Recently in Discrimination Category

A 2003 study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago Graduate school of Business, based on "black sounding" names, (e.g., Lacreesha, Sharnita, Taiqwondoleeza) versus "white sounding" names, (e.g., Meghan, Bethany, Rebecca Anne.)

Researchers surveyed the employer resume selection process, and discovered names which were perceived as black sounding were 50 percent less likely to get a response from a prospective employer.

The research study involved the mailing of 500 resumes to companies in response to 1,300 job advertisements listed in the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune newspapers. Four resumes were sent for each ad where two resumes would have "black sounding names;" one pseudo "black" applicant with adequate qualifications and the other pseudo "black" applicant with inadequate skills. Pseudo "white" applicants with comparable levels of qualifications were submitted for consideration on employment.

According to CBSNews.com:
"White names got about one callback per 10 resumes; black names got one per 15. Carries and Kristens had call-back rates of more than 13 percent, but Aisha, Keisha and Tamika got 2.2 percent, 3.8 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively. And having a higher quality resume, featuring more skills and experience, made a white-sounding name 30 percent more likely to elicit a callback, but only 9 percent more likely for black-sounding names."

The study also uncovered the fact that self-professed "equal opportunity employers" companies were guilty, too, of name discrimination during this research process.

Is there a lesson here? Run your own business or think twice about the naming of your children?

Reference:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/29/national/main575685.shtml
'Black' Names A Resume Burden? Study: 'Black-Sounding' Names Prompt Fewer Job Callbacks
http://www.povertyactionlab.com/papers/bertrand_mullainathan.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of four guards at New York’s Grand Central Station. The guards say they were disciplined because they didn’t tuck their dreadlocks into their uniform caps, and they suit is being filed alleging they were discriminated against, because the employer policy violates their Rastafarian beliefs. Now they know that they ain’t no Rastas…j/k. But, seriously, everyone with dreadlocks, obviously are not Rastafarians.

The men contend that their Civil Rights were violated. Do you think they have a case?

There are charges of racism and discrimination in the United States Secret Service in a federal lawsuit brought by black employees, and tonight the story airs on “"Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. ET.

According to ABC News:

“The Secret Service flatly rejects the allegations, but the lawsuit has led to the discovery of troubling internal e-mails circulated among senior Secret Service managers.

One video e-mail attachment depicts an interracial couple — a black man and a white woman — lying on the ground kissing, and then rolling over onto a white sheet. The shot then reveals a group of Ku Klux Klan members surrounding the couple and a burning cross.

That video, according to court documents, made the rounds among senior Secret Service agents.

One of the agents who was recently on the detail of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is under investigation for allegedly sending a January 2005 e-mail that included a crude sexual joke about blacks and American Indians.” READ MORE...

Photo Credit:
ABC News

There are reports with the source stemming from Fashionista, that top photographer Steven Meisel wrapped up photo shoots for the rumored issue. It sounds like there may be an all black model issue of Vogue Italia in the making. If true, this issue is sure to break barriers and fuel further discussion on discrimination and diversity within the fashion industry.

Out of curiosity I would probably buy a copy. It would most likely become a collector's item. And I HOPE this won't be a case of "we gave them what they want, now let them shut up," then carry on business as usual, with very little representation of black models in their publications. At best, this will be a signal of change. Therefore, I will risk betting on the side of optimism.

Fashionista reports:

This just in from a source:

xoxo.

Reference:
Fashionista
Black is finally in fashion at Vogue

The Fort Wayne, Indiana company settled an U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) age, race, and retaliation lawsuit. The company will have to pay total of $580,000 and up to $5,000 in settlement administrative expenses. It doesn’t pay to discriminate, IF you get caught.

According to the EEOC: “Renhill Services, Inc. violated federal law by failing to refer African American applicants and applicants age 40 for work assignments. Further, the EEOC said, Renhill unlawfully retaliated against employees who objected to these referral practices.” READ MORE...

HOW IRONIC? As soon as you click on Renhill's website there is a large image of a BLACK woman on the homepage, then photos of others flash. She's the first face you see.

Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is featured in two EEOC Anti-Discrimination PSA. Follow the jump to see the video.

Natasha Kelly, a 34-year-old doctoral student, says she was evicted from an apartment in Osnabrueck, Germany, because the neighbors objected to her being black and single parent. She has a 12 year old daughter, was given an eviction notice in December and is suing her landlord for discrimination and €10,000 ($15,800) in damages.

Boy did her landlord put a foot in his mouth and was quoted in the Tageszeitung newspaper: "Some of the other tenants are unhappy about the colour of your skin and your personal situation as a single mother. Some of the elderly ones have been here for 40 years and I cannot ask them to leave."

Kelly, a British woman who grew up Germany told tthe same newspaper: "I have been turned away before when I tried to rent an apartment because I am black, but I have never been thrown out because of it afterwards. If it were just me, I would have stayed and seen this out to the bitter end, but I do not want my child to grow up in a racist environment." READ MORE...

Reference:

The Local

Here is an excerpt of a copy of a discrimination complaint letter that I received from a person who says he is an African-American U.S. Army pilot. In the letter, he alleges racial discrimination in the Army, particularly in the Aviation unit. I returned an email back to the Army address on the letter, and received a response, so I will assume it is a genuine complaint from the person who replied listed in the file.

Read the letters addressed to Senator McCain, Senator Hillary Clinton, and the President(which does not have the President’s name on it). It is just addressed as the “President.” I do not know what to tell bruh, on an individual basis alone, it is hard to take on any large entity, let alone the U.S. government. This subject matter doesn’t get the media excited unless a powerful name is somehow entangled in these allegations. This sounds like stories 60 Minutes used to cover.

And I guess I am naive when it comes to the military, because I have most often heard, color does not matter much in the military, especially when you are out there on the battlefield. All for one, one for all, however, I have never served in the U.S. Armed Services, therefore, I don't have first hand experience.

The link to the letters is above the image. I have to ponder on this one and will add more comments later. Anyone care to comment?

A Kip's Bay nightclub reached a settlement agreement in a Manhattan, NY federal court. They agreed to pay a $35,000 fine. Prosecutors had charged that the club discriminated against black patrons.The club manager Lindy Tsetseranos denies the club is racist. "That doesn't discriminate against anyone."

However, the club was accused of denying admission to black patrons who wore "urban wear" or "hip hop" clothing, such as Sean John, Rocawear shirts, and Nike Air Force I sneakers, but let whites in with the same clothing on.

Reference:

NY Daily News