Billie Banks, a Black woman, began working for General Motors in 1985. From 1996, she worked at GM's Lockport Plant. She took medical leave in 2006 and 2014 to recover from stress and depression incurred from working there.

Suing GM for subjecting her to a hostile work environment and race and sex discrimination, Banks provided evidence that a manager called her by racial slurs, that Confederate flags were depicted on cowokers' vehicles and clothing, and that nooses were displayed near black employees' work stations.