WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION?

Wait, Discrimination Again? 

The issue of discrimination and racism has been around for decades, and it would seem 

that it has no intent on leaving. With the civil rights act of 1964, taking place in 1964, who 

would think that here in 2020 we would be writing a paper on discrimination in the 

workplace. Great men went through great measures to implement this act and yet, some 

would say it has done nothing. The Financial Services Institute seems to lack diversity in its 

climate, why can’t we all just get along, should we make accommodations, and what’s the 

solution to working environments lacking diversity. 

First, let’s look at the facts of the Financial Service Institutes. According to Management 

9e, “Women represent approximately 29% of senior managers, Asians for 8%, and African 

Americans 6% (Kinicki).” Wait so, if we’re all good at math, that means white males are 

taking up 57%, yes correct. If the issue is truly diversity, are these number not okay? How 

else can you split a number perfectly other than dividing it by two. Sure, there is a dominant 

“category”, for lack of a better term, but would there be an issue if it was African Americans 

dominant or women? Here’s a fact for you, 91% of women are nurses (FaStaff Travel 

Nursing) and 74.4% of the National Basketball Association players were African American in 

the 2015-2016 season (Spears). Yet, we are not sitting here arguing for more white males to 

be in the National Basketball Association, nor are we telling nursing programs to allow more 

men into the industry. I strongly disagree with racism and will not tolerate it. However, I 

don’t believe in forcing changes in an industry because we do not see the right number of 

African Americans or females in that industry. 

Affirmative Action is a set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination 

among applicants. Affirmative Action first appeared in President Kennedy’s Executive Order 

10925 this order was created with great intention. However, in itself did it not enable 

discrimination. Companies being restricted on how many white males they are allowed to 

hire to allow diversity in the workplace. Is that not discrimination to the next white male, 

who may be more qualified, but because the business has reached its “quota” on white males 

and must enforce diversity. I love a diversified setting or climate, the most perfect example, 

the church. Most churches are full of a diverse crowd, and full of love for one another. Did 

these churches only allow a certain amount of each ethnicity to come to church in order to 

create the perfect diversified environment? If so, who made those decisions? I think diversity 

is great, but we should not be forced to implement diversity. If able, yes by all means 

diversify your business, team, congregation, and do not discriminate against any race. But do 

not implement regulations on business because they simply haven’t received any minority 

candidates. 

Second, we should not make accommodations for minorities to better influence diversity. 

Hopefully you can see that in creating accommodations for minorities, we are creating 

another minority, the un-accommodated. Bringing diversity to an undiversified environment 

is no easy task. Being the first to do anything, graduate college in your family, live past the 

age of 21, become a CEO, or be the first African American Baseball Player. Jackie Robinson 

was the first African American in the Major League Baseball, he was spit on, booed, 

purposely hit by the pitchers throw. There were no accommodations for Jackie in 1947 in the 

MLB. Nevertheless, he overcame, persevered, and adapted. That’s why his name is still talked 

about today, because it wasn’t easy for him, nor was he given accommodations, all he was 

given was a chance just like anyone else. Barack Obama became the first African American 

President in U.S history, and Michelle Obama the first lady. President Obama was allowed 

less votes because he was African American- oh wait, he wasn’t. The standard wasn’t lowered, 

nor did we go the extra mile to make him president because of his ethnicity, we simply gave 

him the same chance as anyone else. 

What glory story, or any man or women of great success starts off with accommodations, 

you will not find one. I think any and everyone should be given the same opportunities, 

chances, respect, and potential as anyone else no matter the race, ethnicity, gender, or 

disability. What I don’t believe is making accommodations for minorities, no matter who 

that may be. We can’t control what color we are, or what disabilities we have, therefor how 

can you lower the bar for some but yet maintain the standard for others? Is that not 

discrimination, “oh yeah you’re not a minority or disable so,” so what, full price, higher 

education requirements, more interviews, higher standards, more restrictions. Making 

accommodations for minorities or those who seem to be in need is not helping them, but 

only crippling them more, and digging a deeper hole. I do not think we should make things 

harder for minorities, or extremely difficult, just give them the same chance and opportunity 

as anyone else. You can only collect unemployment in Texas for 26 weeks, why? We know 

human nature, the idea is to get people back to work, get another job, because we know if 

not, they will collect unemployment forever, who wouldn’t. Accommodations will only 

encourage minorities to accept the lie that they are less, weaker, and need help. 

Last, so can we find a solution? In the U.S constitution it states that, “all men are created 

equal,” but are we? Why do some people aspire to be professional athletes, and others are 

only stars on the high school level? Some become CEO’s of companies and others are janitors 

at that same company. The solution is self-acceptance. Now, do not mistake acceptance for 

complacency. Acceptance is you knowing you’ve done everything within your own power, 

and this is the outcome. Complacency is scared of the challenges of life and remaining in the 

comfort zone. 

In conclusion, what does this have to do with the topic at hand you say? Glad you asked. 

How would I characterize the diversity climate and overall environment for women and 

minorities in the workforce? Almost perfect, people will become what they want, and we 

should not place limitations and restrictions on them. We should not be accommodated, 

paid, or discriminated because of our ethnicity, race, or gender but by the fruits of our labor. 

Do not set your goals or aspirations by what others have done, but by what you believe you 

can do. Be the first, or the second, or another face in the crowd. If a business discriminates 

against you, go to their competition. If someone says you can’t do it, prove them wrong. 

Why do we need programs, help, accommodations, special programs, we don’t we’ve only 

been told we do. 

Jeremy Ryan Swift