RACE BLOG
Religion, Race and Discrimination
by John R. February 11, 2008 11:05 AM

Religious discrimination is one of the top subjects as of now and the most talked about.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their religion in hiring, firing, promotions or other terms of employment. Employers may not treat employees or applicants less or more favorably because of their religious beliefs or practices and employees cannot be forced to participate or not participate in a religious activity as a condition of employment.

Employers must also reasonably accommodate employees' sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the employer, although the employer does not have to accommodate the employee's religious beliefs if that accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer's legitimate business interest. Employers must also permit employees to engage in religious expression if employees are permitted to engage in other forms of personal expression at work, as long as the religious expression does not impose an undue hardship on the employer. Finally, employers must take active steps to prevent religious harassment in the workplace.

The owner of an "alternative" London hair salon is being sued for religious discrimination after refusing to give a job to a Muslim woman who wanted to wear a headscarf at work. Sarah Desrosiers, whose Wedge salon specializes in "urban funky" cuts, says she turned down applicant Bushra Noah because she was "selling image" and needed her staff to display their hairstyles to the public.

Ms. Noah, 19, is claiming religious discrimination and suing Ms. Desrosiers for injury to her feelings and lost earnings. Do we all have to be treated like this? Was the world made for one race only? Unlike many of our ancestors, who came out of slavery and entered this century with strong backs, discipline, a thirst for literacy, deep religious faith, and hope in the face of adversity, we have produced…a new jack generation ill equipped to secure gainful employment even as productive slaves.

Let us all remember, that we all were created by one GOD. Have we forgotten this? And Jesus said, but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew 5:44. For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to GOD. Romans 14:11

Although America has a long way to go, many mistakes have been made, and current antagonisms are high, still there are hopeful signs that the nation can move toward a society in which race ceases to matter, a destination that we can term "the end of racism."

Comments
Thomas said on February 18, 2008 8:32 PM:

Personally I feel that the owner of the shop should not face a lawsuit given the information provided.  I feel that the affirmative defense for the owner is just, and the allegations should be dropped.  All it seems she was trying to do was show the style that was the theme of her shop.  Keeping up with the trendy look.  

       Now the lawsuit does not indicate that the shop owner said anything deemed as a racial slur, it says that the head scarf could not be worn.  I wonder if she were to remove the scarf during work, if that would make a difference.  I feel, even as a black man, some people are quick to yell racism.  I feel that yes, it does exhist, but I just do not feel that this was a case of true racism, and probably wil not win.

lindsay layman said on February 21, 2008 1:03 PM:

i agree with what you are saying...i get discriminated against because of my religious beliefs. I am what people call "mormon' and a lot of people get us mixed up with the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Cummunity of Christ". We do not practice polygamy at all! It hurts when someone trys to define what I believe and who I am based on my religion. People will find that were are just like everyone else. We are normal! We live in the American society; we just have strict values to better help ourselves to keep the commandments and laws that our Heavenly Father has given us.

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