed he fired his entire staff of more than 20 white employees after experiencing racial harassment in his community. The man, who said he operated a business in Roseburg, accused residents of promoting white supremacy and announced plans to move his business to California. His remarks have received mixed reactions online, with some viewers supporting his decision while others accused him of racial discrimination.
The man shared his frustrations in a TikTok video posted on an account called Black Man in the Wilderness. He said he had reached his breaking point after allegedly facing harassment from people in Roseburg, a city in Douglas County.
According to him, he and his family had been targeted by white supremacists, but local authorities had failed to address the situation. He specifically criticized the county sheriff, claiming he was aware of the harassment.
The man said he had employed more than 20 people and paid them over $25 an hour. However, he claimed he had decided to fire every single one of them because he was tired of how he and his family were being treated.
He said he could no longer continue to operate his business in an area where he felt unwelcome. “I’m gonna punish the whole town,” the business owner said. “I’m gonna take my talents over to California, where I’m actually appreciated.” He then concluded his video by advising other Black business owners to “let your white employees go.”
Viewers React to Oregon Business Owner’s Claims
Many people in the comments sympathized with the business owner. Some supported his decision to move and criticized local residents over the alleged racism.
“I am so tired of the white supremacy in Oregon. it is so disgusting,” one viewer wrote. “DoCo is insanely racist… I fully support your decision,” another commented. “They’d rather be poor than see you thrive. Take your business elsewhere,” someone else urged. Another agreed, writing, “You should relocate to where your services and efforts and contributions are appreciated.”
Some supported the idea of Black businesses hiring people from their own communities. “Yup that’s how you take back your power and leave them r@cist starving. Keep black dollars with black people,” a commenter stated. Another declared, “When I start my business I’m only hiring black people.” A third suggested to the man that when he opens a new business he should “hire black employees and hire black security… black panther style if you will.”
The man’s comments about firing his white employees also became a major talking point among viewers. Some disagreed with his approach, arguing that firing employees because of their race was discriminatory, regardless of what he had experienced.
“That simply makes him a black racist,” one person remarked. Another questioned the legality of it, writing, “That’s against the law. You can’t do that just because of their race!”
A few viewers suggested that he was benefiting from a double standard. “If we treat them the way they treat us it would be a very racist world,” someone pointed out. Another added, “Only Whites play by the rules which is why the rules exist. All of the others just ignore them.”
Although Oregon is an at-will employment state, employers are still prohibited from firing workers because of their race under federal anti-discrimination laws. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 generally applies to employers with 15 or more employees and protects workers of all races. If the man’s claims about his staffing and reasons for firing employees are accurate, his actions could raise serious legal concerns.
The man claimed his staff was understanding of his decision, but that cannot be confirmed.
