North Carolina car dealership faces boycott after calling black woman 'Bon Quisha' in a Facebook post

A North Carolina car dealership is facing continued backlash after one of its employees called a black woman 'Bon Quisha' in a Facebook post, rather than her actual name.

Trinity Bethune, 21, was reportedly excited to buy her first car with the money she earned as a personal care assistant at a nursing home, according to WTVD. 

But after she purchased her new car from Lumberton Honda, the dealership posted a photo of her in front of her new car with the caption: 'Congratulations to Bon Quisha on her 2016 Toyota Camry.'

When she saw the Facebook post later, Bethune commented: 'I'm  not sure if this is a "joke" or something, but my name is definitely Trinity Bethune.

'I'm very offended by this post, it's almost a racial slur,' she continued. 'If I'm not addressed by MY name, then please don't address me at all.'

The since-deleted post has now gone viral, with many across the country calling for a boycott of the dealership, commenting on its posts '#TrinityBethune' and 'our dollars matter, stop buying here.'

It is unclear who created the post and what their motivation was, but  'Bon Quisha' is considered  a derogatory term for black women.

It is defined on Urban Dictionary as a 'loquacious white boy that acts like a black woman as a joke.' 

The Lumberton Honda in North Carolina congratulated 'Bon Quisha' on the purchase of her 2016 Toyota Camry last week, but the woman's name is actually Trinity Bethune

When she saw the post, Bethune said she was 'offended by the post,' saying 'Bon Quisha' is 'almost a racial slur,' and writing that they should have addressed her by her name

Shortly afterwards, her brother, Tyrone Jacob, shared the post, and made it go viral with 23,000 shares as of Monday, even though it has since been deleted

Her brother, Tyrone Jacob, later made the 'disgusting' post go viral, with 23,000 shares as of Monday, even though the dealership has since deleted the post.

On Thursday, he wrote: 'This is not how I planned to congratulate my little sister on her first car purchase. This is completely intentional, disgusting, unfair and many other adjectives I could use to describe this situation.

'Rather than responding like a "Bon Quisha," I'm responding like a Karen,' he wrote, alleging: 'This was not a mistake.'

'With the exception of the letter "n," her name is spelled using the first row of the keyboard. Typing Bon Quisha requires effort and intent.

'I'm outraged that she was publicly humiliated without a public private apology.

'I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of my colleagues in the legal space, but please tell me if this is something my family should explore.'

He added that Bethune was 'not well at the moment,' and said, 'If you know her, please send love her way.'

The next day, Bethune shared her own thoughts about the incident, writing: 'To everyone asking "could this be an honest mistake?" No it could not have been.

'It was intended as a "joke," I'm  assuming,' she wrote on Facebook. 'I'm very offended. If you know what a Bon Quisha you will be also.

 'As a black woman, I carry myself in a way where I will not be stereotyped,' Bethune wrote. 'This is public humiliation and at the LEAST, I deserve an apology.'

She told WTVD: 'The name "Bon Quisha" seems like a stereotype for someone, you know, for them to be like ghetto. It's something people use towards black people as a racial slur and as an offensive term.'

Bethune said she has not touched the new car since she saw the post.

'I feel like my character was played with,' she added. 'I mean, I think I carry myself in a very well manner.'  

Bethune called the term 'Bon Quisha' a 'racial slur and as an offensive term,' saying she tries to carry herself in a way that she would not be stereotyped

Many have since called for a boycott of the Lumberton Honda, seen here

The dealership told WBTV that the employee who posted the insensitive post has since been fired, and executives have called Bethune to apologize.

On Friday, the dealership also issued a public apology on Facebook.

'Lumberton Honda and our entire staff sincerely apologize and regret the recent inappropriate post towards one of our valued customers,' it wrote.

'The action of this former employee does not represent the views or culture of our company. Lumberton Honda has been a part of the community for over 18 years, serving thousands of customers of all ethnicities.

'This incident reminds us that there is always room for improvement.

'Again, please accept our sincere apology. We are truly sorry.'

On Friday, the dealership issued a public apology on Facebook, saying: 'The action of this former employee does not represent the views or culture of our company,' and that 'this incident reminds us that there is always room for improvement'

Thousands of people replied to the apology, saying it did not go far enough

But thousands of people commented on the post, claiming that the apology does not go far enough.

Tiffany Russell, for example, wrote: 'Obviously this behavior does represent the views and values of your company, otherwise you wouldn't have hired someone of that caliber.

'I am positive that this was NOT the first incident of racism that this person displayed,' she continued. 'The only difference is that others, outside your company were able to see it first-hand.

'Do you know how much trauma you have caused this young lady and countless others by this display of racism? No one should ever shop with this company again.'

Margaret S. also wrote: 'Clearly it does represent your company.

'The fact that the employee felt comfortable to even make the post shows that yo8u have created an environment that welcomes such bigotry and racism.

'Nowhere in this do you state how you are actually going to rectify this situation.

'It took how many hours for you to write this statement?' she continued, 'meanwhile, you had no problem continuing to advertise your APR rates while everyone awaited what we now see is a lack luster typical clean-up statement that does nothing for the harm that was caused to the consumer. So try again.'

And Mason Meyer commented: 'Until y'all guarantee that EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE will be completing sensitivity and awareness training, your apology means nothing.

'You clearly have a culture problem that needs to be addressed immediately.'   

Jess Bell also seemed to agree that there was a problematic culture at the dealership, writing that she had complained to the dealership in the past about 'one of your employees harassing me from multiple Facebook accounts.'

She allegedly contacted the dealership's management 'and nothing was done about it.

'Your sincere apology to this woman is complete BS,' she said, ''cause had you not been called out on social media, you wouldn't have done anything.' 

Shonda Hodge, meanwhile, commented that it 'Sounds like y'all need some processes in place to approve your social media posts. This is NOT OK and the obligatory apology isn't landing.

'Try by actually doing better,' she said. 'You should take that car back and give her any monies that she gave you back as well.

'What a horrible experience,' she concluded. 'Let her witness real joy in buying her first car.' 

The dealership's rating on Google has since dropped, with many one-star ratings added on Friday, according to the Fayetteville Observer, and Bethune told WTVD she has been overwhelmed by the nationwide response.

She said she is considering taking legal action against the dealership.