Picture this: you are a worker in an otherwise typical and boring job at a warehouse, with lots of crewmates and managers. You expect to blend into the background and not make much of a fuss, but something feels off.
Instead of friendly chatter and banter, there is an unusual silence that almost feels like hostility. Your coworkers stare at you for too long, maybe whisper behind your back and sometimes leave you out of discussions. Your boss singles you out more than the rest. And you find yourself taking your lunch break alone while others make fast friends.
All because of something that sets you apart, something you cannot control.
The “token” worker
If you recognize yourself in this scenario, there’s a chance you have experienced being the only person of color in your workplace. People of color fall under the minority label in the US for a reason. White Americans are the majority in 44 out of 50 states, excluding Hawaii, California, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada and Maryland, in the latest US census.
In Missouri, the state’s roughly 6.1 million residents are predominantly white. Over 76.3% of the population identifies as white, with the remaining population consisting of mixed race, Asian, African-American and other POCs. That’s a little less than 24%!
White people overwhelmingly outnumber people of color in the midwestern state. Because of this, it’s easy to get othered for your racial identity, even if it is not exactly obvious.
Identifying microaggressions
If you have noticed unusual treatment from your workmates towards you, pause—you might be the target of microaggressions in the workplace. You are not “sensitive” for noticing differences in your treatment. Racial discrimination is subtle yet constant. And even the tiniest interactions can make people of color feel unwelcome.
Microaggressions can appear as:
- Verbal comments
- Rude behavior
- Discriminatory actions
Microaggressions are not always intentional, but they can cause a lot of distress. Marginalized people like POCs are more exposed to them. When people use racial slurs, make fun of your racial identity or belittle your struggles, they could be subjecting you to microaggressions.
Your key legal protections as a POC
In Missouri, state laws do not outright mention or outline protections against racial microaggressions because they can be hard to prove. But when discriminatory words or actions are constant enough to create a hostile work environment, anti-discriminatory state and federal laws are there to shield you.
Applicable laws such as the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) forbids workplace discrimination and race-based harassment from local employers with 6 or more employees. Check state and federal laws to know your full legal rights against workplace discrimination.
Do not hesitate to file complaints and report internally—you are also protected from employer retaliation. Taking legal action against racial discrimination starts with recognizing the behavior and identifying violations against your rights.
