2020 Has Been Difficult For The Black Community. Discrimination At Work Only Adds Insult To Injury

The start of 2020 has been an especially trying time for many black professionals. Already, we’ve heard talk of COVID-19 disproportionately affecting the black community and, simultaneously, companies discussing the need to improve diversity and inclusion in the workforce. 

Although the two seem unrelated, they are very much connected. Factors such as the global pandemic and its devastating impact on blacks, the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and ongoing experiences with discrimination and antiblack racism in the workforce can contribute to racial battle fatigue (RBF), which has detrimental mental health implications for members of the black community.

Coined by critical race theorist, William Smith in 2008, RBF describes the experiences and reactions of black males when faced with racism at predominantly white institutions. Sociologists and social psychologists quickly realized that these experiences and stress responses were not exclusive to only black male students and the term has since been used to speak to the experiences and responses of all people of color in America who are exposed to racism.

Depression is prevalent in the black community and one in four blacks will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. Exposure to racism and discrimination only exacerbates these issues. Studies suggest that there is a link between chronic exposure to racism and racial battle fatigue. RBF symptoms include anger, increased anxiety, depression, exhaustion, frustration, insomnia, and various physical health issues such as high blood pressure, ulcers and heart problems. Fear of future experiences with racism, racial bias, and race-based violence has also been linked to increased anxiety and depression among blacks. 

Trauma in the black community 

The novel coronavirus has proven to be a significant source of stress and anxiety for the black community. According to the CDC, blacks make up 27% of the almost two million confirmed cases in the United States, compared to 52% of whites, and almost 60% of deaths in counties with high black populations. This data is especially startling considering that blacks make up less than 14% of the country’s population. 

Although many are concerned about soaring unemployment—and rightfully so, members of the black community who have been fortunate enough to hold on to their jobs still face other unique covid-19 related stress. Being a member of a racial group that is ravaged by a global pandemic is cause for significant stress and anxiety in and of itself. Factors such as working in fields that are considered essential and having greater exposure to the virus, lack of access to quality medical care, and experiences with bias in healthcare only stoke the flames of pandemic-related anxiety.

Data released by Rubix Life Sciences, a biotech firm, suggests that blacks with covid-19 symptoms were less likely to be tested than whites. Knowing that one’s race can act as a predicating factor in the quality of medical treatment they receive, or if they receive medical treatment at all, can be a painfully daunting and depressing reality. 

Recent news of the murder of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd only adds insult to injury for many black Americans during an already traumatic time. Authorities say that Arbery was chased and fatally shot three times on February 23 while jogging in Georgia by the white father and son duo, Gregory and Travis McMichaels. Although details related to the incident are still being released, the police report states that the McMichaels pursued Arbery because he resembled someone who was associated with a string of recent robberies in their neighborhood.

The McMichaels were arrested and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault almost three months later on May 7. The fatal shooting is being investigated as a federal hate crime. Similarly, on March 13 Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was fatally shot more than eight times while sleeping, when three police officers entered her apartment in Kentucky with a warrant for a narcotics investigation, in which she had no involvement . No drugs were found at her apartment and the investigation is ongoing.

Most recently George Floyd died on May 26 after police handcuffed him and held him down by wedging a knee into his neck. The incident was caught on tape and viewers can hear Floyd repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.” The officer didn’t relent, even after apprehending Floyd. Floyd died only a few hours later. 

Arbery, Taylor and Floyd are just three examples of the thousands of unarmed black Americans who have been killed over the past six years. A recent study pulling data on police killings from 2013 to 2018 found that approximately one in 1,000 black males will be killed in their lifetime compared to 39 out of 100,000 white males. In 2019, 24% of the 1,099 people who were killed by police were black. Like Arbery, we have also seen similar incidents of civilians fatally shooting unarmed black men like in the case of Trayvon Martin.  

Thankfully, social media has shined a much-needed light on racial violence, but here are still mental health implications associated with this exposure to “black trauma porn”— of unarmed black people recorded for mass consumption. It’s one thing to hear countless stories about people who look like yourself being shot and killed, but it can severely damage the psyche to see those images on repeat.  

Discrimination and antiblack racism in the workforce 

Many black workers enter their place of employment carrying an overwhelming weight associated with being exposed to anti-black racism and discrimination. Carrying this stress can be heavy. Experiencing discrimination at work can make that weight unbearable. In 2019, Glassdoor surveyed 5,241 working adults in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France. 

Almost half of the surveyed American workers (42%) said they have experienced racism directly or indirectly while at work, which is 12% higher than the overall average. More than half (55%) said their company should do more to increase diversity. More specifically, blacks reported a 60% higher rate of discrimination compared to whites. Also alarming, black workers account for 26% of all EEOC filed claims despite only making up 13 % of the U.S. workforce.

A lack of diversity in the workforce plays a significant role in discrimination. This is especially true in corporate professions where only 10% of corporate C-suite positions are made up of men of color and only 4% women of color. Meanwhile, white men and women make up 68% and 18% of those positions.  

Racism is not always black and white 

There is still much work that needs to be done to improve racial diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Not only in terms of hiring and promoting diverse employees, but also providing training that examines how discrimination and racism can present themselves both within and outside of the office. Overt acts of racism in the workplace are still very much alive and well in the US. A black married couple, for instance, sued the Michigan Department of Corrections in 2019 after enduring years of antiblack racism.

More subtle forms of discrimination such as microaggressions and implicit bias can be equally detrimental. Racism and discrimination are not always black and white. We all have implicit biases and acting on one’s implicit bias is not necessarily an implication that the person is racist. Well-meaning people can direct microaggressions toward blacks unknowingly and with the best intention. The key is to be aware and honest about what is shaping their actions, and address and correct biases as they present themselves.  

Coping with RBF

Although businesses and organizations should work tirelessly to ensure that they hire diverse staff and invest in creating inclusive environments for all of their employees, it’s important for members of the black community and all people of color to also identify ways to cope with RBF. Coping methods include participating in social-justice-oriented activities, getting adequate sleep, engaging in spiritual practices, exercising, and seeking counseling services.  

In the black community, seeing a therapist is generally viewed as taboo. This apprehension is detrimental and it’s critical that members of the black community release themselves from that stigma and seek help when needed. Racism is very real and can result in traumatic mental, emotional, and physical health challenges. Seeking help is not indicative of weakness, but rather courage, strength, and advocacy for one’s self.