WASHINGTON, D.C. — A rally erupted today on the campus of American University after a disturbing case of racial bias and institutional betrayal came to light: a Black woman faculty member says she was physically assaulted by a white female colleague — who was then protected by the university — while the victim herself was terminated just days before completing her probationary period.
Pia Nelson did not mince words at today’s rally.
“Barbara Morse pulled my hair from my scalp leaving a bald spot,” Nelson declared to the crowd. “I reported her. They did more to protect her than me. They terminated me. After the assault, I was treated differently.”
Nelson’s account is as searing as it is straightforward: she was the victim. She reported it. And she paid the price.
“DEI is not happening,” she said flatly — a pointed indictment of the university’s claims to diversity, equity, and inclusion at a time when such commitments are already under fire nationally.
Nelson also revealed that dehumanizing language was used in professional meetings, including the words “Bitches” and “Boy” — terms with deep racial and gendered connotations that speak to the broader culture she was forced to navigate.
“We expect to be supported,” she said — three words that carry the full weight of what it means to be a Black professional in predominantly white institutional spaces.
The assault — having one’s braid physically yanked from one’s scalp — is not only an act of violence; under the CROWN Act, it may also constitute a form of racial discrimination, as natural Black hair and protective styles carry deep cultural and identity significance.
The fact that the aggressor, Barbara Morse, faced no apparent institutional consequences — while Nelson was fired just shy of completing her probationary period — raises serious questions about American University’s internal equity processes, HR accountability, and whether federal civil rights protections are being honored.
BMORENews will continue to follow this story.
Doni Glover is the founder and publisher of BMORENews.com, now in its 24th year of covering Black Baltimore, and the founder of the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, now in its 15th year. He is also the host of the Emmy-nominated Doni Glover podcast and The Doni Glover Show on WMAR-TV 2.
