By passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the US government essentially revolutionized anti-discrimination laws and related practices throughout the United States (Fox and Terri 108). As a result, being involved in any form of employment discrimination based on gender or race was declared illegal. This notwithstanding, cases of gender and racial discrimination are still rampant in the United States. Apparently gender and racial disparity as witnessed in employment has its origins in a questionable education system. Apparently, it is the responsibility of the US government to have the problem effectively addressed. In doing so, it may be necessary for the government to involve other stakeholders.
Evidence exists to show that African Americans and other minority citizens are frequently subjected to serious discrimination when seeking employment. Apparently, this does not stop even after they get employed. They are compelled to take up low status jobs, receive meager salaries than their white counterparts, and experience sexual harassment from malicious white colleagues who never get punished. Although the US government has made attempts to address this problem, efforts are yet to bear fruit.
This paper discusses the effect of gender and racial disparity on the employment rate among African Americans and concludes by making recommendations on how best to deal with the challenge.
Effects of Gender on the Employment Rate of African Americans
Ordinarily, most employers tend to give very convincing explanations for whatever actions they take regarding African American men or women employees (Clayton, Mincy, and Blankenhorn 133). Research, however, indicates that these explanations are given in a biased manner and are based on gender and race discrimination. While whites or male employees who are found guilty of any offense may easily be pardoned, the same can not be said about African American or female employees in similar situations (Madden 1). In the same way, white or male employees who possess certain qualifications may move quickly up the ranks unlike female employees with the same kind of qualifications.
Many African American women have complained bitterly about being sidelined in employment as well as in the housing market. Whereas whites or male employees are able to access housing more easily, it is extremely difficult for African Americans or women in general. Although one would expect things to be slightly different when it comes to pregnancies and child care, it is never the case (Madden 1). White female employees receive better treatment during pregnancies and child care unlike African American female employees.
Apparently, cases of gender discrimination are likely to be encountered more in the public than in the private sector. Most employees who have been victims of gender or racial discrimination in employment have often complained about being fired unfairly or being denied a promotion despite being qualified or even over-qualified for a given position (Madden 1). Generally, cases that involve upward mobility at the work place or harassment are small in number and are mostly encountered in the public sector.
According to past research findings, statistics about the employment of African Americans are not pleasing at all. Labor officers have noted that most unemployed people in the United States are of African American origin (Weatherspoon 1). While job opportunities for white Americans have continued to increase, there has been a major decline in employment opportunities for African Americans. In addition, African Americans lucky to get employed are made to compelled take up low status jobs and receive lower salaries than white employees with the same credentials.
Although done covertly, sexual harassment is also a common challenge that is faced by most African Americans who manage to secure jobs. Ostensibly, the harassment is based on either one’s race or gender (Weatherspoon 1). This has led to most African Americans choosing to remain unemployed rather than be subjected to such humiliation to protect their dignity. Some have, however, opted to continue with their jobs so as to be able to fend for their families albeit at a very costly price.
Effect of Racial Disparity on the Employment Rate of African Americans
Although good education is necessary for one to get a well paying job, studies indicate that the US education system is biased and does not favor African Americans. Those who happen to excel in schools are impacted negatively by life and social factors to such an extent that they end up performing dismally (Frierson, Wyche & Pearson, 2009). Often, many African Americans succumb to social pressures and take a completely different turn from the educational system. Unfortunately, no one has taken time to develop a comprehensive plan to motivate African Americans to stay in schools and excel. Unlike any other group in the United States, African Americans have the highest school drop out rates. This in turn affects their graduation rate which is very low compared to that of white Americans.
African Americans are also disproportionately suspended and expelled from school and placed in special education classes. The high rate of absence from pre-college and advanced classes implies that they miss out in so many ways and are thus not well prepared to compete effectively with their white counter parts in the job market. They end up obtaining grade point averages that are lower than those of white students and generally have lower scores on educational achievement tests. At every stage of the educational system, African Americans appear to be negatively impacted. Ostensibly, the unfair treatment of African Americans in public schools has a direct correlation to how they are treated during job interviews.
As the discussion above indicates, racial discrimination in the United States has denied many African Americans the opportunity to enjoy equality at the workplace. To a large extent, the unfair treatment received by African Americans during their days in school place them at a disadvantaged position unlike their white counter parts. Their efforts to obtain better grades are frustrated at every stage of the educational system leaving some of them with no option but to drop out of the school system in order to seek other means of survival. Although some African Americans work extremely hard to be at par with the whites, they are still subjected to impartial treatment in employment which makes it so hard for them to advance in their careers.
Unlike their white counter parts, they are never given a good chance to practice what they learn in school. They are given low status jobs with meager salaries unlike whites with similar qualifications. Consequently, skills acquired are never fully developed. Because of how they are treated in schools, employers generally view African Americans as inferior to white Americans. Although research indicates that the best way to deal with racial disparity at the work place is to ensure that African Americans continue to receive education and relevant training, this has not been taken seriously.
The American criminal justice system has also contributed greatly to the suffering of African Americans. Despite the fact that African Americans make up only 12 per cent of the American population, they account for close to 28% of prisoners in the United States. Law enforcement officers have been accused of arresting African Americans unfairly and looking for every minor opportunity to do so. The situation is not different in the courts either. When arraigned in courts, the biased criminal justice system ensures that they end up behind bars. Once released from prison, African Americans face a number of hurdles if they choose to go back to employment. They come out of prison with a damaged reputation that haunts them for the rest of their lives.
The high number of arrests among African Americans creates an impression that most African Americans are dangerous criminals who can not be trusted (Miller 16). They are thus treated with so much suspicion during job interviews and if employed, they can only get low status jobs with meager salaries. Racial disparity in the criminal justice system is also partly to blame for the poor treatment that African Americans are subjected to in schools. Interference with their education is responsible for poor performance and this leads to them being rated very low in the job market. Unfortunately, the impact is felt by all including young children who are yet to begin school.
By and large, African American males are perceived to be trouble makers due to the stereotypes that have been created at different levels in the American society (Weatherspoon 1). Sadly, this is happening because of the biased treatment of African Americans by law enforcement officers and members of the criminal justice system. They are often arrested for very flimsy reasons and due to the on unfair judgments delivered in the court rooms, they end up in prison. Their development efforts are thus affected as a result of being locked away for a very long time and if they ever leave the prison walls alive, they have to start all over again. Unfortunately, beginning afresh is never easy for a number of reasons. They are generally viewed negatively by the society and everything they do is treated with so much suspicion.
An important factor to consider in all these is the economic alienation of African American men (Miller 24). The combination of education deficiencies, restricted educational funds, and criminal records make the employability of African Americans really difficult. Consequently, they are faced with serious challenges and are unable to provide for their families. This can easily lead to frustrations or even increased rate of criminal activities among the African Americans. In turn, increased crime rate will make the United States insecure.
Considering that this is a national problem, it is imperative for the US government to make every effort to restructure its systems and effectively address the challenges of gender and race disparity. Since some of the identified problems may continue unnoticed, the government of the United States must do a thorough job and leave nothing to chance. Every guilty organization or individual must be put on notice to stop promoting any form of discrimination that will leave many lives ruined.
Conclusion
The US education system has a big role to play in ensuring that African Americans are treated fairly. As has been explained in this paper, the kind of treatment received by African Americans as they go through the education system is very discouraging and compels them to settle for less unlike their white counterparts. Unless there are dramatic institutional changes in both private and public school systems, the growth and development of African Americans will continue to suffer. Although this is a daunting task, it must be undertaken at all costs by the government and all stakeholders in order to safeguard the innocent in the society. Failure to do so will leave many at the mercy of greedy individuals who only care about themselves.
Another concern that must be addressed so as to protect African Americans in the job market has to do with the way the US criminal justice system operates. On various occasions, African Americans have been arrested and jailed unfairly for different offences. As a result, the population of African Americans in US prisons is quite high in comparison to that of whites. When these arrestees are released, they leave prison with a felony on their record which limits their employability. If they were convicted of a drug offense, they may be denied federal grants or loans to advance their education in order to better their chances of doing better in future. Without access to better education, it is very likely that the problems experienced by African Americans will continue. The intervention by the US government is thus very critical in restoring sanity within the American society.
Considering that the United States takes pride in being a nation that respects diversity, it is important to take a strict stance that would guarantee fairness to all within the criminal justice system. The US government must see to it that the criminal justice system is fair and credible enough to be trusted by all citizens. The system must operate without showing favoritism to any individual based on gender or race. Any member of the criminal justice system found guilty must be held accountable and be subjected to serious scrutiny.
The same must apply for law enforcement officers. Every American charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order must do so with utmost care. Any law enforcer found guilty of showing partiality to African Americans as far as arrests are concerned should be made to account for his or her actions. The responsibility of caring for all Americans regardless of gender or race is a major task that the US government must perform in a dignified way. By so doing, the safety of African Americans and other minority groups in the United States will be guaranteed.
As explained earlier, it is imperative for the government of the United States to deal with offenders radically in order to protect all its citizens. Those who are found guilty must be called to account for their actions. Considering that dealing with some of these problems requires the involvement of many stakeholders, the US government should create a forum to engage with them. This will make it possible for the government to leverage the strengths of other stakeholders and ensure that better results are realized in the end.
Works Cited
Clayton, Obie, Ronald Mincy, and David Blankenhorn. Black Fathers in Contemporary American Society: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Strategies for Change. Russell Sage Foundation, 2006. Print.
Fox, Suzy, and Lituchy, Terri. Gender and the Dysfunctional Workplace. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011. Print.
Madden, Janice. “The Face of Discrimination: How Race and Gender Impact Work and Home Lives (Review).” Social Forces 87.4 (2009): 2218 – 2220. Web.
Miller, John. The Pentecostal Feminism of Elizabeth V. Baker. Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest, 2009. Print.
Weatherspoon, F. D. “Remedying employment discrimination Against African- American males: Stereotypical Biases Engender a Case of Race Plus Sex Discrimination.” Washburn Law Review 36 (1996): 23 – 87. Web.