How to be an ally to marginalized coworkers

Show up for your colleagues by showing that you see them and their struggles

A handshake.
(Image credit: Illustrated | iStock)

America has a long way to go toward truly protecting marginalized groups in the workforce. Many industries remain dominated by white men, and discrimination still runs rampant in hiring and promoting practices. And in many industries, including STEM, agriculture, medicine, and corporate law, the odds of being in a majority-white workplace go up as one climbs the professional ladder, increasing the likelihood for racism and ostracization in the work setting. Indeed, studies show the more education a person of color has, the more likely they are to experience discrimination: According to Pew, 71 percent of college-educated Black people feel that they've been met with suspicion, and 68 percent state that they have been treated as though they weren't smart. Fifty-eight percent report being the butt of racial jokes or slurs.

On a macro level, policy changes and hiring practices can make employees of color and other marginalized groups more comfortable, and diversity training can further create a more unified environment. But solving workplace racism doesn't stop at management. How colleagues behave toward BIPOC employees matters, too, and our peers can often be a source of various micro-aggressions.

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Tonya Russell

Tonya Russell is a freelance journalist covering mental health, culture, and wellness. She an avid runner, yogi, and traveler, and she resides in the Philadelphia area with her four fur babies and fiancé. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.