Blacks, Barriers and Career Success

Let me first say - Black people are the most talented, creative, resilient, resourceful and motivational humans in the world. The United States applauds as African Americans excel in sports, music and acting, but for some reason corporate America will not let us be great. Barriers such as economic inequality, disenfranchisement and racial discrimination serve as deferments, deterrents and detours between Blacks and Career Success.

Blacks in the Workforce

Employment statistics indicate a paradigm of racial inequity in domestic corporations where Black American workers are unemployed, underemployed and underrepresented at all levels of corporate organizations across the United States. In May, 2 months into a global pandemic, much of the country applauded an unexpected 1.4% decrease in the unemployment rate. Less publicized was news that an already excessive unemployment rate for African Americans increased to an alarming 16.8% during the same period.

Similar disparities appear in corporate middle-management positions where in 2019 Blacks held only 8% of white-collar professional positions. Black representation in executive level positions is also sparse in corporate America. Only .008% of Fortune 500 companies have Black CEO's leading the company. And although, a 2019 survey that found African American women achieved more Bachelor's degrees than any other demographic in America, none of the 4 Black Fortune 500 CEO's are Black women.

Blacks and Economic Inequality

Economic inequality describes the process of unequal distribution of income and opportunity among the population. Inequalities in economic distribution lead to inequalities in educational opportunities and career development. Each of these things are important and determining factors in the likelihood of success.

An unfair but accepted reality is Black professionals consistently receive less pay than their white counterparts, even if they are performing the same position. The disparities in income are not limited to individual pay comparisons. In fact, a 2018 study showed the per capita income of Black households was almost 50% less than that of white households.

Not to be misunderstood, African Americans families are represented in all income brackets; lower, middle and upper class. However, a per capital annual income of $24,700 means that, on average, Black families across the nation are living at or below poverty level. Increasing rents and housing costs leave many African Americans with limited funds and thereby no extra money to access education, career development and other resources necessary to achieve and maintain successful careers

Blacks and Disenfranchisement

It is not possible to express the devastation the U.S. criminal justice system has exacted on the Black community. The war waged on drugs during the crack epidemic contrasts greatly with the empathetic view towards the current Opioid crisis. As opposed to acknowledgement that drug addiction is an illness and cries for rehabilitation and second chances, The Anti-Drug Use Act of 1986 and its' enhanced sentencing laws for crack cocaine resulted in arrest and lengthy prison sentences for many potential Black employees.

Via techniques such as mass incarceration and social criminalization, Black communities bore 100% of the fault for any involvement with crack cocaine with little to no resources for rehabilitation and healing. It is as if we, ourselves, are responsible for shipping the drug from overseas and infect our own communities with highly addictive drug. The dastardly conflicting reaction to similar social dysfunctions would leave a carnage of Black households.

Barriers created by criminal background issues make gaining sustainable employment and suitable housing difficult, if not impossible. However, like economic inequality, disenfranchisement is not individualistic in nature. The crime itself, may or may not have been committed by one family member however the family as a unit carry the stigma of incarceration.

The many affected families of those suffering from criminal background issues live in continuous poverty cycles that last for generations. A report titled Systemic Racism and a Web of Disempowerment published on AdvancementProject.org points out that disenfranchisement extends beyond revoking voting rights. The effects of disenfranchisement lead to families with limited income or unsteady wages living in areas with substandard educational systems. An important factor in the ability to eventually achieve a rewarding career.

Discrimination and Black Career Success

Last, but not because of the ease in which it can be conquered – discrimination. The prejudicial treatment received by Black professionals in corporate America can at times seem like an insurmountable barrier. Standing between Blacks and Career Success is discrimination in the recruitment process, company hiring practices and workplace environment.

The dogma of differential treatment because of characteristics having nothing to do with a person's work experience, education and ability to successfully perform the position haunt many African Americans in the workforce the entirety of their career. Instances of Labor Force Discrimination can occur from the time the resume is submitted, through the selection, interview and employment process. The phenomena of discrimination can have some type of effect on the Black professional the entirety of their career.

A 2003 field study, 'Emily & Greg versus Lakisha & Jamal', that is often cited during discussions about discrimination in U.S. labor force and employment practices. Several important employment discrimination factors that serve as barriers to career success were pointed out:

1. During the resume selection process applicants with African American names such as Lakisha or Jamal were 50% less likely to receive call backs for positions than resumes submitted with names like Emily or Greg.
2. The increased percentage of White callbacks was equivalent to an African American applicant having 8 years of additional experience.
3. The 50% disparity in callbacks made it difficult for Blacks to not only find suitable positions but also improve success in maintaining employability throughout their career.

The 'Emily v. Lakisha' labor force study found racial discrimination in the labor market to be prevalent and a continuous barrier to economic success for African Americans. Although published in 2003, recent analysis shows little change in these statistics.

Breaking Down Barriers Between Blacks and Career Success

Let us in. Discrimination is human defect. Technology is not. Utilizing the same techniques that identified the disparities in resume callbacks, data analysis can identify defective application processes. Provide us with the opportunity to succeed. As a member of the Black professional community, I can attest to our ability and desire to succeed in the professional workspace despite that many barriers that exist; if provided with the opportunity, resources and support needed to be successful in the corporate organization. Let us be great. The barriers that serve as deterrents, deferments and detours to Black career success also deprive corporations of talent and experience that Black career professionals bring to the table.

Unfortunately, changing brand names and removing statutes will have minimal impact on alleviating the barriers to career success created by economic inequality, disenfranchisement and discrimination. The United States leads all other G7 nations in income inequality and leads the world in incarceration rates. Amidst the recent acknowledgement that the country's Black population has been plagued by systemic racism, the fight to break down the barriers between Blacks and Career Success will be no feeble feat. It will, however, be well worth it.