Ark Valley News - Local teen faces discrimination

Vincent Vaughn says he cried when he read a text message from the owner of a local restaurant that said, “Your skin color makes us hesitate a bit."

Local teen faces discrimination
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: March 04, 2021

Vincent Vaughn was happy.

A friend put in a good word for him at Panda Kitchen in Valley Center. It looked like he was going to get a part-time job, and he would finally have some spending money.

Those happy thoughts quickly turned sour when Vaughn, a senior at Valley Center High School, got a text message from his potential employer.

"I never applied," said Vaughn, 18. "He was just going to hire me on the spot. He gave me a full schedule, but then asked for a picture and ended up changing his mind about it."

The next morning, Dan Lin sent a text: "Sorry Vincent. We don't think your hair is suitable for serving food without a cap."

It got worse for Vaughn.

When Vaughn asked if the decision was based on the color of his skin, Lin texted: "Your skin color makes us hesitate a bit."

Vaughn couldn't believe what he was reading.

"When I first got them, I did break down, to be honest," he said of the text messages. "I did end up tearing up because I was at a loss of hope of getting a job."

Lin, owner of the restaurant, told The News that he has apologized to Vaughn several times by text message and offered to meet with him.

"I didn't mean to hurt him," Lin said. "I'm from China. I didn't know much about American laws and things."

Lin said he was hesitant about hiring Vaughn when he saw the length of his hair. He said he told Vaughn that before he could work, he would need to cut it.

"He told us he wouldn't," Lin said. "… That's the real problem we had."

Lin said he worried about hair falling into customers' food. Lin said Vaughn couldn't wear a hat that fully covers his head, and a visor wouldn't work.

Vaughn said he offered to wear a full cap, but was unable to convince Lin.

When asked whether he would hire Vaughn or another Black person, Lin didn't answer.

He said the restaurant has never employed a Black person.

"We haven't yet," Lin said. "We just opened a few years."

Lin bought Panda Kitchen three years ago.

Meanwhile, a Wichita civil rights attorney, who reached out to Vaughn after seeing a Facebook post about the incident, is now working on complaints with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Kansas Human Rights Commission.

James Thompson said the complaint will ask the agencies to investigate the incident and determine whether Vaughn has a right to sue.

The EEOC may try to mediate a resolution. If that's not successful, Thompson said a lawsuit could be filed based on racial discrimination.

"The argument that Mr. Lin doesn't speak English well enough, I think you can tell from the text messages, he speaks well enough to know what he's saying," Thompson said.

The timeline for the complaints is unclear, Thompson said.

"With racial discrimination, typically when it's this blatant, I want to make sure there's a resolution," Thompson said. "I want to see the perpetrator punished by the courts. In 2021, we shouldn't even be having this discussion. … I didn't want (Vaughn) thinking this was normal or right."

According to screenshots of a series of text messages obtained by The News, Vaughn received a text from Lin just before 10 p.m. Feb. 19. Lin told Vaughn that he got his name from a friend of Vaughn's who works at Panda Kitchen.

Lin asked Vaughn if he was interested in working weekends.

Vaughn said he was.

Lin asked about Vaughn's work experience.

Vaughn said he worked at Sonic two years ago.

Lin then asked Vaughn for a photo. Vaughn sent one.

Lin asked Vaughn if he lived in Valley Center. Vaughn said yes.

Lin told Vaughn that he would think about it and get back to him later.

Vaughn responded, "Thank you!"

About 30 minutes later, Lin said he wasn't "sure about something" and that "it's still under discussion."

The next morning, about 11:30 a.m., Vaughn got another text from Lin: "Sorry Vincent. We don't think your hair is suitable for serving food without a cap."

Vaughn answered: "You know there are stores with caps. Don't almost all your employees where (sic) caps? It's just my skin color and you judged me just because of it, that's sad. Especially when I was more than willing to work for you. Hope your business does great."

Lin answered: "I'm sorry for your feelings. You know our range hood, its (sic) power is very large closed food table, you can only wear a girl's hat, this is the main reason, although your skin color makes us hesitate a bit."

Vaughn answered: "It's crazy how you judged me by my skin color. I have an Asian grandma right down the street. But again good luck. I enjoyed your company's food too, but thank you for somewhat of an opportunity. Have a great day sir."

Lin responded: "Sorry, and thank you."

Vaughn said he didn't expect the response he received from Lin, but was suspicious after he asked for a photograph.

"It was unexpected, very unexpected," Vaughn said. "But I expected it as soon as I sent the picture and he said he had to think things through."

Vaughn said he had never experienced anything like it before.

"Some people probably joke about it, but I don't take it serious," he said. "I can tell when you're serious or not. This is literally with a job. … I didn't want to be rude. It's just he doesn't need to judge me by my skin color. It's 2021 and it's still a problem. What I learned in history class is clearly not history."

Vaughn said a mattress company that commented on a Facebook post offered him an interview for a job on Feb. 22.

"I just want to help my mom and myself," he said. "… It's just a weird experience. I'm basically a calm person. I'm just trying to live my regular, day-to-day life."