Agha

MEMORANDUM *

Raed Agha, a Kuwaiti-born immigrant of Arab descent, appeals from the district court’s grant of summary judgment for defendant-appellee Rational Software Corporation (“Rational”) in this Title VII action. Agha seeks a trial on his federal and state claims that he was terminated improperly due to his race. We reverse in part and affirm in part.

The parties are familiar with the facts and we recite them here only as necessary. Agha was employed by Rational from August 2000 to November 2001 as a Corporate Account Representative (“CAR”). A CAR works on a sales team with software engineers, account executives, and a field sales representative, and each team is assigned a sales quota. Within a few months of Agha’s hiring, team members were reporting problems with his performance, including problems with his written English in e-mails to customers. His direct supervisor, Sales Manager Nora Drake (“Drake”), noted that Agha was tardy to meetings and in submitting reports. On the other hand, Agha was also complimented for doing a “great job” and for “always having such a great attitude.” Just a few months before he was terminated, Agha *749 was recognized for turning in the…