Workplace discrimination based on race and national origin are unfortunately still somewhat common. Applicants seeking jobs and those pursuing advancement opportunities with their current employers may face discrimination.
Racial discrimination may manifest as either racism or colorism. Employees may need to be aware of what differentiates these two forms of discrimination to more effectively assert themselves.
Employers shouldn’t consider race when hiring
Racism involves applying stereotypes and prejudices to individuals on the basis of their racial background. Negative racial stereotypes can contribute to racial discrimination against certain applicants seeking new jobs or better positions within a company. Typically, racism involves people from one race or culture judging those from another group.
Colorism is different
Those who have experienced racism before might be eager to look for employment opportunities at a business run by people of the same ethnicity as them. What they may not anticipate is the colorism that they might face.
Colorism involves judging people based on the color of their complexion or the type of hair that they have. For example, light-skinned workers at a company with many Black employees might find themselves excluded or facing a hostile work environment because of their perceived privilege. Others might judge members of the same race and culture due to particularly dark skin or other features, such as 4C hair.
Both colorism and racism can cause workplace racial discrimination. Workers who have documentation affirming that they experience mistreatment or lost opportunities because of their protected characteristics may have grounds to take legal action.
Recognizing that unlawful racial discrimination may be committed from people of other races or the same race can help workers assert themselves if they face certain kinds of unfair treatment on the job.