The Dark Side Of Employment: A Minorities Perspective (Third Edition)

By John Codrington

This book explores racism and discrimination from a minority's perspective. It looks into the root causes of minorities' struggles for competitive and equal employment in America, especially for former prisoners. The author shows how various systems are designed to keep people of color off balance and oppressed through j

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookside Press
• Release date: Sep 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9781778835025

John Codrington

I was born in Harlem New York back in 1959. Where I grew up in a middle-income family. I attended Louis D Brandeis High School where I graduated with a Diploma back in the late seventies. Upon my completion, I immediately left my lifeless environment and Enlisted in the United States Army immediately after. To pursue a career and travel all around the world. After completing my military duties, I continued my education back in New York. where I graduated and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Professional Studies. Finally, this literary journey that God has allowed me to experience. Has giving me new strength and insight by looking at life from a whole new perspective. For Humanity, family and God. Contact John Codrington, 717-553-2787 or [e-mail] for information on speaking. Visit codringtoninternational.com for more information.

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 by John Codrington

ISBN: 978-1-77883-502-5 (E-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

The views expressed in this book are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

BookSide Press

877-741-8091

www.booksidepress.com

[e-mail]

Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Just Hanging In There

Welfare Double Standards

Equal-Opportunity Employment

Blind Faith

The Bill Collectors

The Application Mix

Racism Undercover

Street Vendors

Police State

Inner City Real Estate

City Personnel

Breaking the Cycle

Mergers and Joint Venture

Sexism in the Workplace

Overqualified—Underqualified

Office Perpetrators

Stressed Out

Office Politics

Pay Raises and Promotions

Nondiscrimination Recruitment

Hustlin’

Internet Perversion

Introduction

This book explores racism and discrimination from a minority’s perspective. It looks into the root causes of minorities’ struggles for competitive employment here in America How various systems are designed to keep people of color off balance and oppressed through job discrimination More so, through our lack of education, misinformation, and our lack of obedience to the creator which, through him, all things are possible. It explores what the underserved ex-offenders, the homeless, and Work Experience Program (a.k.a. WEP) workers go through. Also, the impact that it leaves on our youth, and families. How the system affects our self-worth as human beings by denying us real affirmative action.

It looks at what minorities go through every day, also, with big developers in our own backyards. Also, how local politicians turn the other cheek. Mainly, it focuses on what it will take to overcome these barriers for people of color in the workforce. It examines what it’s like growing up and being labeled as a second-class citizen. When our voice doesn’t mean a thing to our oppressors. In addition, this book examines the inequalities of equal opportunity employment toward people of color. The negative impact that corporate investors play on poor community districts. It encourages questions and answers on what minorities must do in order to regain an understanding of God.

This book also explains how the government and other financial institutions use fraud, manipulation, and deception. Keeping minorities constantly guessing and at war with the system of things. Overall it states how the educational system is designed to keep students and their families in financial hardships. How the government constantly manipulates the voting power of minorities through incarceration and ineffective voting laws year after year.

Finally, I hope this book will enlighten us as a people as well as those who are responsible for the turmoil and job discrimination in this country known as the land of the free.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the Lord for inspiring me to continue in my pursuit for self-fulfillment. For redirecting my negative energy into a more positive force. I would also like to thank my dear mother, Geneva Weir, for her values on higher education My wife Fredrika Codrington and my sister, Marvena Stanely, for all their support and encouragement. More importantly, I would like to thank Metropolitan College, formerly known as Audrey Cohen College, for its unique system of purpose-centered education. I would like to thank all those who understood me when I was trying to understand. Finally, I would also like to thank my neighbors and all my friends who supported me to make this book a reality.

Just Hanging In There

My first experience upon my departure from prison back in 1993 has been one roller-coaster ride. Where I experienced many barriers and prejudices upon obtaining adequate employment here in America. From that point, I knew I had to sharpen up my résumé and interview skills, which is really an ongoing process.

Moreover, I also knew that in order for me to build up my low self-esteem from being incarcerated. I would have to seek professional help to find out the root causes of my insecurities. However, over a period of time, I’ve developed a little faith in God. Saying he didn’t bring me this far to give up on me now. Nevertheless, I continued to get many job interviews only to be rejected over and over again. You see what I’ve experienced over the years? I knew a lot of minorities that were incarcerated or had this experience could also identify with this storyline. In this case; I’m hoping that I can be a beacon of hope and an inspiration to anyone who’s been down this lonely, dark tunnel. Needless to say, after being rejected numerous times, I thought to myself, "Maybe I should go back to school and finish college."

Hell! I gave the state five years of my life, so I had no problem making a decision of going back to school. What did I have to lose? I started way back in 1991 and graduated in 1997 because I had more street research to do.

In spite of it all, I was thrilled for the first time in my life that I started something positive and completed it. Today, I can honestly say that I’m glad I did. In this case going back to school enabled me to see the world from a whole new perspective and interact with positive people who basically shared the same interest as myself. This positive experience also helped me become more confident in myself and my views of this harsh, cruel world. I also realized that I’ve developed a little niche for writing by doing so many term papers year after year. Many nights, I felt like crying, but that was the easy part; becoming employed was harder. Now, don’t get me wrong; an intern placement was considered a job. I appreciated everyone who helped me in the process, but that was a school thing. However, something good did come out of it. I had the opportunity of working with many people from diverse backgrounds in the human service field. Even though, I didn’t realize was that most employers today are only accepting paid work experience, so once again, I struck out. Plus, through my trials and tribulations, I also had to learn how to separate my needs from my wants.

Under these circumstances, I wanted to become a productive member of society and I definitely wanted a career in my chosen profession. I also needed to have some income coming in from somewhere without jeopardizing my freedom once again. So I decided to go back on public assistance in 1995 to help myself out financially. Now, this was a hell of a job, if you knew how it was being on public assistance back then. All you got was $68.50, food stamps, and all the other insanity that goes along with the system.

While I was on public assistance, I stayed angry the whole time. Knowing that I had a fat school tuition bill over my head. Where I was in debt to my creditors. Sounds scary, right? Well, it was. They don’t want to hear anything about public assistance; they just want their money, bottom line.

I went back to God, looking for some answers. I said to myself, Lord, what did I do to deserve all this? ’cause, see, this was something you didn’t wish on your worst enemy. I mean that.

Now, after praying to the Lord about how l needed a legal job or some other way besides the wrong way to get extra loot, my prayers were finally answered. I became a salesman selling cologne and perfume. Yeah! I was self-employed, but not in my chosen profession. Listen, I loved selling cologne and perfume because it helped me build up my self–esteem. I actually made people smile; which was a service that I took pride in. I also played the lottery on a regular basis because hey, you never know. In addition to this, I visited many fast-food chains in the metropolitan area, trying to seek employment. Which was a hell of a job, also a blow to my ego. Remember, I obtained a college degree from a respected college, so you know how I felt. I was thinking, "Damn, what has a brother gotta do to get a damn job in this town"? I was devastated. I was wondering how many minorities had to go this route. Also, how many other people of color would feel this pain. Plus, this misery that lurked deep within my soul by being rejected by fast-food-chain stores. You know something? America has a funny way of showing love. During these times, I sometimes felt that I should have just stayed overseas, where people treated you fairly. It wasn’t about what you did in the past; you were accepted regardless of race, sex, creed, religion, or lack of religion. Only in America. Yeah! So after recuperating from the fast-food horror, I decided to move on. Now, I understood why so many unskilled minorities decide to take other directions in their lives. Especially those of us who have been down this lonely path. Here I am, educated, rehabilitated, and I still felt emotionally disturbed, which often turned into anger. It was more so because I knew that I served my country and I was willing to go to war all-out if necessary. It’s a proven fact that many minority people of color turn to other lifestyles for financial support. Such as drug trafficking, hustling, and gambling. Some even suffer psychological disorders and never fully recover to obtain full-time employment.

I remember riding the subway one day, and I had seen this man panhandling on the N train. He didn’t look like a bum, so I hit him off. Come to find out he was a veteran like myself, and all he needed was a job. The bottom line is everybody suffers and at the taxpayers’ expense. Why? Because each and every able body that’s not able or willing to work creates other barriers for society as well as their families. Meaning, many underemployed and adolescents will commit more crimes. Return to prison, go to drug institutions, or just remain on the streets. See, everybody’s got to hustle. Getting back on track; now, you just don’t know how much effort, persistence, and carfare it takes to go looking for a job. I mean, it’s very stressful. believe that! I was very grateful to have become a salesman because that little $68.50 isn’t really enough to cover everywhere you have to go or when you decide to go seeking employment. Years ago, I would even have to hop the train to make an interview. I would also run across many people I knew that would ask me How are you? I would just say I’m hanging in there. Are you working? How’s the family? You know how we do. You don’t want to lie or really show signs of stress or insecurities; we know how our people are. We are always putting on an image or front, as the saying goes. However, most of us try to keep it real although life is really a struggle. You see, hanging in there was something I did all my life, so it really wasn’t anything new to me. It was my fears and doubts that always seemed to creep up on me. Realizing, that I had to continue living life on life’s terms. So when people ask me over and over how I am doing, I would say that I’m just hanging in there. Some will say that’s all we can do. My response would be That’s all you can do. I had to try other things, like designing clothes, writing poetry, looking for a job, and going to church. Other interests that would keep me spiritually filled and in a positive state of mind. See! I’ve been hanging real tough since I hit the streets back in 1993. Long enough to know that it’s not getting any better out there. It’s also not getting any better as far as the unemployment rate for people of color goes. The new trend is hiring a minority or ex-felon with limited experience for a short period of time. Just enough to keep him/her content to pay a few bills, overtime, or health insurance, if you are lucky. Only to be laid off and desperate to find steady work once again. Now, you’re forced to hang in there because more than likely, other people are depending on you. Plus, the bill collectors are staying on your back, and please don’t bank on unemployment insurance. Because the dice doesn’t always roll in your favor that often. So I guess I’ll be hanging in there for a little while longer. I was never really looking to start at the top. Mainly, all I ever wanted was an entry-level job in my chosen profession. Without being judged for the wreckage of my past. So hanging in there was never an option for me; it was a reality. See, today, I thank God for giving me the strength to hang in there because it’s so easy to find excuses not too. Such as family problems, financial troubles, and a lack of education, etc. This is called survival at its best for those of us who are already scarred as underserved, welfare recipients. people of color. Whose past experiences left scars from discrimination or stagnated their future growth through negative lifestyles or past history.

Needless to say, this was a dirty hand that America dealt us, this injustice in the land of the free. However, whether you’re presently employed or still searching for work, it’s a battle that requires you to put on your full armor. Even though, oppression and discrimination have always kept people of color from succeeding in the labor market.

Example, I remember years ago, back in 1987, being hired by the Marriott Marquis Hotel conglomerates. Where I was employed for a about a year. The real plot was that they hired a few minorities for a short period of time without any union, something that’s been holding us back. Now, I guess that they may have come to the conclusion on which employees they decided to keep. However, I wasn’t one of the chosen few, and guess what? I was laid off for no apparent reason. Their reason was that I displayed poor job performance, which wasn’t true. Now, can you imagine how I felt plus the fact that there wasn’t any union delegate to represent me. They actually had some full-time employees who were in the union. When I heard about this, I was in a lot of pain back then. I wish I knew about affirmative action back then because I felt violated. How many people you know