Why is it ok for African American people to discriminate against other races?

Question

I work with a group of 6 African American women who very in age from about 55 to 19 I myself am Hispanic. This group of women are not friendly with any other coworkers and at times are down right rude. As a group they are mean and hateful, they gossip about coworkers and make our work environment very difficult and unfriendly. I supervise this group of people and i see the things they do but its so sly its hard to pinpoint it. Employees from other departments that come here are all treated rudely by these staff unless they are African American. They have been talked to by our HR department but have denied any wrong doing. Stating they can prefer the company of any employees and we can not dictate to them who to be friends with. My boss said its "Cultural" so there’s nothing we can do about it. Is it ok for African Americans to discrimanate against co workers? As an employer is there nothing that can be done?

Answer 1

Some good points have been made, but I think you're confusing social discrimination with the legal form.

People engage in social discimination all the time- all people do it and it's not limited to any one group. Many Asian immigrants speak in their native language and don't befriend non-asians. Many Latinos prefer to hang with spanish-speaking groups. Some women discriminate against men who don't drive at least a Lexus or earn six figures, and are very rude to any others. Some followers of a particular religion aren't friendly to anyone who doesn't believe as they do, some artists and musicians don't really associate with non-creative types. Some vegetarians don't associate with meat-eaters, some athletes only associate with other jocks, not chess club members. Some environmental activists be very hostile to corporate employees and so on..

Fat, poor, nerds, goths - the subgroups are endless. People have their preferences and make choices about who they like or dislike from childhood onward.

The only place the law cares about this nonsense is when it comes to the government, housing and employment. The GOVERNMENT may not discriminate among people based upon sex, race or religion, LANDLORDS looking for tenants may not discriminate based upon race, etc. When a job opening is posted, candidates should be seen with a color-blind eye, no discriminating based on race, sex, marital status, age etc.

But no, the law does not require that people like everyone equally. As long as people do their jobs and don't interfere with anyone else doing theirs, that's all the company can require. You said it's hard to pinpoint, so it sounds like there's really not much of a problem. If they were not handling business matters involving other employees properly, that's very cut & dried, and is something the company WOULD address.

But their preferred circle of friends for smoking breaks and gossip? That's their own business- perhaps it's their loss, but ignorance and close-mindedness exists among all groups.

Answer 2

First of all. You are only talking about 6 african americans at your job. That does not represent the entire african american community. I have had experiences where this particular race has been rude and disrespectful towards me( I am hispanic). I believe it can definately be a cultural thing, however, their individual backgrounds and upbringings can make it worse. If this isreally bothering you, you shoudl try and change jobs or see what you can do to make things better. Fact is, you cannot change other people or wait and hope for these individuals to change overnight.
Kill them with kindness.....they will hate it!! But it can work.
IF not, ignore it....im sure that there are people you work with that you get along with .....

Answer 3

Prior to 1492, Native Americans roamed the plains of the vast lands that later became known as the United States of America. After the Europeans began their colonization and land confiscation, many changes occurred for the people who later became known as Native Indians/Native Americans. These changes occurred as a direct result of the actions of European settlers. Initially the new setters were seeking to compromise and establish mutually acceptable terms. Over time, those first inhabitants were deprived of their rights of land ownership with severe consequences to them. The American government began to conquer villages and tribal nations with the intent to make treaties with the Indians. These treaties would arbitrarily draw boundaries lines in favor of the government. The government became the landowner and force the Native Americans into land reserved and designated solely for them. This land later became known as Indian Reservations after this happened, the American Indians were not considered citizens. This was the precursor to the government forcing the Indians off their land and turning some into slaves, or prisoner of war. The annihilation of the American Indians began. The beginning of Columbus sparked a 400-year cycle and the exploitation, enslavement, and genocide has plagued the American Indians for centuries. In 400 years, a massive number of Indians have been exterminated through genocide. It is estimated that some 20 millions American Indian were killed during this time, and that being the lowest estimate. So you tell me if the Native Americans were discriminated against like the African Americans, as I can tell the African Americans have nothing to complain about.

Answer 4

Sound like those women are just plain b***s. It has nothing to do with them being African american. What does your boss mean thats its cultural??? Just because they are black they're naturally mean and hostile. Wow. I would hate to work with your company. Your entire office has some issues. LOL!! I wouldn't fit in because 1. I not like those women you work with and 2. those women wouldn't like me because I don't fit in with them.
Wow!! is all I can say. But from your standpoint I can see why its easy to make generalizations about the whole entire race.

I'm not shocked because I have heard this before. But it still gets under my skin. I asked a question on Y! answers about why do white people think that black people are are an angry race of people. Of course I got the standard canned response. "I like everybody so why are you making generalizations.?

So you really just proved and justified my point, although your a latina, but still.

Answer 5

Racism is a condition of control not color. It is easier for some to be racist because they do not consider themselves to be so. In true terms anyone can be a racist who uses the color of someone else to be a condition for controlling or demeaning them. It is racist for any group or person no matter what color they are to be demeaning or otherwise disrespectful simply because they don't like the color of your skin. Though we do not no the root of their racism, I should think it is probably the result of teaching by parents or perhaps a form of vengeance for the wrongs they perceive others have done them, others that may have been lighter skinned. It is a great flaw of humans that we tend to remember only the bad and few of the good things. For instance it is not commonly known that more blacks were involved in the slave trade than whites. Nor is it known that more whites were involved with the abolition of slavery and died in its end. It's easier to blame all, than to take each person as the person they are. The only thing that can be done is to try to be understanding and if possible let them know that the only one their hatreds are hurting are themselves.

Answer 6

It is never ok to be rude or hateful to anyone. It sounds to me like these employees are very biased against everyone. The other employees should not take their actions personal. All their attitude is showing is that they are very immature. They probably blame the white people of today for the slavery thing of long ago. That is very small minded if they do, and alot of African-Americans DO blame us today.It is the terrible shame of our American history that we did have slavery, but I'll bet no one in the USA owns any slaves today. Just always smile and be kind to them and anyone else with ATTITUDE. Pray that they'll change and with the help of our Lord, they will.

Answer 7

Why are you generalizing an entire race based on your experiences with a select few. One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch! (The Osmond Brothers) Yes, it is wrong of your coworkers to make those kinds of comments, but your are wrong for stereotyping an entire race. It is never okay for any race to discriminate, or anyone for that matter. Be it race, culture, sexual orientation, etc etc. I do not condone that behavior.

Answer 8

I wonder why people are so fascinated by what certain groups of people feel/think/believe. I am African-American and personally take offense to this story you are setting up.

Just because a group of people prefer to fraternize with the same is called genetics. Would you ever see a moose hanging out with a pack of wolves?

The same can be said for Hispanics. You guys may speak Spanish and English but in social settings, you speak spanish..because it is easier to communicate with someone that share commonalities. You guys adorn your cars with flags and symbols. You live in Spanish speaking communities and prefer to patronize the businesses there. And no one is harping on that.

The same can also be said for Asians. They like to speak in their language and do things that culturally are acceptable for them.

Be careful how you throw around the phrase "discriminate". As long as the actions of these women do not affect your inter-business relationships in a way where the EEOC can be called you can do nothing about it. Everyone and I do mean EVERYONE is entitled to befriend whomever they please.

And what is most sad is I bet your employees have no idea you feel this way.

African-Americans were born here and historically built this country under free servitude (i.e. slavery) and still catch hell whether we are right or wrong. So we do what we do and let the chips fall where they may.

Answer 9

You shouldn't base your opinions of a whole group of people on what a hand full of them are doing. Its not okay for anyone to discriminate against anyone. I've been through plenty of discrimination and harassment training at my job. If enough people complain to the HR department, they HAVE to do something about those individuals. Even if it is just having a conversation with them.

Answer 10

It's not okay for any race to discriminate, for no race is superior than the other. I live in a small town where alot people of my ethnicity are like that. This is not cultural it is just being simple-mindiness.