Understanding Economic Racism and How History Brought us There

 Understanding Economic Racism and How History Brought us There

Easton Majeskie

Economic discrimination refers to any form of wage, workplace, and/or job availability disparities in minority communities. It wouldn’t seem that the “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave” would actively uphold these reprehensible practices- but we have our shortcomings, and it’s necessary to learn how and why whole demographics of Americans are being disenfranchised under the rug. 

Racism can be physical, it can be emotional, and it can be more so societally ingrained, but it is always debilitating, disadvantageous, and destructive in more ways than imaginable. To fully grasp this concept, we have to start at a vile, pivotal moment of American history- The Jim Crow era. Jim Crow legislation, which enforced segregation for all Black individuals, is still actively impacting generations and generations of Black success, affluence, and opportunity- even in 2022. Oftentimes, more desirable jobs were reserved exclusively for White people, while lower-paying, unsupported jobs were given to Black people, this oppressive ideology is observed in current workplaces as employers are 50% more likely to follow-up on candidates with “White-sounding” names- this also goes for college applications. Furthermore, Black hairstyles including locks, braids, afros, and cornrows are often stigmatized and drowned in harmful stereotypes that perpetuate workplace racism. The “Crown Act” which was passed in California, prohibits discrimination based on intrinsic Black hairstyles- only 8 states have followed the same law. Prejudice against Black hair is undoubtedly observable everywhere you turn, but it’s clear businesses uphold Jim Crow era stereotypes that patronize and dehumanize Black culture. 

There was never a time in the U.S. where wages were equal among all races. According to the Pew Research Center, “in 2015, average hourly wages for Black and Hispanic men were $15 and $14, respectively, compared with $21 for White men.” The income gaps have always been disparitally skewed White, with Black households earning (on average) $43,300 and White households earning $71,300. There are a plethora of reasons as to why the gap is so large, but most of it traces to Jim Crow laws and their impact on how future generations of Black Americans attain education, stable housing, and well-paying careers. For example, as these laws pushed Black people into metropolitan areas without necessary government funding, White people were able to thrive in suburban neighborhoods with stable, lucrative jobs provided by the government. 

Hourly Wages Based on Race via Pew Research Center

The impact that Jim Crow Laws and economic racism has on Black Americans and the acknowledgement of this history should be highly regarded and scrutinized. It’s a chapter of a long book of atrocities towards minorities, and it should be our job to understand why many are structurally disadvantaged. 

Works Cited

Gross, Terry. “A “Forgotten History” of How the U.S. Government Segregated America.” NPR.org, npr, 3 May 2017, www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america.

“Jim Crow: Now & Then.” Github.io, 2013, cibonayrae.github.io/jimcrow/economic.html.

Patten, Eileen. “Racial, Gender Wage Gaps Persist in U.S. Despite Some Progress.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 1 July 2016, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/01/racial-gender-wage-gaps-persist-in-u-s-despite-some-progress/.

Yamiche Alcindor,Rachel Wellford,Bria Lloyd,Candice Norwood. “How Hair Discrimination Impacts Black Americans in Their Personal Lives and the Workplace.” PBS, 2 Apr. 2021, www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-hair-discrimination-impacts-black-americans-in-their-personal-lives-and-the-workplace.