Racism in the work environment.
Does it exist?
In this era of ambient information and sensitivity, where all companies pride themselves for stand for diversity, the question is someone racist or identifies racism in any setting can not be answered with a simple yes or no.
Racism still exists, but like technology, it had undergone rapid evolution, yet our methods and criteria for identifying racism stayed the same and became outdated.
Identifying Racism
I as a person of colour, working in the corporate world, experienced cases and scenarios where I even find myself puzzled is it or not. You might find my perimeters to identify hidden and modern racism in the work environment debatable, but If I feel the following happens just because of the colour of my skin, or the accent I speak with, I really don’t have to justify my feelings to any, neither you should.
Exclusion from internal meetings
Lack of trust, from senior team members.
Exclusion from presenting a concept or pitch to a client without rationale.
Someone else presenting your work to the team and client.
or let down from a job application where you meet all the skills and requirements but the company thinks you aren’t the right fit for the team.
My conclusion that if you feel and think you are a victim of modern racism, then you don't have to justify to anyone how you feel and why you feel it. It is a discrimination period.
How far we can go?
Your manager or HR will create a corporate and damage control narrative to justify, in order to protect business needs and its goals, and we will do the same as we have bills to pay, but I can’t help asking this question to myself and to you.
Are we simply working just to pay bills? or working to provide a better life and opportunities for ourselves and future generations of ours?
Imagine if our parents' generation thought the same, we would be in the same era of racism 50 years ago. If we don't solve the modern version of racism, then our children and future generations need face it.
So hold your ground and stand firm because you are not just fighting for yourself but for all of us and for the future generations to come.
Proving Racism
In this modern era, everything can be traced, Rasict are racist, and they are not ignorant, especially in the corporate world, no one will write something in an email, or any messaging app, that shows the true but hidden racism which links them.
But how do you prove to someone that you are the victim, Sadly I do not have a simple answer to this complex question, all I can advise is to be patient and create a journal and reasons around it and wait for the right moment and time.
All Above are my personal views. You have all the rights to disagree.