SAN FRANCISCO—When Larry Jacobs started his career as a firefighter for the San Francisco Fire Department in 2005, he and two other African American firefighters were subjected to racial hazing at the hands of his fellow trainees at the San Francisco Fire Academy in the Treasure Island Training Facility. One such menial task they had him performed was to clean toilets with a toothbrush. They segregated him from joining the other trainees during mealtimes as well, so Jacobs had to eat in his vehicle. He was referred to by the other trainees as ‘houseboy,’ ‘cleaning boy’ or ‘this houseboy.’ In 2013, Jacobs won $175,000 settlement for racial discrimination.

In the following years, he was passed over for promotions five times, alleging he spoke up about the fire academy incidents. Now retired

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