Business Ethics Class Presentation - Racism in Workplace

racial discriminationracial discriminationAny distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent,

or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of

human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

African American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)

“ “Rosa Parks

People always say that I didn't give

up my seat because I was tired, but

that isn't true. I was not tired

physically, or no more tired than I

usually was at the end of a working

“ “usually was at the end of a working

day. I was not old, although some

people have an image of me as being

old then. I was forty-two. No, the

only tired I was, was tired of giving

in.

Montgomery, Alabama

December 1, 1955

Racism In The Workplace

Happened 1996. Nearly four decades after American Civil Rights.

Wayne A. ElliottLockheed Martin Corp.

Military-aircraft production facilities. Marietta, Ga.

1996

African American

Being called “boy”

“Kiss my butt”

Collecting parts to be boxed – walking around 10 miles

a day

Workers Against

DiscriminationDiscrimination

“Back“Back--toto--Africa tickets”Africa tickets”Just sprinkle this dingy black dust on any sidewalk and piss on it, and,

presto! Hundreds of n—s spring up!presto! Hundreds of n—s spring up!

Hangmans’ noose threat

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux KlanSeveral past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally

in the southern states, that are best known for advocating white supremacy and acting as

vigilantes while hidden behind conic masks and white robes.

Founded in 1865 by veterans of the Confederate Army.

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan

“We do not tolerate, nor have we ever tolerated,

harassment or discrimination of any form. We take

such complaints very seriously, and we always have

investigated them and taken appropriate action wheninvestigated them and taken appropriate action when

needed.”

Sam Grizzle – Lockheed spokesman

Minority employment grew by 36%.

However, racial harassment charges have However, racial harassment charges have

jumped by 100% since 1990.

“It’s like rape, which everyone kept silent about before.”

SilenceSilenceWhy nobody wants to talk about it?

Racial harassment allegations can be so embarrassing and

pose a difficult challenge for companies

“It’s just a joke”

“Those weren’t racial remarks”

“You are exaggerating”

RevengeRevengeReason why helps rarely there

Whites who stand up for co-workers also can run into trouble

“They are trying to make you in-subordinate, to create an

excuse to fire you.”excuse to fire you.”

Escalate the

problem?

Milton Friedman

Keep silent?

ConsequencesConsequences

What are the impacts?

Who got the disadvantages/loss?

DeontologyDeontology

Company Point of View –

What should the management level do?

The Victim Point of View –

What are the rights of man?

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1966

Human NatureHuman Nature

What should a man do toward the others?

Basic Human RightsBasic Human Rights

“ ““I did not want to be mistreated, I did not want to be

deprived of a seat that I had paid for. It was just

time... there was opportunity for me to take a stand

to express the way I felt about being treated in that

manner. I had not planned to get arrested. I had

plenty to do without having to end up in jail. But

when I had to face that decision, I didn't hesitate to

do so because I felt that we had endured that toodo so because I felt that we had endured that too

long. The more we gave in, the more we complied

with that kind of treatment, the more oppressive it

became.”

Rosa Parks

“States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate

racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the

right of everyone, without distinction as to race, color, orright of everyone, without distinction as to race, color, or

national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law”

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms

of Racial Discrimination