How to conquer workplace discrimination when HR doesn't solve the problem | Alvin Hall

How to conquer workplace discrimination when HR doesn't solve the problem
Workplace discrimination is often subtle but very real, says financial educator and author Alvin Hall. The majority of society may not always see it but minority groups experience it on a daily bias.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALVIN HALL :
Alvin Hall is an internationally renowned financial educator, television and radio broadcaster, bestselling author, and regular contributor to magazines, newspapers, and websites.
For five years on the BBC, he hosted the highly rated and award-winning series, “Your Money or Your Life,” on which he offered both practical financial and psychological advice to people about how to take control of and fix their financial problems. His radio program, Jay-Z: From Brooklyn to the Boardroom, won the Wincott Foundation Press and Broadcasting Award for the best radio program for 2006. Hall has also hosted programs on current events and contemporary art for BBC Radio 4 including After Katrina and most recently, Alvin Hall’s Generations of Money. An eight-part television series for BBC World News called Alvin’s Guide to Good Business was broadcast internationally in 2010. In the US, he is a regular contributor on personal finance and the economy on NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin.
Among Hall’s bestselling books are: You and Your Money: It’s More than Just the Numbers, Your Money or Your Life (winner of the WHSmith 2003 People’s Choice Award), What Not to Spend, Getting Started in Mutual Funds 2nd Edition, and Getting Started in Stocks 3rd Edition. His children’s book, Show Me the Money, has been published in over 20 foreign-language editions. In the US, the book has been named a Best Children’s Book of the Year (2009) by the Bank St. Book Committee, which is run by the Bank Street College of Education. It was also named a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (2009) by a joint project of the National Book Council for Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council.
Hall lives in New York City where he designs and teaches classes about the investment markets for financial services companies, banks, regulatory authorities, as well as information and technology vendors. His acclaimed classroom programs and speaking engagements have provided thousands of people with a solid grounding in such topics as the workings of financial markets, investment products, effective investment strategies, reducing debt, planning for retirement and personal financial management. Alvin Hall is a member of the NYSE Euronext Financial Literacy Advisory Committee to help develop programs to improve knowledge about all aspects of personal finance among the general public. He is also on the Acquisitions Committee of the Studio Museum in Harlem.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIPT:
Alvin Hall: Many people think that as you rise through the ranks and become successful and you start earning money—as an African American—that all of this prejudiced interaction goes away, that it doesn’t exist.
But you can walk into a building and a guard in a building, because of the way you look, the way you’re dressed decides he or she is going to put you in your place. They’re going to show you who has the power here.
So when that happens you have a whole different dynamic that you have to deal with. And I can tell you from experience that when this happens to you, other white people around you don’t see it. They just don’t see it. But you can tell by the tone of voice, the way they delay dealing with you, all of these subtle things tell you what’s going on, and then you have to find a way, if this is a place you come to repeatedly, to adjust. But the major thing I tell everyone is that you have to get this out of your soul before you go home because you can’t take this type of anger into your house, because it sits there, it festers, and that anger becomes more undermining long term. Because eventually you’re going to walk into a building and somebody’s going to do that to you, and you’re not going to be able to handle it, you’re going to lose your temper.
Today I feel that if you live in a big urban area you can basically have whatever identity you want, because people will at least not (in general) attack you, yell at you, call you names. That does happen, but you can go through a whole day, maybe a whole week without that happening.
When I was growing up I was lucky if I could get through a day not being reminded in a pejorative way that I was black, tha...

[n.m.]

Being the only visible minority or one of the few minorities at work, it can feel like you're held to a higher standard and you are scrutinized more. Alot of it is so subtle too. For instance, any mistakes you make is seen as more "serious" and "magnified" with harsher punishments. Whereas, the white coworkers who make exact, same mistake are given a pass ("Oh, it's a learning curve.", "Oh, it's no big deal. Everybody makes mistakes. They're only human."). It's almost like you have to work 10x harder than white coworkers just to prove yourself.

[MikosMiko]

I have dealt with racism, discrimination and lack of respect my entire career in advertising. It takes a lot to not react to these sick, evil people. But we must forgive, and rise higher than them!

[Baraborn]

So true. This happened every time I went to my old job. Luckily I'm an entrepreneur now and I don't have to deal with that bigotry.

[yaseenk]

What this man is speaking is my lived experience. Props to you. This is why I plan to spend the rest of my life in a major city. Growing up in the Midwest, it’s hard not to internalize these microaggressions

[tainatny]

I’m dealing with this now. When I first started working I was too young and had no knowledge on what racism actually was. However, I was experiencing it. Now I’m a bit older and my father passed, I’m standing up for myself. We should not be forced to work in discriminating and hostile working environments, if there’s better for us. I’m hoping that when I go to HR they will make the best decision for us both.

[Allthingscocoposh]

Educate us! I am a victim of racial discrimination and yes these issues for the black, brown, gay, disabled, etc., communities are still very prevalent today!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[chriscropley]

HR is there for the company, not the employee.

[thijsjong]

Thank you. That was a good explenation how discrimination had a negative impact on his life. It makes me feel sad nobody stepped in to do Anything about it.

[TaschTheBuddha]

I’m dealing with right now and it’s beginning to really affect me. This is difficult

[editorjohn]

What he's saying is true--to the point of being common sense. When white people see racism, most don't have the courage to speak up against it. This is human nature. Most people are not brave and so when in our comfortable places, we extol bravery. But when we're call on to show or even support bravery in trying times, we clam up. Thus, many who don't recognize this common sense are serious still clouded by emotions. Once they calm down, they'll see the truth. Always too late, huh, Holocaust.

[youngse]

Same being mentally ill person. its always "have you taken your meds". I finally learned to speak my mind and let the chips fall where they may. Life is too short for other people b.s.

[lukefairbanks]

Y'all are so dismissive of this man's experience. All he did was highlight the more subtle aspects of discrimination with a story. This channel is not about forcing some guilt upon you for what you might have done, no one is accusing you hopefully. The channel is simply looking to share a resonant perspective which might be outside of your comfort zone. No one is asking you to bow down, but a little respect for the dignity of a human goes a long way.

[jaylittle]

I feel this man’s anger. I also see how those commenting might believe that what he’s talking about isn’t real.

The interesting thing here is that those that say that it’s in his head are dismissing his lifetime of experience and injecting their guess. It’s a little rude and maybe a little ignorant.

I wonder how clear cut a case it needs to be before we can conclude that racism is going on. I suspect that the consequences of having made that conclusion are too dire — we would have to change the way we are and make ourselves a little better.

[rickc-___]

People with mental health issues feel this discrimination as well. Not completely the same as being a different color of skin. However in a way very similar. This man speaks the truth and also he should do more videos this man's voice is so absolutely calming.

[ratatataraxia]

Sometimes, I feel like everyone in my life is that guard, trying to keep me in “my place”.

[ElPalomo]

He's right, its all the subtle nuances in the way white people interact with you that starts building up that "hood rage" we Latinos feel it too. Man, I'm hispanic living in Canada and I can relate to this to a certain degree . And I almost look white! its crazy, brothers have a rough time up here. this is 2023! and still going on. it's not right.

[shanegallant]

2:22 Those walls can really waste a lot of positive energy. Thank you for sharing your story.

[LoveAimshigh]

I'm being bullied by my supervisor & upper management right now & now they are telling me I can't work over time. Just Me! And my time that I did work they did not pay me for. I'm so frustrated about this because this & other instances has caused me soo much stress ect. How do I prove this & how can they be reprimanded for thier horrible behavior!?

[jaylenlenear]

Going through this for the first time in my life. Funny thing is it's not a white person (Asian guy) I spoke up about it, might lose my job this week but still happy I spoke up and said something

[chrissimpson]

I'm going through it right now, I have only been on the job 10 days.