Why do companies get away with being Racist?

Question

Many of the places where i've temped, they have been racisst to me because i'm hispanic . they treat me like i'm a space monkey.

I was just a Document control clerk in this last place where they were about to hire me..but i got so much cr*p since the day i started there. It was an engineering company and all the enginnerrs were White . Then my document control partner was hispanic( well his mother was mexican) but he didn't speak spanish and he didn't sound nothing like me cause he never learned spanish , he just grew up with english. He was accepted as part of the team, but i wasn't. I was made to feel like i was below average, that i didn't speak english. Why in the world would they hire me If they thought i ddidn't speak english.

I have a feeling they just hired me because they were desperate for someone to fill the position. But then they attack me everyday with racist stuff. And not just racism, they were also pretty ignorant...

They actually fired me afew months ago For no reason. I was good at the job. I even made some impressive programming techniques in their system and my partner was impressed. But they fired me for no reason. it was pretty sad that day they fired me.

Answer 1

Hey Pavet,

This happens often - you're not the only, trust me! I'm guessing you have an accent?
Co-workers have the tendency to judge a person on many things - accents being one of them.
We have an older Asian woman who has worked here as an admin assistant for a number of years. She still has a slight Chinese accent. A few of the managers here didn't want her to work for them because of her accent.
Also, we needed another assistant on this floor at one point. The candidate was a young, attractive, Hispanic woman. Though she was more qualified than the person who was hired, one of the managers decided she didn't want her to answer the phone because of the accent and the fact that this candidate was an attractive young woman and the manager is a self-important 40 year old hag.

I once quit a job because the Project Director made racist comments about an interviewee. He made some references to Kung Fu and even had the audacity to lift up the ends of his eyes in an attempt to look Asian. I was disgusted. What in the world made him think I would find that funny?!! I'm Black!! What was he saying about people like me when I wasn't around?

Discrimination comes in all forms in the workplace. I've noticed that many people (mostly white) honestly believe that this no longer exists in cities such as this one (NYC), but they're seriously in denial.

If this job makes you feel angry or uncomfortable, I would say try to find something else. Do not quit this job until you have something to take its place. In the meantime, continue to work hard -- maybe they'll change their ways - but then again, knowing what their true colors are, is it even worth it?

Answer 2

I would have to agree with the "you can't handle the truth" guy. This is on you. Keep in mind that you were hired. If they were racist and didn't want you around, they wouldn't have hired you.
This is my advice. Quit looking at color and race and start looking at how you fit in. Not everyone is like you, so get over it and learn to embrace diversity.
You also say they treat you like a space monkey. I'm not sure what that means, but my translation is that you feel like they think you are stupid? You need to get over that too. They are engineers with advanced and degrees that were difficult to obtain. You are were a temp and are now in a low level entry position. Give it some time and work hard. Your efforts and quality of work is how you will be measured. Engineers are very logical and detail oriented. If you work hard and produce, they will acknowledge you for what you are. Give it some time, and I think you may be able to let go of your race card.
If this place truly makes you feel unhappy and you really think they are racist, then move and seek employment elsewhere.

Answer 3

What state do you live in ? Most of the answers so far seem a bit biased. Can't say that they don't hold a bit of truth also. Its important to know that most americans are "culturist" {is that a word?}rather than just racist. The example of your mexican work partner being excepted should by a sign of that. I was raised in hawaii ,being a black kid {not military base kid} i learned early on what you may be feeling now . Yes people often prejudge others ,its just how humans work. I think you answered your own question in a way with the example of your mexican friend being excepted due to his respect and assimilation for the current surroundings and culture. If have a sibling who has live successfully in japan for 15 years which by the way is 1000 times more xenophobic than america. Think about what a person would have to do to be excepted into your culture in mexico.. start there. Its on you . Peace Bro

Answer 4

No offense, but you sound like one of those people that walks around with a giant chip on your shoulder, desperately hunting anything you can misinterpret as prejudiced behavior. You were given the job, despite being Hispanic. That means the company didn't give a shi* about your race. You think they sat around and said "Hey, wouldn't it be funny to hire a latino, then just torture his azz until he quits?"

Most likely, you came to work with that giant attitude of yours, and you sucked at your job while alienating all your coworkers.

Answer 5

You need to work on learning your English. If you want to live in the USA then get busy. So quit crying, and get busy.

Answer 6

Join the club... They can do it because they hold the power and they don't have any idea what it feels like to be on the other end of racism. But I guess it make us stronger in the end!

Answer 7

put the card away...it gets old.