Title: After civil rights : racial realism in the new American workplace /
Authors: Skrentny, John David
Year: 2013
Subjects: Discrimination in employment United States; Race discrimination United States; Civil service United States.; Civil rights United States; Civil rights; Civil service; Discrimination in employment; Race discrimination; Personnel management United States; United States
Abstract: "What role should racial difference play in the American workplace? As a nation, we rely on civil rights law to address this question, and the monumental Civil Rights Act of 1964 seemingly answered it: race must not be a factor in workplace decisions. In After Civil Rights, John Skrentny contends that after decades of mass immigration, many employers, Democratic and Republican political leaders, and advocates have adopted a new strategy to manage race and work. Race is now relevant not only in negative cases of discrimination, but in more positive ways as well. In today's workplace, employers routinely practice "racial realism," where they view race as real--as a job qualification. Many believe employee racial differences, and sometimes immigrant status, correspond to unique abilities or evoke desirable reactions from clients or citizens. They also see racial diversity as a way to increase workplace dynamism. The problem is that when employers see race as useful for organizational effectiveness, they are often in violation of civil rights law. After Civil Rights examines this emerging strategy in a wide range of employment situations, including the low-skilled sector, professional and white-collar jobs, and entertainment and media. In this important book, Skrentny urges us to acknowledge the racial realism already occurring, and lays out a series of reforms that, if enacted, would bring the law and lived experience more in line, yet still remain respectful of the need to protect the civil rights of all workers"--Jacket.
Contents: Preface -- Managing race in the American workplace -- Leverage : racial realism in business and the professions -- We the people : racial realism in politics and government employment -- Displaying race for dollars : the context of media and entertainment -- The jungle revisited : racial realism in low-skilled employment -- Are we beyond civil rights? -- Index -- Notes -- Figures.