Running Head: JOB DISCRIMINATION

Racial Discrimination in the Workplace: A Review of the Literature

Taylor Brie Walker
Hampton University

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Abstract

Racial discrimination is known as unfair behavior towards a person or group of people

based on their cultural background or the color shade of their skin. In America, it is said
that there has been a significant amount of remarkable job offers given to minorities;
however, most of them face racial discrimination and are denied. This literature review
will notify the reader about the meaning, causes, effects, and preventions of job
discrimination. A statistical survey and online sources will be used to determine the
accuracy of racial discrimination playing a part in the workplace and the harm it creates
to the people and the company.

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Racial Discrimination in Workplace: A Review of the Literature

Racial discrimination is treating someone adversely due to his or her race. This conduct
occurs in employment between managers and minority employees or Caucasian workers
and minority coworkers. The selection of people usually targeted is African Americans
and Hispanics. Situations including firing, hiring, promotions, payments, job
classification and harassment are signs that the victim is being racially discriminated.
These conditions cause negative impacts on the victim and possibly on the offender. To
avoid this problem, all of these elements are forbidden under anti-discrimination laws in
the United States.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination
against individuals in employment on the basis of race, color, sex or ethnicity. The law
seeks to protect job applicants as well as contemporary workers. Even those who are
racially discriminated are said to be safe under the law as well. Although this law has
been enforced for years now, racial discrimination still exists today. The reason it is
currently still alive is due to the economy, financial issues, and a deficiency in diversity
exercise. To receive a better knowledge about racial discrimination in the workplace and
solutions for it, there are four questions that need to be observed:
1. What is considered racial discrimination in the workplace?
2. What triggers racial discrimination in the work world and can it be prevented?
3. Does it have an impact on those who are racially discriminated and those
discriminating?
4. If there are anti-discrimination laws against it, why does it still occur?

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The succeeding review on literature will: give a better understanding on racial

discrimination in the workplace; examine the causes and avoidance of the issue; explain
the effects it has on workers as well as the company; and inform the audience on the antidiscrimination laws and the reason it still occurs today.
What is considered racial discrimination in the workplace?
Learning the definition of racial discrimination in employment is vital in order to decide
the precision it has in the working environment and on the people involved. In an article
titled, The Sociology of Discrimination: Racial Discrimination in Employment,
Housing, Credit and Consumer Markets scholarly supporters give a two part explanation
on the subject (Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). They pointed out that racial
discrimination within the workplace could occur when there is differential impact and
disparate impact. According to Pager D. and Shepherd H. (2008), Differential
treatment occurs when individuals are treated unequally because of their race. Disparate
impact occurs when individuals are treated equally according to a given set of rules and
procedures but when the latter are constructed in ways that favor members of one group
over another. Figure 1 demonstrates an online survey created on SurveyMonkey known
as the Racial Discrimination At Work Survey. Sixteen people responded to the question:
Were you discriminated by a coworker or manager?(Walker, 2016). The results show
that 6.67% of the victims were discriminated by a coworker but 0.00% of them were
discriminated by a manager alone. It also illustrates that 60% of the victims were
discriminated by both a coworker and a manager. Lastly, 33.33% of the respondents were
not victims because they have never been discriminated before (See Figure 1).

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Figure 1
What triggers racial discrimination in the work world and can it be prevented?
There are several types of situations that are considered to be an example of racial
discrimination in the work world: hiring, firing, promotions, pay, job classification and
harassment. (Brantner, 2008). Job discrimination is triggered by prejudice, stereotypes
and racism. (Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). For example, a 2001 survey showed that
more than one-third of blacks and almost 20% of Hispanics and Asians had been denied a
job or promotion due to their ethnicity. (Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). Another study
by the National Bureau of Economic Research explained that names that sounded black
received a less amount of callbacks. (Muhammad, 2013). Lastly, a government source
states harassment can include racial slurs, offensive or derogatory remarks about a
persons race or color, or the display of racially offensive symbols.(EOCC). There is a
list of prevention tips by EOCC that are useful for employees being discriminated. These
practices include: respect cultural differences, be professional, refuse to initiate in
discrimination, avoid race-based humor training, familiarize yourself with workplace
policies and learn about anti-discrimination laws.(EOCC). In the Racial Discrimination

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At Work Survey, sixteen respondents answered the question: Did you take action in
preventing being discriminated?(Walker, 2016) The results proved that 46.67% of
people said yes and 20% said no. On the other hand, those who have not been
discriminated made up 33.33% (See Figure 2).

Figure 2
Does it have an impact on those who are racially discriminated and those
discriminating?
According to ESchoolToday, racial discrimination plays a role in physical and emotional
impacts; social and financial impacts; and business complications (2013). The website
describes that the impacts can lead to anxiety, sadness, depression, eating disorders,
stress, drug abuse, hatred for others and low company productivity (ESchoolToday,
2013). Lastly, the website states the reason for business complications: This is because
people feel disgruntled, and loose interest in working hard. There is a drop in morale,
trust, and confidence on the part of the employees. (ESchoolToday, 2013). David
Futrelle explained in Times Magazine that: Discrimination not only hurts them, it hurts
us all, as some of our best and bright players are unable to make their full contribution to

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our economy. (Futrelle, 2013). He also states that, those in the discriminated-against
groups cant bring their full talents to the table, languishing in jobs that are in many ways
beneath them, while less-talented members of more privileged groups take highpowered, high-paying jobs that are beyond their abilities, dragging down everyone with
their relative incompetence.(Futrelle, 2013). Figure 3 shows the results of the question:
How do you think the person discriminating felt? in the Racial Discrimination At Work
Survey. Out of the sixteen respondents: 46.67% agreed that the offender felt satisfaction,
13.33% said the offender felt regretful/shameful, and lastly 40% said they have not been
discriminated at all (See Figure 3). Overall, racial discrimination has negative effects on
the doer and the receiver.

Figure 3
If there are anti-discrimination laws against it, why does it still occur?
DOL (1999) states that there are two major anti discrimination laws: Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race,
color, sex, or ethnic origin and the Age of Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits
discrimination against employees 40 years and older.(DOL, 1999). Although these laws

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are in affect, there has been 99, 412 discrimination declares filed in the year of 2012.
(Finn, 2014) . Lisa Finn (2014) explains that persecution, lack of good behavior,
generation dissimilarities, and the deficiency of diversity plays a huge role on why racial
discrimination exists in the workplace. The author states that it is important for
employees to see higher-ups promoting employees of all races so that employees feel
accepted and valued.(Finn, 2014). She also states that generation dissimilarities lead to a
lack of variety in encounters that could potentially build unique work concepts (Finn,
2014). Dedrick Muhammad (2013) offers another solution for the victims: you can file a
Charge of Discrimination with the EOCC with the help of an attorney, in case laws do
not protect them. Sixteen respondents answered the question: If there are laws against
it, why does it still occur? in the Racial Discrimination At Work Survey (Walker, 2016).
Almost half of the respondents agreed, coworkers do not listen and do what they
want.(Walker, 2016). While 6.67% chose it is not strongly enforced at my job; 26.67%
chose I do not know; and 20.00% chose I have not been discriminated. (See Figure
4).

Figure 4

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Conclusion

Racial discrimination in the workplace has been occurring for years now and recent
research has shown that it will take time for it to diminish in America. It has left negative
impacts on the victim, as well as the business itself. The stronger laws are enforced, the
less likely a minority will face discrimination in the workplace. The online survey and
sources have given the meaning, effects and resolutions about job discrimination in
depth. All of the sources listed are useful tools to receive more statistics and data on the
topic.

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References

Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). The Sociology of Discrimination: Racial

Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Credit, and Consumer Markets. Annual Review
of Sociology, 34, 181209. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2915460/
Brantner, P. (2008). Your Rights: Racial Discrimination. Retrieved from
https://www.workplacefairness.org/race-discrimination#1
Finn, L. (2014). Reasons Why Discrimination Continues to Exist in the Workplace.
Global Post. Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/reasons-discriminationcontinues-exist-workplace-3054.html
Futrelle, D. (2013, Feb 19). Discrimination Doesnt Make Dollars, or Sense. Time.
EShoolToday. (2013). Your Cool Facts and Tips on Discrimination and Prejudice.
Retrieved from http://eschooltoday.com/discrimination-and-prejudice/effects-ofdiscrimination.html
EOCC. (2014, July 10). Types of Discrimination. Retrieved from
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/race_color.cfm
Muhammad, D. (2013, June 18). Workplace Discrimination. Huffington Post.
Walker, T. (2016, March 27). Racial Discrimination At Work Survey. Retrieved from
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7T9BZ55
DOL. (1999, August). Retrieved from
http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/herman/reports/futurework/conference/staffi
ng/9.7_discrimination.htm