An Open Letter to Managers
Dear to managers, in my English class, we have been completing a project about race and racism. Through this project, I have realized that affirmative action should be used in jobs more often. I wanted to write to you, specifically, because you accept job applications and I feel like minorities are looked down upon a lot until this day. Based on my research, I argue that job employers should consider affirmative action to hire more minorities today because people of color face inequality when they apply for jobs and diversity is better in the work place because it creates a better reputation for the company.
To start, there are economic inequities that people of color face in American society. To give some context on this issue, minorities are looked down upon when applying for jobs. According to Sarah Treuhaft, in their work titled “Reducing Employment Inequality in America’s Metros”, “At the same time, 32,000 of the region’s workers are long-term unemployed, and unemployment is highest among black, mixed race, and Latino workers” (1). In other words, colored people are looked down upon when applying for jobs. This information is significant because it shows how minorities are neglected to be hired today. Additionally, according to Jordan Quick in their work titled Women…Like Men, Only Cheaper , “For example, the median annual earnings for women working full-time in D.C. is approximately $60,000, compared to a mere $30,300 for women with the same job characteristics living in West Virginia.” (1). This information is significant because it shows the earnings of colored women in comparison to non-colored women. Overall, this data shows that minorities are treated unfairly in the workplace.
Furthermore, diversity is better in the work place because it creates a better reputation for the company. To give some context on this issue our society is still racist today. According to Caroline Forsey in their work titled “5 Awesome Benefits of Diversity at Work”, “Diversity in the workplace can increase ROI, lead to more innovative ideas, and foster a more productive work environment. In fact, companies that place emphasis on diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above the industry median.” (1). This means that having people from different backgrounds and culture at work creates a better space. This information is significant because it provides evidence why minorities should be hired. Additionally, according to Caroline Forsey in their work titled “5 Awesome Benefits of Diversity at Work”, “A survey by Glassdoor found 67% of people consider diversity an important factor when deciding where to work. To attract top talent, it’s imperative you incorporate diversity into the workplace.” (2). This information is significant because all races matter in the workplace. Everyone provides different skills to help the company become better. More races means more people which in turn means a broader and more diverse work space to which the community. Overall, this data shows how minorities help jobs become easier.
Some might argue, affirmative action isn’t fair because minorities have a higher advantage to get accepted than others. However, it is also true that more employers in the work space has a bigger impact on the community. Therefore, any person who is willing to get the job done should be accepted and not judged by their skin color.
Therefore, I implore you to use affirmative action more in the application process. This will make a difference because more employers in the workplace has a bigger impact on the quality of your work.
Thank you,
Tyler C.
