Racial Discrimination

 

Racial discrimination is treating people in a different manner because of their race.

Title VII and Chapter 21 prohibit discrimination on the basis of race. What does ''race'' mean under these statutes? While Title VII doesn't specifically define race, the Office of Management and Budget designates race to be any of these five groups or a combination of these groups:

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• White
• Asian

Note: Hispanic or Latino is not a race but rather a national origin.

Examples of discriminatory practices include:

• Employer allows whites, but not other races, to work overtime
• Employer assigns black employees to black neighborhoods, and white employees to white neighborhoods
• Employer relies on racial stereotypes (such as Asians are better at math) when deciding who should get hired or get a promotion
• Employer pays whites more than blacks who are doing the same work.

Racial harassment is a form of race discrimination. An employee who is subject to racial jokes, insults, or graffiti that is severe and pervasive may be suffering from a hostile environment. Title VII and Texas law protects the employee from racial harassment.