Black Workers and the Reality of Workplace Abuse

Our workplace is not just a place where we earn a living. It is also a place where we build careers, pursue professional goals, support families, and try to create a better future.

Unfortunately, at times, this place where we earn our paycheck may become a place where we feel mostly unsafe, humiliated, and intimidated—mainly because of the color of our skin. In 2021, Gallup News reported that 1 in 4 Black workers in the US reported discrimination at work, which makes up 24% of Black workers when compared to 15% whites. The report also states that 75% of the discrimination is because of our skin color.

In another report by the National Women’s Law Center, Black sistas file sexual harassment charges at almost 3 times the rate of whites because of the high rate of abuse they face in their workplace.

Sometimes I wonder why some people still think we are in the 1600s when slavery started in the US. Just recently, I read an article in Atlanta Black Star News where Kaligah Parker, a Black Brotha who works as a laborer in a construction company in Delaware, had to sue his white colleague for calling the N-word and referring to him as “boy.” Kaligar also reported that a coworker once made a cracking-whip motion at him. This is not happening in the 90s but in 2026.

We still have the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) suing employers for race discrimination against their Black employees 60 years after the passage of Title VII, which bans discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, sex, or religion and nationality.

Many times, members of our community receive noticeable racial slurs, threats, and racial comments. Other times, it could be unwanted sexual advances and preferential treatment of white colleagues. And in some cases, Blacks find it hard to notice some of these abuses.

If you are asking, “Am I experiencing workplace abuse, racism, or just being too sensitive?” It is a difficult question to answer for many Blacks; that is why understanding workplace abuse matters.

Workplace Abuse Is Not Always Obvious

Workplace abuse is not always obvious, like when you are called the N-word or when it always comes with physical violence. End-workplace-abuse Substack agrees with that.

Sometimes it comes in a subtle, repeated behavior with the intention to intimidate, humiliate, control, isolate, threaten, or undermine you as a Black person. We can notice:

Unfair discipline
Deliberate exclusion
Constant belittling
Verbal humiliation
Threats and intimidation
Bullying
Threats to career
Discrimination
Deliberate sabotage
Retaliation
Sexual harassment
Racial harassment
Denial of opportunities

Often, we experience these because of our skin color or gender. EEOC stated that this discrimination based on color affects:

Hiring
Firing
Pay
Job assignments
Promotions
Training
Benefits
Other terms and conditions of employment.

What Does Workplace Racism Look Like?

As a Black worker in the US, don’t expect a colleague to come to you upfront and say, “I don’t like you because you are Black.” It can be that:

You are held to a different standard.

Imagine you and your white colleague made the same mistake. Your white colleague gets: “Please be more careful next time.”

But as for you, you are written up, described as irresponsible, or publicly criticized, which often leads to a mental breakdown. If this happens once, you shouldn’t call it a big deal, but if it repeats and follows a pattern, it deserves your attention.

You are repeatedly overlooked for opportunities.

When you apply for a promotion, you have the qualifications and have performed. You are told to “wait for your turn” while the opportunity goes to a less qualified employee who is white repeatedly, then it can be termed “discrimination.” It is most likely certain if you consistently miss:

Promotions
Raises
Leadership opportunities
Mentorship
Client-facing opportunities
Training
High-profile assignments
Flexible schedules

Your communication style is judged differently.

As Black people, we are often stereotyped by our communication. When we are confident, it is described as aggressive; when we are passionate, it is interpreted as anger; when we are direct, it is called having an attitude.

This is not to say that every time your communication style is criticized, it implies that it is because of racism. Still, if other coworkers are accepted for a similar communication style while you are repeatedly questioned, it could be abuse.

You are subjected to racial jokes or comments.

When you work in a place where your colleagues use certain racial stereotypes disguised as humor, you need to check, especially if it occurs often.

When they make comments about Black hair, your skin tone, how you don’t look Black, or compliment you about being articulate, or jokes about Black names in the name of a joke, watch it; it could be a microaggression. Because someone calls such comments a joke doesn’t mean they’re appropriate.

5. Your role is undermined, reduced, or pushed outside its scope.

You were hired for a specific role, with responsibilities that match your qualifications and experience. However, over time, you find yourself excluded from important decisions, stripped of meaningful responsibilities, or repeatedly assigned menial tasks that have little to do with your actual job.

For example, you may be qualified to lead projects but are consistently relegated to administrative duties, asked to perform tasks below your level of expertise, or denied the authority and resources needed to do your job effectively. Meanwhile, your white colleagues are trusted with challenging assignments, given greater responsibilities, and supported in their professional growth.

Sometimes, the problem is not just being denied a promotion but having your existing role gradually diminished until you feel invisible, undervalued, or professionally stuck.

Pay attention to the pattern. Changes in job responsibilities can happen for legitimate business reasons. However, if your role is repeatedly reduced, your expertise is ignored, or you are pushed into demeaning duties while similarly qualified white colleagues receive meaningful opportunities, it may be a sign of racial discrimination. Document these changes and consider raising your concerns through the appropriate workplace channels.

What Should You Do If You Are Being Abused?

Take the following steps if you suspect that you are being abused:

Step 1: Recognize the pattern

Don’t just dismiss repeated mistreatment because everyone says it is part of the job or of working in a particular industry or organization.

Pay attention!

Step 2: Document it

Write down what happened in detail while it is fresh, including dates, time, witnesses, and location.

Step 3: Review company policies

Look at your employee handbook and workplace harassment or discrimination policies. Find out the steps you are to take to make complaints.

Step 4: Report appropriately

Depending on the situation and who is involved, you can report to:

Your supervisor
Another manager
Human Resources
An ethics or compliance office
A union representative
Another designated reporting channel

Some people fear reporting could make things worse; HR may not be on their side, but federal law protects you. Get legal advice or contact the EEOC, and the organization can even settle with you for $1.25 million if found guilty, according to the EEOC’s 2024 announcement. And if you feel your workplace cannot be fixed, perhaps the best decision would be to leave.

To Learn More: