• Google has settled a racial bias lawsuit for $50 million.
• Over 4,000 employees are covered in the preliminary settlement.
• The lawsuit alleges a "racially biased corporate culture" at Google.
• Black employees represented only 4.4% of Google's workforce in 2021.
• Lawyers for the plaintiffs may seek up to $12.5 million in fees.

Google has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of systemic racial bias against Black employees. This preliminary settlement, covering more than 4,000 current and former employees in California and New York, has been filed in the Oakland federal court and is pending judicial approval, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and India Times.

The lawsuit claims that Google has fostered a "racially biased corporate culture" where Black employees are often steered into lower-level positions, paid less, and denied opportunities for advancement. According to the complaint, only 4.4% of Google's workforce and 3% of its leadership positions were held by Black employees in 2021, as highlighted by Reuters and India Times.

The lead plaintiff, April Curley, alleged that she was denied promotions and labeled as an "angry" Black woman, ultimately leading to her termination after six years. Curley was fired while preparing a report on observable racial bias within Google's practices, which she described as an ongoing systemic issue, as reported by Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Furthermore, the lawsuit details claims that Google management used terms like "not Googley enough" to undermine Black employees, which the plaintiffs argue were employed as racial dog whistles. The case against Google began in March 2022 after investigations by the California Civil Rights Department into the treatment of Black female employees, according to India Times.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs may seek up to $12.5 million from the settlement fund for their fees. They also recently dismissed related claims on behalf of job applicants after reviewing evidence and Google's defenses, as detailed by Reuters and Channel News Asia.