Race Discrimination

What federal laws govern race discrimination in the workplace?

In addition to the Reconstruction Era Civil Rights Acts, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits discrimination because of an employee or applicant's race. Title VII applies to the federal government and all private employers, state and local governments, and education institutions that employ 15 or more individuals. It also covers private and public employment agencies, labor organizations, and joint labor management committees controlling apprenticeship and training. Some of Title VII's key provisions follow.

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Section 2000e-2(a) of Title VII makes it illegal for an employer:

• (1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or


• (2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; and

Section 2000e-3(a) of Title VII prohibits retaliation against an individual because such individual opposed an unlawful practice under Title VII or made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under Title VII.

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What D.C. employment laws prohibit race and color discrimination?

Among other protections, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act (DCHRA) prohibits employment discrimination because of race and color.

What Virginia laws prohibit race and color discrimination on the job?

The Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) prohibits discrimination in the workplace because of race or color.

If you need an experienced employment lawyer for a racial discrimination case in D.C. or Virginia, call attorney Lori Searcy today or complete the employment case review form. To learn more about race discrimination in employment, visit the firm's blog: The Employment Law Chronicle.