How to Prevent Racism in the Workplace

The article provides an in-depth step-by-step instructions on how to prevent racism in the workplace. First, the company should write an anti-discrimination policy that addresses racism, including the consequences for acts of racism, in the workplace. Further, the company should hire employees of all races and ethnic groups and make them aware of the policy against racism and discrimination during the hiring process. Employees should be promoted based on merit and race and other irrelevant factors should not be considered. Employees should be trained on racism and discrimination yearly to be reminded on how to conduct themselves in the workplace. An anti-discrimination committee focusing on anti-racism projects should be established. Additionally, team-building sessions should be held as they will provide a chance for employees to learn more about each other. If any instances of acts of racism occur, they should be handled and treated identically according to the anti-discrimination policy. This ensures all other employees that the person in charge is acting on an unbiased foundation that is fair and just and intolerable of such behaviors and actions. Further, open communication should be highly encouraged in the workplace as this will promote employees to report any acts of racism. Lastly, the company should use an anonymous reporting system to report racism so employees do not fear or retaliate.

Although this is one of several many articles that provides some sort of procedure or advice on how to prevent racism in the workplace, I do not believe this will get rid of racism in the workplace altogether. Racism exists outside of the workplace and it gets brought to work because we live in a society filled with thoughts and acts of racism. I think the solution to preventing racism in the workplace goes deeper than simply thinking of how to remove it directly from the workplace, but how to eliminate it innately.

Frost, Shelley. How to Prevent Racism in the Workplace. Chron. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved from: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/prevent-racism-workplace-10258.html

Their Moving and Powerful Words...

What Charde Hunt-Jeanty, Christina Watts, and Desire Marshall had to say in the video and in class was extremely moving and powerful. Their voices were full of strong emotion. I was able to feel the anger, yet passion, they felt towards the issue at hand. However, that leads to one of the topics that they brought up during the discussion: black women and the anger they carry and voice. One of the guest speakers was explaining how black women are not "allowed" to be angry, where if they were to try to strongly address a matter, they are often told to "calm down." Further, one of the guest speakers was describing her childhood: her mother raised her to never express her anger and to always stay calm because it had a strong association to being an African American and her mother wanted to assimilate her into a "white" lifestyle. I can't help but feel so angry at this and how wrong it is that an individual would not want to express her real emotions just because society says she can't, or that society will judge her if she does. I truly believe that everyone should be able to freely express themselves in whatever manner they desire, especially if they feel strongly about a certain matter.

Chris Rock: "You're damn right Hollywood is racist"

After six weeks of silence, Chris Rock addressed the #OscarsSoWhite controversy during his monologue at the Oscars. He explained how there is a lack of ethnic and gender diversity in Hollywood. Not a single minority was nominated in any of the four categories for a second consecutive year. Despite the few jokes made by Chris Rock, there was great seriousness to the rest of his monologue, displaying his outrage from the issue. He speaks for many minorities in the industry when he expresses how the movie industry should be more inclusive in hiring and casting of minorities. Although we have actors and actresses from minority groups playing roles in movies and television, why are they seemingly not worthy enough of being nominated for the Oscars?

Griggs, Brandon. (29 February 2016). "Chris Rock: "You're damn right Hollywood is racist." CNN. Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/28/entertainment/chris-rock-oscars-so-white-feat/

Beyond Ferguson: Pop Culture Through the Lens of Race

Over the last few years, there has been a stronger representation of some minority groups, including women, African-Americans, the LGBT community, in the onscreen depiction. However, other minority groups, such as Latinos and Asian-Americans, have yet to progress as far. On one hand, we have critics and other viewers celebrate these cultural advances and then on the other hand, we have the crisis in Ferguson increasing racial tension in America and serving as a grim reminder that culture is further ahead than politics. Here, film serves as a great example.

Gittell, Noah. (22 August 2014). Beyond Ferguson: Pop Culture Through the Lens of Race. Rogerebert. Ebert Digital. Retrieved from: http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/beyond-ferguson-pop-culture-through-the-lens-of-race

The Case Against Racial Colorblindness in the Workplace

Experimental research by Michael I. Norton and his colleagues at Harvard Business School shows that ignoring race to overcome prejudice is an ineffective strategy that only helps perpetuate racial bias. Many companies adopt a "colorblindness" strategy, where they ignore racial differences when creating policies and making organizational decisions, to prevent discrimination and prejudice. However, many people do notice racial differences in each other. To test this phenomenon, Norton and several colleagues conducted an experiment to measure individuals' tendencies towards attempted racial colorblindness.

HBS Working Knowledge. (20 January 2013). The Case Against Racial Colorblindness in the Workplace. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2013/01/20/the-case-against-racial-colorblindness-in-the-workplace/#583cfe4a1c20