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ABSTRACT
Although discrimination and racism in the workplace in the United States has been the object of much attention and debate in recent decades, racism still continues to be prevalent in the workplace today, taking on various forms and resulting in a variety of outcomes. A definition of racism is necessary to better dispel the myths of racial discrimination, and the importance of diversity training for both the management and employees in an organization is essential for tackling the ever-present and ever-changing face of discrimination.
INTRODUCTION
America has been a nation of immigrants from its inception, and has often proudly declared itself as an egalitarian, humane society, dedicated to the removal of racism and inequality. Indeed, America has made great strides in improving working and social conditions for those in minority groups, from the emancipation of slaves, women's suffrage, the Civil Rights movement, equality for women, and more recently, the push for equal treatment of the GLBT community. Much legislation has been passed, and many corporations now have explicit emphasis placed on the value of diversity. Yet, despite America's claims of and efforts toward meritocracy and equality, what is preached is not always put into practice. Discrimination in the workplace is still a rampant occurrence even today, a claim strengthened by research. Statistically, upper management positions are dominated by Whites, and the disparity in income levels between Whites and people from other racial groups is noticeable (Katz & Moore, 2004). With all the focused attention diversity has received in recent years, one may be surprised to hear that discrimination still exists. While overt, blatant, and institutionalized racism has declined (although it has not disappeared), "in many cases, racism has merely become more subtle, more covert, and more sophisticated" (Katz & Moore, 2004). As Robbins and Judge state, the shift in the US workforce to a permanently diverse workplace "means organizations need to make diversity management a central component of their policies and practice" (2009). As diversity is a potential breeding ground for racism, organizations should strive to educate themselves on what racism entails and how to prevent it.
DEFINING RACISM
To address this issue, leaders and those in management positions in an organization need to increase their awareness of the racism still pervasive...