Racial Discrimination in Modern World

Racial discrimination occurs when an individual is treated less favorably than someone else in a similar situation due to their race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, or immigrant status. Members of racial and ethnic minorities continue to fight for equal access and opportunity, especially during times of stringent economic conditions. Often, the targeted race faces more difficulties, such as acquiring a well-paid job or housing. Racial prejudice and stereotypes continue to negatively impact job opportunities in this country. Prejudice is pervasive across all areas of employment.

In response to discrimination, particularly in the United States, equal employment policies have been established. Despite these policies, it remains unclear if employers, when faced with visibly similar African American and white applicants, favor the latter. Racial inequality persists in the US job market. Compared to whites, African Americans are twice as likely to be unemployed, and earn almost 25 percent less when they do find employment. There could be many reasons for this apparent difference such as education levels, societal norms on work, and race-based job discrimination. An African American candidate’s race certainly affects their job prospects. Resumes with white-sounding names receive 50 percent more callbacks than those with Black names.

It is well-known that the unemployment rate is inversely related to educational attainment: the more educated the workforce, the lower the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for blacks is 65 percent higher than that of whites. Even among households with similar income levels, blacks are more likely to live in economically depressed areas than whites, which would contribute to a higher unemployment rate. The overall U.S. unemployment rate is 9.1 percent. For white adults, it’s 8 percent, and for white teenagers, it’s 23 percent. Black adult unemployment stands at 17 percent, and for black teenagers, it’s 40 percent, over 50 percent in some cities.

“Racism, in the first place, is a weapon used by the wealthy to increase the profits they bring in by paying black workers less for their work,” stated Angela Davis. The researchers identified the wage negotiation process as a potential contributor to this trend through a series of experiments. In the initial study, participants completed a survey to determine their own racial bias. Then they reviewed resumes and headshots to measure the likelihood that hypothetical job seekers would negotiate their salaries. Participants who showed racial bias, the researchers found, assumed black job seekers would negotiate less than white ones. However, once put to the test, these evaluators believed that black job seekers negotiated more. As a result, they were “less willing to make concessions.” In other words, because their expectations were violated, they offered the black candidates less money.
The reality, after considering loads of information over the years, is that if you’re Black or of color in the U.S., you’re far from receiving an equivalent shake. Your efforts must be greater, stronger, and chances are you’ll still be treated worse. The deck is stacked against you even as you try aggressively and then people throw the results in your face. If you’re Black or of color, you have to work harder just to get an interview, even if you’re as qualified as White candidates.

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