Current Events

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

African Americans, New Jersey and Present-Day Race Discrimination

Discrimination against Blacks is not being eliminated as quickly or thoroughly as federal legislation of the 1960'S had envisioned. This is true in liberal and multi-cultural New Jersey, not just the traditionally more conservative states. According to one US government agency, shockingly, approximately one third of all state charges filed with it in New Jersey for year 2017 were for race discrimination.

Thankfully, many protected classes are receiving the benefits of both New Jersey State anti-discrimination statutes and Federal legislation designed to eliminate the cancer of discrimination against minorities. Unfortunately, sadly and ironically, African Americans, the group which originally inspired the Civil Rights Movement and resulting legislation of the 1960's, may experience discrimination and employment disparate treatment because of the color of their skin.

While it may be hard to comprehend for persons who have never experienced it, heinous blatant racism, including use of the N-word, may still be an everyday reality for some New Jersey workers.  I have successfully represented numerous employees who experienced heinous racial discrimination and harassment on the job, including a NJ public works employee who alleged that he was daily subjected to the "N-Word" on the job by his supervisor who repeatedly called him the "N-word" in speaking to him in place of his name. Not only Black men, but Black women in New Jersey also may be subjected to daily heinous racial discrimination, such a black female cafeteria worker who alleged that her white supervisor repeatedly called her the N-word. I filed a race discrimination lawsuit in her behalf under the NJLAD and this case also settled for six figures.

Recently in the news, Fanatics Retail Group, Inc., an online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise, including NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and NASCAR merchandise, is being sued for allegedly violating federal law by subjecting employees to blatant racial discrimination, harassment and retaliatory failure to promote.

In a press release issued two weeks ago, the lawsuit charges that the Fanatics' workplace was racially divided and that the company subjected employees to blatant racial slurs and comments such as, "We don't need any outbreak monkeys here." The suit also alleges illegal retaliation for complaining about the discrimination. When an employee complained about the treatment, he was told that he would never be promoted.

Race discrimination can be in the form of a failure to promote African Americans, disparity of pay and disparity of opportunities. Numerous studies corroborate that racial segregation occurs resulting in a disparity of income which is based along racial categories and that it is not limited to high income earning professions but is evident in "living wage" jobs as well.

If You Are Thinking of Simply Resigning

If you are thinking of simply resigning because of race discrimination in your workplace and/or because you notified your employer about racial harassment and no action was taken, you should contact an attorney experienced in employment law before you do so, to explore your legal options in the safest way for you.

What You Can Do

I am an aggressive and compassionate employment law attorney who is experienced in successfully representing persons who were subjected to racial harassment and retaliation in the workplace and/or were fired. If you have experienced racism at work, or if you reported it and no action was taken, if you are thinking of resigning, or think you will be fired, or have been fired, it is important that you consult with an attorney who is experienced in discrimination.

If you are being subjected to workplace discrimination, contact Hope A. Lang, Attorney at Law today for a free consultation.

Hope A. Lang, Attorney at Law serves clients throughout New Jersey, including Bergen, Middlesex, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Ocean, Union, Camden, Passaic, and Morris Counties with locations in southern, central, western and northern NJ to meet with clients.

 



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