How do you combat a two-front battle?

I have addressed my concerns in my previous poat. However, I believe that it is better if I further explain my predicament. I am an African-American male flight attendant. In the environment wherein I am employed, not only am I viewed as an anomaly but I often have to be reminded that as an African-American male employed in a position which was once exclusively reserved for Caucasian females that I had better be careful and mind my place! I have been told on several occasions that I would be better suited to work as a ramp agent or operations agent. Not because of my abilities, I have received several letters-of-accomodations, but because of my ethnicity. As I stated in my previous post, I work in a racially-biased and often hostile environment. racial epithets, jokes, comments (especially about President Obama), are par for the course and about as common as are the peanuts served upon the flights! I have trained myself to avoid heated debates about sensitive issues as well as the remarks and comments made as people of color board the aircraft. However, how does one ignore being physically assaulted? What is more hurtful is that I recently discovered that not only must I fight against my employer, but I must also battle the local of my union! I have recently been suspended from my job for complaining to management about being harassed and physically assaulted. Although I was supposed to receive union defense, my union sided with my employer and agreed that the company would be much better off without me present. I have been forced to ask for assistance from outside the local. However, this too has been fruitless. The director of air transport appears to distance himself from issues involving racism, racial bias. Especially when it involves union support or the lack thereof. There was a time when workers were forced to endure hardship at the workplace. During the early years of the 20th century, women struggled in sweatshops and other demeaning jobs without support or the opportunity to speak out against the abuses. African-American, Irish, Jewish, Asians, etc. workers of various nationalities and ethnicities were forced to endure ridicule, abuse, and other demeaning and deplorable incidents at work without aid or assistance. Some view me as crazy for speaking out against my employer. However, after ignoring and subsequently allowing several years of abuse, it became necessary to voice my displeasure with the hostilities, the racism, and the bias. Unlike the victims of the past, we, employees, now how gained the ear and assistance of governmental factions wherein we can launch our complaints in hope of a resolution. Albeit, sometimes this too is an action of futility. Nevertheless, one must use every option which is available to him/her when confronting workplace harassment and hostility. Realizing that the local of my union is nothing more than an appendage of my employer, how do I combat these two forces? How do I expect my union to defend me when it sidea itself with management? During my most recent meeting, my union representative agreed with management on so many critical points that I began to address him as though he were speaking for management! I am certain that there are others who are in similiar situations and who feel as lost and desolate as I do. Alas, there is some silver lining out there somewhere. There may be an attorney who isn't afraid to challenge a company as large and powerful as the airline industry. I have spoken to many attorneys who realize that I do have a case (Discrimination based upon retaliation for my engaging in protected activity under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964). However, these same attorneys realize that it would be a long, hard fought battle due to the 'deep pockets' of my employer. I have filed a charge with the EEOC and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. I will not give up. Nor will I give in to the pressure and abuses of my employer. I will accept any assistance one can provide.

Thank you, kindly

'Joe'